Thinking about buying a Mazdaspeed3

[iamwiz82]

Where did you find a MINI at $400 over invoice?

 

[Riverhound777]

Probably shouldn't have mentioned your only 18 and your parents are buying the car for you here, you'll get reamed.

Oh, and I hate you.

 

[ggnl]

Originally posted by: Riverhound777
Probably shouldn't have mentioned your only 18 and your parents are buying the car for you here, you'll get reamed.

Oh, and I hate you.

Yeah, I was slightly annoyed when I read that too.

Whatevah, it's not my money.

 

[Arkaign]

Damn, I was going to suggest just grabbing a mint used Vette. Blows the doors off of anything listed, and can easily achieve 30mpg+ on the highway, and mid-20s around town as long as you don't get in the metal too much.

Still, that Mini will be fun. Congrats and be safe!

 

[ayabe]

Well given that you are 18 and I still don't have a clear picture of your automotive background, I'm going to go out on a limb and state that I think the MS3 is too much car for you.

You would be better off getting the Mini and getting a few more years/thousands of miles under your belt before getting a car that powerful.

If you dad was smart I think he would agree with me, I'm not trying to hate on you I'm just speaking from experience and seeing a couple friends eating guardrail because they had more car than they can handle at a very immature age.

 

[caspur]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Where did you find a MINI at $400 over invoice?

Yes, inquiring minds want to know, where you can buy a Mini for this price?

I also want to purchase a Mini for $400 over invoice.

 

[caspur]

Oh, and good choice on the Mini. I had a 08 fleet demo when they first came out, real pretty red one with a white and glass roof. Been thinking of buying one as my personal car ever since. For $400 over invoice (instead of sticker price) it makes the MINI a much better choice than the mazda3.

A few things I noticed from my demo:

The ride with the runflats and sport package is atrocious. Test drive one and make sure you can live with it.

Leatherette on a compact car approaching 28k is something only BMW could pull off. Amazingly, the leatherette feels nicer, and is probably more durable than the real thing.

The arm rest (which I may have mentioned in previous posts) sucks. I broke mine the first week. And it costs like $150!!

The button to open the glove box is cool.

The back seat holds 2 children at the most.

The automatic rolls backwards on hills just like a manual.

Overall, a quirky car. Not too many "upscale" compacts here in America, so the MINI really is unique. Its quick enough, handles great, and gets good fuel economy.

 

[Xyclone]

Ayabe, read later posts. IamWiz and Caspur, use the internet quoting system from any dealer to get the best price. LB (CA) MINI quoted me $21700 for a Cooper S with sports package. If anything, I would add the rear fog light ($100). They said they have to order it.

EDIT: That doesn't include TTL.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Xyclone
Ayabe, read later posts. IamWiz and Caspur, use the internet quoting system from any dealer to get the best price. LB (CA) MINI quoted me $21700 for a Cooper S with sports package. If anything, I would add the rear fog light ($100). They said they have to order it.

EDIT: That doesn't include TTL.

IMHO, the sport package is not worth it. My first MINI had it, but not my second. DSC is nice in a powerful RWD vehicle, but you don't need it in the MINI. I would pick up the convienence package instead.

Originally posted by: caspur
Oh, and good choice on the Mini. I had a 08 fleet demo when they first came out, real pretty red one with a white and glass roof. Been thinking of buying one as my personal car ever since. For $400 over invoice (instead of sticker price) it makes the MINI a much better choice than the mazda3.

A few things I noticed from my demo:

The ride with the runflats and sport package is atrocious. Test drive one and make sure you can live with it.

Leatherette on a compact car approaching 28k is something only BMW could pull off. Amazingly, the leatherette feels nicer, and is probably more durable than the real thing.

The arm rest (which I may have mentioned in previous posts) sucks. I broke mine the first week. And it costs like $150!!

The button to open the glove box is cool.

The back seat holds 2 children at the most.

The automatic rolls backwards on hills just like a manual.

Overall, a quirky car. Not too many "upscale" compacts here in America, so the MINI really is unique. Its quick enough, handles great, and gets good fuel economy.

I have said this before here, but BMW leatherette is nicer than GM leather. I never got the armrest, Wasn't really needed. The runflats suck, but the ride isn't that bad, I have had a few vehicles that were rougher 😉

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Xyclone
Ayabe, read later posts. IamWiz and Caspur, use the internet quoting system from any dealer to get the best price. LB (CA) MINI quoted me $21700 for a Cooper S with sports package. If anything, I would add the rear fog light ($100). They said they have to order it.

EDIT: That doesn't include TTL.

IMHO, the sport package is not worth it. My first MINI had it, but not my second. DSC is nice in a powerful RWD vehicle, but you don't need it in the MINI. I would pick up the convienence package instead.

Originally posted by: caspur
Oh, and good choice on the Mini. I had a 08 fleet demo when they first came out, real pretty red one with a white and glass roof. Been thinking of buying one as my personal car ever since. For $400 over invoice (instead of sticker price) it makes the MINI a much better choice than the mazda3.

A few things I noticed from my demo:

The ride with the runflats and sport package is atrocious. Test drive one and make sure you can live with it.

Leatherette on a compact car approaching 28k is something only BMW could pull off. Amazingly, the leatherette feels nicer, and is probably more durable than the real thing.

The arm rest (which I may have mentioned in previous posts) sucks. I broke mine the first week. And it costs like $150!!

The button to open the glove box is cool.

The back seat holds 2 children at the most.

The automatic rolls backwards on hills just like a manual.

Overall, a quirky car. Not too many "upscale" compacts here in America, so the MINI really is unique. Its quick enough, handles great, and gets good fuel economy.

I have said this before here, but BMW leatherette is nicer than GM leather. I never got the armrest, Wasn't really needed. The runflats suck, but the ride isn't that bad, I have had a few vehicles that were rougher 😉

The new MINI actually has a much better ride quality. I drove my friend's old-gen S and test drove a new S. It was more comfortable. I agree, the armrest is useless, and it opens and closes as you shift gears.

The sport package has the larger (17") wheels with lower profile (and wider?) tires, DSC, sport suspension, and the hood stripes. I was going to get it just for the sport suspension. Casper, I'll test drive one with sport to test it out. The one I drove was fully loaded, in auto. The $3000 markup scared me away from looking at the car in detail.

EDIT: I want the car in MT. I can't believe so many MINI's are auto here in LA. What a waste. 🙁

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Xyclone

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Xyclone
Ayabe, read later posts. IamWiz and Caspur, use the internet quoting system from any dealer to get the best price. LB (CA) MINI quoted me $21700 for a Cooper S with sports package. If anything, I would add the rear fog light ($100). They said they have to order it.

EDIT: That doesn't include TTL.

IMHO, the sport package is not worth it. My first MINI had it, but not my second. DSC is nice in a powerful RWD vehicle, but you don't need it in the MINI. I would pick up the convienence package instead.

Originally posted by: caspur
Oh, and good choice on the Mini. I had a 08 fleet demo when they first came out, real pretty red one with a white and glass roof. Been thinking of buying one as my personal car ever since. For $400 over invoice (instead of sticker price) it makes the MINI a much better choice than the mazda3.

A few things I noticed from my demo:

The ride with the runflats and sport package is atrocious. Test drive one and make sure you can live with it.

Leatherette on a compact car approaching 28k is something only BMW could pull off. Amazingly, the leatherette feels nicer, and is probably more durable than the real thing.

The arm rest (which I may have mentioned in previous posts) sucks. I broke mine the first week. And it costs like $150!!

The button to open the glove box is cool.

The back seat holds 2 children at the most.

The automatic rolls backwards on hills just like a manual.

Overall, a quirky car. Not too many "upscale" compacts here in America, so the MINI really is unique. Its quick enough, handles great, and gets good fuel economy.

I have said this before here, but BMW leatherette is nicer than GM leather. I never got the armrest, Wasn't really needed. The runflats suck, but the ride isn't that bad, I have had a few vehicles that were rougher 😉

The new MINI actually has a much better ride quality. I drove my friend's old-gen S and test drove a new S. It was more comfortable. I agree, the armrest is useless, and it opens and closes as you shift gears.

The sport package has the larger (17") wheels with lower profile (and wider?) tires, DSC, sport suspension, and the hood stripes. I was going to get it just for the sport suspension. Casper, I'll test drive one with sport to test it out. The one I drove was fully loaded, in auto. The $3000 markup scared me away from looking at the car in detail.

EDIT: I want the car in MT. I can't believe so many MINI's are auto here in LA. What a waste. 🙁

You can get aftermarket adjustable coilovers for less than the cost of the sport package! I did the stripes myself with a kit purchased at Mightystripes.com. The 17" wheels are meh, IMHO. I would go aftermarket there, too.

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Xyclone

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Xyclone
Ayabe, read later posts. IamWiz and Caspur, use the internet quoting system from any dealer to get the best price. LB (CA) MINI quoted me $21700 for a Cooper S with sports package. If anything, I would add the rear fog light ($100). They said they have to order it.

EDIT: That doesn't include TTL.

IMHO, the sport package is not worth it. My first MINI had it, but not my second. DSC is nice in a powerful RWD vehicle, but you don't need it in the MINI. I would pick up the convienence package instead.

Originally posted by: caspur
Oh, and good choice on the Mini. I had a 08 fleet demo when they first came out, real pretty red one with a white and glass roof. Been thinking of buying one as my personal car ever since. For $400 over invoice (instead of sticker price) it makes the MINI a much better choice than the mazda3.

A few things I noticed from my demo:

The ride with the runflats and sport package is atrocious. Test drive one and make sure you can live with it.

Leatherette on a compact car approaching 28k is something only BMW could pull off. Amazingly, the leatherette feels nicer, and is probably more durable than the real thing.

The arm rest (which I may have mentioned in previous posts) sucks. I broke mine the first week. And it costs like $150!!

The button to open the glove box is cool.

The back seat holds 2 children at the most.

The automatic rolls backwards on hills just like a manual.

Overall, a quirky car. Not too many "upscale" compacts here in America, so the MINI really is unique. Its quick enough, handles great, and gets good fuel economy.

I have said this before here, but BMW leatherette is nicer than GM leather. I never got the armrest, Wasn't really needed. The runflats suck, but the ride isn't that bad, I have had a few vehicles that were rougher 😉

The new MINI actually has a much better ride quality. I drove my friend's old-gen S and test drove a new S. It was more comfortable. I agree, the armrest is useless, and it opens and closes as you shift gears.

The sport package has the larger (17") wheels with lower profile (and wider?) tires, DSC, sport suspension, and the hood stripes. I was going to get it just for the sport suspension. Casper, I'll test drive one with sport to test it out. The one I drove was fully loaded, in auto. The $3000 markup scared me away from looking at the car in detail.

EDIT: I want the car in MT. I can't believe so many MINI's are auto here in LA. What a waste. 🙁

You can get aftermarket adjustable coilovers for less than the cost of the sport package! I did the stripes myself with a kit purchased at Mightystripes.com. The 17" wheels are meh, IMHO. I would go aftermarket there, too.

Yeah, I really don't dig the look of the 17" non-crown spoke wheels, but the convenience package is useless to me, since I will be parking it outside.

EDIT: Do the aftermarket coilovers void the warranty? Only engine mods void the warranty, right?

 

[EvilYoda]

Congrats on the MINI! I just started with a new company and MINI is one of our clients 😀