Totally agree with you. When I got behind the wheel of my friend's Boxster, the first thing that came into my mind was "this is a driver's car". The driving position was perfect for my physical build. The car was just a blast to drive.
If I had the bucks, I would spring for one. (But there are lots of other cars out there I want too ) . I envy you in being able to have both.

My MCS feels lighter on its feet, but the Boxster feels easier to drive. The cost of ownership might be a deciding factor. I have great respect for Porsche cars (well...maybe except for the Cayanne), and it seems to me some Porsche owners reciprocate that respect.

Interesting thread.

 

I think they do too. See http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforum...6&page=1&pp=15
this guy has a new 997 as ordered a MC for his daily driver.

They were amazed at how easy it was to track the order through production.

 

I currently own a Boxter that has had many modification's . It is an enjoyable car. I also own a red mini s that is moderately modified. To be truthful I enjoy driving the mini more. I do not think of the mini as a " clown car". It has an aggressive stance and is quite capable both on and off a road course. I enjoy the many Vendor's that service the Mini and most people on the site are quite knowledgable and helpful.

 

you notice how that guy was posting about buying a non-porsche on a porsche forum and nobody gave him any crap about it? those porsche people must be crazy.

 

You have an excellent point!

Imagine that ... a bunch of people who all own $80K plus cars and they welcome a $20K car into the fold with no bashing.

I wonder what they think of SUVs? Oh wait, they MAKE SUVs

 

^ A nice read...thanks for the link.

 

You still on that crusade, chows? We've been there, done that, I have the T-shirt...

Oh, and I'd be curious to sit down with you sometime and go through all of the cost calculations of your SUV vs. your MINI. It's not that I don't believe your sincerity, I would just like to have fun crunching the numbers myself. Actual gas cost per mile, etc.

 

OK, NP. I can save a gas receipt next fill-up

I know I just bought gas for both cars recently. Driving is always mixed (eg.., going to work, around town, no highway driving at all except a little in some traffic)

Toyota - 22 MPG just bought at $3.06
MINI - 25 MPG just bought at $3.37

BTW, I can get regular at $2.99 but its a short drive (2 mile drive to get there and I am lazy). Regular gas changes everyday. Today 3.06, tomorrow 3.11, you know how that goes.

3.06/22 = ~ 13.9
3.37/25 = ~ 13.48 cents per mile

You know where I live, same town as SallyKat. Gas is always more than say 20 miles away in either direction. Premium gas goes up

Gas mileage for the MINI depends upon how heavy my wifes foot can be Sometimes 24 .... sometimes 26

You can look up the toyota here for mpg http://fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/19245.shtml

it says 24 mpg but my foot is heavier than 24 mpg. For another driver who really got 24 mpg (all around driving), the cost for premium in the MCS would truly blow it away.

Here is the 04 MCS numbers http://fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/19408.shtml
There is no way ever, we have ever seen 28 mpg. not going to happen Bottom line. 0.4 cents is a wash because it all depends upon how heavy the foot it

 

I have heard that many basic maintenance tasks such as water pump replacement, spark plugs, etc require you to remove the engine from the car. That makes repair prices skyrocket, and greatly increases the PITA factor for the DIY'ers in the audience.

Rawhyde

 

OK, so now you're saying the MINI is cheaper on gas? Quite a different story from previous posts. Yes, the prices fluctuate, but obviously all gas price comparisons should be made from the exact same gas station on the exact same day.
Heh - of course, that's always one of the biggest factors - driving style.
I personally have gotten 32, on the highway, taking it easy and cruising mostly at 70 mph. This was in 2005, on the way back from MOTD3, in a caravan with Marina & James.
So now it's a wash? You've maintained for some time now (and made quite a big deal about) how it's cheaper to drive your SUV. What would be most interesting is to have one vehicle follow the other, driving the same speeds, taking turns at the same speed, etc... so that driving style was less of a factor.

 

Boxster Beater or Porsche Killer stickers are in order, Maybe Honda Slayer. It is amazing how many cars we can smoke on the highways. Jersey is the best, when coming out of the toll plazas late at night on the parkway. You are always good for at least one beat down.

 

I say its cheaper to drive the Rav. I remember these prices because it was like Sunday. 0.4 cents is a wash. In both cars, we are always going to be on the low-end of mileage because there is no highway driving .... not in our life at the moment.
It comes down to the difference between regular and premium gas.

The real bottom line is TOC (total cost of ownership) and if your in IT, you should know all about TOC

Take a five year period (or longer if you keep them longer) and add in the maintenaince costs, repair costs, etc. and the Toyota is cheaper to live with. Some examples, although bigger tires, after 30K miles I can get tires for $280 (not installed). For the MINI after 20K miles, RF replacements are what ... $900? I dont even want to think about the cost of maintenaince outside of the initial free period. I know our clutch will go outside of that time frame because she doesn't drive it long enuff. Who ever heard of clutches going at 30k Miles? That is insane. MINI maintenaince costs, I expect to be a killer.

It would be ideal to drive the exact same locations, etc but impractical but not sure it would prove much. I drive the Toyota hard because it takes a lot gas to get it going, mostly stop lights, stop signs, on ramps, etc that kill mileage. If I drove it gently other than trying to drive it l like a faster car, I bet the mileage would go way up but thats not going to happen Maybe another driver In other words, the Toyota mileage can only go up. On the other hand, if I drive the MINI ... uh oh., it can only go down.

 

But the discussion was never about TCO, it was about cost of gas. Now you're changing the discussion... heck, I could buy a cheap Chevy Aveo and run it into the ground, getting better TCO than BOTH vehicles! But would I?I still maintain that for highway mileage, you're doing something wrong if you've never even made 28 mpg, let alone 31 or 32. I've done it, and not with an empty vehicle either, but with various bags & luggage. Cruise control at 70mph on a long trip, you SHOULD get over 30 in an MCS, unless you're towing something or have a roof rack.

 

OK forget about TCO. I still say that being within 0.4 cents is meaningless and can swing either way on a daily basis with the prices of gas. Close enuff for government work

I didn't say anything about highway mileage because we don't do highway mileage. ALL the miles in the MINI are "around town" ... Urban ... totally the "city". Stop lights, stop signs, etc. The "only" highway it ever sees is US29 and thats only maybe a half dozen miles. The MINI is probably very likely able to get better mileage ... When I think of it, the only highway mileage it ever seen is to Towson but the Balt Beltway is alway stop and go and terrible construction. So I have no idea of its highway mileage. Remember, its the wife car to do as she pleases which means ... shopping, nursery, mall, around town.

In the past two years we have taken three longer trips in the Toyota, one down to South Carolina and twice to Boston, fully loaded with all kinds of crap (vacation). It did get like 28 mpg which is near its high side but again, thats rare, we haven't taken a driving trip in two years. We usually fly.

I should add that prior to buying these two cars, we ALWAYS took very long roadtrips, I mean take the month off and drive 10,000 miles around the country. Usually done in a two seater with far less luggage space than the MINI so I know all about that. But now as you get older, driving for a month doesn't sound like too much fun anymore when you can get to Hawaii in 12 hours. That is kind of funny in a way that I know how something that can go softroading in Utah, do parts of Canyonlands and dirt trails, haul a bunch of crap ... and we fly

Fundamentally, all our driving is around town.

 

They just came out with a standard, (non-S), version of the Cayman. If it looks anywhere near as good as the red one in Motor Trend, I want one really bad. It's "only" $50,395.

 

The non-S cayman should handle just as well as the S and the S now has the road and track Slalom record, beating the Boxster S, at over 74 Mph (compared to MCS 66?).

I want one

 

friend of mine is selling his boxster and picking up a mcs conv.

great move!

 

friend of mine is selling his boxster and picking up a mcs conv.

great move!

 

As a former Porsche owner of nearly 20 years, one thing I KNOW that ticks off a Porsche owner, especially a 911 owner, ask them how their Glorified Volkswagen is running? (For those of you that don't know this, Dr. Porsche designed and built VW Bugs before the Porsche went into production. Thus the somewhat rounded resemblance to the early 356 to the 911.) Clown Car? Call it what you want P-owners, but just keep checking you mirrors.

I sold my last 911 to buy my MCS and I haven't regretted it one moment for doing so. I enjoy my MINI more than I think I ever did with the Porsche.

One example of how low the quality is in the construction of the Boxster, look under the skin of a door panel, or ask a body shop what they think, they will tell you the low quality of workmanship and parts that are under the sheet metal. Thus another reason why they don't hold their value all too well.

One last thing, I recently looked a new '06 911. In my opinion the interior of this car does NOT hold a candle to the interior of the MINI (without the cup holder, of course!). VERY plain looking. The MINI by far is much better looking and better designed. (This of course is without the cup holder. Did I mention that?)

 

Here is a video clip of my recent experience with a Boxster. He saw me in his mirrors and responded appropriately. Apparently some Boxster owners know how to share the road with a Mini like they should.


Edit: Replaced with longer version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzEls3SMsTY

 

WOW, that guy was so scared of you he was courteous enuff to let you go by. I guess he'll never mess with a MINI again

 

He tried to hold out for a bit as you can see in this longer version. You can tell he knew the Mini was coming. Then once I was there he just pulled over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzEls3SMsTY