Save your money. Keep your current car. There is nothing wrong with it.

 

G37 is one very very nice car, but it doesn't have the "X Factor" that turns a great car into a truly special one.

 

Its sounds like you want the MINI you just need someone to "convince" you, even though whatever we say your getting a MINI trust me I am the same way. The g37 is an awesome car but it is more luxury then sport and you want something that is a little more sporty. And whoever said that a MINI can't hang with a g37 is retarded. The g is too heavy and that is its down fall.

 

I had the 2003 G35 coupe when it first came out. at the time it was really cool, but i had a lot of problems with the car. nothing major, mostly electrical stuff. i dont know what it was about that car, but it just was not fun to drive at all. i know the g37 is a huge improvement, but i would still get the mini s over the g any day. its so much morre fun to drive.

 

Why are you making something simple so difficult - you own your own business, keep the G37 and have your company buy the MINI as a company car ... or, sell your G37 to your company and you buy the MINI. Drive either, whenever you want too, that is what I did. Well, actually, I leased my MINI for company use. Problem solved, next! You will enjoy driving the MINI more than the G37. By the way, my other car is an Audi A8L; so when I take out clients - I take the MINI, they all love it and find it a blast.

 

I have a 07 MCS and 04 G35 6MT coupe. The G35 is parked most of the time and I almost always drive the MINI. They are both fast and handle well, but differently. The MINI is easier to see out of and park, plus even though it is smaller it seems to have more room inside for me and stuff. I haven't liked a car as much since my 88 CRX.
BTW I had a 93 Miata so we have had some similar cars.

 

I have driven both...and in my opinion there is absolutely NO comparison when it comes to fun. The G was straight up boring. I didnt like the feel of the manual at all, the clutch felt like crap and blind spots galore. The G has cushy interior for certain, but I have to agree with a previous post that the MINI feels more spacious, I felt very cramped inside the G.

Go MINI. I don't think you'll regret it at all.

 

I had an 08 G37s and now am driving an 09 MCS. Both were 6 speeds. The G37 is a great car, comfortable, but it felt dead to me. I tricked myself into thinking that it drives like a german car, but unfortunately it doesn't. Granted, the MCS doesn't have all the bells & whistles like my Infiniti, but I don't regret making the switch for a minute. I just regret not ordering a car and getting everything I wanted! But retrofitting is part of the fun for me as well.....

 

It's all about weighing 2600 lbs versus whatever the G37 weighs (I bet 3800?). You mention "tossability" and 2600 lbs tosses a lot cooler than 3800, stops faster too. I know, heavier cars go fast on the track too but there's something about a lighter car around you. I'd get the JCW, do the JCW suspension, and call it done. The G37 is a chumpmobile, like I said before. I may get one someday with some Tommy Bahama shirts, but I'm holding out .

 

Ok. So after a lot of looking around and weighing the pros and cons I am definately leaning toward purchasing a Mini Cooper.

I have a question though. I found one that I am going to check out. It is a 2009 JCW. I got the VIN and ran a carfax and it came back with the following description:

2009 Mini Cooper JCW GT KIT

Does anyone know what the GT Kit is?

Thanks!!

 

spyderbret,

Can't really speak from the experience of driving many luxury cars, except for my parents Mercedes everyonce in a while, but as aforementioned it really comes down to Fun vs. Luxury. My experience of driving a Mercedes is that its really nice inside, really smooth, feels like your driving a freakin boat on the road when it comes to road bumps. Thats all well and nice but when I step into my MINI its like "It's fun time" and all I can think about is running through the gears, taking corners, and 'handling' the road. And for me, at this point in my life, fun trumps luxury.

 

Get the MINI! I am about to trade in my 03 MBZ E320 for an 07 MCS. Always wanted one just was looking for the right time/ deal. Hope this is it! For me nothing like a European car. Japanese are good but something is missing I can't put my finger on it.

 

You're crazy if you trade in a G37 for a MINI. I love my R56 S, and it can easily out handle a 350Z/G (two of my best friends have those cars), but if I could trade up to a G37, it'd be a done deal by now.

Sounds like all you're missing is a manual transmission.

 

I haven't heard of that. Maybe the Stage I kit? It probably isn't the factory JCW or they'd say that. The GT thing was for the R53 series back in the day I think. I got in way after that was over. You may have to see if its a misprint.

 

Mini = Yes, IF

IF you have a dealer real close by
IF your dealer gives free courtesy cars when your car is in the shop
IF you are O.K. with having your car in the shop every 3-6 months to fix minor issues
or IF you are O.K. with having minor issues and not having them fixed


Coopers are great fun. A driver's car.

But, all of the minor issues start to wear on the soul and I seriously question the Cooper's long term dependability. The timing chain, cold start rattle issues are real and they cause real stress (There is a fix for this now, but who knows how long the fix will hold up). The people who complain about squeaks and rattles are telling the truth. If you are one of those people that think, "those issues and complaints that everyone else is complaining about won't happen to me." Think again. I thought that way when I bought my Cooper and I was wrong.

On the flip side, as I said, Coopers are drivers' cars.
IF you like feeling the road and want to feel connected with the road, then get a MINI.
IF you don't mind the wind noise, road noise, exhaust noise, then get a MINI.
IF you only keep cars for 3-4 years, then get a MINI.

MINI Cooper's have a good standard warranty and also have free roadside assistance/towing. Which is a GOOD thing, because you'll need it.

Standard warranty is 4 years/50,000 miles.
Free roadside assistance for 4 years/unlimited miles and Trip interruption reimbursement up to $1000.
(Roadside assistance includes free towing to the nearest MINI dealership, not to local Joe's repair shop. This is a real GOOD thing.)
Free oil changes, wiper blades, fluids, brakes for 3 years/36,000 miles.

In summary:
G37 = Smooth, safe, no hassle, sexy, but boring, make-me-fall-asleep ride.
Cooper = Bumps, rattles, noise, the certainty of needing some kind of repair - minor or major, in exchange for a real fun, keep you awake, driving experience.

The choice is yours.