Page 1 of Cant decided which car to buy

Need some help on deciding which car to buy. I have narrowed my selection down to two both of which I would buy new. They are:

Mazda MX-5 2.0i convertable (fully specced) + free hardtop.
Mini Cooper S Convertable 1.6i (some extras)

Any help on my decision would be much appreciated. Both work out about the cost if you take into account servicing and deprication.

Would be good hear of anyone who owns one or the other.

Someone will come along in a moment and sing the mini`s praises, no doubt, and trash the Mazda. This person also, no doubt, will never have driven either.

(1) Have you test driven them?

(2) Have you REALLY test driven them?

the new MX-5 is based on the R platform from Mazda, and the 2.0 engine is really sweet. The 1.8i is actually nicer so you could get the 1.8 alongwith the sport pack. Less poke, but all the toys. Great mileage, AWESOME handling. It is the highest sold roadster in the world.

The Mini on the other hand is something different. The handling is slightly questionable, not so much in the league of lumbering hippos (a 1998 Fiat Punto anyone?), but still questionable.

I have driven both - the MX-5 is planted on the corners, with just a hint of understeer. The mini on the other hand gives you a whole load of understeer and you have to fight with the steering to get it to behave.

In the end - test drive them again and again till you make up your mind. No use asking a bunch of faceless people on an internet forum - that too a DVD forum!

T¦M3CH4S3R

"I am worst at what I do the best, for this gift I feel blessed. I found it hard... it was hard to find. Oh well, Whatever! NEVERMIND"

How have you driven so many cars? didnt you only pass your test like a year ago?

Anyway, fwiw, ive driven a standard 2 year old mini and a 6 year old MX-5.

If space isnt an issue, i would go for the MX-5. Not only is it more fun to drive, its not a girls car. Only hairdressers drive minis.

The mini is, however, a lot more comfortable and, in terms of day to day practicality, probably the better option.

I drove the MX-5 for about an hour on country lanes and drove the mini from one end of reading to the other.

To be honest, if I was spending that kind of wedge on a Mini there are a lot of other cars I would buy before it. Oh, thats a point, the mini holds its value pretty well and since it is, essentially, a BMW, they are apparently very reliable.

Oh and the owner of the MX-5 said that the new revision of it makes it slightly less fun to drive as it has a load of drivers extras, whereas his is just you and the road, pretty much.

This item was edited on Tuesday, 25th July 2006, 12:58

I`m intrigued as to how the hell anyone narrows their choice of cars down to those two ! :/

I would have to wear a disguise before driving either ! :D

Mini`s are like arseholes.
Everyone`s got one.
I don`t want to be part of that `trend`,thanks.

MX5`s are,as NTG says,great drivers` cars BUT their image has been tarnished by the fact bronzed-bimbettes find them an affordable and easy to drive convertible/sports car,so it`s invariably one of those you see driving them and they become `girly`.

Quote:
Oh and the owner of the MX-5 said that the new revision of it makes it slightly less fun to drive as it has a load of drivers extras, whereas his is just you and the road, pretty much

Agreed to that. The old MX-5 (this one is the MK III) - the MK I and MK II, both were pretty much raw cars. MK I didnt even have ABS IIRC. Mk II did, but nothing else. MK III comes with Limited Slip Differential, ABS and Traction Control - something which takes the "fun" out of driving.

Of course, if you just want to drive the car rather than powerslide it, or smoke the wheels, then these things dont really make a difference.

And NTG - as for how I have driven so many cars - well I got my license in Jan 2005. I shifted jobs in July last year, and had a month off between jobs. The only thing I did was test drive cars - since I love them. I got the MX-5 as a courtsey car when my car was into the dealer for some work recently (I have the RX-8). I could list all cars I have driven, but it would be too long and bothersome ;)

T¦M3CH4S3R

"I am worst at what I do the best, for this gift I feel blessed. I found it hard... it was hard to find. Oh well, Whatever! NEVERMIND"

Quote:
MX5`s are,as NTG says,great drivers` cars BUT their image has been tarnished by the fact bronzed-bimbettes find them an affordable and easy to drive convertible/sports car,

Lol, its so true. I cringe if I come across an MX-5 because its generally being driven as a second car pootle about. Infact there is one near where I live that is driven by a 40 odd year old woman. When she has the top down, im convinced she doesnt want her hair getting blown around and drives it like a milk float. On the way back to where I live there is a country road and once she was doing 30 down it. There was a mile traffic que behind her and she was totally oblivious to all the honks, toots and flashes.

Quote:
im convinced she doesnt want her hair getting blown around and drives it like a milk float

PMSL... good analogy NTG - really funny.

T¦M3CH4S3R

"I am worst at what I do the best, for this gift I feel blessed. I found it hard... it was hard to find. Oh well, Whatever! NEVERMIND"

I`ll take a photo of the bint across the road,with the black MX5.
How she squeezes her well-tanned,but less than well-toned,body into her designer jeans,let alone her MX5,is beyond me.

I heard her and her boyfriend `going for it the other night`,BTW.

She obviously goes like a train,but she looks like the arse end of one too.

I don`t like `look at me` motors,which I would class any convertible as (in Britain,anyway).

This item was edited on Tuesday, 25th July 2006, 14:33

I actually really like the MX-5. Its the father in laws and he does hill climbing and has done a lot of amateur racing. He`s even taken the MX-5 on track days and I think he`s took it hill climbing.

When you drive with him, you really find out what it can do. He`s the type of driver who, on a clear road will take the racing line into every corner out of habit. I drive quite quickly, but I sometimes feel seasick after ive driven with him.

For him its ideal. Its light so the engine isnt too big, thus economical, handles really well and he can throw it into corners. The only downside is that he had a softop and bought a bright white hardtop for it for winter. White hardtop on a cobalt blue car....

Oh, and since he is an engineer, he designed and fitted a removable towbar to it and, believe me, it can punch its weight in the lugging department. He`s even had inquiries from other MX-5 owners.

Anyway, im rambling. As you can tell, I really like the MX-5 and I would certainly buy one if I came across one at the right price. Wouldnt buy a mini though, as I think they are a bit mincing ;)

By the way - Mazda showed of a new version of the MX-5 at the British motorshow. A hardtop convertible. Roof up and down in 12 seconds... looks pretty nifty I must say. Pricewise, it is only £1200 more (IIRC again). Would definitely talk to your dealer about that. The only problem is that they are delivering in November, but pre-booking is open.

There are none to drive, but I am sure it would be as good as the current MX-5. In fact the improved torsional rigidity will imply less body roll, making it even more of a drivers car. Roof down, it would be the same as the old MX-5.

T¦M3CH4S3R

"I am worst at what I do the best, for this gift I feel blessed. I found it hard... it was hard to find. Oh well, Whatever! NEVERMIND"

This item was edited on Tuesday, 25th July 2006, 14:58