I went out for a canyon run with a friend of mine who recently bought an STI. We drove together and he let me drive his car and He drove mine. Subaru is fast. Very fast. Not only on the straight but it really turns as well. I think I am little more experienced driver than him but the stretch where there are lots of fast bends and long enough straights, I just gave up on trying to keep up with him. Tight bends are still ours though He was keeping up but I was faster through the bends. Then I drove his car. I wasn't going to push his brand new car in the canyons but the speed comes so effortless. I thought I was driving lot slower than I normally do but the speedo told me that I was actually going just as fast. However, the feel of the car, the directness you get from driving the MINI was no where to be found. When my friend drove my MINI, he thought the car feels much faster than actually is. Go-cart like response was a shock for even an STI driver. Over all, it was an interesting and fun outing. I renewed my love for my MINI and he did for his STI.

 

Cool story. :-)

 

I might like that car but I am not sure if that's the car. It's either the Subaru or the Mitsubishi. Or is there another one like these? It is a slightly bulbous function-before-form-looking 4 door sedan with exhaust contrivance on the bonnet and a complicated aero thing on the boot. My description is less flattering than the overall cosmetic effect. A silver one with very large diameter wheels was driving next to me and I was impressed by its overall demeanor. It looked as though it could go really fast up to 100 mph and turn and stop just as well. There are a couple dozen cars that can perform like that, but not many that look as though they can do so. I give lotsa points for the stylists who were able to pull off that effect.

 

my coworker had an sti, it was fast as hell. too bad mpg is so bad. :(

 

the STI is an awesome car

If I had money I would get a MCC for nice sunny days and a WRX/STi for the winter here in Calgary, Canada

 

STi as a winter beater? now that would be the most expensive winter beater I have ever owned, man did you see how much they sell in Canada?
I wanted one until I saw the price.
I read the test on the MINI AWD, man if they ever build one, I'd buy it and drive it all the time, winter, summer, every day.
I don't like the look of the STi but I sure like the look of the MINI, from the day they showed the protoype, I said I had to have one but got turned off by it's price for 3 years, and now, I just happen to be checking out the used prices and was shocked to see that the used one are selling for close to the price of new ones.
My $50k plus tax 2002 Envoy is worth only about $19k now, but a $30k 2002 MINI sell for around $25-26k in Edmonton.

 

We bought my wife a Forester 2.5 XT (Turbo) and I will say that even for a "mini suv" that thing will haul tail and handles like a dream. Here in Germany we have taken it all over the place (Swiss Alps, Italy, Austria) and flat out the car will run and corner. I have driven an WRX STI and love it.


Subaru makes a solid car.

However, I am still waiting for my 06 MCS :smile: Hopefully next week and the Mrs. can have her Suby back.

 

I saw and STi last weekend with the wing missing its carbon fiber, I thought it was very funny Having driven a modded WRX I would not trade my MC for it in a million years. Original post said it best. The Subies do not feel fast, but are. The Mini might not be terribly fast, but it feels like it is!

 

My winter beater is ML350. My MINI gets more attention from me because MINI is more special to me even though it's half the price.

 

Pfunk,

Is your friend STI stock? Since yours is modified, do you think some suspension mods on the sti will make the car handle like the mini?

 

My winter beater is my MCS. Surprising how well the MCS can opposite lock in the snow.

 

First year I'm trying my Mini in the winter, bought some Perelli 240 Snow Sport tires and got them put on and I hope I'm set

 

Not a winter BEATER, a winter FUN machine!! 4WD in snowy intersection and empty street corners is so much fun!!

Maybe not a STI, WRX would do just fine I rode in my friend's WRX last winter in Calgary and its just fun! Minis might handle the snow just fine, but you can't beat the easily induced/controlled slides.

 

My Friend's STi is bone stock. only 6k on it. I have Konis and Hsports. He has no plans to do any suspension mods and I think he is wise. I think our Minis are fun because it drives like a race car. I spent most of my money on suspension mods because I wanted to enhance that feel. Yes, everyday ride is bit harsh but the fun I get in the canyons is far more important to me. If I had an Sti, I think I wouldn't touch it either. I have to say though, without offending any Sti drivers out there. It really felt like driving a really fast mini-van compared to our Minis. I think I am going to stick to my Mini for a while.

 

BTW, I think Mini's handling characteristic even stock is far more "direct" than STIs.

 

feel I get from the Porsche is much more satisfying than the sheer power of the STI. I much prefer feeling at one with the car and I just did not feel it in the STI. Also, the Porsche gets around 24 mpg while I only got 16 mpg with the STI. That is also why I am going to order an 06 Cooper S. I love the way the Mini feels on the road. The steering is so direct compared to the STI, even slightly better than the Boxster.
When I am driving either the Boxster or the Mini I get that very special feeling as being at one with the car. I test drove the new Corvette, and sure it had great gobs of power but it still lacked that steering/handling feeling that both the Mini and Porsche have and that I find way more satisfying than sheer power. I got that same feeling and even more when I test drove the Lotus Elise. The steering feel on that car is second to none, and I even had one on order until I test drove the new Boxster. I just decided I could not handle the problem of getting in and out of the Elise and also the seats were so uncomfortable(no recline on the seat back at all-fixed).
I might some day get the Elise as a track specific car, but the Mini S should do the job for now.
cheers

 

Great post. Road feel is essential charateristic of a great driving car and I'm glad the MCS is in the same category as the Porsche Boxter.

 

My MINI with the PSS9 will be trouble in the snow, especially if we get more than 2" of it, I have it set to the highest possible setting and I bet my air dam is less than 2 1/2" from the ground, so what would happen if we get 6" of snow???

 

I can tell ya what happens... it becomes a snow plow