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

[Unearth078]

after reading really hard into minicoopers i got scared about there reliability... when you hear someone having a mcs for 3 months and having the shift linkage fall apart, thats not good. and also hearing that mcs has the e36 interior disease sucks. and i mean i do know a ton of e30's so im very comfortable working on them

if you could find a feasible mcs with documents including recall work, i think i would jump on it. there not much more comfortable but they can be a bit more tame then an older e30 and can be serious fun, and speed, when driven the part.

[Julien]

Any argument besides childish eye rolling? You've posted nothing at all productive so far.

Incidentally, I described my car's suspension. It's served me well for years. Come out to the track one day and I'll show you what an E30 is capable of.

true.. I've never taken an e30 on track, especially not the nurburgring...
The argument holds that stock for stock and e30 doesn't match up to newer "sporty" cars. Your argument that a J-stock e30 will outhandle just about anything is ridiculous.
I've owned 15+ e30s and have had a great deal of fun with them, and shit when I was at my prime time of e30 ownership I thought the same crap you are regurgitating on this thread. To repeat myself, the e30 is a fun nimble, light, toss able chassis, but it's not and never will be the end all be all in handling.

anyways *yawn*
Julien

[TDE30]

Incidentally, I described my car's suspension. It's served me well for years. Come out to the track one day and I'll show you what an E30 is capable of.

Come out to the Tall People Convention and joo will show you what tall people are capable of.

:D

[Emre]

:roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::r oll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::rol l::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll: :roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::r oll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::rol l::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll: :roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll:

Any argument besides childish eye rolling? You've posted nothing at all productive so far.

Incidentally, I described my car's suspension. It's served me well for years. Come out to the track one day and I'll show you what an E30 is capable of.

[transatlantic0207]

this is a good thread....great points on both sides

I vote go with e30 which is a proven car. If your budget is 13k then I would try to squeeze out another 2 grand and get an M3, e30 of course. 15 grand rule!

[Julien]

and has the potential to out-handle just about any car on the road (including the Mini).

I think you missed the word "potential." I didn't say it handles better in stock form. But it certainly has the potential to do so. An E30 318is with Turner J-Stock springs, Bilstein Sport dampers custom valved to "Gruppe N" spec (or even "Firehawk" spec), camber plates, M3 control arm bushings, I.E. sways, quality 225/45-R15 tires, and a careful alignment can out-handle just about anything on the track. Certainly much better than a Mini on conventional suspension.

:roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::r oll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::rol l::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll: :roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::r oll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::rol l::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll: :roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll:

[gazellebeigem3]

dodge omni

[Julien]

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...-deposits.html

hmmm.. maybe this is why the mini I seafoamed smoked soo much!! great results though

[e30loverSC]

E30 all the way.. why not a 325is or something thats what i have LOVE IT to death

[tjts1]

Why would anyone want a FWD car made in the UK with a dodge neon engine? The mini fails on all levels.

[Emre]

ouch!! what's up emre.. you're on a roll today ;)

Thank you. I'm here all week. :woowoo:

The E30 is cheaper to buy, RWD, arguably more practical, and has the potential to out-handle just about any car on the road (including the Mini). But it's an old car and will require lots of maintenance up front. And a 318is is going to be slow by modern standards.

I want a ticket to the world you live in

I think you missed the word "potential." I didn't say it handles better in stock form. But it certainly has the potential to do so. An E30 318is with Turner J-Stock springs, Bilstein Sport dampers custom valved to "Gruppe N" spec (or even "Firehawk" spec), camber plates, M3 control arm bushings, I.E. sways, quality 225/45-R15 tires, and a careful alignment can out-handle just about anything on the track. Certainly much better than a Mini on conventional suspension.

FWIW, my sister has a 2009 Mini and I've driven several examples of various Minis (including the Mini "G.P.") on the street and track. They're great for what they are...but they're still too front heavy and wrong wheel drive. A properly set up E30 is much more fun to 4-wheel drift through corners. YMMV.

i suspect an e30 with completely redone suspension(mainly new bushings) and modern tires would handle comparably to a new mini.

You suspect correctly. With the o.p.'s total budget of $13,000 (which is on the low side for a half decent Cooper JCW) he can build a monster E30.

[Nic01101011]

you cant define a cars handling by total lateral Gs. my mkIV GTI pulled almost .9G in the corners, but it was still an utter boat.
i suspect an e30 with completely redone suspension(mainly new bushings) and modern tires would handle comparably to a new mini.

[Julien]

200 ft skidpad results from R/T:

318is: .83g
Mini JCW: .91g.

VW golf .82G
SELFPWNT :-(

and upgrading to the optional five-spoke aluminum wheels fitted with Michelin Energy 195/65HR15 all-season tires generates improved grip.

[theox69]

No one is timing you to see how long it takes to get to the grocery store; instead, it's about the roar of a craptastic M42 ringing in your ears, the smell of a waterlogged and stained 318is carpet, and the clicking of the Karlyn control arms you scored for $115 shipped off Ebay making you wonder when they'll let go. With the MCS, you'll have none of these intrusions to take your attention away from texting while driving, and being on the lookout for cute boys to blow kisses at.

[FredK]

If you have some unusual preoccupation with absolutely not appearing gay to anyone, then you'd better get yourself an F650 so nobody gets suspicious.

How many MPG do you pull in that thing? :giggle: