I've had the same truck, a 93 Dodge Dakota, for over 10 years now. It's an auto, V8, fairly quick for a truck. I've always driven RWD vehicles, so was a little skeptical about the Mini's front drive setup. I've always loved being able to do fish-tails in dirt roads, or on pavement when I feel like it (though I'm 28 now, and I don't really do it very often these days).
Anyway, I definitely want a car, not a truck. I want something sporty, and something smaller, that is good on gas, and a nimble traffic car. One that can zip me in and out of traffic quickly, that handles well, but is quick enough to pass people if I want/need to.
The Mini Cooper S seems to be just about a perfect fit for this. Good on gas, very go-kart like in it's handling (a plus for me), and from what I hear a blast to drive. A new '06 is gonna run me right around the 25k mark before taxes, etc.
Other than a Mini, and other than an '06 MX-5/Miata (test drove one of those, didn't like it compared to the Mini, felt much slower, and was loud, not a fan of the ragtops), can anyone suggest a car that is medium to small in size, good on gas, good handling, fast, and not terribly expensive, and built well? I heard Mini's are basically BMW's, and that they're high-quality and built well, anybody know otherwise?
Any comments will be much appreciated. This will be the first new car I've ever owned, and I want to make sure I'm making the wisest decision for the long haul. I'll probably have this car a minimum of 5+ years.
**DOH, almost forgot, this will be my daily driven car, my only vehicle. I'm debating between the 6-speed manual & the 6-speed auto with the paddle-shifters. I've never owned a manually shifted car, but I know how to shift. Just wondering if the 6-speed auto in the Cooper S is a really slick unit, that won't really sacrifice performance. I think the manual will definitely increase the fun factor, so I'm probably leaning more towards those. I just hear of huge annoyance factors with manuals when in heavy, slow-moving traffic. Though I'm not often in that situation.
Oh, and I'm not interested in a soft-top convertible. I don't like the noise factor.
Anyway, I definitely want a car, not a truck. I want something sporty, and something smaller, that is good on gas, and a nimble traffic car. One that can zip me in and out of traffic quickly, that handles well, but is quick enough to pass people if I want/need to.
The Mini Cooper S seems to be just about a perfect fit for this. Good on gas, very go-kart like in it's handling (a plus for me), and from what I hear a blast to drive. A new '06 is gonna run me right around the 25k mark before taxes, etc.
Other than a Mini, and other than an '06 MX-5/Miata (test drove one of those, didn't like it compared to the Mini, felt much slower, and was loud, not a fan of the ragtops), can anyone suggest a car that is medium to small in size, good on gas, good handling, fast, and not terribly expensive, and built well? I heard Mini's are basically BMW's, and that they're high-quality and built well, anybody know otherwise?
Any comments will be much appreciated. This will be the first new car I've ever owned, and I want to make sure I'm making the wisest decision for the long haul. I'll probably have this car a minimum of 5+ years.
**DOH, almost forgot, this will be my daily driven car, my only vehicle. I'm debating between the 6-speed manual & the 6-speed auto with the paddle-shifters. I've never owned a manually shifted car, but I know how to shift. Just wondering if the 6-speed auto in the Cooper S is a really slick unit, that won't really sacrifice performance. I think the manual will definitely increase the fun factor, so I'm probably leaning more towards those. I just hear of huge annoyance factors with manuals when in heavy, slow-moving traffic. Though I'm not often in that situation.
Oh, and I'm not interested in a soft-top convertible. I don't like the noise factor.
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