Mini Cooper S GOOD OR BAD
 

I love hybrids alot and always want to get the Honda Insight, but the thing about me is that I change my mind alot of car I want to get. Right now its a battle between the Mini Cooper S and Honda Insight. These two cars are awesome and I love them both, but right now the Mini Cooper S is pretty much winning the battle. Ever since Mini Cooper came out in the year 2000 I always wanted it. The question is this: is ir good or bad to get a Mini Cooper S. Before you decide let me tell some interesting facts about the Mini. It gets an average of 25 mpg on the city and 32 mpg on the highway. Sure its not 60 mpg like the Honda Insight, but the Mini has something the Honda will never have and that is how unique and speacial the car. The car has a great history and i just love the style of the Mini. I will buy a Honda Insight in the future but not now. I am 19 and turning 20 and i need a sporty, unique, classy little two door hatchback and thats the Mini Cooper S. Also its because I driven Mini Cooper S before and it was so sweet and wickedly cool. I just loved shiting the gears. Eventhough the highest gear i went into was 2nd gear. I was able to hit 60+mph in second @ about 5000+ rpm then i would go into neutral to sloe down for the light. But i tell you this driving the Mini changed my life. When i drove the Mini it felt like a dream. Well now its up to you guys to give me your input, but my mind is much set on the Mini Cooper S for now.

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

Honda Civic Hybrid...

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

Get the cooper. If thats the way you are leaning your better off going with it. I suspect you don't realy want us to decide for you but rather give you an excuse to get the cooper so just do it.

With the way you described it it seems obvious what your priorities are and I think you would be dissapointed in the insight.

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

Hey thanks! I would be happy with the insight or the mini cooper S. As long as it a new car and i can buy it and drive it.

Re: Mini Cooper S GOOD OR BAD
 

One could argue that the Insight is more unique and just as special. The Insight is the first production hybrid, it is one of only a few aluminium cars, production is limited adding uniqueness, and it is (and has been) the highest mileage car available in the US. Hybrids are way cool, if you are into such things. In your case you honestly seem to already have your mind made up. The Mini does have a "coolness' to it. Personally I'd rather have the Insight but I'm not you. You gotta make your own choices.

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

depends on how much money you have. if you have the money to get a mini, then why not? insights can be bought for very cheap when used.. someone actually bought one for 6k and of course gas savings will help your budget. on the contrary, i personally know two people who both own a mini and they love their cars as much as i love my prius. So its up to you

Re: Mini Cooper S GOOD OR BAD
 

Hey Jorge, if you do that with the gears it might be painful later. :angel:

All joking aside now, IMO the Insight is more "special and unique". If you want/need a wow factor from the girls you may be better off with a Mini. I like them BUT I think they are too pricey for what you get. That's my opinion again though. You should ask the same question on the Mini forum, they'll tell you the Mini is a cooler car.

Also, I agree with everything that lakedude said. That's one of the reasons I've always wanted an Insight, Unique/Special. The wife and I counted Minis yesterday. 4 of them in Publix's parking lot alone (grocery store). When I see that I think.....Moooo - Just another one of the herd.

Good luck with the Mini. Check insurance prices before you make your decision too though. Cough cough hint hint.

AL

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

I haven't figured out the Mini-Cooper popularity that has blossomed in the US.
In Europe, they were low end, cheap cars.
In the US, the are overpriced cheap cars.
Go figure.

Can't Object
 

Do an advanced search and you will find at least one thread of me wishing for a hybrid Mini Cooper, so I can't knock you on getting one. I'd recommend regular oil changes is it's going to be reved up a lot.

There has been speculation of the future of the Insight. There will be a 2006 model. There was the concept IMAS - also known as the "Insight II". I'd love for Honda to put out a next-generation Insight with Mini Cooper performance. I'm sure they could do it. Offer a four-cylinder engine that drops to two cylinders at cruising and a larger IMA. Better performance and economy.

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

I'm biased... I just picked up the 05 MCS last month. So I have the best of both worlds.


http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/942...ni210mg.th.jpg http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/5213/mymini7fo.th.jpg http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/9176/mymini37go.th.jpg http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2...ini45qj.th.jpg http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4...ini54ti.th.jpg http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/4214/mymini67jz.th.jpg

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

In my family we have both the MCS and the Insight. THe MCS is slicker and quicker and speedier and way cool to drive and ride in but (MY) Insight gets WAY better mileage and I think, IMHO, that the Insight is so much cooler, partly because of the way it looks, but definitely because of the mpg. (However my partner, of course, would disagree!)

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

The MINI Cooper S is a fantastic car!
Here is a collage of images from my former beloved Celeste:

http://www.tamug.edu/labb/LABBpeople...H-HMMS-sig.gif
I switched from the MCS to my Prius 'Elettra' for a numer or reasons:
My MCS had some quality issues, but I would guess that MINI has sorted all those out.
In 2 years - 40k mi,, I had about $8k of warranty work done: new speedo, window winder motors, steering column, tranny throwout bearing...
I didn't want to get stuck with that after the warranty expired, so I decided to sell. Then the question was: another MCS or the Prius? If the MINI One Diesel had been available in the US, I would have considered that as well.
Well, I decided I should be good and get a frugal (gas) car.
The cost of both was about the same to me.
MILEAGE:
here's an important consideration:
though the MCS is listed as 25 city 32 Hwy, I never got close to that. Initially I managed to average 28 mpg, but later that dropped to 26, then 25, then 24. Why? Because the car was so much fun to drive! That was the problem for me, it enticed me to drive it like I stole it, and I burned lots of gas. I had it at the racetrack a few times and managed 8 mpg! I am convinced that half the difference in mileage between the MCS and the Prius II is the driving style: for the MINI it is very spirited, for the Prius it is granny style. This is also a safety consderation for me. The MINI was probably a safer car, because the handling was so much better, and I don't even want to think about evasive maneuver handling in the Prius: just don't! However, in teh long run I think for me personally teh Prius will be safer because I drive so much more sedately and non-agressively, and I am glad for that!
Now I am close to averaging 50 mpg in the Pirus, vs the say 25 in the MCS: twice as much! Do I love the Pirus? I love it and feel good about driving it. Do I miss the MINI: you bet I do!
They are both great cars, and surprisingly the MINI had more front room than the Prius, and much, much better seats, and an infinitely better stereo (the Harman Kardon, well worth the $500), but the suspension was so stiff that my wife did not like riding in it very much.
Cheers,
M

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

You're 19 years old. Do you really NEED a new car? What are you currently driving?

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

No one *needs* a new car -- with all due respect. Perhaps the OP can answer this question: Are high-heels or sandals getting into the car ?

People love their mini-coopers, although they have severe reliability problems. Different priorities for different people.

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

One would have thought BMW would have upgraded the reliablity...

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

Are you guys pulling stuff out of thin air about the MINI? It's fine on reliability. I mean I've done my research on the car and with the exception of a few cars it's been solid.

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

We've had a 2005 MINI Cooper S for 8 months and 13,500 miles. Reliability may have been a concern with the early production years, but they definitely have the bugs worked out. Most telling fact about our MINI--when we had both it and a 330i, the 330i spent a lot more time sitting in the driveway. Also, they may be fairly common now, but that just means there are a lot more MINIs to honk and flash your lights at!

Plans for a Mini Cooper SUV
 

BMW has exibited a concept Mini Cooper SUV. This is absurd on several levels. Does BMW (as in Big Money Waster) want the same profitablility Ford and GM currently "enjoy"? This is more assine than the H3 downsized Hummer. Just picture it - a Mini Cooper SUV with rhino guards, splashguards, jacked up wheels, and an array of lights on top. This is automotive cross-dressing. :P

If this succeeds, maybe there will be an Insight SUV. :P

CNN Story

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

This reminds me of the Hollywood approach to a good idea: Beat it until it dies.

Welcome to the nexus of greed, marketing idiocy, and loss of creativity.

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

Hey big guy if I was 19 YRS. Old I would not have to ponder/think about this more than say a (Second) Go-Mini S and have fun I have driven them many times as well as the Honda Insights and again if I was 19, GO-MINI S and don't look back;

Have Fun My Young Friend/Enjoy !!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)


LOL (Lots-Of-Laughts)

Terry

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

The Mini Cooper S is a fun and cool car ... if a 20 year old can afford one and is excited as you seem about one, then I think the choice is made. Frankly IMHO you are not comparing apples to apples. Both have their own 'cool' factor and 'fun' factor. I know several 'geeks' that love to squeak miles out of a gallon of gas. Of course when I was 20, buzzing around in a tweaked up sport/economy box was about all I could justify.

Personally I'd recommend looking at option 3. VW TDIs offer a safe sporty functional car, yet are a blast with performance tweaks and still deliver 45 mpg. There are unbelieveable groups (nuts!) like the those associated with the TDIClub.com that can almost eliminated a need for a dealership. With these little diesels you can monkey around with alternative fuels like biodiesel or WVO conversions and stretch your fuel dollars even further while all the while enjoying the uniqueness everytime people start talking cars. Before you buy, see if there is a TDICluber near you and have him/her 'brag' a little and take you for a test drive. Most are impressed as there really isn't much of a compromise with economy/performance/comfort. Longevity of the little diesels and retail values are strong too.

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

Yes I too love the Mini and almost bought one a year ago but after finding out it takes Premium gas I decided that I'm not willing to pay 20cents/gal more for that fun. If I didn't have a 45 mile/day commute (one way) then I wouldn't care as much. I decided to buy an Insight instead and though I do miss the fun/fast power of my last little sports car (Toyota MR2), for now I'm content to save $$ on gas. If I ever live closer to work, then I'd probably buy something else - like Nissan 350Z or Mini, something fun, I hate practical!

Deb

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

Hi debdeb; Good-Point, gas here is still $3.199 for 93 Octane.
Nashville Tn. and it's not looking good for it going down any time soon. :angry:

Terry

Re: Mini Cooper S or Insight?
 

Before you buy, check out the Mini Cooper's emissions here:

http://www.epa.gov/autoemissions/smcar-05.htm

The CVT Insight is one of the best, the Mini Cooper is on of the worst. Alas, the 5-speed Insight is almost as bad as the MCS. That seems very hard for me to believe, given Honda's general track record on the environment and hybrid's low emissions in general.

Something to consider, anyhow...

-Mary Jane