Since I have been waiting impatiently :impatient for my Cooper to be built, I thought I would take this opportunity to test drive the G35. It is one of the cars that I have been thinking about purchasing instead of the Mini.

I have to be honest...while the G35 IMHO is absolutley gorgeous (although the center console and dash landscape appears very cheap), I did not walk away with that "weeeeeeeeeee" feeling I got when I took a Cooper S for a test drive. Even my better half commented that I was not grinning from ear to ear during the test drive of the G35 like I was with the Mini. She duelly noted that when I drove the Mini, it was obvious that I felt like a kid again and was having a blast. Just like most women, she was right!

Before I test drove a Mini, I had taken an 06 RSXs out for a test drive the night before. This car has a gorgeous interior, but the exterior is lacking and there is no pep from the motor what so ever even given the fact that it is 201hp.

So with all that said, it is easy to understand why some of you say that you prefer driving your Mini's vs your higher dollar imports.

I just can not justify the $38k price tag of the G35 just because it looks sharp. Heck, you can't even mod the G35 like you can the Mini's...where is the fun in that????

Joe "Still sold on a Mini"

 

I too considered the G35 when contemplating my next car. But the cheapness (at least in appearance) of the interior really put me off. The cars drive very good (but not great) and have all of the requisite gimmicks and features, but like most Japanese products, they just lack the personality and character that is present in so many European cars.

Especially the mini! It's got personality and character to spare!

Michael

 

first i thought G35 coupe was very attractive with its sleek lines and bright a$$ LED tail lights. however the more i see it, it just looks so dated/old. I dont' know what's with japanese cars but when I first see their new models they look so hot but within 2 years of introduction, they all look old as any 8 year old cars.

 

Order of cars test driven:
1. G35 - Visually appealing, meh driving experience.
2. RSX-S - Plain jane, did everything I needed it to.
3. GTI - Solid drive, heavy driving experience. [#2 on my list]
4. tC - Drove it just for fun, I'd honestly be happier driving a corolla. [Fell off my list when I took it off the lot]
5. MINI - wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! [Ordered one last week]

 

Funny...I was planning on test driving many of the cars listed, but decided why bother. Here is my reasoning:

G35: too hot to look at, also a bit pricy.

tC: not bad, but why?

RSX-S: no LSD, hondas scream, but kind of lacking soul

new Si: Yay for the LSD, bu again, blah. And i BET these get stolen left & right....

WRX: I love these, with all of their quirks, but we have a beater scooby wagon that we are going to keep... Plus, it's just not as direct

Miata/MX-5: I like the looks of the new one, but i have spent abou 8 years with miatae. I know that you can have just as much (if not more) fun in an old 1.6L for $3000 as a new one....

-jac

 

I wanted to test some of those too, but:

tC - was unable to physically fit in the car

Miata - ditto

Civic SI - ditto

WRX - ditto

The MCS has so much interior space it's no comparison.

 

Looks like we all took almost the same route to end up with a mini

 

Tell me how you like the R1150RT. Always wanted a BMW motorcycle but never owned or even rode one.

At 62 I'm ready to settle for a Vespa.

 

TooTall brought up another great point which I forgot to mention in my original post. My girlfriend and I were laughing and are still preplexed by the fact that while I stand 6' 3", I fit in the Mini so much better than I did in the G35. I had to slouch a little bit to sit comfortably.

That gave us a good chuckle.

 

I have the same problem at 6'2". My knees hit the dash in my 90 mustang but I fit better in the mini. WIERD!