April 03 Automobile Magazine:

MCS vs. Dodge SRT-4, Mazdaspeed Protege, and Ford SVT Focus

They picked the MCS 3rd out of 4 with the SRT-4 taking top honors. Damn SRT is a rocket with 215hp and 245 ft-lb of torque! Poor MINI got smoked.

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Treasurer, SCMM | paul@scmm.org | Future MINI owner.

 

When you are king of the mountain someone wants to knock you off.

At least we still have the best looking car

 

But it's still a Focus.. heh heh...

{EDIT: Whoops, The neon won.. ok, make that "But It's still a Neon.. heh heh...}

Is it me, (it probally is) but is there now a HUGE push for smaller faster cars lately?

Rocketboy_X

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Chili Red MCS, White Rims, White Roof, White Stripes : AKA the Mach Four

 

too bad they didn't compare the JCW S to those cars!
i bet the outcome would be much better!

 

So what came in 2nd?? The Mazda?

 

And you think a lot of people question the MINI's initial build quality in these forums....... Wait until the SRT forums get rolling!

 

I'm sorry, I just don't understand the logic behind stuffing a huge wad of horsepower into an ugly, cheap feeling and dated econobox just to make it "go fast".
I don't care if it says SRT-4 after the name, it's still a Neon. Unexciting, economical basic transportation at best.

Not meant to **** anyone off, just my opinion..

 

They made the SRT NEON to capture the audience that demands it... it's your basic need to cater to the lower denomination... Dodge makes great cars... RAM HEMI and the VIPER.... to keep up the Big Dodge Tradition... they need to make a cheap vehicle to get the younger market more excited about car buying, and as they get older they will stick with a brand... Dodge is coming out with some major firepower in the next couple of years... and the srt line is a great starting position for them... Watch out for the HEMI line... it's back a 450+HP Durango with a new body style in 2004, the new HEMI sedan and wagon, and of course the 500HP Hemi RAM.

Personally I could care less that those cars are faster.... big deal. The Neon style is certainly ugly... to us. As is the MINI to many others...

Did we buy the Mini for it's HP? Did we base our purchase on the compression ratios? Were we manipulated by the MPG? Hell no! We were drawn in by the styling and history... and it's a cheap BMW!

Lets take what MINI has told us to do, and do it..... Lets Motor!

PS If you wanna fast mini.... pump some NOS in there and you will get your 5 second thrill... MINI is fast enough.... lets be honest with ourselves

 

Those were beautiful words. couldn't of said it better. I think
I'm going to cry

 

I read an article about the SRT stating that it was the "fastest way to get to the grocery".

Neon grocery getter is what I want to be seen in... Ha Ha -- Not!

 

It's the American formula for pocket-rockets... take a cheap car (read Dodge Omni GLH, Ford Escort GT, etc) and overtune their cheap little motors until they can't stand to be driven for more than 80k miles.

You get what you pay for. If you want a cheap, fast Dodge Neon, that's just what you get. If you want to motor?

You can only motor in a MINI.

I think I'll keep motorin'

 

I like cars. I've driven a Neon at speed around Lime
Rock and it was an enjoyable experience. Same for
a Formula Dodge. Don't forget who helped build OUR
engines!!! Chrysler engines are bulletproof and the
Neon has probaly gotten more people into racing in
the last few years than ANY other car. It will be interesting
to see the SRT forums. I'll bet fewer problems than any
BMW forum.....am I a heretic????

 

I would think most companies want a MINI killer in their stable now...but the reality is most MINI owners bought the car for it's handling abilities, fun factor and look. If I wanted brute speed and the ability to beat everybody on the drag strip at Englishtown, NJ in a small car, the WRX would have fit the bill perfectly. I do love seeing what other companies are doing, and competition is a good thing for the consumer - more choices out there and if people are buying smaller cars, all the better.

 

>>It will be interesting to see the SRT forums. I'll bet fewer problems than any BMW forum.....am I a heretic????<<

Yes!

 

2minis I must agree with you... the Neon has been a huge hit on the SCCA scene and Chrysler at one time put a good bit of money into rewarding those who drive the Neon... that said I do think the new Neon is not too pretty but the SRT version is very quick and I am sure handles well.... Would I buy the new hot Neon... Guess not since I ordered my Cooper yesterday.... So did autoweek take any autocross times into the fray.... I am sure the cooper S would have done very well on that test.... :smile:

We all know MINIs RULE!!!!

 

My wife used to own a Neon until it was totalled when she was hit. It was the worst made car in the past 10 years bar none.

 

Recalls and TSBs on 1996 BMW 740....here

1996 Neon....here

I case my rest. The 740 is one of BMWs most expensive cars(rear hub flaw

 

>>My wife used to own a Neon until it was totalled when she was hit. It was the worst made car in the past 10 years bar none.

Ever driven a Kia Sephia? I rented one with less than 5k on it, and the fuel guage was broken, the sun visor dangled uselessly, the dash lights were partially burnt out, and the engine sounded like it was about 20 years old.

 

I love my Mini but....
The S
the coolant turned dark brown..replaced under warranty..no reason found by BMW/MINI.
the coolant tank leaked...replaced under warranty.
stress crack in windshield.....
..rear latch problems....
broken ashtray latch...I don't even smoke..just opened and closed it a few times.
Inadequate, unsafe tailight design....rear ended
6700 miles
My Cooper.
5800 Miles
Linkage broke stranding me.
Multiple windshield chips.
My 1996 Neon....
drove the hell out of it for 78,000 miles..
Replaced brakes and tires and routine maintenance.
Gave the car to a friend and it still runs like a top.
...but I do love my MINI.

 

I dont think the Mini S fit into that comparison at all.

If all they wanted to compare is engines, of course the 2.4 liter turbo was going to beat all the others, it has at least 40 more HP than the next contendent, and with more cubic inches= more torque. Would have been interesting to see a WRX, a Beetle Turbo S and an Acura RSX in that mix.

If they care to compare the cars as an overall package (design, suspension, fun to drive, assembly quality) I bet the results would be completely different.

Mini wins in the important things: The smiles of other people looking at your car (specially from women

 

The writers of that article obviously focused mostly on 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. The MCS excels in both looks and fun to drive. Plus I think the quaility, for a completely new model is pretty good. I don't know about the SVT, but I know the regular Focus' are being lemon-lawed left and right. I've never driven an SRT4 but I did test drive the WRX before buying the MCS and I'll say the MCS is definilty more fun to drive, even though not as fast accelerating. I rank the SRT4 right up there with the Aztek in the looks catagory.

 

I agree 110%!

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>>Chrysler at one time put a good bit of money into rewarding those who drive the Neon...<<

MINIUSA is also going to start offering financial rewards to MINI racers. Check out the thread
Racing MINI-Press release from MINIUSA.

 

>>My wife used to own a Neon until it was totalled when she was hit. It was the worst made car in the past 10 years bar none.

Was the Neon a 1st or 2nd Gen?

 

I read the test of the NEON in Grassroots Motorsorts - they loved it. I'm sure it is a great car, fun to drive, fast, and handles extremely well on the track...BUT IT IS STILL A NEON! Sorry, I'll relax again... I didn't read the Automobile article, but in the GRM article they mentioned that the boost is dialed up to 16 or 18 psi. Thats pretty high when you look at the VW 1.8t which runs at 11 psi (.8 BAR). Would you want that NEON's engine in 80k miles? - no thanks. The MCS also runs with a .8 BAR boost - relatively mild. I'll be plenty happy with my MCS (once it gets here in May!)