And you ended up with a MINI?

I felt the 35 had a bigger back seat in terms of leg room, but not as much head room.

 

We weren't sure which of our existing cars we would replace, so we drove:

MINI Cooper (new)
MINI Cooper S (new)
Porsche 911 Carrera (1989)
Volvo V70 R (2004)
Mercedes-Benz E320 4MATIC (2003)
Mustang GT (new)

We ended up buying the MCS and keeping the existing cars, one of which got bumped from the garage to the cul-de-sac so the MINI can sleep indoors!

If one of the other cars gets wrecked tomorrow, we're buying the MB wagon.

 

I test drove a G35 coupe, r32, scion Tc, civic Si, mcs, mcs jcw, 350z, miata, evo, and sti. The r32 was great but I did research and found that the car doesn't have many upgrades or the upgrades were expensive. The Tc felt like a higher integra. The G35 coupe and 350z felt like a larger Tc. I guess I'm not one for small windows since I own a e30 1987 325is as well. Civic Si was nice and good pull but I wasn't impressed with the interior and felt a little cheap. The Evo was a great fun car but I think that I had more fun in a MCS and I like the Exterior a lot better. The STI was just plain ugly. I really don't know how they sell many of those. Miata was pretty fun but the Mini won Hands down.
Jeff D
Mini Cooper S JCW 2003
BMW 325is 1987

 

I wanted to test drive the Prius... I wanted my second car to be either fun or practical. I test drove the MINI first. I enjoyed the test drive so much I bought the model I test drove! Never did get to check out the Prius... no real regrets here though.

 

I'll have to join the ranks of those who test drove nothing but a MINI. That's all I wanted. First I test drove a Cooper, then an MCS. The Cooper felt like a better fit for me so that was my choice. It's been love ever since.

 

Hmmm...I was looking for a commuter car.

Mercedes Benz SLK230 (used)
BMW Z3 (used)
Mazda3 GT
Mazda Protege5
Acura RSX
Nissan Sentra Spec V
VW Golf
Smart ForTwo

 

Only one car, the MINI and then I was sold. However, since, I've thought about picking up another fun car. I've tested the Porsche boxster and BMW 3 series. Both of the tem suck compared to the MINI. I tested the MCS and bought one( obvisouly), but about a year later went back to test a MC... just for kicks! It was nice as well, but glad I went w/ the Cooper S.

 

I was going to test drive a GTI after i drove the MCS but i never did, plus i always wanted a MINI anyways so it would have made no sense to test drive a car that i didnt really want

 

I drove an Audi A3 and Mazda RX-8.

The A3 was very nice inside, but felt too bulky.

The RX-8 is like a cave inside.

 

I was happy with my Mustang V6. I wasn't looking at purchasing something else because the two things I look for are not easy to come by. Sporty looks and good gas mileage and a decent price. But I always kept my eye on new cars just out of curiosity.

In 2002 I saw the MINI on the internet and finally talked my wife into going to the out of state dealer just to take a look. Two months later, once selling at sticker, not over, I had my first MINI on order. I kept the sporty look, good gas mileage, and received great handling and many other nice things out of the deal. The suprise. All this for what I consider a bargain price.

 

Corvette: crappy ride, too low, felt every bump in the road, what's the fuss about this one?

PT Cruiser: no ***, no gitty-up, no head space.

Cavalier: Okay, looked like every other car on the lot, no individualism, boring...

Taurus: Okay, just another car...

VW "bug": Made a funny noise, I'm told it was "normal."

Prius: Too small, cramped feeling..

MINI Cooper: Yeah baby! Great ride, zoom zoom!, got personality, no funny noises, just my size!!!!

Mick

 

i test drove the Subaru STI and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution which iam still highly considering. They are both outstanding performance vehicles that handle amazing. But i also test drove the Cooper S and was impressed with its handling although not as fast as the Evo and STI but it is a different class. And even though the sti and evo are a lot faster there is something about the cooper i love. my friend has one and ive noticed that when we pull up to lights we have people in expensive cars looking at us and giving us props for having a cooper. not to mention it seems as though the Cooper goes over well with the ladies

 

All of these were 2005s

Chevy Cobalt: The plain one not the SS. Not bad, just boring. Considered the SS but I could not get close enough to the wheel in the regular car so I forgot it.

Honda Civic EX: Same as above, with less hp and a better interior

Jeep Wrangler: A 6 speed 6 cylinder. Great Torque, bad ride, tipsy, sloppy shifter...but it can climb mountains!

Mazda 3: Impressive car

Scion TC: Didn't get to drive it cause they were sold out.

2006 Pontiac Solstice: My dad works at GM so he brought one home for me to test. Great handler, great looks, cheap. Only knock is lack of luggage space and that it was not available when I needed a car in August. I would get one now and live with the lack of space if I did not have the MCS.

Mini: The last car I drove and it shamed all except the Solstice for handling (duh) and all for character. I drove a non S because I had driven a friend's 2002 MCS and the Cooper was more in line with my price range. I was convinced to get the non S until my dad stepped in and reminded me that once I optioned up the non S, it would only be $2k more for the MCS...

 

'05 Saab 92X turbo: didn't like the power delivery of the turbo & it didn't have that "Saab" character. I guess 'cause it's not really a Saab.

'05 Acura RSX: Great car in it's own right, but for me it was an Integra version 4.1. I've already owned 2 'tegs. Been there, done that, time for something else.

'05 Mustang GT: Probably the most refined feeling american car I've driven. More power than I can legally use. Unfortunately, Ford wasn't really interested in selling me one unless I "had" to have it. $4k over sticker, special order would get me an '06 w/out Legend Lime? Thanks, but no thanks.

'02 Cooper S: I test drove a co-worker's under real-world conditions. When I first punched it, I actually laughed out loud (I was laughing WITH the car, not at it). Verdict: An '05 in BRG/W, please.

 

I got my car in mid-2003, and the EVO had just come out. It was really a toss-up between the 2 for a long time, but I decided the MINI had more character and would be just as fun without being as crazy. Plus, I couldn't get a test drive in an EVO because I was 19 years old, and Tustin Mitsubishi wanted- get this - $20k over sticker!! It was pretty much decided at that point.

 

After I drove the MINI I stopped looking and don't remember the others.

 

I bought my 04 MCS just because I wanted it. I've been a fan for VW's since a 78 Rabbit I owned. I have driven older 911's, Miatas, Saab Turbo. Also have driven an STI and the new Mustang V8. I have own Audi A4, New Beetle, VW GTI (1,2,3,4), Honda CRV's (97&04). But never, never felt this way about fun and getting connected to a car like the MINI makes me feel. So, my MINI is the way to have a lot of fun and a whole new driving experience.
I daily drive an automatic Mk4 GTI with 1.8T. My MCS has 2700 miles on its odometer in 2 years. I keep it covered. Is my little toy. When I want tons of fun, I take it to a spin.
Long life the MINI!

 

I drove:
Subaru Legacy
Infiniti G35
Acura TL
BMW 3
Mazda RX-8
Scion xB
Lexus IS250 and 350

All were the 2005 models except the Lexus' which were 2006 models.

I didn't even consider MINI and only drove the MINI as it was right next to BMW, didn't really know much about them then.

But in the end the MINI was the only one that really felt right.

 

well a truck cause sales guy was a waste and it got me outta there, then 4 months later I began getting follow-up emails. I didn't think a MINI (my dream car) was in my price range esp cause I never got one under 34k on MINIUSA. Test drove a few Camaros, then the MINI and was well I drove everybody else crazy, few weeks worked out the finacing and picked up my new MINI and test drive it EVERY day.

 

I tried out:
G35 Coupe
330Ci
M3
Jetta Turbo (previous version)
IS300
C230
C320
STi
540i 6 speed
545i 6 speed (that thing is just circus ugly...)

I liked the M3 a lot, but the price and fuel consumption were too much for my 80 mile (2-way) commute. I liked the 330Ci as well, but it was difficult to load my mother's wheelchair into the trunk...I also just couldn't deal with knowing that if I bought the 330Ci, it'd be trying to live in the shadow of the M3. The MCS had a great mix of performance, convenience, fuel consumption, and it carried the wheelchair easily. The MINI wasn't the fastest, but it was far and away the most fun to drive. My best friend bought the 540i, so I got to drive it pretty often. (He just traded it for a Dodge Ram SRT-10...that is definately a hardcore machine!)

Rawhyde

 

Acura RSX, Dodge Magnum, Chevy Silverado, Pontiac Solstice (No t.d. but serious consideration) and Honda Sivic Si

 

Tested a Solstice - but they wanted 3K over sticker!! Looked at a TT - tested the 225hp Quattro model which is what I wanted all along - LOVED the handling, on a par with the Mini, but wanted a new car and specced the way I wanted it was over 35K.

Tested the Cooper first, then the Cooper S - that was 3 weeks ago. One sleepless night of figuring out the numbers and it was ours the next day, Perfect spec too: Blue/Silver with HK, Premium and Cold weather. Even with the negative equity on our trade I still feel like we got a deal!!

 

a TT on par with the MINI? I disagree. I find that car to be rather slugish as it is such a heavy car. I dont think the handling is near what it should be. Always thought it was a hot car though

 

never test drove any other car.

back in the beginning '02 my dad received an issue of the Auto Week and i saw an article of the mini. Ever since then i wanted one. one day i asked him if he would put an order in and he said would (that never happened). So instead i did, but forgot to tell him. A couple weeks later they called him and asked for a deposit, then he called me right away and asked if i placed an order on a mini. I told him "suprise,! I totally forgot to let you know that i ordered the mini instead.'' So, he put a down payment on it, and i paid off the rest. been in love with the mini ever since. cant stop spending money on it. it's never ending, but it's all worth it.

 

I test drove anything I under $30,000 that I could fit in, and a few more expensive just to see how they'd feel. (I'm 6'5 and thick).

First, those that I didn't even TRY to drive:
-Cadillac CTS-V
-PT Cruiser
-Scion tC, xA, xB. The tC was the only one I would have considered, but it was also the only one out of the three that was physically impossible for me to drive rather than being merely uncomfortable.
-Toyota Camry LE
-Subaru WRX, Outback, Forester. Except for the WRX, they could have had enough room if the seats had been designed to roll back more.
-Pontiac GTO (extremely disappointed.), Sunfire, G6, Solstice
-Chevrolet C6 Vette
-Mazda RX-8
-Infiniti G35

The list of cars I was actually able to operate is somewhat shorter:
-Mazda6
-Nissan Altima, Maxima
-Dodge Magnum, Charger, SRT-4
-VW GTi
-Toyota Solara

Out of those, I thought the Mazda6 was the most fun to drive. I was extremely impressed and strongly considered buying one before getting to test drive a broken-in Mini Cooper S. I would even say I was almost sold until I was simply more impressed by the Mini. The Mazda6 had great handling performance, available manual transmission with stronger engines, and a really nice engine response but not quite as much space around the driver's seat (not quite enough for my shoulders) and the Mini was just a little more fun to drive. If I needed more passenger space and/or cargo capacity, the Mazda6 would likely have been my choice.

The Altima was also quite nice. The heritage of its large V6 was made obvious by the deep groan and hard push forward with a firm foot down on the pedal but the drive was less exhilirating than the Mazda. The ergonomics of the vehicle were perhaps better for me than the Mazda6, with just a little more room around the seat in the Altima, but I was severely off-put by the low mounting of the steering wheel and/or high mounting of the seats. It felt like the center of the wheel was at about naval height while driving, and no amount wheel or seat adjustment fixed it. Also, the poor customer treatment at several lots and difficulty of finding an Altima SE with a manual transmission led to frustration and eventual elimination of Nissan from my consideration in this round of purchasing.

I was extremely impressed by the Charger and Magnum. They had plenty of room and were an absolute blast to drive. That Hemi is a nice, strong engine but since DC has elected to offer only autmomatic transmission in its Hemi-powered vehicles, they'll have to suffer at least one almost certain lost sale. The Magnum that I drove actually felt much fast than the Charger but the charger had been modified with an aftermarket exhaust and some 20 or 22 inch chrome Foose wheels that were probably responsible for the perceived performance loss (and between the rims and pipes, the dealer wanted an extra 7 grand for the car). I was more comfortable driving the charger, however, due to the perception of a much shorter car. The Magnum felt uncomfortably long from behind the wheel. The manual mode on the autostick was a joke, too. Aside from the fact that it is moreso the clutch that makes a manual transmission worthwhile than the ability to select gears, the gear selection was so laggy that it was completely useless. And finally, the sales tactic of requiring power everthing and heated leather seats to be able to buy the Hemi-equipped car pushed the stickers way higher than they needed to be. I would love to see a two-door, strippo version of a charger with a hemi and a stick priced in the mid-to-high 20's, but I am certainly not holding my breath.

The SRT-4 was a lot of fun to drive. But it was way too small inside. It was easily the smallest car I've ever driven, and I was impressed by the fact that I was even able to drive it, but that was actually about a year and half before I was seriously able to consider purchasing a new car, and I'm sure that the 25-30 pounds I've put on in that time would have pushed this car to my longer list.

The VW GTi just irritated me. I didn't like the sloppy ride at all. Their suspension needs a LOT of work to be competitive with any of the other cars I drove. Granted, it was the cheapest that I drove by almost $5000, and that money could easily have brough its performance right up with the others. But I was looking for a stable, solid, and dependable daily driver and my willingness to perform such work on a brand new car was quite low. The engine was sufficient but uninspiriing. I drove the 1.8T, and while it did give a nice thrust after spooling up the turbo, its crawl off the line and abrupt torque peak were simply not to my style. However, to the credit of VW's design, there was more driver room in the GTi than in any of the other cars I've looked at this year, including all of the mid and full size sedans, all of the sport compacts, all of the small trucks, and all but one or two of the full size trucks. I had to slide the seat forward to drive, and that impressed immensly.

I was actually pretty impressed by the Solara's space. It was almost as comfortable as the Dodges. And the lower seat bottom with respect to the dash controls gave it a much sportier seating position. But I didn't like the exterior styling, the lack of a manual transmission for V6 models, or the high price for what was present in the package. If the Solara's seating and control arrangements were available in the Camry LE, I might have considered it more seriously.

So, to finish up an exhaustive round of comparison shopping, I went to Crevier and test drove a 2004 MCS. The handling was amazing. The engine was strong without being overwelimingly peaky. The roominess was a huge a surprise. The $6000 markup got me to laugh in their faces and leave. Then I came here and found out about South Bay and Long Beach and their MSRP-only policies, and after visiting each lot and comparing the treatment I received, I placed an order at Long Beach. The rest is history.