[MiniMe3]

Hello everyone this is my first post here. I currently drive a 2002 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro. I have done several mods to the car. It is a great car and I love it but lately I have been thinking about getting a Cooper S. The Italian Job got me thinking. Yesterday I test drove one and loved it! I have one more year on my A4 lease and have done some mods to it. Exhaust, chip, dv, and short shifter. The car is nice but it isn't as quick as the mini (even with the mods) . I have a chance to get out of my lease and buy a 2004 S model with pretty much every option. I was going to pass on the Works package and possibly mod the car through aftermarket vendors. I know about warranty issues and am willing to deal with that. My A4's warranty is technically voided. The salesman at mini says as long as the failure or part that breaks on the mini is not related to the mod then the warranty stays in tact. Anyway I know I would probably miss having quattro and it does snow here a little in the winter (CT). How is the mini with a nice set of snow tires? Even with quattro I had to buy snow tires for my car (it came with summer tires). Sorry for the long post but what I am trying to get at is.... am I crazy to want a Cooper S since I am driving an Audi? I felt comfortable in the S and really enjoyed driving it. I need to get out of my head what other people will think of me. It is tiny on the outside but inside it is so cool and the seats are incredible. Hmm... what to do?

[MiniMe3]

Wow nobody here wants to talk to me. Thanks a lot. www.audiworld.com and www.audilounge.com are always willing to listen to me and give good sound advice. Maybe no one is on tonight? Hmm makes me wonder. The whole forum experience is important to me.

[Bonnie Scotland]

Hi and welcome to MINI2, trust me, this forum is a world beater, you will get all kind of info here, so much infact that when you go to place your order you will know more than the sales guy.
As for the lack of responses, well, the weekends are usually pretty slow, everyone out driving their car

To ask on this forum whether you should go for an S is a bit like asking on the Audi forum if you should change to one of theirs, you will get 100 per cent for the MINI.
I can't advise you on your tyre choice, but, as far as i know the mini handles superbly in the snow, being front wheel drive you can hand brake it round corners and invoke a wee slide etc.

Hang in there and don't worry, the mad lot will be along shortly with more advice.

Bonnie Scotland

[OregonCooper]

If you order an S now, it probably won't arrive until your lease is almost up (eight months to get one here in Portland). MINIs are supposed to be good in snow with 15" wheels and Blizzaks. DSC also can help, but some people shut it off. I can't speak from personal experience since I'm still waiting for mine, though.

[dansmini]

So far my MC has been fine in the snow. What jumps out at me is that you did all those mods to a car you were leasing! I have never leased a car, so I am ignorant as to how all of that works. Just curious, what are you going to do about the mods when you turn the car back in?

[MiniMe3]

The dealer I went to actually has like 4 S models in stock and a few on the way. They have an Indi Blue one in the showroom. The only thing it doesn't have that I want is the Harmon Karden stereo system. As for the mods on my car. I plan on taking off the exhaust and chip. I can easily sell those. Someone from the Audi forums will surely buy them. Tons of people mod their leased cars. What is the difference? Even if I bought the A4 I probably still would be sick of it like I am now and want something else. We get tons of people coming over from other forums to the Audi ones asking the same questions I am asking to you guys. I know it may be biased!

[obehave]

I know I didn't answer because you were asking for comparisons between the Audi and the S. That really limits the number of people that can respond to that, the main part, of your questions.
There's a LOT of guys with MINIs in your area, GMINI, GMNI03,CapeCodMINI and a whole bunch more. They seem to get by quite well. Post in the New England Forum and you'll get a ton of answers.

[Bonnie Scotland]

Who had to go and mention SNOW

Bonnie Scotland

[stryder]

Check the wheels + tires forum for discussion on snow, you'll be fine with snow tires. (read the FAQ on snow as well)

Otherwise, you're not at all crazy for wanting the car, its a reasonable upgrade. And if you want H/K you can order and probably get the car within 2 months, or check out other dealers in your area, MINI of the Hamptons especially tends to have lots of cars in stock and more on the way, so some will surely have H/K if you want it, and its not an excessive drive from anywhere in CT.

[MiniMe3]

Thanks for the replies. I too think it is a reasonable upgrade. Sure it is a smaller car and might not be as luxurious looking to some people. I think it is a head turner and definately an enthusiasts car. It also will have more features than my A4. I would only really be losing AWD capability. The Cooper has leather (mine has leatherette), and 6spd. The Cooper will also handle better and be much more fun to drive. Rain sensitive wipers are also cool (my 01 GTI VR6 had them!) I have driven front wheel drive cars before so I am not worried about the snow. How is the DSC system? I wonder if it is comparable to the ESP system I have now. I really need to make a decision quick!

[MINImeat]

If you like and understand the MINI as much as it sounds like you do, go for it.
The posts I've seen say DSC works extremely well in the snow and the MINI is especially stable as they've done a good job of getting rid of torque steer.
MINIs are an anomoly. It's a wonderful car that alot of people just don't get in the US so many people will look at you like you're crazy. They're programmed to think a little car is cheap and tinny and there's nothing you can do about that.
I think alot of MINI owners are also Audi fans. I know I've always wanted one.
If you love good handling, you won't be let down.
You may have to deal with an occsional interior rattle, but the car is rock-solid.
Get a MINI and have a blast!
Oh, welcome to MINI2...

[MiniMe3]

ha rattles! No worries, my GTI was a rattle bucket and my A4 is no better. I can deal with those minor quirks. Come on guys I need more convincing!

[badboyzbadboyz]

You can get enough gadgets on a MINI to make it a luxurious hatchback. You get a very sporty ride and a fairly luxurious one at the same time IMO. Nothing on the market even comes near to the MINI. The car drives like a beast, it looks like a beast and its different to other cars.

[MiniMe3]

I truly believe the Mini is a great automobile. My problem is dealing with all the people in my life. They will think I am crazy for trading in an Audi for a Mini Cooper. In any case my lease is up next year and I would have to give it back anyway. So why not do it now? My main problem is taking the chip and exhaust off my Audi. If I decide to get the Mini I wanna do this is quickly as possible so I can pick up the Mini ASAP!

[badboyzbadboyz]

Simple solution. Gather all the people that think you are mad trading the two cars and one by one take them out for a ride in a MCS. Drive the car hard and they will ***** themselves when they see how fast the car can go around corners, then see how many people think you are mad

[stryder]

I think you need to elaborate on why people think you'd be crazy trading in a MINI. As much as we all like to think MINIs are unique, they've got a very large dose of BMW in them. Think of it more as a lateral trade - going from an small (in the US (ignore the European models) Audi, to a smaller BMW.

Honestly, besides the size, there's no good reason for people to look down on you its just as much of a luxury car (if you spec it with things like H/K and leather) as an Audi is. And besides, an Audi's a hyped up VW, a MINI's a hyped down BMW, personally I'd rather have a luxury car derivative instead of a luxuried 'people's car' (No offense about the Audi - I like them myself, but you should see the logic)

[MiniMe3]

I definately see the logic and I thank you guys for your input. I do see the Mini as a hyped down BMW and the Audi as a hyped up VW. I have owned a VW and see many similarities between my A4 and the VW. In any case the Mini has all the features I look for in a car. I am a car enthusiast and can see the mini putting a smile on my face. On a sidenote I test drove a M3 while at BMW and all I can say is WOW! Can't afford it though, and I think the Mini would be just as fun. I think I am getting closer to making my decision. Ha figures a Audi commercial is playing in the background as I type!! Grrr....

[LordWinslow]

Quote: Originally Posted by MiniMe3

I definately see the logic and I thank you guys for your input. I do see the Mini as a hyped down BMW and the Audi as a hyped up VW. I have owned a VW and see many similarities between my A4 and the VW. In any case the Mini has all the features I look for in a car. I am a car enthusiast and can see the mini putting a smile on my face. On a sidenote I test drove a M3 while at BMW and all I can say is WOW! Can't afford it though, and I think the Mini would be just as fun. I think I am getting closer to making my decision. Ha figures a Audi commercial is playing in the background as I type!! Grrr....

Hey since your from CT, check out the New England and New York forum here, you will get some information for our area about snow and other regional info. Hope you get an MCS, mine will be here in March. Good Luck.

Winslow

(Soon )

[MiniMe3]

I just did some research in the New England forum. I think I would feel fine in the snow with some snow tires. I have them now on my A4. I could sell them and buy some for the mini. Then after I sell my chip and exhaust I could start to mod the mini!! I am still not sure what I am going to do. Tuesday I may go over to New Country to talk to the salesman I spoke with. Run some numbers.

[Coo/S]

Well, I had a 3-series BMW (E46) before my Cooper S and have no regrets of getting rid of the beemer. Sure BMW 3-series and A4 are not the same, but at least in the same league.

I wouldn't worry about the snow. I have (over) wide winter tires (205/50/16) and have no trouble in the snow, and yes you can compare the ESP with DSC. In my opinion it works great. We just got some 10" of snow, and I was playing with the DSC a bit. I was driving my home road (it's a very small twisty road) basically flooring it, and always just before the car started to push and understeer the DSC corrected the path. Because the car couldn't gather enough (too much) speed as I was going uphil, I was able to simply steer and let the electronics do the rest.