R50/53 What would you consider other than the MINI?
#101
#102
Yoga Flame!!!
--just kidding, I'll be gentle. The Mini uses a single over head cam 1.6 liter chrysler engine. The SRT-4 uses a dual overhead cam 2.4 liter chrysler engine. The MINI's engine is made in Brazil I believe, whereas the SRT-4 engine comes from Mexico I believe. Two very different engines. One is turbocharged (SRT-4) one is supercharged (MCS).
What you MIGHT have heard is that the same engineering team designed both engines. But they are NOT the same exact engine. Given the difference in displacement they definitely don't share a common block. I'm pretty sure they're not even built by the same plant. Also I believe BMW designed the head for the MINI whereas the SRT-4 engine is all chrysler.
I know because I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night...no no no! I frequented the SRT-4 forums for a while when I was shopping for cars and I definitely thought about the SRt-4 for a while before moving on. If you wanna get them riled up, tell "them their cars nothing special afterall it's just a NEON!" OMG! Flamewar hissyfit central.
s'alright tho no harm no foul. Everyone can take off their asbestos gear now. Nothing to see here folks. Move along. Move along.
--pyratio
What you MIGHT have heard is that the same engineering team designed both engines. But they are NOT the same exact engine. Given the difference in displacement they definitely don't share a common block. I'm pretty sure they're not even built by the same plant. Also I believe BMW designed the head for the MINI whereas the SRT-4 engine is all chrysler.
I know because I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night...no no no! I frequented the SRT-4 forums for a while when I was shopping for cars and I definitely thought about the SRt-4 for a while before moving on. If you wanna get them riled up, tell "them their cars nothing special afterall it's just a NEON!" OMG! Flamewar hissyfit central.
s'alright tho no harm no foul. Everyone can take off their asbestos gear now. Nothing to see here folks. Move along. Move along.
--pyratio
Originally Posted by dgboggs
Funny you would say that, because the SRT-4 and the Mini use the same exact engine
#103
#104
#106
Originally Posted by chrisnl
Over 100 responses, and I'm the only one for whom excellent fuel economy is non-negotiable? I'm sure all these other cars being mentioned are fun to drive, but I honestly would not consider buying them.
Ahh I remember my first car an '89 dodge colt 5 spd, had 79 hp I think, could get 42mpg with that thing, and gas was $0.88, those were the days. Took her up to 115MPH and was afraid she'd peel or rattle apart if I went any faster or hit the brakes. I sincerely feared for my life for the first time that day. After that thing nothing running combustion has impressed me until the new civic as far MPG go
#107
#110
Originally Posted by chrisnl
Over 100 responses, and I'm the only one for whom excellent fuel economy is non-negotiable? I'm sure all these other cars being mentioned are fun to drive, but I honestly would not consider buying them.
After 2.5 years, I have a love-hate relationship with this car. On the plus side, it's been basically reliable (67K miles and no major issues), with good room, and great interior (with better seats than the MINI's) and nobody can argue with the fuel mileage (46.3 mpg lifetime). However, the car is dead-boring to drive. And while I wouldn't think twice about throwing mod-money at a MINI, for some reason I balk at spending thousands of $ on the TDI just to make it handle and go half as well as a MINI. "Driver's Wanted"... yeah right...
I should have test-driven the MINI before I ordered the TDI, but for some reason my mind had been made up. I wanted that awesome fuel mileage. Period. But while the fuel money saved has been nice, the cost in driving enjoyment has be hard to pay at times... Especially when I spend so much of my time driving... Which in a way is why I'd choose a MCS over a MC, while either would be leaps above the TDI in the "fun" dept, after the TDI, I'm a bit gun shy as far as going with the "practical" choice over the "emotional" one.
The other thing about the TDI is it's VERY picky about maintenance and the VW service makes MINI service look like princes. I've read too many stories of TDI owners getting their car back from the dealer in worse condition than before they serviced it. IMHO, you either DIY for everything or don't buy a TDI. I don't even take it to the dealer for warranty work - yeah they're that bad.
So for these reasons, I wouldn't recommend the TDI to the average MINI owner looking for something with good fuel mileage.
(and Chris: go look at the guitar addicts thread... )
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