Hola!

Had my MCS for 9 days now, and feeling, in a word, jubilant

But, for those of you with doubts, hesitations, questions...here's how I came to my decision.

Why does my opinion matter? It doesn't really, you can just ignore me. I'm not an expert or an auto fanatic, I'm just a regular person, commute 35 miles each way daily on So Cal freeways. No kids. Not planning on taking my MINI to the track, I just like driving.

My girlfriends all think I should have gone automatic (less rowing), but, you know, I like rowing...and if you look far enough ahead you can do more coasting, with better gas mileage.

Anyway, I've always driven a stick, so that was part of my criterion. I test drove a VW GTI, a Mazda 3, a MazdaSpeed 3, and an Audi 3. I also considered the new Volvo C30, and read about the Subau hatchback WRX, but was too impatient for a new car to wait to test drive those. (My vehicle was a 1992 Toyota pick-up with 175,000 miles).

Driving impressions? Didn't like the clutch in the GTI (too springy), & didn't like the interior (too plasticky). Liked the Mazda, great cabin space...but no bluetooth hands-free phone hookup. MPG not that great either. Flat out didn't like the Audi - great, "luxury" feel, but I like to feel my car a bit more than the Audi offered - it felt a bit insulated. Plenty of power though.

But, nothing compared to the MINI. Nothing else was a MINI! So...I placed my factory order.

The car arrived Feb 14th, but BMW had to do a repair on my driver's door immediately (nasty scratch that we noticed upon delivery), and provided me with an 2006 MC automatic for the 7 days my new car was in the body shop. I had the joy of my MCS for 1 day only

Sooo...to the rental 06 MC. Had a MINI feel to it, small, perky, comfy interior, (but not as well organized as the '08 MCS imo - pokey cup holders, weird behind the console space). Seemed to move through the automatic shifts ok, but I missed being able to control the acceleration and feel the power that the MCS has. I also thought the car looked a tad too small, but that could be just because I wanted my car back.

While I was waiting for my car, I obsessed about my decisions - second guessing big items like leather seats (which I didn't get - too much $$$ for me), and interior considerations (Rooster Red color line). However, now that I'm driving the car, the sheer pleasure and delight of the vehicle has completely taken over.

Nothing compares to the movement of my MCS, responding to my gear shifts. It has the right amount of get-up-and-go for me, a bit of zip for excitement, well organized and proportioned inside for little me (a 5'4" ageing crumpet).

Nothing's perfect (leather seats would have been great, I was a dummy about the LSD, and the runflats are noisy on roughly graded roads - there's a really yuckky stretch around Cerritos on the w-bound 91 fwy) but I'm having lots of fun driving my car, I'm getting good mileage, and I feel like I'm driving a well-built machine with a unique pedigree.

Well, and I'm English...so what could be better!

 

Surlycat welcome to the Forums!! Sorry to here about the scratch thankfully it wasn't any worse. I must say your piece was very well written, those of us who had considered other 'cars' before becoming obssessed and emphatic with our MINIs know all to well that there are others who may not understand our feelings for the little critters we call MINIs, I truly feel sorry for those people.

Motor ON!!

 

I had considered the A3 ever since it came out. It's a nice car with a very tunable engine, and lots of aftermarket options. I was serious about it enough that I started to check out all the aftermarket stuff. I'm glad I didn't go through with it. Now when ever I drove by one on the road, I cringe a little.

 

I am glad you like your MCS, I like mine as well,but....my GTI's interior is light years ahead of the plasticky interior of the MCS. VAG has class leading interiors, what were you smoking?

 

 

Yeah, nothing out there offers up a better drivers car for the price. I was never convinced on the styling although it has grown on me. And I still not confident about the reliability, but it sure would be tough to not drive the mini every day. Although I like to autocross too so its an added bonus its a great g stock car.

 

9 days and you're still agonizing????? I've been following the Mini for several years. Really didn't know much about them until I rewatched the "Italian Job" and knew I had to have one of them.

I got a brochure before I went on a mini vacation to visit my mom and read it several times. The day I got back I went out to the Mini/BMW center to check them out. THis was the first time I learned about having to "order" one. I decided to wait until I learned more about the ordering process as I really wanted a basic "S" with minimal packages on it as I always end up moding out my cars anyways.

I was about to leave when the MA came up to me and said that he had just gotten a MCS in that afternoon that had 3 miles on it. It was DS/DS with only the premium package. He asked if I would like to test drive it. As you would expect, I was a little hesitant to really open it up, but he said, "ok, enough pussyfooting around and go for it"!

I did, and after 15 mins of twisties and highway turnarounds, I went back and signed the papers. That was in August and have since slept in it several times overnight, and have never looked back with regret or remorse. Yeah there are some things I don't like, like the doors that don't stay open, and that the audio system sucks wind, however, I was going to mod that out immediately anyway.

Have fun, be safe, and welcome to the cult!

 

Congrats. I also test drove a GTI and thought the MCS was much more fun to drive. In theory, I liked the idea of paddle shifters on the steering wheel since I heard about them in F1 cars. When I drove one, I missed the stick shift. I favor rowing for me as well.

 

Class leading VAG interiors? As a woman, I feel I should know more about what these are...

The GTI, plasticky? Seemed that way to me - glancing around the cabin, it just looked cheap, and a VW Jetta tested many years before left the same "lotsa-black-plastic" impression. Now, I wasn't impressed by the 06 MC either.

The best VW made interior has to be the 1967 Wagon, with the pop-up roof. I don't think the crack I smoked earlier in the day influenced my perceptions any. Although I did leave wondering where I'd store my glue gun for repairs - snort

 

ditto. new gti is plastic city. texture and shine.

 

Cheers!

 

I don't which I enjoyed more-- the descriptions of the car, or the fact that you are lucky enough to be down in Irvine! (I grew up in Dana Point, went to college in Fullerton, lived in OC many years, but I've been in Colorado [both Denver and Colorado Springs] since 2000.)

I've not taken the plunge into a Mini yet (my wife will be next to get a new car, and she is not impressed with a Mini), but it's only a question of when-- not if.

Keep up the reports on how you are enjoying the car-- and post some pics!

Kent