[MiniOnd]

Just thought it'll be a good comparison!

When I was thinking of getting a new car, I thought of getting the MG ZR! I just added up all the options my Mini's got to see how much it would have cost me!

Mini Cooper = £13,995

MG ZR = £14,285!

And the MG does not have - Xenons, Heated seats, Auto AC (it has manual), TLC and BMW quality!

Wots yours?!

Take care!

Andy

[dietcokeplease]

Quote:

Originally posted by MiniOnd
And the MG does not have - BMW quality!

Some MINIs don't have BMW Quality either.

[dinger]

Quote:

Originally posted by MiniOnd



BMW quality!


Andy

Where.


Anyway



We would have gone for a Mercedes C class coupe and yes it would have been more expensive even before you start adding options.

dinger

[Paul]

I've window shopped a few others, even though I don't find it pretty to look at, I thought the Audi A2 was a really good car. The cost is huge though, and the options are priced at Audi prices, where as the MINI options are priced (I think) well enough to tempt you to tick more boxes!

[AprilWhine]

MINI Cooper, very well equipped: $24, 095.

New Beetle TDI, with same equipment: $21,625.

[tip]

When I was shopping around for a new car I looked at the VW Golf GTI and The Mini Cooper. I liked the VW it had all that I wanted but it only had everday style. I chose the Mini Cooper the overall package was better, the service was better and it has style like no other. No regrets.



Cheers

Charles

[audball]

The only other car in the running for me was the Mazda 6i. Considered trading fun for dealer network and Mazda reliability. In the end, the car simply wasn't exciting enough, so I chose the MSC.

Dave

[Chris Williams]

I looked at an imported Golf 1.8T, a Toyota Celica and a Pug 206 GTi. Nothing seemed to quite fit the bill in terms of having the package that the Cooper offers.

Regards
Christopher

[stephen_cy_wong]

The other car i looked at besides the Mini Cooper was a Toyota Yaris 1.5 T Sport, it would have cost £9,600 and was far better equipped and probably cheaper to insure than the cooper.

But backed down on getting one as it didn't feel solid and it was mostly driven by women & old people!!!

I am happy to be part of the dedicated Mini group

[GooF]

My short list came down to three cars:
The pug206GTI which had all the toys and a nice engine for 20kEuro but is o so common.
The Alfa 147 1.6 which comes fully loaded at 22kEuro, I like the design but the drive was a bit too mature for me. The 147 is a very relaxed car to drive on long trips, but not that exciting.
And finally the MINI Cooper at 23kEuro which has NO cruise control, NO aircon but it does deliver a big grin

[oldnell]

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul Mullett
I thought the Audi A2 was a really good car. The cost is huge though, and the options are priced at Audi prices...

I was also considering the A2 a while back. I still like it, although I think the front looks very plasticy and I've only ever seen old people driving it. At 26, perhaps I am getting a little old (eh Dom?)

Anyway, the base A2 doesn't even come with a rear parcel shelf or other things that even the cheapest Ford Ka has and the cost to add the basics is very high.

At least you could buy a plain MINI One without any extras and, besides the rev counter, you wouldn't really be missing anything major.

I was also considering a second-hand Seat Leon and a new well-equipped Yaris or Polo.

In the end though, I knew that it just wasn't worth saving the odd £1000 and not ending up with the car I really wanted -- the MINI.

[Bilbo Baggins]

But how do you spec in the handling characteristics of a MINI on a non-MINI platform.

It ain't gonna happen!

[Hat]

my other shortlisteed choice was also the Alfa 147 which was very close on price. The baisc price is about £2k more than a base cooper but it comes with a lot of the cooper's extras already loaded.

I never test drove an Alfa but the choice came down to better financials in the end (plus I WANTED A MINI!!!)

[AidenL]

Alfa 147 was the only other considered alternative for me also, around the same price, but better specced than the Cooper...........however, i didn't trust Alfa residuals at all.....

The MINI concept, handling, styling and heritage sealed the deal for me !

[smiffy]

Can compare the spec of my MINI ONE against a 206 Quicksilver or a 1.4 Zetec Focus

[morrisminiminor]

Test drove the Corolla and Honda Jazz.
Nothing exciting about either but they would both do the job. Went to BMW to stroke MINI from list then had a test drive. Nuff said. Due mid-end March

morrisminiminor

[BRGreenie]

Lots of talk about the Audi A2 ( surprising as I've never seen it as a Mini competitor ) and the Alfa 147 ( which, to me is a natural competitor to the Mini offering a similar fun package in a different way )

However I was in the position of buying two cars ( lucky me!!!) one for as a general family transport ( wife, two kida 3 and 6 and me ) and one as a 'personal' car ( mostly for me though my wife would have equal domain.

I bought the family car - an A2 in November - Great Car! - not the fastest but zippy , light and handles well and can get family and luggage in for a trip up North or to the airport, goes for miles on the whiff of a damp petrol rag,

Personal car is the Mini Cooper S - arriving April - whey hey!

A2 is in Pine Green - great colour , in some lights it looks black , sometimes Khaki, sometimes BRG - always looks good.

MINI is gonna be BRG...

Am I a green Nut????

Ps Wifes car was a Met Blue VW cabriolet - mine was a Mercedes E320 Avantgarde Estate ...

Bit of a change all round but NO REGRETS!!!! WHOOOOO !

[oldnell]

Quote:

Originally posted by BRGreenie
Lots of talk about the Audi A2 ( surprising as I've never seen it as a Mini competitor )

I was first looking to replace my old Fiesta a few years back (just before the MINI came out). After the Fiesta, I really wanted something with some quality, but I didn't want to have to buy a large car just to get it. I prefer smaller cars. Although the A2 isn't that small, it was a good size. I really liked the steely-icy blue colour and I liked the look of the sunroof.

I should have got shot of the Fiesta while I could, as it let me down badly, but the upside is that in the meantime the MINI came out. I'm very happy with the MINI so far (despite the rattles that seem to appear on a daily basis).

[jasemini]

Quote:

Originally posted by audball
The only other car in the running for me was the Mazda 6i. Considered trading fun for dealer network and Mazda reliability. In the end, the car simply wasn't exciting enough, so I chose the MSC.

Dave

I agree with you dave, we had two cars on our new car list.
1: New Mazda 6 luxury sports hatch
2: Mini Cooper S

It was an incredibly difficult choice, the Mazda is loaded with goodies, like leather, tiptronic, sunroof and Bose sound system, they both however have the same output and torque. The MINI Cooper S on the other was pure addiction. Style, perormance and handling to die for. I love my MINI to death but if I had the choice over again I don't know for sure if I'd still choose the MINI? There are only two things that don't rule in the MINI's favour and they are practicality and ride quality, but what else could you expect from a sports hatch. The only time the MINI mildly annoys me is when I'm tired and in peak hour traffic, it would be much nicer to be driving a nice comfy Mazda or BMW snooze mobile. But when the weekend comes and I'm out hooting with the other miniacs here in Brisbane I wouldn't trade it for the world, welll maybe for an SL500, E55, E36 or M3 but hey that's just wishfull thinking.

Cheers
Jase

[Bullett]

The only car I seriously considered was the civic type R, another grin mobile but in the end I wanted an MCS. Plus the MCS was cheaper even with the options I picked.
I did also look at the 206gti and the clio172 but no comparison overall.