szuberi

My VP at work asked me the question this morning. He is looking for a new car (will be an 07/08 model) and here is the list that we discussed.

Mazda RX-8
Mazda Miata
Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GS
Mini Cooper S

He lives in the suburbs alongwith his wife and three kids. They have a Toyota Sienna as the main family car but they are looking forward to buy a bit of a smaller and sportier vehicle. The couple are, i guess in their mid 40s. Insurance is not an issue but their priority is to have a second..more fun to drive car.

He also said that the wife will be using the car to take kids around town and/or to make grocery trips every now and then. Kids are i guess b/w 7-10 so atleast one of them still using a booster seat.

Given this information...my suggestion was to go for the RX-8. Alhtough its not the best for moving with family but tops among the list mentioned above.

What do you guys think?

P.S: My boss might be reading this so please keep posts on topic.

Thanks

Nova_Dust

So the wife knows how to drive standard then.

MCS gets my vote. 192lb of torque with overboost, not bad for a 1.6L from factory.

szuberi

charles...all these vehicles are available with an auto option. and talking of the spyder..they are looking at the GS model..not the GT. this is nice example where the buyer has a good and very stretchable budget but they are not sure what to buy.

those HP and torque numbers...dont even matter to them...lol

imported_Shazza

i also love the MCS...both standard and auto are wickedly fun. although, i havent test driven any of the other cars.

the A3 is friggin wicked too. again, havent driven it myself, but my cousin has driven others (including the MCS) and says that the A3 is the funnest. and of course ed has the A3 as a demo. sometimes i go "WHEEEEEEEE!".

Nova_Dust

We are fairly pleased with our MCC, even at standard 1.6L, it is a fun car to drive.

imported_Zyepher

MCS

Notorious

Mini Cooper S

97SiR

I'd go for the Mitsubishi just because it's a convertible. If my daughter would not have been 2 years old I would have gotten a Spyder for myself.

imported_starboy869

Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

Adair

Personal preference is probably the RX-8, with the Spyder running a very, VERY close second.

Cynikal.Mindset

mini cooper s is the most versatile of the lot and fun to drive

imported_xplizitremix

only car worth even driving is the Mini cooper S

ever since mitsubishi went N/A w/ their eclipse that was a bad move although their warranty is at it's best

RX8 is trying to be a saturn
Also a bad move

Mazda miata is ok... but i am not a big fan

civicnation

Mazda RX-8 - amazing car, but still a mazda
Mazda Miata - not practical for the need
Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder - too ugly
Mini Cooper S - this is the best of the pack, but space might be an issue

imported_bananax

just a question,

have you all driven each one of these cars :P? I know there is alot of rave about the MCS , but the RX8 is just I dunno, more what I would pick, and cheaper insurance to boot =p

nothing like a 2 door sports car that counts as a 4 door!

though I have never driven any of these cars :|

Gallagher

MCS handsdown. Supercharged!


Whats that one edition called that is unreal?

Nova_Dust

^ Turbocharged now.


JCW - John Cooper Works is the special packaged version, a girl I know drives that, I haven't sat in it but looks fairly nice.

imported_Shazza

the only way he can make a decision is to test drive them all...and get his kids to sit in the back to see how practical it is in terms of comfort.

szuberi

thanks guys for the responses.....it seems the cooper is the favorite by far and charles correctly pointed out...there is a turbo motor available as well with overboost. thats sick. i looked at the car again on their site in complete detail....damn long list of standard features.

he will be going for the test drive this coming weekend. apparently there is a bmw/mini dealership right next to their house.

Gallagher

yeah, thats the one, the works edition....

honestly its unreal!

imported_Spiderman

Driven pretty well all the cars mentioned.
Whats the price range he is looking at?

Personally the Minis are nice.
Quick, great handling and have comfy interiors.
But for the money.
Your not getting much.

If he has a fairly decent price range I would suggest the BMW 335i coupe/hardtop cab.
3.0L inline 6 twinturbo with 300hp.
Hottest, funnest, (but not fastest) car I've driven.

Would be a good idea to look into something like that is he is looking for nice little sports car.