I like death traps. I mean small 2 seaters. I used to have a Z3 and now I drive a 1st gen Miata. I also had a r56 MCS and sold it because I was concerned about the longterm reliability of the car. I see the turbo engines are still having issues. Although non-turbo engine seem to be less problematic I see some people do have problems according to the stock problems page.

Does MINI Coupe have different engine than MC at all?

What other cars did you consider before purchasing MINI Coupe?

Thanks.

 

The Mini Coupe MC and MCS has the same new engine that comes in the 2011 and 2012 MC and MCS. I think it's an N18. It has the BMW Valvetronic system in it.
The JCW Coupe has the older N14 engine without the Vavltroinic system.

You can read all about it in the N58 forums.

I didn't look at any other cars. I traded in my MCS for my JCW. I previously looked at other 2 seaters but none could compare to the JCW in my opinion. It was an easy choice.

My JCW Coupe has 3,637 miles on it thus far and it has been perfect.

 

Thank you for the reply. I will read about the Valvetronic engines.

 

I considered VW GTI, Mazdaspeed3, WRX/STI among others but they were not quite what I was looking for. I could not consider a 2-seater as I need room in the back for my dog :-)

 

I considered a Bugatti Veyron but it was too pricey.

 

I'm in production for my first sports car/2-seater. Should arrive in early February.

I spent about a year deciding on what to get. I considered:

• Mazda Miata - Decided not to double-up on what my companion drives
• Audi TTS - Lovely to drive and look at, but too pricey
• Nissan 370Z - Lovely to drive, but yet, still too pricey
• Fiat 500 - Cute, but decided against it since the acceleration was full of all the no's.
• Nissan Juke - Fun to look at, nice to drive, but felt a little too "SUV," which is what I'll be leaving behind when I get my Coupé.

After all those test drives, my boyfriend said that the Coupe was the only car I got out of, grinning ear-to-ear.

 

I am not a fan of the Veyron, but I understand as I "considered" many cars that I cannot afford.

 

Same here... spent about 9-12 months before the lease ended considering cars. TT/TTS is very expensive here. Miata and 370Z no back seat so I didn't even bother test driving. Fiat 500 too small and way too "cute" among other issues. The Cooper S/JCW are definitely the most "fun" cars out of the bunch that I considered for my driving style/location.

What I really wish was if the 2012 Scion FR-S / Toyota FT-86 / Subaru cars were available for sale earlier - I would have seriously considered them. The Focus RS hatch would have been high on my list as well - but sadly not available at the time.

If I had $$ for two cars, I probably would seriously consider an STI hatch for winter driving.

 

I owned a 2010 Mazdaspeed3 prior so that was off the table..

The new WRX's was on the table though
Hyundai Genesis Coupe
370Z
BMW 128i/135i

 

I'm still considering the Coupe. I like the looks of the Nissan Z car a lot. Is that even in the same ballpark price-wise? I don't want anything smaller than the Mini like a Miata or BMW 2 seater. The Fiat has no guts, I think it's a chickmobile (so does JLo).

 

Yeah, the Fiat was more about toying with the idea, and considering how quickly it could be paid off in comparison to my other window-shopped considerations. (Yep - chic car, but I am a girly-girl. ) And, agreed. I think I could have pushed it faster than it was driving.

If I remember my figures right, it seemed like a suped up Mini (depending on the [cha-ching] options you hoard) turned out to be in the ballpark of a base-no-frills-added Z.

 

370Z Nismo starts at $40,830 at 350 hp
370Z Sport Touring starts at $39,180 with Nav $42090
370Z touring starts at $36,150

Horse Power = 332

A JCW Coupe with no Nav or Sport Suspension is going to run you about 40K

Horse Power = 208

But the Z is not a mini.

So the answer is it's comparable with a JCW but the S or Justa will be quite a few dollars cheaper.

 

After considering a Mini coupe I'm now leaning towards a Honda CR-Z. Motor Trend did a comparison between justa Mini hatch, Scion, CR-Z, Beetle, Fiat 500, and Veloster with the justa Mini winning first place and the CR-Z in second. http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...00_comparison/
I've test driven the CR-Z, I like it.

 

Are you looking at comparing the justa Cooper with a CR-Z or the MCS vs. CR-Z? I think it's pretty decent compared to a justa, but no way I would consider the Honda if the MCS was an option - at least not until Honda bump the horsepower up. I think it's great that Honda produced it, but I can't help thinking they should have just stuck a decent 4-cyl engine in there and ditch the hybrid gunk.

 

Yeah, I'm just comparing it to a justa Cooper, can't compare it to a MCS. I agree, if they ditched the hybrid crap it would be a pretty decent car. Honda will eventually wake up and see the real sales potential with a nice 4 banger, Honda Si maybe... The current car is really rare, don't see too many on the road.

 

Same here. I was following FT-86 development for several years, and excited as heck to see it finally getting a green light. But disappointed as heck to see it badged as a Scion. (Never mind that I once had a deposit on a Scion... gawd help me, I wised up.)

I was driving a Mazdaspeed3, and it was an absolutely fantastic daily driver. But I wanted the Coupé, and it arrived far before the FT-86. And since the FT-86 was still not nailed down into a final production version, I decided to go with the Coupé as a "bird in the hand" option.

By the time the Coupé is paid off, the FT-86 will probably have a turbo version out & I may have to let my eye wander that way again. Wonder if I'll trade in the Coupé, or the TT Supra I have in the garage when that time comes... decisions, decisions... hehheh.

I had already ruled out anything over $30k, so no WRX, no Evo, no Z car, although I like them all. And I had previously test driven & hated the GTI, so the Coupé and FT-86 were really the only 2 I had my eye on.

 

I sold my mini about 8 months ago, I really miss it and had a hard time finding a car that I was interested in again.
I started looking for an old lead sled, made a few offers then I ran across a car I had never seen before. It's a 1969 P1800S, I bought it without seeing it in person.
I told my wife I would drive it as is, no changes. Then I found this rendering by Mattias Voxx. Then the trouble started...

I have started a build thread where you can see progress on my car. The project is called 'Too Much', named by my wife.
The MCS changed cars for me, now I can't leave them alone.

http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=34997

I will have a rendering ready soon, an artist is working on it for me now. The inspiration came from the VOXX car.

 

The 370Z is fun, but IMHO not nearly as fun as the MINI. I'm selling my just over a year old 370Z, and have my Roadster order in!
As for price, the MINI will be higher than the 370Z was (Base 370Z with Sport Package versus 'S' Roadster).
The Z is a great car, but there's just something about MINIs...

 

The 370Z is one of the prettiest cars I've ever owned, and I'll miss this sleek good looks when my new MINI Roadster shows up!

Depending on what features you are after, I think the pricing is actually pretty close. But they are very different cars in terms of "feel", gas mileage, etc.

 

What's up with NAM sending me constant email updates for this thread? Is the thread getting lonely?

I rather like the 370Z although the engine is rather rough for a 6 cyl. Not that the MINI mill is smooth.

 

The only other car I considered was a Mini Cooper S Coupe. I went with the JCW instead.

 

I test drove a Hyundai Genesis Coupe, and, while it had plenty of power, it just didn't have the crisp handling of the MCS. I was coming out of a 335i so I was used to the tight BMW handling.

 

The P1800S is beautiful, but daemon2's signature pic has to be the best one on NAM!

 

I had a '12 LaB/W R56 on the way. Got a flyer that my dealer was going to have a Coupe on the show room floor for a day so on a lark I stopped in. The minute I sat in it I knew I was left with no choice other than to order one. Toyed with the idea of a Fiat 500, but threw that out in a hurry.