Hello all,
Just joined and this is my first post. My wife is looking for a new car and we both like the mini. I have a WRX, and here is my main concern... I am 6'4". Will I fit in a mini? Also how do they drive. I know it's won't accellerate like my wrx, but I hear they handle even better. I am very excited about our test drives this weekend. Please let me know of any comparisons you might have og these to cars. We are looking at the cooper, not the S to save on $$ and gas.
Thanks for the help, and I love your cars!
Ben Jacobsen

 

Yes. You will fit. I just came back from the Tail of the Dragon
and we met a bunch of WRX people. Sounds like a good choice
re. the Cooper. I had a Coop and now an S and did get significantly
better MPG in the Coop. Happy trails.

 

hi ben,

rest assured...i am 6'4" and had the move the seat UP
to get into a comfortable driving position!

i've had my S since friday, and so far i'm averaging 24.5
miles per gallon. not as bad as i thought...

good luck!

S-

 

I had a guy who was 6 foot 7 fit into the car at the dealership.

 

I'm 6'4" and I'm very comfortable driving my MC. I've had 4 adults in the car, and while moving the seat up to accomodate the rear passenger wasn't my prefered position for the seat, it wasn't uncomfortable at all. I also generally get 30mpg with a mixture of city and highway driving. I really dig it.

 

You will love the handling of the MINI and will most likely be a comfortable fit for you. With the WRX you are used to some top-notch handling, but the MINI will take it a notch further. You will love it even if it is not AWD!

Give one a try and let us know what you think!

The MINI is definitely not a vehicle for stoplight races, but if you can trick someone to follow you into the twisties, they do not have a chance. . .

 

I thought about the WRX as a one-car solution, but what killed me on it was the unavailability of a sunroof. I do believe the sunfoof is available for 2004 tho. A thing to consider about the sunroof on the WRX is that they do eat into headroom but I doubt it would be an issue. I felt comfortable going from a convertible which I love to the Mini because of the giant sunroof. The other factor was I didn't feel like I was giving up styling by getting the MINI. I certainly felt that way with the WRX.

Another note about reliability. I always assumed that Subaru's were bulletproof. For a while they had great JD Power ratings in the early 90s, but they were bottom of the pack with the latest survey where Mini fared poorly as well. My mom has an Imprezza and has not had any serious problems but has made a few trips to have minor issues checked.

I don't think you can go wrong with either car, but if one is really grabs you, I'd go in that direction. Except for styling (advantage MINI) and accelleration (advantage WRX) I would say most everything else is a push.

Tom

 

thanks for all the input guys. We have 2 test drives lined up in Boston and Peabody Sunday. I'm not looking for a stoplight beast at all and we are really looking forward to seeing them in person. We have seen 2 only parked so we haven't been able to get in one. I am thinking we will be trading cars on a weekly basis so we can both enjoy both cars. My excuse is that I drive 70 miles a day and she drives 10 so I "need" the better mpg car!!! At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

How does the Cooper handle slick conditions in the North East US? Snow Slush and Rain? The wrx loves it, but with the dsc how does the cooper do (also how does it do without dsc?)? And I am asking knowing full well high center a car this light is the real concern, but without that how does it do?

Thanks for the help.
Can't wait until Sunday!!!!

 

I have a regular Cooper without the dsc, but one thing I will say that for Northeast driving (I'm in NJ) - my "performance" runflats were horrendous in the snow. Close to white knuckle driving. I never got stuck, but they lacked traction and I had stopping problems on badly plowed roads. I have since upgraded my tires to Yokohama's, handle great in the rain and will put Blizzak's on for the winter.

I don't blame the car, it was definitely the tires. Never had problems with previous front wheel drive cars.

Have driven a heavily modded WRX a few times. One sick car. And it can handle the twisties.

 

New England Dealers?

Herb Chambers
or
Peabody
or
New Country?

Looking at the online reviews I think we will try to buy from Peabody if at all possible... Herb has dealers here in RI suposidly learning Minis so they can do service here soon, and possibly sell them here in a while. If that was true they might be worht a try even with the poor ratings. I won't put up with a push or bad salesman so we will see on Sunday, but HC said they had 6 on the lot and Peabody said they had only 3, but waiting till August won't be too bad because we will have more $$ by then!

Thanks Again!

 

I thought about looking at the WRX because of the snow here in the Sierra but after driving the MCS I looked no further. If you drive 40 miles each way on freeways I would expect you to get 30 mpg or better as long as you don't put your foot down to the floor all of the time. I get 25-27 mpg here in the hills around town and 30-33 on the freeways.
Good Luck and keep us posted

 

I had a WRX for 2 years. Traded it last month for an MCS. WRX is definitely a blast to drive and with AWD you couldn't shake it off its line. And as you know, straight-ahead speed is phenomenal. I just wish it had some style. You'll give up some speed and cornering ability but not enough to care about. The MCS feels faster and is definitely more fun, both to drive and to look at. I'm always looking out the window at work to get a glimpse of the car. Having both cars will be the best of all worlds.

If you get the performance runflats you'll need winter tires.

 

Re: gas mileage... Holly and I convoyed back from the Gap together, gassed up at the exact same time... and both needed to gas up again at the same time. There was no difference between our mileage on the highway. She drives a MC, I drive a MCS.

~Joe

 

I'm 6 foot tall, and 300lbs.. big guy.. :smile: I fit just fine in mine.. and I don't even pu tth eseat all teh way back.. go sit in one to know how you fit.. the raise/lower feature is what I find to be teh best option for finding the best way to fit, though I do wish that the car had telescoping sterring wheel, but only becasue I liek to sit far back in a seat..

 

>>I had a WRX for 2 years. Traded it last month for an MCS. WRX is definitely a blast to drive and with AWD you couldn't shake it off its line. And as you know, straight-ahead speed is phenomenal. I just wish it had some style. You'll give up some speed and cornering ability but not enough to care about. The MCS feels faster and is definitely more fun, both to drive and to look at. I'm always looking out the window at work to get a glimpse of the car. Having both cars will be the best of all worlds.
>>
>>If you get the performance runflats you'll need winter tires.

I grew up north of Pittsburgh and I have Blizzaks on all of my cars in the winter months. I even bought my mom a pair for her 4wd Subaru. Drive wheels don't matter if the tires don't have any traction.

Another great point. My Miata is currently the most fun I have ever had driving the speed limit. Of course, I don't take possession of my Mini til late July. Have fun and keep your license.

Tom

 

I am 6'4 as well. No problems, I can even wear a helmet for track events. I have had my MCS since July, I still smile evertime I drive it. And seeing other MINI drivers makes you feel that you are in your own special community. Gas mileage is great as a daily commuter, 28 MPG, and just too much fun to drive. WRX is a great car, but there is no substitute for the feeling of driving a MCS or MC!

 

Thanks again guys...

I plan on keeping the wrx and getting the MC as a supliment... (wifes car). I also plan on borrowing it a bit for a change of pace. My wrx was fine with the craptacular tires it comes with in the winter, so the MC should eb fine with the non runflats. I can't wait to test drive this thing after reading so many great comments about it. I have no doubt (now) that I will fit. Hopefully they will have one in red with a white roof, but no big deal if they don't. We will just order one then. How much is the deposit when you order one? 1000?

Thanks Again!

Ben

 

500 I believe (that was mine)

 

>>I grew up north of Pittsburgh and I have Blizzaks on all of my cars in the winter months. I even bought my mom a pair for her 4wd Subaru. Drive wheels don't matter if the tires don't have any traction.
>>Tom
>>

Tom is wise. 4wd will help you get going, but it does nothing for stopping and turning. :smile:

 

For stopping and turning I use my hand brake!!!! J/K I lived in Montana and learned how to drive very well in the snow there with an outback with blizacks. I got my first wrx there in the last spring and used the standard allweathers and they were OK, but I limited the driving of the new car on snow there due to the gravel they put on the road instead of sand or plowing and I didn't want chips. Here in RI they salt so much there is no need for snow tires. It's only ever really slushy here. We just had a very bad (or good depending on how you look at it!) winter with a lot of snow and the tires were fine with AWD. But again I have learned how to drive (and push) a car in snow on uncrawded roads, and now the raods are cleaned so well all weathers do Ok here. Great street dry tires need to have a pair of blizacks for the winter though as they will turn to snowballs ina hurry!
Thanks!

 

>>New England Dealers?
>>
>>Herb Chambers
>>or
>>Peabody
>>or
>>New Country?
>>
>>Looking at the online reviews I think we will try to buy from Peabody if at all possible... Herb has dealers here in RI suposidly learning Minis so they can do service here soon, and possibly sell them here in a while. If that was true they might be worht a try even with the poor ratings. I won't put up with a push or bad salesman so we will see on Sunday, but HC said they had 6 on the lot and Peabody said they had only 3, but waiting till August won't be too bad because we will have more $$ by then!
>>
>>Thanks Again!
>>

i saw new country or pea body. it doesnt matter where you buy your mini cause you can have it serviced at any mini dealer. herb chambers people arent too nice..... dont do it.