Thinking about going Square - Mini Cooper + Honda Element

[Kaido]

I'll preface this by saying I am a fan of leasing. We are currently leasing an 05 Beetle and an 05 Saturn Ion sedan. The Beetle goes back in July and the Saturn goes back next May. We'll probably just go with one car until the Saturn lease is up since we're working fairly close to each other for the next half a year or so. Right now I'm just looking at options and working on how much I need to save for the down payments.

I was thinking about going square. My wife likes small cars and likes the Mini Cooper, which I think would be a fun little car. I would like a bigger car for our second set of wheels, something that could do Home Depot runs. I'm not really a fan of larger SUVs, but the Element is looking nice...well, it's ugly, but it terms of utility it looks awesome. Waterproof seats, rubberized flooring, suicide doors, and a truck-style rear door (yay for tailgates!). It can fit a couple bicycles inside there as well and handle some mild off-roading for camping and stuff.

Thoughts?

 

[iamwiz82]

The money factor that BMW charges on MINIs is insane. Leasing is just not worth it.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
The money factor that BMW charges on MINIs is insane. Leasing is just not worth it.

Yeah I've seen them from $249 to $550. Just depends on the model you get and how many years you lease. In the case of my Saturn, I save almost $100 a month by leasing instead of buying, but I think it'd be close like...$30 savings on a Mini Cooper, lol. Or maybe more expensive...I haven't looked at purchase pricing because I don't want to buy a car.

The other cars we're looking at include a Prius (hybrid hacking ftw), a Saturn Astra, and a Saturn Vue SUV (not the big Outlook). Saturn makes pretty nice little machines and I LOVE their leasing service. It covers EVERYTHING. I've been so turned off by VW that I'll probably never deal with them again. Getting the car was a hassle, setting a price was a hassle (they tried to jack up the price at the last minute; I actually got up and left because I was so upset that they did that. They ran out and got me, and dropped it by $50 a month to get me to lease it, so it turned out decent in the end, but it was still a hassle), half of the car has broken (hubcap popped off and is lost - $48 to replace, trunk broke, keys broke, oh-heck handle broke, cupholders broke multiple times, etc.), and nothing is covered under their service plan. I've had to pay every visit. I think I've even had to pay for some of the stuff that was broken

With Saturn - nothing. Tire rotation? Free. Oil change? Free. Oh no, ran over a rock and broke my radiator - oh, free. Free car wash every month. Free car wash and vacuum job every time I take it in. No haggling on the price. Dealer did everything, including picking up the plates for me the day I got it. I'm not a car guy and know enough to fill the windshield wiper reseviour and that's about it, so a quality leasing plan makes a difference to me. It's not the world's coolest car, but that's not really what I'm concerned about.

Any idea on how Mini and Honda leasing experiences are?

 

[Ktulu]

HHR SS?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Ktulu
HHR SS?

I want something with a little off-road capabilitity.

 

[radioouman]

Sure, get the Element. Why not? It gets good gas mileage, the rear seat is HUGE. It will haul loads (relatively light of course). You can get it in all-wheel-drive if you want.

 

[Ktulu]

Originally posted by: radioouman
Sure, get the Element. Why not? It gets good gas mileage, the rear seat is HUGE. It will haul loads (relatively light of course). You can get it in all-wheel-drive if you want.

Yeah, as ugly as the Element is, it sounds like it would fit all of Kaido's needs perfectly.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Ktulu
HHR SS?

I want something with a little off-road capabilitity.

regular sedans will be able to off road as well as teh element does.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Ktulu

Originally posted by: radioouman
Sure, get the Element. Why not? It gets good gas mileage, the rear seat is HUGE. It will haul loads (relatively light of course). You can get it in all-wheel-drive if you want.

Yeah, as ugly as the Element is, it sounds like it would fit all of Kaido's needs perfectly.

Yeah, pretty much - ugly but then again I care about function over form. My wife gags at the thought of getting an Element

 

[onza]

gag her back!

 

[alpineranger]

How about a honda fit? It's not as big inside but I think it does have about as much interior room as a cr-v, and the cargo capacity would surprise you. It's cheaper than the element too, better gas mileage, and your wife won't gag when she looks at it.

 

[Billy Idol]

Never understood the Element. Its like a mommy van but somehow less attractive and functional.. how have any of these vehicles been sold? Anything you can throw a frisbee through on a commercial must be good....

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Ktulu
HHR SS?

I want something with a little off-road capabilitity.

Like an Element?

Instead of spending all that money, just buy a used Cherokee, which is smaller than an Element, for $5000

 

[Thump553]

I test drove a Mini Cooper last weekend and liked it a lot, but the deal killer for is the premium gas requirement. I'm also a bit leery of an engine built by Peguot-my limited experience with that brand has been horrible.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Ktulu
HHR SS?

I want something with a little off-road capabilitity.

There's no difference in "off-road" capability between the two vehicles you're looking at or the HHR. Their capability is the same as any other regular car.

 

[IronWing]

Have you thought about a small pickup, maybe with cap? They are generally cheaper.

What definition of offroad are you thinking about?

Also, are you dedicated to leasing or would buying outright work for you?

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: Thump553
I test drove a Mini Cooper last weekend and liked it a lot, but the deal killer for is the premium gas requirement. I'm also a bit leery of an engine built by Peguot-my limited experience with that brand has been horrible.

The non-turbo runs fine on 89 octane gas.