I have had sports cars all my life (52 yrs old) - everything from a '66 427 Vette roadster to '66 Maserati Mistral, lots of old TR-3s, etc. and 5 different Porches. 3 years ago when my last 911 was getting a little tired I did some hard thinking and narrowed my search down to a Boxster, another older 911 or the MCS. After some deliberation I went with the MCS. I've had the MCS for 3 years now and recently got the bug to get something else. It's a Porsche thing, but once you own one, you always seem to want another. Anyway in the past week I have driven an '03 Boster S and an '02 996. Anyway as much as I wanted to love them both, they just didn't do it for me. They both felt big and heavy. Sure they had more power, but as soon as I hopped back in the MINI it just felt right. The smile came to my face and it felt quicker and just more fun to drive. That was the reason I bought the MINI over the P-cars in the first place. I think I've just revalidated that decision. I also drove a Lotus Elise and absolutely loved that, but don't think it would make a good daily driver.

Some of you other guys and gals own some nice machinery other than your MINI, am I nuts or do you feel the same way? Is the MINI just more fun?

 

Maybe it's just me and that I'm in my mid-twenties, but I plan to have a Porsche in the next 5-10 years. A 911 is, to me, the ultimate car, just because it has so much allure and can be driven daily and still out-perform most vehicles in production today.

I think you made the right decision not to get the Boxster, or “Porsche with panties,” but a 996 911 is a fantastic car.

 

I don't know, I still have my heart set on a 911 after the kids are off to college and I don't need to shuttle them around from time to time.

 

I don't think you're nuts. We also have a Corvette (older one, but we've owned it since new), and the MINI is just so much more fun. I've driven Porsches, too, and the only ones that I feel were as much fun as the MINI were the old bathtub Speedsters, when the P-cars were simpler. Just my .02...

 

I'm 57. I did the P-car thing about 20-30 years ago. Several 356s, couple of early 911s and a pair of 914 2.0. I can tell you that the Cayman is screaming at me. Went to see one at the dealer a few weeks ago and I was smitten. When the munchkin finishes college, If I'm still alive, looks like a good reward for "dear old dad."

You are right, once it gets in your blood, it never goes away.

 

MINI's can be a lot of fun to motor in but i've driven a few 911's b4 and i wouldnt compare such a beautiful piece of machine to a MINI!!

 

Stinger,

I cut my teeth on MGs, (and still own an MGA and an MGC as summer fun rides) moved on to other light weight performers like a Lotus Elan+2, Mazda Miata and AMC AMX. I have tried on several occasions to get a larger, heavier vehicle but I just keep coming back to the lighter, better handling cars. About the only things that tempt me today are the Lotus Elise/Exige and the Noble M12/M400. My MCS is the best daily-driver I've ever had. Put together well enough to function in all inclement conditions, lithe, great turn-in performance, and acceptable acceleration to boot.
I've never been bitten by the Porsche bug, but have driven several: 928, 914, 911, 924, 944 and an early Boxster. All nice but not British enough for me, although the Cayman is tempting.

 

Interesting report...very interesting. My only frame of reference was my old
Spitfire, so it sure is fascinating hearing your perspectives on MINIs in light of all the other cars you (all of you) have driven/owned.

 

I'm in the exact opposite situation. I have a 2001 Boxster that I'm probably going to sell/trade for a MCS due to the lack of seating room in the boxster (recent addition to the family). The Boxster is the best car that I've owned - which includes an M Coupe - and I'm not looking forward to parting with it. Not sure how you thought this car was heavy.

I was going to stay in the P-car family until I test drove a 2003 996/911. It just didn't do it for me. Not nearly the semi-exotic race car I thought it would be. Supposedly, the 993's fits that bill a little better but I'm not willing to pay the same price for a 1996 as for a 2001 (huge premium on the 993's). I toyed with the 964 idea but have reservations about buying a 10++ year old car that's both expensive and difficult to repair.

I haven't driven the old cars, but from the descriptions, the big P - with some exceptions - isn't what it used to be. Faster and better handling but almost to refined now. I hear that the 997 is better but that's a lot of $$$$$'s.

 

Do you own either of these cars? Why is a Boxster a P with Panties?

In case you havent seen the latest test drives, check the R&T website for the fastest slalom times. THE fastest is an 05 Boxster S at about 74MPH, that BROKE the record of an Enzo. Thats faster than a 997, faster than a C6, faster than ANY car they ever tested. For comparison, a MINI was about 67? Check the Ring times for the Boxster S as well, not in the class of cars twice as expensive but high on the list. BTW, the Cayman does the Ring 4 sec FASTER than the 997. Panties?

 

Sorry, I forgot to add a little emoticon to show my sarcasm. No, I don't own either, but have been behind the wheel of several 911s. I've personally never been a fan of the Boxster, and they are frequently ripped apart by the Porsche community.

I don't really care about slalom times; I was speaking directly on overall characteristics. There are many threads on NAM criticizing the Boxster much more than me.

 

bn

 

Really sexy ones!

 

goldsbar,

I too looked at the '95 - '98 993s because I think they look nicer than the 996s, but they are bringing a huge premium right now since they are the last of the air-cooled Porsches. You are right, you can buy a nice '01 996 for the price of a '96 993. The 996s are a little lighter and a little faster though.

After all that I read about the '03 Boxster S with the higher HP I was prepared to be wowed, but I don't know how to describe it other than the car felt heavy to me. Maybe it is just too refined as you say. My '85 Carrera certainly felt more nimble. Then again, I think I've gotted used to the MINI being able to be tossed around so easily.

 

No missed it, thats cool

Having been part of the P car community a few years back, gone to PCA autox, etc. rest assured that it is a FAR different culture than the MINI community. While some MC owners may feel slighted by mostly MCS talk, with the Porschse, if you dont own the "real thing", a 911, then your a peon. Even today, you see this elitism on the Porsche boards ... after all, if you spent $110K on your 997S Cabrio, do you really want to talk to people buying the same Marquee for half the price you spent? Lets not mix the classes please. Yup, they do that all the time ..,. it can be insulting to the people who save all their lives to get into a Porsche only to find your not welcome by the people who buy $100K cars each year and own 5 of them ... totally different world.

I think people who bash the Boxster are talking about pre-05 Boxsters, not Post 05 Boxster S. For $45K, I wouldnt think I Boxster worth the price either. Spend more money and its not the same thing.

 

Agreed.


Friends?

 

I suggest you test drive the 05 S.

 

hehehehehe I found a pair of panties in my 356C once . . . It can happen

Florida gurls used to like those P wagons . . .

 

Dude, did you get a Cayman test ride?

 

For what it is worth I currently have a 2006 Corvette, a 2006 Cayman, a 911 and just sold a 2005 350Z. In my opionion my 06 JCW Mini is much more fun than all of them. If I could only keep one it would be the Mini.

 

No, I just crawled all over it. I am not in a position to get hooked again . . .

 

Before you go buy another MINI, if you got the budget, go look at an 05 Boxster S w/PASM. You can probably get a stripped one for a few thousand more than a new JCW MINI Convert.

If you got a really good budget, the Cayman blows them all away... 4 secs faster around the Ring than the 997, 1 sec slower (I believe) than the 997s which begs the question Why buy an 997 when for 20K less the Cayman is a much better sports car ... but then again, your looking at a $75K car.


Chows4us,

Good observations, unfortunately the '05 Boxster S and Cayman are a little out of my price range. Maybe I need to go drive another '03 Boxster S. It could be the one I drove was a dog. I'm not really thinking of a new MCS either because mine only has 15,000 miles on it. I suppose I could mod it, but don't believe the turbo mods are going to hold up over the long run (Sorry all you turbo fanatics - I really applaud your efforts and envy the HP you guys are putting out, but don't think the reliability is going to be there).

 

Interesting mix . . . On paper, the Cayman seems much like the early 911s that I played with. The styling is first rate. Seems like a winner to me.

 

That's it! That's the felling I had. It's more fun. Hard to describe exactly. The cars are obviously very different; a MINI isn't a Porsche. Hey I'm a tried and true Porsche guy, but the MCS just makes me grin.

 

Build a newer style (964 based 3.2 litre) back dated Porsche 911RS replica [keep as a track car] and be done with it. Just like Paul Stephens builds in the UK. This 911RS replica will make you grin AND say "oh, sh^t... too!" Keep your MINI Cooper S.

PCA/GMR Mountaineer Editor, current.
PCA/GGR Nugget Editor '91
PCA member since 1973.
Dr. Ferry Porsche signed book, 1973 Monterey Porsche Parade.

Past Porsches
1972 911RS replica
1976 Carrera 3.0
1985 944 early Club Sport
1987 944 late