| A MIni Returns (kinda long post)
About 7 months ago my gf and I broke up, we shared a 05 mini and an 03 new beetle convertible. I decided to let her have the mini while I took the beetle (beetle leased and mini bought) since she drove more than I did and I also have another vw and a motorcycle in case I needed to keep the miles off the beetle. Well the lease came up on the beetle and I bought an 04 honda civic si hatchback. I wanted something with a little more get up an go and also a hatchback. The civic si is and amazing car, you can add more hp very cheaply. I've put a type-s head, I/H/E an ran a 14 flat at the local race track(did 0-60 5.6 secs on a G-tech). Not bad for not having a super or turbo charger. But it lacks the fun factor of the mini and honda owners seem to get labeled as "ricers". It handles well since I've added coilovers and swaybars, but it still isn't a cooper around the bends. I really miss the attention I got with the cooper and also the small snug cockpit. It seemed like the car was built around me. The main reason I got the civic si was power, the mini engine really lacks the punch of a vtec and the upgradeability. I've thought about smacking on a turbo and making a vette eating honda monster, but it seems every toolbox with a fart can wants to race me on the street and I'm very against street racing, I keep it on the track. I hate just cruising down the road and another honda reving at me. So I've decided to buy another Mini. Tommorow I'm going to look at a couple of used ones and also at the new ones. I'm going to miss the quickness of the honda but I think all in all the mini was a much more fun car. Also I plan on autocrossing when the season starts back up so I think the mini is a perfect choice.  | 
