Another new car thread

[nrc]

The lease on our RX8 is up at the end of the year. It's been a great car, and it's only grown on me over these three years. Even more so as we started test driving potential replacements.

But we're turning it in at the end of the lease for a few reasons. The biggest is that the choice between the Miata and RX8 in winter conditions is not something you want to make. Second, the RX8 averages about 16 mpg city, 21 highway. When you hit about 9k RPM you're thinking it's worth every penny, but it's pretty pricy for a daily driver. Third, the RX8 has been very reliable to date, but it's had multiple recalls to tweek things. I can accept a few days in the shop as part of the cost of having car that's not built on a sedan platform that they've already built a 100,000 examples of, but I don't want to pay for it once the warranty is up.

So the plan is to go with a practical daily driver. Of course, if it's not fun to drive, it's not practical for us. :) We started looking at the candidates back in August. The criteria were fun to drive, hatchback, front or four wheel drive, reasonable gas mileage.

The winner:

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/2210/Day11.jpg

The MINI narrowly won out over the MazdaSpeed 3 and the Volvo C30. The MS3 was a lot like Missy's MS6 with ten times more wheelspin and torque steer. Utility is great with five doors but winter would require a tire change and mileage isn't that great. Ultimately I wanted something a bit different.

The Volvo was a bit of a surprise. It drives a lot like a softer, more refined version of the MS3. I suppose that's no surprise given that they're built off the same basic platform. The 216 hp doesn't overwhelm the chasis the way 260 does with the MS3. Less of a thrill than the MS3 but definitely different and more comfortable.

The unique character and fun of the MINI are what won me over. It's not a rocket sled like the MS3, but the razor sharp responses and ample power make it just as much fun. Space is tight in the "boot" but with the seats down there's enough room for most of our needs.

[mapguy]

:thumbup:

[SteveH]

good choice :thumbup:

[chop456]

Sweet! I'd love to have a Mini.


Diesel. :D

[Andrew Longman]

Sweet. I've thought about a Mini too.

[Gnam]

Hey, that's a nice car. Does it come in men's? :p



Was the Nissan Micra in the running too?

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/7868/pinkbarbienissanmicraav3.jpg


Seriously though, I'm like totally jealous and stuff. :thumbup:

[oddlycalm]

Fun car, good mileage.:thumbup: We've thought seriously about a Mini as well.

oc

[Ankf00]

awesome.

[nrc]

Hey, that's a nice car. Does it come in men's? :p
I'm compensating. ;)

[cameraman]

I'm compensating. ;)

This would help

http://homepage.mac.com/datkinso/.Pictures/mini.jpg

[Sean Malone]

That is a tight looking Mini, nrc. I dig the color. :thumbup:

[Indy]

That is a tight looking Mini, nrc. I dig the color. :thumbup:

Are you that guy on Dancing With the Stars?

[Gnam]

I dig the color. :thumbup:

Currently available :D

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4071/lilpmknvo9.png

[oddlycalm]

Hey, that's a nice car. Does it come in men's? :p

http://deadspin.com/assets/resources/2007/02/bigasstruck.jpg


A real man's ride. For men. :gomer:

oc

[Sean Malone]

Are you that guy on Dancing With the Stars?

Yes. I am Helio Castroneves. I'm rich, handsome, can dance, won the INdy 500 and spend all of my time on Offcamber.net.:gomer:

Orange is growing on me ever since I got an orange lawn tractor.

I like those orangeish new Eclipses too.

[Insomniac]

Are you that guy on Dancing With the Stars?

No, he just drives a power wheels. ;)

(I couldn't resist.)

[Indy]

I like those orangeish new Eclipses too.

Is that code for man-ass?

[Sean Malone]

Is that code for man-ass?

Nice trashing of the boss's thread.

Again, I dig your car nrc.:thumbup:

[Indy]

Nice trashing of the boss's thread.

Again, I dig your car nrc.:thumbup:

OK, OK, now you made me feel guilty.

The truth is that I am envious of the car. A guy I work with has a blue one like that. Awesomely fun wheels, nrc.

[nrc]

No problem. I've driven a Miata for 14 years. I'm immune to "chick car" comments. :)

[dando]

No problem. I've driven a Miata for 14 years. I'm immune to "chick car" comments. :)

What does your husband drive? :p

Nice ride, Richard. :thumbup: It'll be awhile before I can get a ride like that with the two girls needing a good-sized backseat. :\

-Kevin

[Stu]

does the front license plate say VAG or do I need a better monitor?

[dando]

does the front license plate say VAG or do I need a better monitor?

Either a better monitor or get your eyes checked. :p It reads MAG as in Midwestern Auto Group. Most excellent Audi/BMW/VW/Rover/Mini/Lotus, etc. dealer in central Ohiya.

http://www.magcars.com/

:thumbup: :thumbup:

-Kevin

[nrc]

Honestly, I probably could have taken the picture at a little higher rez. But yes, MAG was very good to us.

[Sean Malone]

Honestly, I probably could have taken the picture at a little higher rez. But yes, MAG was very good to us.

I thought that pic was an 'example' pic! Whatcha shooting with? Nice job!

[nissan gtp]

very nice.

Minis rock, I once had one for a brief moment :rofl:

[nrc]

I thought that pic was an 'example' pic! Whatcha shooting with? Nice job!

That was just the camera on my LG VX8600 phone. :)

[Ankf00]

Most excellent Audi/BMW/VW/Rover/Mini/Lotus, etc. dealer in central Ohiya.

boss is keeping good company. :D

[Sean Malone]

That was just the camera on my LG VX8600 phone. :)

I gotta get a new camera! Or maybe I need a knew phone! I guess I need a LG VX8600!!:)

Are you *$*%*( me?

[Cam]

I'm confused. Is that Missy's 6 in the background, or your old 8? I looks mre like your 8? *billcat*

[Sean Malone]

I'm confused. Is that Missy's 6 in the background, or your old 8? I looks mre like your 8? *billcat*

Yeah, I thought he had a blue 8.

[RaceGrrl]

The 8 is yellow, the 6 is red and the Miata is blue. :)

[Gnam]

Four down, 2 to go.[/pride] ;)

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/1194/prideflagho6.jpg

[nrc]

I could see the green, but the purple ain't gonna happen.

Another phone shot from the same morning. Seriously.

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/2210/WithRX.jpg

[Sean Malone]

I've seen better pictures from the Civil War than what mine takes. :mad:

So you kept the 8?

[nrc]

I've seen better pictures from the Civil War than what mine takes. :mad:

So you kept the 8?

The lease is up around the end of the year. We ordered MINI so I wanted to make sure I'd have it before the weather got too bad and it arrived a little earlier than planned.

[Ankf00]

Four down, 2 to go.[/pride] ;)

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/1194/prideflagho6.jpg


I'm in a weird situation 'cause I like rainbows, but I'm not gay.

So I wear a rainbow on my shirt, but then under it I gotta put 'Not Gay.'

But I'm not against gay people, so then under that I gotta put 'But Supportive.'






I just think it's weird that one group took refracted light.









I dunno, that's pretty greedy, gays.

[KLang]

Darn good pic from a cell phone. I've never bothered to see what mine (razr) would do.

nrc, I see you decided to defer the 'leaf decision' until next year.

[nrc]

Darn good pic from a cell phone. I've never bothered to see what mine (razr) would do.

nrc, I see you decided to defer the 'leaf decision' until next year.

Nope, took care of it last weekend. It's a related story in a way. Did you know one of these will fit in a MINI? :D
http://www.agri-fab.com/assets/productslarge/45_0331.jpg
(stock photo :) )

The box is 13."h x 20.5"w x 44.75". With the passenger seat all the way forward and the seats folded it's a little too long. But if your lovely passenger doesn't mind sitting behind the driver you can fold the front seat forward and put down just one back seat and it fits nicely. :D

Leaf update to follow in that other thread.

[Spicoli]

I could see the green, but the purple ain't gonna happen.

Another phone shot from the same morning. Seriously.

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/2210/WithRX.jpg

yellow cars rock.

[dando]

yellow cars rock.

Note that's cars, not trucks. :gomer:

-Kevin

[Spicoli]

Note that's cars, not trucks. :gomer:

-Kevin

don;t got no yeller truck no mo.

[Sean Malone]

I got a yella motorcycle. :thumbup: :)

[Brickman]

Nope, took care of it last weekend. It's a related story in a way. Did you know one of these will fit in a MINI? :D
http://www.agri-fab.com/assets/productslarge/45_0331.jpg
(stock photo :) )

The box is 13."h x 20.5"w x 44.75". With the passenger seat all the way forward and the seats folded it's a little too long. But if your lovely passenger doesn't mind sitting behind the driver you can fold the front seat forward and put down just one back seat and it fits nicely. :D

Leaf update to follow in that other thread.

I thought you were going to say hooked "on" a MINI.

That would be some fun leaf raking.

[Kahauna Dreamer]

Four down, 2 to go.[/pride] ;)

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/1194/prideflagho6.jpg


...but...but...what about

http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~cfuller/The_Dark_Side_of_the_Moon-1a.jpg

[cameraman]

...but...but...what about

http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~cfuller/The_Dark_Side_of_the_Moon-1a.jpg


EXACTLY

[Insomniac]

EXACTLY

Just get a car painted using JDSU's ChromaFlair tech and be done with it. :)