YZZX

I am having a bit of buyers remorse.

My '02 coupe has 100K miles and is basically my work car. It has had a few problems and coupled with my extremely busy work schedule, I wanted something newer.

My requirements were small but nice enough that I would want to drive it.

I looked at the MINI and the Ccoupe and went with the coupe. I have tried to give it away several times, but damn I LOVE my coupe. Loved it from the first time I saw it. Never would have looked at MB without its introduction. If a new Mercedes hatchback was a buying option, I would be all over it. I looked for a nicely equipped pre2012 SLK, but came up empty. Looked at the new sedans but they are too big for my tastes.

I have had the MINI a couple days and the ride just seems so rough compared to my old coupe. There is no garage opener. My seats are manual operation, and no heat. The navigation takes too many inputs to get started, and it is 11 years difference (a huge amount of time in the tech world).

Has anyone on the forum gone from a C230K to a MINI? Thoughts on your move?

Peydidy

I remember a member with a pewter c230 sedan traded his car in for a mini. I think its all personal opinion but I would personally prefer the C230. Again mostly just personal preference.

sammydragon3

i would think u would be taking a step back wards considering the style and reliablilty

did u see the new mini's? they beefed up the exterior looks alot better

MBfinatic

The A45 AMG is coming out. AWD hatchback I4 turbo that apparently makes 370hp.. I have to see this. That is an evo/sti killer.

YZZX

A new AMG A class would be really nice. I think.

Sammy, I purchased a new 2013 MINI S hardtop. My coupes heat and defrost are not working and a storm or cold front is coming tomorrow. I was under the gun. I went for the highest optioned hardtop I could find locally. It is cute but it really does feel like a step down after so many years in the other car.

I also have a 2011 Jaguar XKR coupe, but don't want it sitting out in the weather at work.

It is time to let go of the coupe but I am still guarding it like a jealous lover, entertaining ideas of giving it a total refresh at the dealer.

ncmudbug

As Peydidy said, it is personal preference. When I was in the market for my car, I considered a Mini. I thought they were nice, but I just don't care that much for the styling. I wanted to get a manual again and a '05 C230K with 6MT came available I got it one day after I got my wife's '06 C230 CPO.

I've never driven a Mini but I would guess that the manual transmission is better than the one in my car (it would almost be hard not to be better ), but I can live with it and I think the styling on the C230 is very handsome.

As a post script, I would say that the most impressive manual transmission I have ever experienced on a street car was on a Honda S2000 - amazing! Of course, they aren't made any more and finding a good one (if you can live with 2 seats) might be a little difficult.

That's my $0.02. It cost you nothing and was worth every penny!

C230 Sport Coup

I hear they drive really well.
They came out after I'd already bought my coupe.
Went to the dealer just to take a look.
They all had markups and they cost more than a
Mercedes C Coupe. And it was tiny. I had to laugh, because
Mercedes just refused to give the C Coupe anything more than ******* child status in US
and I'm quite certain more than a few Mini drivers would've bought the C Coupe if they'd known it
existed.

If you get an earlier supercharged model, you can change the pulley etc. and
they sell different % air volume increase.
The higher ones get more power, but need more fuel, so you need bigger injectors.
Anyway, point being, a little car like that would fun to tear up the back roads with,
but I don't think I'd want it as a daily driver. But I bet the mileage is better.
As gas prices rise we'll all be forced to accept smaller cars for our daily commute, whilst perhaps
keeping a 2nd less efficient car for special occasions etc.

Yeah, if I could lay my hand on a used 200 cdi coupe....40 mpg....
It would be nice to have something that can go the distance on little fuel.

California

For guys (I'm a girl) go for a Crossfire from a Coupe. 320 MB engine. Weird fake slk aluminum console but it is made in Germany.

I am having great difficulty parting with my Coupe. Mostly because it's such a great car and we can't buy the CLCs.

severecaraddict

I went from a 2005 C230 Kompressor sedan in Mars red to a 2006 Space blue MINI Cooper S w/factory installed John Cooper Works performance package ($6,300 option that basically added wheels, aero kit, and bumped it up to 208hp). The difference was night & day in favor of the MINI. It was my kind of car, and FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN!

I've since sold the JCW and even owned another '05 Kompressor sedan, but out of the 44 cars that I've owned, my MINI has been hands down my favorite. Not sure if I would feel the same if I had purchased 'just a cooper' or a non-JCW car - as I've not driven either. The MINI just oozed character and fun (but admittedly commanded LITTLE respect on the road from trucks & SUVs).

Javvy

just research a bit more on the mini's and their head gasket woes....Mini ride is very very harsh and you will feel and hear each and every bump like a rattle can which I absolutely hate.......I was in the same boat and finally got a nice M111 engine with less miles and 6MT....

javvy

SFR

I test drove a 2012 mini cooper s, auto trans though... It was a blast to drive. Much more responsive, but it is a fwd and I hate those. The back seats are also useless. Fun car to drive and would own one if I didn't want to drive friends around or didn't hate the feeling of fwd.

I also test drove a bmw 335i coupe and that thing will be my next car! lol You can get a used cpo one for about the same price as a new mini copper s.

Glyn M Ruck

Minis are great fun. But the ride quality is boy racer & I'm over with that. It's very personal. JCW is the greatest fun but as an every day car ~ no thanks. I would rather have a Ford Focus ST in Tangerine Scream!

severecaraddict

The runflats that come standard on MINIs are HORRIBLE for ride quality. Fortunately (err...Since I miss it, I guess it UNfortunately,) I didn't keep my MINI long enough to need tires ($330/ea at Tirerack), but with both of my Z4s, I ditched the runflats in favor of carrying a portable air tank and tire repair kit. Its a gamble, but the ride quality was the difference of day & night.

I've never driven a Focus, but REALLY? A Ford for a daily driver?

jetta02awp

Having had a modded Jetta and moving to my coupe. I don't think I could go back to a fwd car again. The power actually going to the ground makes the car so much more fun. Even with 50 less horsepower.

severecaraddict

Which engine? I have a VR6 B6 Passat sport as my daily driver and a TDI Beetle as my 'winter beater'.

jetta02awp

I had a mildly modded 1.8t and it dynod around 220 at the wheels. Apr stage 2 tune. Catless turbo back exhaust. K04 turbo. Manual boost controller set at 20 psi. It was fun in 3rd gear or higher but 1st and 2nd it wanted to rip the front tires off the wheels.

C230 Sport Coup

Oh yeah, it's FWD. Ug.

taxmansmerc

I have to agree with Glyn. The Mini is intended to be a road hugger and as such the ride will be harsher. Minis are in no means intended to pamper thyne rear.

Impulse buys rarely work out for the best.

Eau_Rouge

Mini's are great fun. I test drove one when they replaced the supercharger with a turbo and was blown away by how it felt. Steering and handling were both solid. I was further blown away when back at the dealership the salesman told me that the car I drove had the base suspension. I loved the car but I just wasn't ready to give up rear wheel drive, still not ready.

silvermamba

I agree. My gf was in the market for a Mini and i test drove three mini coopers. many of them had oil leaks around the gasket/engine cover area . The car feels very underpowered going uphill and i needed to fully gas the car to prevent the car from rolling back and hitting the car behind me. I would suggest that you don't get an automatic. They also feel very unsafe, safe is limited.

However, I think the manual mini coopers would do fine going uphill. if anything you should get the Cooper S

speed7

I do this regularly... I drive a 06 C55, my wife drives an 07 Mini Cooper.

I have all the bells and whistles she's got the chrome package, the homelink garage door mirror thingy, and seat heaters. However no navigation or hids. And it is an automatic.

Personally her car is fun and a bit stiff. Her gas mileage is better but she definitely doesn't have much power. When I drive it I'm not a fan of the visibility out the front of the car. Plus I don't like the feel of FWD cars. So I give the Mini an overall score of 7/10. If I were told I had to ditch my car and get something else.. I wouldn't get a Mini.. I'd get a ford focus ST, or a mazdaspeed 3.

severecaraddict

I've gotta see what this Focus ST is about...I associate a Focus with trailer parks...and frugal spending.

tommy

We've been missing out on the best Focus for years, as it's been Euro only.

It's a very nice package, but I'm more excited about the Fiesta ST coming out in the spring. Not as much hp/lb as the Focus, but more along the lines of the Cooper S / Abarth. Not available in Tangerine Scream, though - sorry, Glyn!

Glyn M Ruck

Tangerine Scream is eye searing metallic Orange in the flesh but it's an ST only colour & suits the car. The ST is so beautifully balanced ~ gets that balance between comfort, handling & agility just right. If you want to turn expensive rubber into smoke in an affordable package buy an ST. Of course we have the AMG A Class coming at a price.

speed7

LOL we as in not the USA though. =(