That Mazda with the retractable hardtop is an awfully nice car. Did anyone drive both and why did you pick what you did?

 

i have not driven a miata, but i have a feeling the MINI will have greater torque and maybe more power (not positive, i havent looked at recent miata figures). Handling, i would say they are probably even, maybe even leaning towards the miata (someone who has driven both can say if this is true).

I will say though, that in the summer, my MINI, with the sunroof open, and windows down, feels pretty open air. Plus, the MINI has 2 more seats, and a decent amount of cargo space for a compact (compared to a miata).

Best thing is to drive both, preferably in the summer if that is when you will be spending the most amount of time in them.

 

I can't answer your question but from seeing your signature, I have a question for you. I see you have a Punch Leather interior and another Mini coming in with Lounge Leather.

What are the primary differences between punch leather and lounge leather?

 

Lounge Leather is softer and more luxurious.

Punch Leather is sportier, but not as soft.

 

What makes leather 'sporty?'

 

The lounge leather should not be as hard and stiff. I have a bad right leg and the standard sport seat with the punch leather is too hard for me. My wifes car which has those seats drove me nuts. Conversely my wife thinks the seats are very comfortable. But she is 5'8" 130 lbs. If my leg were not a problem the seats would be great, I think, even with my 240 pounds.

The Miata weighs 400 pounds less than the mini and has 166 hp. Not sure of the torque. I have to think the Miata will outhandle the MINI but the space issues are certainly true. The space issues are not relavent to me. I haven't driven the Miata but was surfing and came across one. The ratings seem great for that car. Fuel economy is not as good as the MINI.

Pat

 

I had a 1993 Miata, so not exactly a fair comparison to 2009. I felt like I was fairly invisible on the road and insignificant. In the MINI while I still make certain I can be seen I fell as if I am in a much larger car.
The Miata is a great car, but the one I had felt loose with the hard top off. I haven't ever been in a MINI convertible to compare. I think it is just what you like. The MINI is more useful with a back seat and cargo space. The Miata is probably more of a pure sports car. I would buy another MINI in a heartbeat, but after selling my Miata I didn't want another. I did find out I'm not really a convertible guy so that does effect my opinion. I have no interest in the MINI convertible either, but I'm sure owners love them just as Miata owners love their cars.

If you do buy a Miata you can get excellent independent service and modification done at Coop's Miata in Maple Valley. Bill Cooper is a great guy and does great work. When I was in the Puget Sound Miata Club he was very active and generous with his time and knowledge.
http://miatarepair.net/

Greg

 

They're both great, and very different. The Miata fits like a glove (and has about as much storage room!) The MINI handles great, but I feel more like I'm sitting *on* the MINI vs. sitting *in* the Miata.
I kept both my older Miata for top down fun, and the MINI for more practical motoring (like if you actually have to carry something.)

 

Look whats in the background...

 

have you checked out http://forum.miata.net/

Had a 95 Miata for 12 years and it was the most reliable vehicle I ever owned. The decision was down to a Miata retractable hard top and a S in 07 and I ended up with the S for two reasons.

1. The retractable hard tops were few and far between so the dealers that had them were very proud of them....and in the end the the RHT cost significantly more than a comparable set up S in my opinion

2. When I had my 02 as my daily driver the Miata was a spare car in the garage...a toy. I was now looking for a new daily driver and having used a Miata in that role, then shifting to a MINI, yes, I'd learned to appreciate the extra room the Cooper has.

and by this time there was also a 79 Mini in the toy pool.

But a good car, no doubt about it. I miss the days of going out for a twisties session in the MINI, then hitting the same road in the Mini, then the Miata for a rwd comparison

 

...complaining about "thing danged Vette that won't get out of my way... "
Honestly, though... a photo of of cars on a track is useless... ...to many variables...

Which one is best? Depends on what you want... this topic has been beat on rather often over the past... oh... 7 years... basically: if you want a sports car, buy a Miata... if you want a practical daily driver that doesn't give up too much on the "sporty" side, get a MINI...

Feel "exposed" driving a Miata? Ha! Try driving a Spitfire in traffic... I look UP at Miatas...

 

Great answers. Thanks for all the feedback. Again I have more to explore.

Pat

 

I would say it depends on what you want the car for.

If I were shopping for a Miata, I wouldn't want the hard top because I'd rather save weight.

I have owned a couple Miatas, and I find them more fun to drive than MINIs. However, I need the backseat and cargo space.

The third gen miata is a great car, though. No doubt.

 

I had a '94 Miata M Edition from 96-99. It was a very reliable and well handling car.

If I were choosing between the a MINI convertible or a Miata, I would probably go for the Miata since it had more of a roadster feel.

 

Haha, I could say the same thing about the design of a MINI Cooper or it's FWDness, but I won't go there.

I said sportier, as in, it doesn't look like a lounge chair. You'd be hurting to find cloth in high-end sports cars anyway. It has an edgier look... not as refined as Lounge leather.

Anyway, back on topic, Miatas are definitely fun cars and I don't know if I should have gotten it instead of the MINI. Time will tell when I'm through with this car in five or six years (or whenever it croaks).

You see a load of Miatas down here, though. Not too many MINIs. People still stare like they've never seen one before. Come on! They've only been out for almost a decade.

 

Too bad Mr. Cooper does not work on Mini's. That would be to ironic though I guess

 

I've never driven a Miata but I have an s2000. I don't think I could live with my s2000 as my only car. As a weekend/nice weather car, it's hard to beat, but as a daily driver it wouldn't be that great. I would imagine that the Miata would be a little easier to live with on a daily basis but for a daily driver, I would take the Mini because it's fun and still pretty practical.

 

I test drove the PRHT miata before I ordered my MCS. It did not impress me at all despite all the good reviews by magazines.
Things I noticed are
1. no power. It felt like it only moved about 20 feet when I floored in 1st gear.
2. Little too small
3. Very noisy(with top up or down). Probably the tire noise?
4. Shifter feel is terrible(it's supposed to be the best shifting i thought...). It felt like it was going to break.
5. Handling wasn't all that...
6. You will get a killer deal on left over 08s.

MCS was the most fun and unique out of all the cars I test drove. Miata, Mazdaspeed 3, Civic SI, Fit, Z4, GTI...etc.

 

We currently own both a Miata and a MINI S Clubman, and for us, it's a winning combination. Both are a blast to drive, with the edge going to the Miata (in both our opinions) in terms of fun and handling. I've been driving Miatas since they first came out in '89 and would be hard pressed to give mine up, but we finally have the opportunity to have both and absolutely love it!

The Miata is a true "sports car" with little practicality, but great "bang for the buck", simplicity, and exceptional reliability. The MINI is a "sporty" small car with lots of utility and personality. Depends on what you need and want -- small roadster with sleek lines, reliable and economical, room for two plus a little more, feeling as if the car is actually part of you - that's a Miata! Need room for 3 or 4 plus some stuff, fun handling, very practical without being boring - get a MINI! Similar in many ways, yet very different; we love both!

FWIW, the retractable hardtop on the Miata is very nice in terms of security and sound deadening, though it does add quite a bit of weight and cost, plus is not quite as attractive as the original soft top, IMO. I happen to like both, just not sure which I actually prefer.

 

Whew, I thought the Civic and GTI were a bit overrated and I was going to go with an R32, but I just felt the MCS was substantially more fun, although not quite as zippy in a straight line. Sweet engine and transmission though..

 

How many people can I **** off with one statement?

No fords for me, I'll take the bimmer anyday.

Sorry,couldn't resist, this post is like going on the corvette forum and posting "did you drive a mustang before buying a corvette? What did you pick and why?"

Pat, having regrets buying two of the same car? What's up?

 

No regrets. Just getting antsy. It's been awhile since my wife got her car and since I didn't take delivery on the car that was originally shipped I have more time to surf the internet and say "what if".

I keep looking at all these nice cars and keep thinking why wait? There has to be something else out there that is "like" the MINI with the same "fun" factor that the MINI has.

But I don't know that there actually is.

I need a self help group.

Pat

 

MA.

Motorers Anonymous.

 

Owned both. MINI is the one you want.

 

I tried to like the new Miata but couldn't. I could not make myself love it. The engine was part of it... no torque. Also, I was not really all that impressed with the handling either. I drove the Mini and loved it right away... deal closed.