Mostly from a post I made on 1addicts. I have to say there might be some rose colored glasses effect looking back on something we lost suddenly against our will.

My wife was in an accident awhile back and our 128i (2011!) was totaled. Fortunately she is OK, and hopefully there are no long term health issues that might crop up.

As for the car, we initially thought it might not be totaled, but the package tray got bent so that is an auto-loss. .



Then came the debate on what to get next. If the old e92 was still around, we would have ended up with one, but unfortunately the production cycle for that had just ended. We are not fans of how large the F30 is, and don't especially enjoy the looks either. Audi has zero road feel, Lexus is even worse, and Mercedes has no manuals. We ended up narrowing it down to getting another 128i, or getting a MINI JCW Hardtop. My wife was still pretty scarred by the accident and thought that getting the same car might remind her of it, so we opted to order a MINI.





Unfortunately... the MINI is no 128i. I mean, it's a great car in its own right, but it just doesn't have as good a feel as a RWD NA 6 cylinder. The weight of the BMW, the solid build, the shifter, and even the steering wheel just felt a bit better. My wife has told me if we could do it again she would have just gotten another 128i, but hindsight is 20/20. I got to drive the BMW maybe once or twice a week if I was lucky. I drive the MINI maybe 5 times a week. I have to say I like driving the MINI over the STI, but my wife is the opposite.

There are definitely pluses to the MINI. I prefer the MINI interior, I think it's more fun (except the plastic red alarm light on top of the tachometer starting rattling at maybe 300 miles... 300!).



I also like the low end torque (my wife doesn't, not sure why she didn't mention this on the test drive...) and the flick-ability. I would say I like how the MINI front looks better, but I'd pick the BMW rear. I do really like having a hatch though, as we can just load our dog through the boot.

But now we are seriously considering our options of getting into another 128i... There is no chance I want to get rid of the MINI. I might sound harsh, but I do really like the car, it's just that I LOVED that 128, even though it was my wife's car I drove it every chance I could. There's just something special about it. That leaves having 3 cars (not likely) or getting rid of the STI . With 2013 being the last year of the 128i, our time is pretty short in making a choice.

Oh well, maybe nostalgia is playing a big part, and we will eventually stop pining for another 128. Maybe one day down the line we will be able to just buy a 2 series sedan instead.

I know the tone of this post is rather depressing, but thanks for reading. It's good to vent my feelings.

 

I know what you mean, I love my MINI and 128i equally. For me it would be an easy choice, Suby goes out the door.

 

I don't see how the 128i is old but, I can see why you no longer have it. The one series is great and going from a 128 to a JCW might be kind of a step up. Nice MINI.

 

Feel of a 128? You have to be joking... The thing is a pig. The only complaint I have with the mini is from a stand still. The torque steer is pretty bad starting off, but once moving, it has terrific feel and feedback.

It's even better if you add a bigger rear bar, and better yet with good shocks and springs.

It gets even better when you put in a JCW leather or leather/Alcantara steering wheel. The rock hard stock wheel just feels horrible."

 

Ditch the STI and go big - 135i. I love my MCS, but I am always thinking of what my next vehicle will be, even if that time is a few years away. My short list as of today is MINI JCW (Convertible), Audi TTS (Coupe or Convertible) , 135i and ideally the new Boxster.

 

I'm with him on this...

I find them horribly boring. A 35 would be more comparison to a JCW, but still. If your wife doesn't like it then more fun for you...let her drive the Subie and take the JCW

 

Well, to each their own on car feel. The BMW has 50/50 weight distribution with RWD whereas the MINI is nose heavy FWD, albeit one of the best FWD feels. 3200ish pounds is unnecessary I agree.

Interesting the JCW wheel feels better. That is exactly my complaint about stock... It's like a rock. Is the JCW wheel thicker at all? I will have to get one ASAP if it is.

 

Seriously, if that is the only thing that rattles you are lucky. I am on my second MINI and my therory is if it does not rattle it must have fell off.

 

Meh my MINI rattles like a spray paint can but, I am ok with that. My E34 on the other hand has no rattles.

 

Ditch the STI. :D

 

I'd ditch the BMW idea and stick with the JCW/STi combo. Id kill to have those two cars at my fingertips. Unless I could afford an M3, an STi would be my only other car choice, personally, and here you have both. You bastid!!--no, just kidding.

 

I love Subaru a lot but, it is a hard push to convince me between the two(BMW and Subaru). I was looking for a Legacy wagon and ended up with an E34 Touring instead. So to me it is really a flip of a coin between the two. I like them both.

 

Here's an interesting read for you guys:

http://www.bmwblog.com/2008/05/13/sp...er-s-bmw-135i/

 

Oh, first world problems...

 

Do the BMW. We have a MCS and a 135 (newer single turbo N55). Both serve a different need, and both are a fun drive. Something special about high power rear drive cars with a manual. And the mini is its own miles of smiles.

 

Park a Mini and a BMW side by side and observe the build quality. It's not even close. I like my 2010 justa but the wifey's 2011 328 is in a different league. Like it or not, the Mini is an economy car. You can load it up with accessories and make it a $35K car but it still has a $20K soul.

 

We know you are exaggerating for effect, but that's a patently absurd remark. The "soul" of a MINI is one of the best parts about it. A friend of mine has a 328 and to say it has more soul than a MINI of all things is comic relief, but without the humor.

I guess my buddy wasn't serious when he said he wishes he could trade cars with me!

 

I surrender, "soul" was a poor choice of words. My point was, that loading accessories onto a $20K car does not make it a luxury sports car.

 

Yes the jcw alcantara/leather wheel is thicker and softer. It feels great. I'm talking about the accessory part, not the one that comes on the car.

 

If it's an economy car then why even discuss it being compared to a 3 series? Compare it to something of it's own 'league' if your so sure it's an economy car. Do that and you realize how great the MINI really is in build quality, performance, etc. We all know who own's/manufactures MINI. But in reality it's not a BMW and it's not supposed to be, hence why it's priced the way it is.