Mini Cooper Vs. Go Kart

[Insomniator]

A $52K Mini is like a $500 car with $5000 rims -- laughable. On the upside, if the $52K was well spent it could be quite a sleeper though it would still be a Mini.

I have a 2012 Ford Focus and love it but the kids find it necessary to pump many thousands into it to improve power by less than 30HP and thousands more for Rally stripes and similar. Hey, your money your choice, but if you want a faster car buy one that's faster to begin with or at least offers a reasonable opportunity to increase.

You're not going to make huge improvements in power in a modern DI FI engine without either voiding the warranty or otherwise sacrificing something.


Brian

I see your point but you are also suggesting the many car cultures should not exist. Most 'kids' (and plenty of adults) can't afford the price of factory fast cars, or even if they could would rather get something cheaper and make it their own. Also in some cases (mini is a good one), it doesn't matter how much you spend its still a very unique car (compared to others, not saying its rare itself at all) with a strong following.

Sure the focus or civic won't likely ever go 0-60 as fast as an M3... but whats wrong with a 18 year old kid buying one and putting an intake or new exhaust or customizing it himself? Should he/she drive stock toyota yaris until he can afford a porsche?

 

[Ferzerp]

The cars that I have driven that drive like go karts are few and far between.

Boxster S/Cayman S are the only reasonable cars that drive like a go kart that I have driven. In the insane area, a racing version Ferrari F430 did as well, but I didn't have enough time with that one to get comfortable with it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The cars that I have driven that drive like go karts are few and far between.

Boxster S/Cayman S are the only reasonable cars that drive like a go kart that I have driven. In the insane area, a racing version Ferrari F430 did as well, but I didn't have enough time with that one to get comfortable with it.

Closest I've experienced is a Lotus Elise. Nobody in their right mind would do a comparo between that and a Mini.