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Re: OT Being nice to my Niece
Miata is now properly known as the MX5, right?
MX5 for women? Not really true because they've "steroided" it up a bit from old "Miata" looks.
It's a hot little car for the money.
Mini? Good for handling fun but only under 40mph, and more "practical," that's about it. Good for cities.
MX5 for women? Not really true because they've "steroided" it up a bit from old "Miata" looks.
It's a hot little car for the money.
Mini? Good for handling fun but only under 40mph, and more "practical," that's about it. Good for cities.
Re: OT Being nice to my Niece
Both are very nice cars. 
I like the Mini very much and with the new turbo engine the Cooper S should be better than the old version with supercharger. Unfortunately I haven't driven one yet, but I never liked the (standard) Cooper S of the old model.
But I also find the Miata to be a very good car. This car was the first of the roadster generation, Z3, SLK and all the others followed. Haven't driven the latest version (again
), but the last Miata is really a nice cab. And the new version with the folding hardtop seems to be even better. Moreover the Miata is a real women's car.
So it depends on your Niece: does she like a small stylish car that is rather fast, she should choose the Mini. Does she like a compact, light roadster and she enjoys driving with the top down, she should go for the Miata.
I like the Mini very much and with the new turbo engine the Cooper S should be better than the old version with supercharger. Unfortunately I haven't driven one yet, but I never liked the (standard) Cooper S of the old model.
But I also find the Miata to be a very good car. This car was the first of the roadster generation, Z3, SLK and all the others followed. Haven't driven the latest version (again
), but the last Miata is really a nice cab. And the new version with the folding hardtop seems to be even better. Moreover the Miata is a real women's car. So it depends on your Niece: does she like a small stylish car that is rather fast, she should choose the Mini. Does she like a compact, light roadster and she enjoys driving with the top down, she should go for the Miata.
Re: OT Being nice to my Niece
I'd take the Miata any day of the week. I also don't get the "women's car" reputation of the Miata. Anyone who has spent any amount of time behind the wheel of a Miata knows that it's a driver's car. If you disagree, try to keep up with one at your local autocross. 
Jul 10, 2007 1:38:35 AM
- Equiraptor
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Re: OT Being nice to my Niece
The Mini S and the MX-5 are both very different and very much the same.
If your niece is like me, she'd prefer the MX-5. As nugget said, the MX-5 is a driver's car. The RWD + good weight balance means the car's easy to handle and a fun car to learn to drive fast.
The Mini has a few more seats (I haven't been in them, so I don't know how small they are, but I know four people my size can fit in a 997 cab, and I hear about how useless those seats are all the time!).
Now, I'm not trying to knock the Mini, here. It's a blast to drive. Hell, a friend of mine who used to autocross a supercharged Miata is taking delivery on a Mini S to be his autocross car on Friday. But driving a Mini hard requires a different skillset than the MX-5. As Nugget was saying to me a few minutes ago, the MX-5 is the starter car that would lead up to a Porsche.
If your niece is like me, she'd prefer the MX-5. As nugget said, the MX-5 is a driver's car. The RWD + good weight balance means the car's easy to handle and a fun car to learn to drive fast.
The Mini has a few more seats (I haven't been in them, so I don't know how small they are, but I know four people my size can fit in a 997 cab, and I hear about how useless those seats are all the time!).
Now, I'm not trying to knock the Mini, here. It's a blast to drive. Hell, a friend of mine who used to autocross a supercharged Miata is taking delivery on a Mini S to be his autocross car on Friday. But driving a Mini hard requires a different skillset than the MX-5. As Nugget was saying to me a few minutes ago, the MX-5 is the starter car that would lead up to a Porsche.
Re: OT Being nice to my Niece
Quote:
MMD said:
...
MX5 for women? Not really true because they've "steroided" it up a bit from old "Miata" looks.
....
Well the question asked/posted was: which should I get...
Between the two, IMO, the Mini has a little more masculine look. The designer was trying to achieve a bulldog appearance, and I believe he did an excellent job. The Miata still has a more cute look to it ( absolutely nothing wrong with that- I likey cute ). Therefore, again- In My Opinion it's probably a more suitable and or desirable choice for most women. It's also my experience that women prefer the Miata.
Again, both are nice/appealing rides.
Re: OT Being nice to my Niece
The Z4 is only available in 3.0L here in the States. They used to also make a 2.5L but not any more. There has never been a 2.0L Z4 available in the States (which is good, I think, because I found the 2.5L to be a disappointing drive -- that car is way too heavy for a 2.5L engine). The "base" 3.0i Z4 starts at US$36,000 and the options add up fast. It's a lot more expensive than either a Miata or a Mini and (imho) a worse car.
Jul 10, 2007 1:15:30 PM
- Equiraptor
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Re: OT Being nice to my Niece
Quote:
JohnJohn said:
I know I'd want the Miata/MX-5, but since it's for your niece (and I'm guessing she's a young girl??) I'm sure she'd prefer the Mini.
Hey, at 16, I would have preffered the MX-5, and I'm female! Also, at that age, I wouldn't have known enough to want the MX-5 for the driving. I would have wanted the two seats and the convertible top. (yes, I know Minis come in convertible, but since the OP mentioned the retracting hard top for the MX-5 and not a soft top for the Mini, I suspect the Mini convertible isn't being considered)
Then again, at 16, I was driving an '84 Tempo. I would have taken just about anything you threw at me with joy.
Jul 10, 2007 1:43:56 PM
- MMD
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Re: OT Being nice to my Niece
Quote:
MMD said:
I respectfully suggest everybody go look at the _new_ MX5 in person if you haven't seen one.
They don't look overall cute and "for girls" anymore. They've gotten more steroids in their facelift (or a sex change), like I said above.
FWIW
If I was talking about a "women's car" I meant that the car is mainly driven by women.
At least here in Germany that is the case for the Miata (or MX5 as it is called here).
Re: OT Being nice to my Niece
Quote:
Rossi said:Quote:
MMD said:
I respectfully suggest everybody go look at the _new_ MX5 in person if you haven't seen one.
They don't look overall cute and "for girls" anymore. They've gotten more steroids in their facelift (or a sex change
FWIW
If I was talking about a "women's car" I meant that the car is mainly driven by women.
At least here in Germany that is the case for the Miata (or MX5 as it is called here).
Hey Buddy, No problem! Yeah, it's funny because my cousin's kid came over with his new MX5 and the last thing I thought was it looked feminine.
Matter of fact we looked at my BoxsterS side by side and they had about the same "cojones" factor.
What's more: the beautiful stock 997 Carerra doesn't exactly drip testosterone either.
Jul 11, 2007 12:45:20 AM
- JohnJohn
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Re: OT Being nice to my Niece
Quote:
Equiraptor said:Quote:
JohnJohn said:
I know I'd want the Miata/MX-5, but since it's for your niece (and I'm guessing she's a young girl??) I'm sure she'd prefer the Mini.
Hey, at 16, I would have preffered the MX-5, and I'm female! Also, at that age, I wouldn't have known enough to want the MX-5 for the driving. I would have wanted the two seats and the convertible top. (yes, I know Minis come in convertible, but since the OP mentioned the retracting hard top for the MX-5 and not a soft top for the Mini, I suspect the Mini convertible isn't being considered)
Then again, at 16, I was driving an '84 Tempo. I would have taken just about anything you threw at me with joy.
Sorry. It was just me being prejudice about young girls and their taste in cars
Jul 11, 2007 2:41:59 AM
- Equiraptor
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Jul 11, 2007 12:29:00 PM
- JohnJohn
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Re: OT Being nice to my Niece
Quote:
Equiraptor said:Quote:
JohnJohn said:Sorry. It was just me being prejudice about young girls and their taste in cars
No offense taken. I meant the "Hey!" in a playful manner.
Good. BTW: Nice to see a girl here on rennteam. Or maybe I should say woman?
Even though it's not polite, how old are you now?
Jul 11, 2007 8:54:32 PM
- Equiraptor
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Re: OT Being nice to my Niece
I'm 25. You can learn a great deal about me from my LiveJournal (warning, girly colors, and, yes, a BLOG!) or by googling equiraptor.
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