Mini Cooper Info?

[Guest zipperzone]

Not off topic in the lounge...Changed the Subject line to reflect the topic.

 

But if any of you guys out there can give me a heads-up on this I would sure appreciate it.

 

It's time to get a new car. And as prices in Canada are appreciably higher than in the U.S., one has to really research the purchase well to be sure you are getting the right vehicle.

 

I'm thinking of getting a "Mini Cooper" Do any of you own one and if so, what do you think of it? Would you buy one again?

 

Hope some of you will be able to provide some feedback.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Spida]

RE: NOT ESCORT RELATED

 

A good friend of mine bought the "S" he loves it so far it has about 4000 miles on it so far no problems. He is horrible at getting good deals and went into the dealership and bought it with almost no research paid way too much for it! I enjoyed driving it very much hope that helps, if you want specifics I can ask him.

[Guest ReturnOfS]

RE: NOT ESCORT RELATED

 

Go to the library and ask the librian for the annual car buying edition of consumer reports. I think that its the April edition. Also ask for Consumer Guide. You can get information about how much the dealer actually paid for the vehicle, and allsorts of things.

[RM]

RE: NOT ESCORT RELATED

 

My friend loved his Honda CRX but he just bought a MiniCooper and loves it even more. He said they are exactly the same length and width - parking is great. He's 6'1" and says of all small cars he tested, the Minicooper has by far the most room for the driver.

[Guest zipperzone]

RE: NOT ESCORT RELATED

 

>My friend loved his Honda CRX but he just bought a MiniCooper

>and loves it even more. He said they are exactly the same

>length and width - parking is great. He's 6'1" and says of

>all small cars he tested, the Minicooper has by far the most

>room for the driver.

 

I know what he means about the space. I am 6'2" and find that the front seat has more room that many full size sedans. I can't touch the pedals comgortably if the seat is all the way back!

 

Thanks to all who have given their input.

[Guest Mikel]

RE: NOT ESCORT RELATED

 

For accuarate pricing on new and used cars, go to http://www.kbb.com It's a great site. It stands for Kelly's Blue Book.

[Michael]

RE: NOT ESCORT RELATED

 

> For accuarate pricing on new and used cars, go to http://www.kbb.com

> It's a great site. It stands for Kelly's Blue Book.

 

I don't think they cover Canada, which is where zipperzone implied that he will be buying the car.

[Guest zipperzone]

RE: NOT ESCORT RELATED

 

>> For accuarate pricing on new and used cars, go to

>http://www.kbb.com

>> It's a great site. It stands for Kelly's Blue Book.

>

>I don't think they cover Canada, which is where zipperzone

>implied that he will be buying the car.

 

I didn't intend to make that big a deal about the price. In Canada, nicely equiped (and we all know we love "nicely equiped") they sell for around $32k plus 14.7% taxes bring it pretty close to 37 grand.

 

So when you're spending that many $$$ for what is basically a small "cute" little car, you want to make sure you are going to be happy with your new toy and not have to ask yourself a couple of months down the road, "Why the F... did I buy that thing?

 

The replies I got indicate that your friends who have one appear to be happy with their decision. Too bad there were no replies from guys who have actually bought one for themselves. All the info was 2nd hand or hearsay as they say.

 

But I do appreciate the imput - thanks guys.

>

[Ignoto]

Car Related

 

It's a tulip-bulb vehicle -- drive the price up by creating scarcity and making people think they are lucky to get one at any price. Remember Beanie Babies? More relevant, remember the thousands of dollars that dealers marked up PT Cruisers when they came out? Now, they're the same sheet metal and mechanical parts, but only somewhat more expensive than a Yugo. Still cute, though. The white ones look like miniature ambulances, and the black ones look like miniature hearses.

 

If you have money to spend on "cute", find some needy escort to subsidize. Drive him around in something that doesn't scream "basically insecure, but trying to impress you."

[londonbear]

RE: Car Related

 

BMW has been ramping up production of the Mini and I believe the factory is near capacity. The 500,000 model came off the production line this week - the purchaser was from Los Angeles.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/3595884.stm

 

You might want to check out this site for comments on the car.

 

http://www.carsurvey.org/model_BMW_Mini.html

[Guest RandyRon]

RE: NOT ESCORT RELATED

 

Haven't tried the Mini but in the same "size" category you might want to look at the Volkswagen Jetta. I am a very large guy and thought I would be cramped but it's quite roomy in the front. Just don't plan on anyone riding in the rear seat.

 

Unfortunately, consumer reports gives both of them a below average rating on reliability.

[fedssocr1]

RE: NOT ESCORT RELATED

 

The Mazda 3 has gotten really good reviews for a small, affordable, fun to drive car.

 

You should take a look at http://www.edmunds.com They have forums on pretty much every car out there and lots of reader reviews as well as editorial reviews.

 

The Washington Post's car critic Warren Brown has a Mini that he raves about all the time.

[Guest zipperzone]

RE: NOT ESCORT RELATED

 

>Haven't tried the Mini but in the same "size" category you

>might want to look at the Volkswagen Jetta. I am a very large

>guy and thought I would be cramped but it's quite roomy in the

>front. Just don't plan on anyone riding in the rear seat.

 

 

I know the Jetta and it is a fine car. Guess I am just looking for a little bit more sex appeal than a family style car gives.

 

>Unfortunately, consumer reports gives both of them a below

>average rating on reliability.

 

Yes - I noticed that too. Frankly, I'm not the greatest fan of the Consumer Reports religion. I find that they are too nit-picky and when it comes to cars, often give them unreliable ratings for small things that I wouldn't particularly find offensive. Guess I have an image of a nerd, earning 20K a year, sitting in a windowless flurescent lit office trashing products he can't afford like he's on some sort of a crusade. That's just my image - perhaps the truth is vastly different!

[nate_sf]

My brother-in-law has a Mini Cooper and really likes it. I really like it too... it's great to see a really well-designed small car with a fairly reasonable price (if you can get it for the sticker), since generally we haven't really had a lot of good small cars to choose from in North America. The only downsides I'd see would be, as others here have mentioned being able to get your hands on one without paying a huge markup, and beyond that, having to get it serviced at a BMW dealer. The BMW dealers are legendary for being very pricey and arrogant, which isn't too much fun. Plus my understanding is that not all of them sell or service the Mini so I'm not sure what you'd do if you were in the sticks.

 

Other alternatives I like include the Scions (you have to like the styling, though), and the PT Cruiser. Both seem like pretty good values in terms of design, quality, cost, getting them serviced, and image. I've rented PT Cruisers when I've travelled a number of times and think it's one of the best designed, well-thought out cars built in the U.S. My only complaint is its lousy turning radius, which is way too wide for city streets. Those turbo VW beetles are kinda nice too. OK, I'm a small-car junkie!