Mini Cooper/S Tech

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Thu Aug 16, 2012 3:08 pm

BriceJohnson wrote:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3209798627.html

Alternatively, did Lee Williams sell his 328 yet? You should buy that.

Nope, I was seriously talking to him about buying it but chickened out. Car is great, price is great but Hans scares the shit out of me.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Thu Aug 16, 2012 3:26 pm

BriceJohnson wrote:

Wanna buy my 3 (not seriously considering selling it right now, but it WOULD be perfect for you)? My car is supposedly worth around $5k, due to its high mileage (172k). You should be able to find a 2004-2006 S 5 spd in that price range.

In all seriousness, a mazda3 would be a great car to look at for that price range, and its definitely more fun than a civic or corolla. The 2.3 has MUCH better torque, the handling is far superior, and its much cheaper/easier to fix than a mini.

I agree and mine has been great this last year and just ticked 160,000 (got it with 154k). The car is really practical, no timing belt to change, sees 30 mpg on the highway, doesn't have the Hondatax, and most importantly are easier to find bone stock. The stock suspension does sort of make a car a little tough to drive 'spiritedly' as it doesn't want to turn sometimes but that only makes the gas mileage and tire wear improve even if they are 500TW Conti's.

Good luck in the search and don't spend too much time as it will make you crazy looking for a budget, fun car on Craiglist because the experience can be a little repetitious and disappointing. I spent waaaaay to long looking for the perfect $5k car to take my son to school in before Brice tossed me the lead on mine.

RickyBeam · **Posted:** Thu Aug 16, 2012 3:37 pm

*whistles innocently*

(I've been tempted to ask for it as a loner next time they work on my car.)

shawnwhipple · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 6:28 pm **Posts:** 603

RickyBeam wrote:

*whistles innocently*

(I've been tempted to ask for it as a loner next time they work on my car.)

I said 6K to 7K not 10x that

But if I had that much money to spend on one car it would be the Nissan GT-R they have Toyota of Apex.

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

shawnwhipple wrote:

RickyBeam wrote:

*whistles innocently*

(I've been tempted to ask for it as a loner next time they work on my car.)

I said 6K to 7K not 10x that

But if I had that much money to spend on one car it would be the Nissan GT-R they have Toyota of Apex.

meh. i had a student a month or two ago with one, he asked me to drive it a couple of times. fast? yes. fun? not particularly.

shawnwhipple · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 6:28 pm **Posts:** 603

Quote:

meh. i had a student a month or two ago with one, he asked me to drive it a couple of times. fast? yes. fun? not particularly.

What can I say I'm a closet ricer that thing is like porn to me.

JimFowler · **Posted:** Fri Aug 17, 2012 10:56 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

BriceJohnson wrote:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3209798627.html

Alternatively, did Lee Williams sell his 328 yet? You should buy that.

Nope, I was seriously talking to him about buying it but chickened out. Car is great, price is great but Hans scares the shit out of me.

Pardon my denseness, but what does Hans refer to ? BMW mechanics and the prices they charge ?

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Fri Aug 17, 2012 11:37 am

JimFowler wrote:

Ryan Holton wrote:

BriceJohnson wrote:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3209798627.html

Alternatively, did Lee Williams sell his 328 yet? You should buy that.

Nope, I was seriously talking to him about buying it but chickened out. Car is great, price is great but Hans scares the shit out of me.

Pardon my denseness, but what does Hans refer to ? BMW mechanics and the prices they charge ?

I have an irrational fear of German cars and their complexities/quirks, that equals Hans. I'm more of a Soichiro kinda of guy, maybe a Henry kinda guy come Saturday :sing:

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri Aug 17, 2012 11:41 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

I have an irrational fear of German cars and their complexities/quirks, that equals Hans.

I don't see that fear as irrational.

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Fri Aug 17, 2012 11:46 am

JimFowler wrote:

Ryan Holton wrote:

BriceJohnson wrote:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3209798627.html

Alternatively, did Lee Williams sell his 328 yet? You should buy that.

Nope, I was seriously talking to him about buying it but chickened out. Car is great, price is great but Hans scares the shit out of me.

Pardon my denseness, but what does Hans refer to ? BMW mechanics and the prices they charge ?

The German engineers who design things in the most expensive/difficult to fix way possible.

shawnwhipple · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 6:28 pm **Posts:** 603

This is what we ended up with, a 2012 Nissan Versa

It's not a Mini, or in budget, or used like I wanted. But it was in stock, cheap, not busted, and a manual. If I had more time to shop I probably wouldn't have bought this but I after 3 days of shopping for a used cars all over and finding nothing but crappy cars this seemed to make sense. We were under a time crunch since we really needed 2 cars by this Monday. It's actually not a bad little car and it will serve a my DD for awhile and then probably be passed on to my daughter to drive if she keeps her grades up. That's why she is sitting in it and smiling so much.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:22 pm

Wow, that's kinda the last thing I'd expected you to post up that you bought, but your daughter looks happy! You plan on autox'g that beast? Congrats on the new ride!

shawnwhipple · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 6:28 pm **Posts:** 603

Quote:

Wow, that's kinda the last thing I'd expected you to post up that you bought, but your daughter looks happy! You plan on autox'g that beast? Congrats on the new ride!

Yeah it wasn't really on my radar either but it fits for now. I'm not really a fan of buying a new car that she will be driving a year from now if she keeps her grades up, but on the plus side it should serve her reliably through the end of college.

I'm not really planning Autox'g it. Not sure I could handle the 122hp. Luckily there is still room in the budget for something cooler for next season. I'll probably be looking to buy something in Jan or Feb of 2013 if all goes well. I might be bumming some co-drives for the rest of this season

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:30 am

shawnwhipple wrote:

Yeah it wasn't really on my radar either but it fits for now. I'm not really a fan of buying a new car that she will be driving a year from now if she keeps her grades up, but on the plus side it should serve her reliably through the end of college.

I'm not really planning Autox'g it. Not sure I could handle the 122hp. Luckily there is still room in the budget for something cooler for next season. I'll probably be looking to buy something in Jan or Feb of 2013 if all goes well. I might be bumming some co-drives for the rest of this season

Like I said before, you're welcome to drive the stang if you like. I'm sure you'll have plenty of offers to finish out the year.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:32 am

RodneyWright wrote:

shawnwhipple wrote:

I might be bumming some co-drives for the rest of this season

Like I said before, you're welcome to drive the stang if you like. I'm sure you'll have plenty of offers to finish out the year.

STR 86 available for codrives...

THSCC Forums

Mini Cooper/S Tech

Who is online