Mini Cooper S vs 318is: Which should I get?

[Julien]

Julien, was your time in this thread worth it? ha!

eh.. boredom, it happens

[ACMF74]

For 13k you can get a nice Mini or a very custom e30.

I'd opt for a highly e30 IMO.....

[Rob]

Julien, was your time in this thread worth it? ha!

[freeski27]

It's a first gen, not second.

Stand corrected there, but still see no factual argument against the Chrysler engine. Once again, could be wrong; however, seems like a very solid engine...

PS - ^^ The abath is sick, they did that on top gear. Here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYffiTRxmOs

[Julien]

Good to know! I was looking at getting a GTI also but I think I might find that a little porky compared to the e30/ cooper s and not refreshing enough coming from a background of all modern, heavyish bmw 5 series and 3 series. Too similar I guess is my concern.

I agree, I wouldn't have an mk4 if it wasn't for my interest in diesels and running bio.

wait 2 years and get:

[zhp43867]

I'm also 6'6".. I fit in both cars, but I wanted something where I could be a bit more comfortable than either of those choices. I also wanted to mess around with diesel... I like the mk4 but it's not a driver's car at heart, but it does ok with a few mods.
'04 chipped/lowered/big braked TDI

Good to know! I was looking at getting a GTI also but I think I might find that a little porky compared to the e30/ cooper s and not refreshing enough coming from a background of all modern, heavyish bmw 5 series and 3 series. Too similar I guess is my concern.

[kishg]

never knew depeche mode's songs were considered female material ?

not female.. gay ;)

[zhp43867]

The OP never specified but it sounds like he is looking for a first gen Chrysler engined mini.

I would like to see a second gen mini for $11k

It's a first gen, not second. I think I might just get a normal MCS with lower miles in the color I actually like though and just add a pulley instead.

never knew depeche mode's songs were considered female material ?

I think second generation car was 10 times better, they took all the feedback from the customers and redesigned the car in a better way

I think that there is a following for either 50/50. I prefer the turbo engine of the second generation, however everything else including the interior I like better on the first generation.

[vlad]

But seriously, the MCS looks waaay too feminine. Maybe you appreciate the songs of Depeche Mode, though.

never knew depeche mode's songs were considered female material ?

If you have money to spend, get the Mini, really fun car and the older ones were better than the second generation.

I think second generation car was 10 times better, they took all the feedback from the customers and redesigned the car in a better way

[tjts1]

we need to remember that thread starter is planning on getting a 2nd gen. mini...which makes all of this neglagable...

The OP never specified but it sounds like he is looking for a first gen Chrysler engined mini.

I can get JCW Mini for $11,000, but it is less reliable (I think) than an e30.

I would like to see a second gen mini for $11k

[kishg]

we need to remember that thread starter is planning on getting a 2nd gen. mini...which makes all of this neglagable...

BINGO!!

i don't buy the anything domestic is crap argument either. sure, the big 3 haven't made anything i'd remotely want to buy in a while but that's a failure in design and marketing than engineering.

hopefully this will change, the new cts-v is nice!

[Julien]

I'm also 6'6".. I fit in both cars, but I wanted something where I could be a bit more comfortable than either of those choices. I also wanted to mess around with diesel... I like the mk4 but it's not a driver's car at heart, but it does ok with a few mods.
'04 chipped/lowered/big braked TDI

[tjts1]

So, tell us what's wrong with it.

Nothing if you're into Chryslers. Would you buy a 3 series with a Chrysler engine? Minis aren't exactly cheap econono boxes. I would have expected more.

P.S.: I thought the Neon had a 2.0L DOHC engine

In the US yes. It was sold in other markets with this 1.6 and and a 1.8. The 1.4/1.6 engine was assembled in Brazil under the deal with Rover but it shares its architecture and majority of components with the 1.8/2.0/2.4. Rover and BMW had nothing to do with the design and development. I'm sure BMW couldn't wait to get rid of it.

[zhp43867]

Joke.
Your head.

It's cool though, I was simply referring to how tall Julien is in hopes of quelling the difference in opinions between him and Emre about E30's and MCS'.

How tall are you guys? I'm ~6' 6" :)

Don't forget that the 318is has a tendency to grenade @ roughly 200k miles and that most examples you will find will have roughly that many miles. If you can live with a car that has problems from time to time, the e30 is a great candidate. I just got fed up with e30s while daily driving my swapped touring in Brussels. a non-stop fucking headache. Of course the mcs isn't the best car known to man, but I must say it impressed me when I test drove it in terms of performance, but a huge smile on my face.
We had a mini non-s in the family, and it wasn't bad at all, the torque from the SOHC motor made it a great dd candidate.

Basically what I am getting to is look what you need the car to do on a daily basis, and your decision should be easy.

Julien

Thanks for your input! So what are you driving now "instead" of your e30's? I think I'm leading towards the Mini, I couldn't care less if people think it's gay. :roll:

[freeski27]

Its a neon engine. It was designed by Chrysler, assembled by Chrysler and sent off to go into 1 of 2 cars: A neon or a Mini. End of story.

Whats the big deal? I don't know mini's past what I have read on this thread... but it seems to me that their true failure point is the transmission?? (If i am correct). My mechanic buddy drives a neon with 200K... has had to replace a lot of suspension parts (bushings and whatnot)... but the engine keeps on tickin'.... Don't see the problem with it.
But non-the-less... we need to remember that thread starter is planning on getting a 2nd gen. mini...which makes all of this neglagable...