Mini Cooper S vs Mazdaspeed 3 vs Cobalt SS

[sponge]

Have you driven all 3? I think that'll help you decide

Are you stuck on new? You could pick up a year two old WRX too...

[Socal_4_LYfe]

Originally Posted by sponge

Have you driven all 3? I think that'll help you decide

Are you stuck on new? You could pick up a year two old WRX too...

I have only driven in the Mini.

I'm going out of town next week so when I get back I will be visiting dealerships and get to know the cars a little better.

The WRX is another car I may consider.

Thanks

[PhlypSide]

WRX would be nice to add to the mix, or a Legacy GT (turbo 5spd of course).

If you don't need extra seats/storage, you could also get a Miata or a lightly used Toyota MR-S.

[DragonRider1]

Gads...at 17 the insurance for virtually any of those is going to kill you. I know the pain though, back when I was younger I had a Supercharged MR2 that for the first 6 months my insurance was more than my car payments, as soon as I turned 21 that dropped. Getting a 911 Cabrio at 21 was interesting on the insurance rates..it was actually a lot less than the Toyota!

[Socal_4_LYfe]

Originally Posted by PhlypSide

WRX would be nice to add to the mix, or a Legacy GT (turbo 5spd of course).

If you don't need extra seats/storage, you could also get a Miata or a lightly used Toyota MR-S.

Oh man, I want that car soooo bad. It was what I wanted for my first car. The only reason I don't have it is because my mom thinks that, like the Lotus, the Miata is death on wheels.

I tried convincing her by telling her I'd install a full roll cage but she just doesn't want to hear it.

Anyone have any other suggestions to convince her that a miata is "safe"?

[Socal_4_LYfe]

Originally Posted by DragonRider1

Gads...at 17 the insurance for virtually any of those is going to kill you. I know the pain though, back when I was younger I had a Supercharged MR2 that for the first 6 months my insurance was more than my car payments, as soon as I turned 21 that dropped. Getting a 911 Cabrio at 21 was interesting on the insurance rates..it was actually a lot less than the Toyota!

Yeah, insurance is probably always going to be high for these type of cars. But there are things that we can do to make the best of it, like not getting any tickets (check) and not getting into any accidents (check).

[DragonRider1]

Originally Posted by Socal_4_LYfe

Yeah, insurance is probably always going to be high for these type of cars. But there are things that we can do to make the best of it, like not getting any tickets (check) and not getting into any accidents (check).

Not getting tickets isn't always up to you... Things happen. I got my first ticket after 22 years of driving and about 4 months after getting the Elise.. I'll be darned but I totally desrved it! (still got it dismissed, but heck, I did deserve it!)

Btw, I had 3 Miata's and they are cheap on insurance. Had a '90 for a short while, a '93 that I had for nearly 15 years (and had over 3,500 miles at the road courses like Sebring on) and a '96M. There are a lot of fun and, more importantly, inexpensive things you can do with a Miata..and frankly, what you save just on insurance and payments compared to the others can be spent doing other things. Either adding to the car or just simply going out with friends! There is something really fun about going out for a night with a couple of your friends and being able to afford to pick up the tab without worrying about making a much larger car/insurance payment...

[John]

AWD is a complete waste out in SoCal - wouldn't bother with the Subarus. Anywhere else, it'd be a different story. As for your original choices, MS3 with no questions asked...

[Socal_4_LYfe]

Originally Posted by DragonRider1

Not getting tickets isn't always up to you... Things happen. I got my first ticket after 22 years of driving and about 4 months after getting the Elise.. I'll be darned but I totally desrved it! (still got it dismissed, but heck, I did deserve it!)

Btw, I had 3 Miata's and they are cheap on insurance. Had a '90 for a short while, a '93 that I had for nearly 15 years (and had over 3,500 miles at the road courses like Sebring on) and a '96M. There are a lot of fun and, more importantly, inexpensive things you can do with a Miata..and frankly, what you save just on insurance and payments compared to the others can be spent doing other things. Either adding to the car or just simply going out with friends! There is something really fun about going out for a night with a couple of your friends and being able to afford to pick up the tab without worrying about making a much larger car/insurance payment...

HAha, stop encouraging me! Now I'm going to want a Miata more than ever.

Dream List:
94' Miata
5.0 Ford V8
Roush Supercharger
Roll cage
new suspension
and the widest tires I can fit

=

[John]

That setup destroys the balance and purpose of a Miata... fast in a straight line - yes. Around a track, not so much...

[Socal_4_LYfe]

Originally Posted by John

That setup destroys the balance and purpose of a Miata... fast in a straight line - yes. Around a track, not so much...

Yeah.... I know. That's why I would use it as a daily driver, not a track car. Most roads around here are pretty straight anyway.



What am I talking about anyway, my mom would never let me drive a miata let alone one with over 500 hp!

[Bavarian Motorist]

Miatas have side impact air bags, so she really doesn't need to worry She needs to realize that if you wanna do it, you're gonna find a way to do it somehow

[Viggen]

Originally Posted by John

That setup destroys the balance and purpose of a Miata... fast in a straight line - yes. Around a track, not so much...

Actually not true at all!! A freind has a miata with a stroked 5.0L mustang engine (I think it's 300+whp or something like that..) & yea it's definantly quick in the straight line & it's also VERY impressive at a racetrack. With hoosier's it does 1.17-18's around putnam park which is a very respectable time especially with 205 tires. The stock 5.0 engines are gutless, less HP (& Torque) then a good boosted 2.3T motor!

I also thought with that huge engine up front would kill the handling however after it's all installed it adds I beleive under 50#'s to the car & all of that is NOT up front. The car is actually extremely well balanced with a v8 up front....

sorry... not helping

I would skip a soobie, AWD is over-rated 20-24 mph highway is all a friends wrx gets... & it's slow

[Viggen]

Originally Posted by lttletimmy

I think you may have that backwards, the newest minis are supposed to be more well built than the last gen, since the latest ones are the first ones to be completely manufactured by BMW.

I thought some of the mini people I know were talking down on the newest mini with it being a little bigger & that the interior wasn't built as well as the one they presently own. Seems like most of the people I have met who own a mini aren't to fond of the latest version.... I am not referring to the one's back in the 60-70's, but the 2 generations that BMW has produced

[Gizmo3000]

Not sure if it's been mentioned
but the Mini's do apparently get great gas mileage.

[DragonRider1]

Originally Posted by Socal_4_LYfe

HAha, stop encouraging me! Now I'm going to want a Miata more than ever.

Dream List:
94' Miata
5.0 Ford V8
Roush Supercharger
Roll cage
new suspension
and the widest tires I can fit
=

How about easily attainable dream list?

'93 (last of the 1.6 but without the crank-key problems) or '95-97 (1.8's)
Flyin Miata turbo, doesn't need to be the hottest one
Flyin Miata suspension
Hard Dog Hard Core rollbar
Very easy to find a good starting car on the cheap, the turbo set-up has been around for ages, is very easy to install, and absolutely reliable. I had the FM suspension on my '93 and used it as a track car. Even on stock-sized tires I was hunting down cars that were supposed to be a lot faster, though it did take some of the playfulness out of the car. It simply stuck way to well to be tossed around.

Total out of pocket probably $10k, maybe less, which leaves you a lot less in monthly payments, lower insurance (unless you tell them about the little snail under the hood), very reliable and if/when it gets dinged the replacement parts are cheap. Couple the fact it's a convertible, actually has a trunk (sorry Solstice/Sky guys), gets good gas mileage and is more fun than probably 90% of the cars on the road and you have a pretty stout winner.

[NCZ06]

Special order the MINI as you want it optioned. That seems to be the only way to get the car you want without having to buy a bunch of options you don't want. The MINI is by far the most efficient of the three if that matters to you. I recently drove mine from NC to NJ on a single tank of gas averaging a hand calculated 40.1 MPG! I routinely average mid-30s in mixed driving driving it relatively easy.

I also test drove the MS3 when I was looking and really liked the car, but passed on it because of fuel economy.

[tvacc]

Originally Posted by Gizmo3000

Not sure if it's been mentioned
but the Mini's do apparently get great gas mileage.

I have 2 of the MINI S . One a 2005 and one a 2006.

All we get in both..according to the on board computer is 21.5 average around the town use. Of couse we drive them like the Elise.

[tvacc]

Originally Posted by tvacc

I have 2 of the MINI S . One a 2005 and one a 2006.

All we get in both..according to the on board computer is 21.5 average around the town use. Of couse we drive them like the Elise.

oh...and we have a 99 Anniversary edition Miata. I like the Miata...but it is no Elise. I would take the MINI S over the Miata if you want a smooth driving experience...if you want a drop top...the Miata.

[Socal_4_LYfe]

Originally Posted by NCZ06

Special order the MINI as you want it optioned. That seems to be the only way to get the car you want without having to buy a bunch of options you don't want. The MINI is by far the most efficient of the three if that matters to you. I recently drove mine from NC to NJ on a single tank of gas averaging a hand calculated 40.1 MPG! I routinely average mid-30s in mixed driving driving it relatively easy.

I also test drove the MS3 when I was looking and really liked the car, but passed on it because of fuel economy.

MPG and resale value is what the Mini has going for it, imo. The only problem is I can't wait another 6-8 weeks for a Mini to be made for me. I'm leaving town today for one week and then I have about half a week before school starts. So, whatever car I get I have to get it by about mid week next week.


This doesn't really give me enough time to find a Miata either if I am even able to convince her about one this week. (Miata safety features: Roll cage, side safety airbags, modified suspension, wider tires) I think this updated Miata safety feature list might be enough to sway her to my side and allow me to get a Miata.

Wish me luck!