Mini Cooper in Route Across the Pond

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joey D
  • 272 comments
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I still need to call my insurance agent, but I'm going to ask.
 
Joey D
That's true, but the under 20k cars don't come with much. If I'm going to get a car I want it loaded up with some goodies. I could though get a VW that's a year or two old and just rock that. I don't know I need to have another go at a Jetta that isn't so basic. I'll probably like it better.
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Most of the Rabbits come equipped pretty well, IMO, for under $20K, but they obviously aren't going to perform anything like the GTI or R32 that sits above them. I believe the 2008 models will get a 20 BHP boost to 170 BHP, the diesel model taking 140 BHP... And with the Rabbit/Jetta diesel good for nearly 60 MPG on the highway, that may not be a bad option...

If you want fully-speced MKIV models, it largely depends on what kind of drive you want. The GLS is going to be pretty "average," but it normally packs the most value into the car. I'm impartial to the 1.8T GLI models from 2004, but the GLX VR6 models are just as fun as well... Even the GLI VR6 models that came before that.

If you drive a Jetta you can get a good idea of what you want. Take a look at a GLS, it should give you a decent idea to start. In case you don't know the model runs:

GL < Wolfsburg < GLS < GLI (sport) < GLX (sport/luxury)

With the Golf:

GL < GLS < GTI (1.8T or VR6) < R32

The TDI models fit in there as well, but they were normally GLS models with the engine option.
 
picklesam
ummm i think most of us here are car crazy...some of us rather have a nice car than a nice house..and i disagree with cars being a chic getting tool..i didnt buy my cars to impress girls...i bought it to impress myself! besides why would i want a girl who only likes my car?
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thank you M5Power for stating the already stated.

i think i qualify as car crazy. my "dream garage" is probably about the size of a costco or sams club, filled with all sorts of goodies from a little fiat 500L to an AEV brute with everything thrown in between from slot cars to karts to dedicated track beasts ranging from a cagiva mito a little 125cc sports bike to a bowler race truck. even helicopters, boats and planes. if youve ever watched film of jay lenos garage, well, my dream garage is just like that. all that room, all those cars, all that machinery for fabricating parts, except its filled with more modern cars than his collection.

in the real world my "garage" is nothing more than street parking with a 1990 300E daily driver and 2 BMW 2002's as fun cars. as someone whose head and reality is stuck firmly in the that real world, instead of having a nice new(ish) car and a car payment, i choose to drive a beater, because i dont drive for a living and enjoy my life in other aspects, knowing that that money is being put to good use. i spend 8 hours at work, i work out, play rugby, volunteer at habitat for humanity, hang out with friends and relatives. and all those activities dont include a car unless its taking me to or from. if i was jay leno, id have 100acres crisscrossed with race tracks and off road courses where id live and play everyday, and that ^^ garage would be right on the property.
my in car time avgs less than an hour a day. do i really want to have a fancy one hour a day and not go on vacation to australia next year. or world cup rugby in france later this year? really? for one hour a day???????????

my car isnt the sum total of my life. its a small part, one that i enjoy, but one that takes a back seat to the reality of me living to an age where social security will not have enough funds for me. besides, if die today i cant enjoy that nice car. and being that my relatives are sheeple, the great unwashed, when it comes to cars, they'd not "get it" if they inherited my nice new car that espouses all my "car guy-ness." but at least they can enjoy the funds in my retirement accounts as they choose.
 
Very true, very good post!

I've had my Jetta paid-off for over six months now, and its wonderful. Not having a car payment and only having to worry if something breaks is nice, but being in school, thats how its supposed to be. I continually find cars that I can afford and that I'd love to buy, but I usually choose not to because I don't want to have that monthly payment.

Being happy with what you have is good. But, if your Blazer is really troubling you, I'd replace it anyway. Sell it off, maybe dip into the pot a little, but don't take all of it. I dunno...
 
So, what die you find out on the Infiniti.
I have found a G35X 2004 model with less than 40000 miles on it for $24K.
So only a little above what you want to spend.
But fairly close.
Creature comforts out the...
Nissan Reliability.
I once beat a Nissan nearly to death. It took me over 10 years...a bunch of indifferent maintanence, and a whole lot of pizza runs.
 
The insurance agent wasn't in the office today, hopefully he'll give me a ring tomorrow or something.
 
The insurance on the G35 is pretty high, not as bad as the WRX was though. The Rabbit and the Mazda3 are both pretty cheap on insurance all things considered...I know it won't be as cheap as my truck but that's fine. It turns out I can get the Ford employee discount, I never knew that before, so assuming it applies to the Mazda I think I might end up getting that.
 
I love employee discounts. I can technically get them from both Ford and GM, not to mention the "VW discount," but thats only because we're friends with the dealer. Dunno, must be a Michigan thing...
 
It feels like half my family works for them, but it being Michigan, where at least 1 in 10 people do at least something for the auto industry, it isn't a surprise. The good news is that I get to pick from either GM or Ford, not to mention the Amway-approved discounts through my parents as well (covering GM, Ford, Honda/Acura, Mazda, Porsche, Nissan, Subaru, Mazda, among others...). My Grandfather, who will get both the GM and Amway discount on any vehicle he buys at a Fox Dealer will end up walking away with almost 25% (if I recall) off the sticker price. Sweet.
 
...Better than having only Chrysler...

Hey, GM and Ford both build good cars now, and I couldn't be happier with their lineups. Well, I could, but thats another thread...

But hey, I get a VW discount too, so thats worth something as well. I could probably get a few bucks off on a Nissan and a Mitsubishi too, but why would I want that?
 
After going over and over many different cars and doing many test drives over the past three weeks I have it narrowed down to 3 choices. These are in order of my interest.

1.) Mini Cooper
2.) VW Rabbit
3.) Mazda 3 Sedan

All are about $22,000 with the options I want on them and as far as I can tell all about the same on insurance, although I'm in the process of changing companies right now so who knows. I drove the Cooper and fell in love with it, it's sporty but not fast enough to get me into trouble. I just have one question that I feel like the dealers ignored.

- How do they drive in the snow?

This is important since I do live in Michigan.
 
YSSMAN
I could probably get a few bucks off on a Nissan and a Mitsubishi too, but why would I want that?
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Because Nissan makes great cars. ;P

Joey D
After going over and over many different cars and doing many test drives over the past three weeks I have it narrowed down to 3 choices. These are in order of my interest.

1.) Mini Cooper
2.) VW Rabbit
3.) Mazda 3 Sedan

All are about $22,000 with the options I want on them and as far as I can tell all about the same on insurance, although I'm in the process of changing companies right now so who knows. I drove the Cooper and fell in love with it, it's sporty but not fast enough to get me into trouble. I just have one question that I feel like the dealers ignored.

- How do they drive in the snow?

This is important since I do live in Michigan.
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Grab the Mini. Its just a better car...and will not only hold its value but probably increase in value in 10 years.
 
Either the Rabbit or the Mini, while the Mazda 3 has personality in gobs, it pales in comparison to the other two. Also you're cool in a Mini.
 
I'd say the Mazda3 has more personality than the Rabbit. The Rabbit to me is generic and bland in regular trim levels. The Mini is just brilliant regardless of anything.
 
Either the Golf or Mini, I would say. Get the Golf if you want to have space. Get the Mini if you want to have resale value. Regardless of personality, the Rabbit and Cooper are better cars than the Mazda 3.
However, are you looking at a Cooper or a Cooper S? If you are looking at the Cooper, than I say go for the Golf. If you are looking at the Cooper S, its a toss-up.
 
It's just the Cooper, I'm not looking for anything fast.
 
For those snowy winters, it's tough to beat a Subie. :D

I was really into the Mazda's also, but..... in the end the Legacy won my investment.
 
Then get the Golf. You might not want anything fast, but over 9 seconds to 60 is nearly unsafe in slowness. And for that matter, the Golf will undoubtedly be more useful to you as a car, especially if you are looking at a 5 door.
 
I drive a Blazer, the 0-60 was nearly 8 seconds brand new...now with a tired engine I'm guessing it's almost 9.
 
Given your proximity to Detroit the Cooper would make a helluva lot more sense than it would for say me, or Philly, on this side of the State. This all being said, Volkswagen is packing more power into the Rabbit for 2008 (170 BHP versus 150 BHP), and I believe it goes on without any major change in fuel efficiency. This being said, the diesels aren't far around the bend, so you may be able to pick up a Jetta/Jetta SportWagen for a decent price, and the 60 MPG figures on the highway would be more than enough to convince me.

I do have to ask: Have you considered a Volvo C30 Package 1?
 
$22,000? 💡 *PSST!* You can get a used MKV GTI for that price:dopey:..... Ours, (with the leather ect.) was $19,850:bowdown:. They wanted $23,000 for it, but you can probably haggle them down to something you are more willing to pay. This is assuming there are some on the lots.... Other than that, I would go for the Cooper S. A JCW kit would be awesome:tup:!
 
Toronado
Then get the Golf. You might not want anything fast, but over 9 seconds to 60 is nearly unsafe in slowness. And for that matter, the Golf will undoubtedly be more useful to you as a car, especially if you are looking at a 5 door.
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lol that reminds me of this vw the sedan one, it was missing it's grill, rear bumper, left rear view mirror, cracked windshield, torn trim, broken reare tail light, flat tire, cracked paint, taped sunroof, no rear passenger window, and all i could think about were the vw comercials with the unpimp the auto slogan "german engeniering in the house...
 
YSSMAN
I do have to ask: Have you considered a Volvo C30 Package 1?
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Despite being as obviously class leading as it obviously is, the C30 starts at 23 grand. I love the C30, but I would take a loaded Golf over one (Not really. I'd be on the C30 before the Volvo dealer knew what happened. But Joey should still go for the Golf).
 
Here is the problem with the Jetta, I think it's ugly and overpriced for what it is. I had one built the way I wanted it and with tax, title, and license it would run me almost $27,000...that's insane! The TDI version would probably run me up into the $30k range. I'm not spending that kind of money on a car right now.

The Rabbit's problem is it only gets 22mpg in the city...my truck will do 19 if I'm really easy. The Mini Cooper does 32 which is better and 40 on the highway...where I will start doing most of my driving.

The C30 while cool as hell is over priced, once again the way I want it would be over $30k.

I only ever have one other person with me and the biggest thing I carry is a golf bag. I don't need anything with a lot of room and if the time comes when I do need to carry something large I can borrow my mom's Pacifica or my dad's G van. My Blazer is very small inside and I've managed over the years with it just fine.
 
Joey D
I only ever have one other person with me and the biggest thing I carry is a golf bag. I don't need anything with a lot of room and if the time comes when I do need to carry something large I can borrow my mom's Pacifica or my dad's G van. My Blazer is very small inside and I've managed over the years with it just fine.
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The Rabbit is huge. I got a bike with the front tire off in the trunk of my car no problem. I'm also 6'4" and I don't even have the seat all the way back. I've gotten 4 six-footers in there no problem, and they weren't all too badly uncomfortable. If space is something you would like, I would look at one of these.
 
Joey D
The Rabbit's problem is it only gets 22mpg in the city...my truck will do 19 if I'm really easy. The Mini Cooper does 32 which is better and 40 on the highway...where I will start doing most of my driving.
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The Mini also takes premium fuel. And 32 is way higher than the Mini actually gets anyways (rated under the current EPA system, the Mini only gets 27).
 
I don't need space, plus I'm really short only 5'9" with my Nike Shoxs on. The biggest thing I think I would ever carry on a regular bases is probably a suit case when I go out of town and even then that would be small.
 

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