Mini Cooper in Route Across the Pond

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joey D
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Toronado
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).
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So that means the 22 on the Rabbit is probably worse as well. I will not buy a car with lower then 20mpg it doesn't make sense. And using Premium doesn't bother me, it's only 20cents more per gallon meaning I'll only be paying $2.64 more per fill up on the Mini's 13.2 gallon tank. The involves me just not getting a coffee at Starbucks in the morning on the way to work.
 
The GTI gets like 28/32. I average around 25, but I'm a little throttle happy.

A lot of smooth driving and highway driving should put you at around 30 no problem.
 
I can't buy a GTI, the insurance is insane on it.
 
I would love to own a GTI, I've wanted the MKV since I saw it at the NAIAS a few years back, but I just can't bring myself to pay the insurance on it every 6 months.
 
I definitely see what you mean. Insurance is a big problem with sports cars. Is it going to be very high for a Cooper S?
 
Joey D
So that means the 22 on the Rabbit is probably worse as well. I will not buy a car with lower then 20mpg it doesn't make sense. And using Premium doesn't bother me, it's only 20cents more per gallon meaning I'll only be paying $2.64 more per fill up on the Mini's 13.2 gallon tank. The involves me just not getting a coffee at Starbucks in the morning on the way to work.
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As I recall, I think folks have been averaging in the mid-20s for MPG with mixed city and highway driving. FoolKiller would be a good person to ask to see what hes getting...

Either way, its not horrible mileage. They bumped up the power this year and moved it to the 2008 EPA tests, and as I recall its only marginally worse compared to the previous models. My Jetta ('96 Wolfie with the 2.0L 8V) averages 27-30 MPG on a good week (its rated 24/30), and my best is 33 MPG on a trip to Chicago and back.

My suspicion is that the new Rabbit would do much the same. City driving would likely upset the fuel mileage on the 2.5 I5 a bit more than average, but on the highway I'd expect mileage that goes above 30 MPG on the computer.

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And on the C30 for a moment; I forgot how expensive they were. I had a look at one the other day, and price be damned, I was ready to throw all my money at one just to see it sit in my driveway (white with the copper two-tone, sport wheels)... But at almost $30K, thats a no-go. Not that I could even afford anything much over $10K right now...

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I'd say go for the Rabbit. It makes sense, its a good buy, and from what I can tell they've been pretty reliable thus far.

The only car that would distract me from the Rabbit would be the Saturn Astra, but even then, the Astra seems a bit expensive for what I want.
 
The Astra is cool and everything but I've had such bad luck with the Blazer I don't know if I really want to go down the GM path again so soon. Seeing the 5 door makes me think it's rather odd looking and the MPG rating isn't all that high on them. I'm going to be doing a lot of driving to and from Ann Arbor and I need a car that gets good mileage so I don't really have to pay a million dollars in fuel.
 
Joey D
The Astra is cool and everything but I've had such bad luck with the Blazer I don't know if I really want to go down the GM path again so soon. Seeing the 5 door makes me think it's rather odd looking and the MPG rating isn't all that high on them. I'm going to be doing a lot of driving to and from Ann Arbor and I need a car that gets good mileage so I don't really have to pay a million dollars in fuel.
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Well, here is the good news; They aren't being built by UAW workers, and given the quality standards from Europe (they're built in Belgum no less!), the model we see here should be quite good. A quick trip over to the WhatCar UK website shows that the Astra gets four stars out of five, which I'd consider to be quite good. As I recall, the VW Rabbit/Golf gets exactly the same score.

Given that the only Astras I've seen thus far have been on turntables, I can't give the best overall review. But, most magazines that have driven them (be they American or not) seem to say that it is one of the best small cars you can get, outside the standard-in-class VW Rabbit/Golf.

I haven't seen any official mileage figures on the Astra for the US market (based on EPA testing), but I can do my best to find something similar to what we'll have here shortly. Drive.com.au has a road-test of the Astra CD here, which I believe will be quite similar to the XE that we'll be getting in the 'States. Their test, which I believe used a 4-speed slushbox, averaged a little over 18 MPG in hard driving.

My guess is that given the weight (similar to my VW), power, and with a five-speed box, 22/30 MPG will probably be right about what the EPA gives it here in the near future. That doesn't mean that it won't go over 30 MPG on the highway (remember, figures fell significantly for ALL four-pot cars when the test changed), but I wouldn't expect it to soar either.

My guess is that the Astra will be the biggest thorn in the Rabbit's side here in the next few weeks, assuming that it actually forgets about the Mazda3 at some point as well.

I do need to call my friends at Saturn of Grand Rapids so I can check one out, as I am quite interested in an XR 3-door.
 
-> Sorry if my response was a bit delayed, but I'd favor the LGT, doesn't matter if its a sedan (like Pako), or a sleek wagon. I'll explain the details later, something just came up. Later! ;)
 
Import a 6 month old Ibiza Cupra. Faster than rabbit GTI's, and would probably be the only one in the US.
 
I really don't like GM's small car line, the Cobalts aren't great cars in my opinion.
 
Then it's between the Rabbit and Cooper, I have scheduled test drives back to back on Tuesday.
 
Joey D
I really don't like GM's small car line, the Cobalts aren't great cars in my opinion.
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Its understandable. The Astra really is the only small car they've done "right" in a long, long time. I'm eager to see what the Delta II Astra and Cobalt will be like here in the next few years...
 
Joey D
Then it's between the Rabbit and Cooper, I have scheduled test drives back to back on Tuesday.
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^ Of the two, I'd pick a 5-door Rabbit/Golf, if it comes with a TDI. :indiff:
 
Joey D
The TDI isn't for sale here in the states.
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Not yet, but I believe the plans are to have it here by the end of 2008. So if you want affordable and efficient diesel cars at a good price, you're stuck with the Jetta, and the infinitely better Jetta SportWagen here in the next few weeks...
 
forza2.0
Why is that then? I take it he woulkdnt be able to import a TDI then either?
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But we've always had TDI VW's here, but due to stringent emissions regulations, they're restricted to 43 states for sale.

The new 50 state TDI's will be available by mid-2008.
 
I don't want to keep waiting on a car, the Blazer is having some issues and I'd rather buy something new then fix them.
 
So the test drives were today.

First I drove the Rabbit, I really didn't like it this time. It just felt wrong. I wasn't comfortable and it wasn't how I had remembered the thing. The service at the VW dealership was terrible and they treated me like crap because I was young. They didn't even want me to drive the damn thing and they were mad that they had already talked to me once a couple weeks ago and I never committed to a car. I don't want the car and I really don't want to service it there. Also things I didn't like about the Rabbit is that it didn't come with HID's, fog lights, or rims that looked good.

Then came the Mini Cooper test drive, I don't even need to say any more...I love the thing. It was quick, anyone who says it's dangerously slow needs to give one a drive. It was a sports car without actually being fast. I was impressed and the six speed auto was a dream to drive. It handled like it was on rails.

I've already decided I'm getting one, I'll be ordering this week and as long as there is no glitches I will be getting one within the month. Now the only question...what colour?
 
Stripper Pink.

TinaNguyenPinkMini.jpg


(That’s Penn Jillette’s Mini, by the way.)
 
Except I don't strip...errr well there was this one ti...nevermind.
 
Joey D
Then came the Mini Cooper test drive, I don't even need to say any more...I love the thing. It was quick, anyone who says it's dangerously slow needs to give one a drive. It was a sports car without actually being fast. I was impressed and the six speed auto was a dream to drive. It handled like it was on rails.

I've already decided I'm getting one, I'll be ordering this week and as long as there is no glitches I will be getting one within the month. Now the only question...what colour?
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Awsome, you WILL NOT be disappointed in purchasing a Mini. I've driven the Cooper S and regular Cooper and they are both briliant. I just wish the US got the Mini One. Nothing beats an even cheaper Mini with all the same driving fun.

Definately take tons of photos! And get the best color--that being British Racing Green! With some white stripes! :drool:

Oh snap! I just saw on Miniusa.com that you can put just some different flags on the roof! Too bad they don't have the German flag (ironic since they are BMW's). :indiff: So, I guess the Union Jack will do. :sly:
 

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