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Hatchbacks MINI Cooper Honda Civic Coupe vs. MINI
47 messages, Last post on Sep 14, 2008 at 11:49 AM
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Replying to: cct1 (Oct 12, 2005 11:34 am) What about the new Civic SI? I haven't driven it, but I've heard great reviews about it.
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Replying to: midnightcowboy (Oct 13, 2005 11:49 am)  Ray T. 
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Replying to: ctalk (Oct 13, 2005 6:33 pm) What about the new Civic SI? I haven't driven it, but I've heard great reviews about it. From a wow standpoint, I was thinking more along the lines of looks--I think the mini wins hands down here--the Civic SI looks more like a mini mini van than a hatch; it's not a head turner, like the Mini is. I just don't see people stopping to take a look at an SI like they do the Mini. The specs are nice, it should be more fun to drive than a standard civic, but I seriously doubt it's going to be as much fun to drive as a Mini S (I haven't driven an SI either, and I could be wrong, but I think a Mini S is going to be significantly more "fun" to drive than the SI). As for "spinning the mini out", you're going to be able to get the Mini through a twisty section much faster, with less chance of losing control, than the Honda--handling is the Mini's strongpoint. As was previously noted, you'll spin ANY car if you get it past it's limitations; not just slide. You really have to be driving all out to get a mini to spin, driving much harder than most other cars....
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Replying to: cct1 (Oct 14, 2005 8:18 am) Well, from what I see the new Civic SI is an amazing handler. There hasn't been a direct comparison between the MINI cooper S and the Civic SI, but from all the first drives I've read, I think it will be as 'fun' to drive as the MINI. Edmunds- "Bottom line, the 2006 Civic Si is the best handling, best performing Civic to ever touch tire to asphalt in America. The 2006 Si is fun to drive on any road." |
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...Do be aware that the car rides very stiffly, so if you live in an area with less-than smooth roads, you WILL feel every bump on the road. 
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Replying to: raychuang00 (Oct 15, 2005 6:17 am) I am very aware of this--this is the trade off for the go kart handling. The mini suspension was slightly softened in 2003, and it makes a big difference. Tires, rims, and tire size also have a huge impact here. The ride isn't THAT bad, but no way it's going to ride as nice as a Civic. The Edmunds report says it's the best handling CIVIC, there is no mention of a direct comparison to a Mini--so I don't doubt it's the best Civic to drive out there, but that doesn't mean it's going to be as fun to drive as a Mini. But it depends on what you're after--smooth ride, go with a Civic. Go cart handling, with a stiffer ride, and a smile on my face every time I get in it, well, that's the mini. I'll have to go out and drive an Si (Don't want one, but curious how it drives). But with all due respect to the reply two posts above, I seriously doubt an Si will be as fun to drive as a Mini--the short wheel base of the Mini alone gives it an advantage in banging around a twisty. Not saying that it won't be a fun car to drive, and it's certainly more practible, but more fun is another matter. I'm sorry, but a Civic is just more generic, and more sterile to me. |
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Replying to: rayt2 (Oct 14, 2005 6:23 am)
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Replying to: midnightcowboy (Oct 17, 2005 10:19 am) Funny story--this same friend has been trying for years to get me to buy a "real" sports car. He was on me again last year, and I told him sheepishly I was getting a new car--a Mini S--thinking he was going to have a blast jumping all over that one. Instead, a funny thing happend--his eyes got huge, and he told me he used to race the old mini's whenever he got the chance--he absolutely loved racing them; it was a totally different and very fun beast to race. In fact, he ended up getting his mini before I got mine (And of course did the JCW thing). I can't get him to admit that the Mini is more fun than the Porsche though. But then again, he is selling one of his Porsche's... There's a nice video on another site showing the two in direct comparison on a course full of twisties. Guess who wins? Give you a clue--the winner would have lost on an oval big time. The mini is a love/hate, either you get it or you don't type of car (and I don't mean this negatively). My wife hated the idea of a Mini, couldn't understand why I'd want one when I could have gotten a Corvette, TT, or something like that. Then she test drove an S when I ordered mine, and her whole attitude (Unfortunately for me) changed dramatically. I wish she didn't know how to drive a manual, I see this as becoming a big problem. At least she won't let the kids in it yet, which means more driving time for me!
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Replying to: cct1 (Oct 17, 2005 2:15 pm) and BTW i'm actually selling my 911 and getting a MCS
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Replying to: cct1 (Oct 17, 2005 2:15 pm) I think the Si will handle extremely well. Maybe better than the old Integra Type-R. You cannot just compare weight and wheelbase because you don't know what kind of suspension the Si has. There isn't a hek of a big difference between the Mini S and the Si as far as weight goes (maybe 100lbs). The Si has fairly large front & rear sway bars and may have stiffer springs and shock valving. The Si will also have a true LSD. It may have less body flex than the Mini, etc. You just don't know. I 've seen 3200lb 3-series Bimmers turn on a dime with a little stiffer springs and shocks and larger sway bars. I auto-x my Integra GSR a lot and I 'm all about handling. My 2600lb Integra handles very well especially with larger rear sway bar and coilover springs and adjustable shocks (oh I have an LSD too). Mine is also lowered 1.5" and has about the same ground clearance as a mini maybe 1/2" more. I have Minis for breakfast. I go to some non-SCCA clubs (and SCCA as well) where there are modified Minis in my class. They have aftermarket springs and shocks and even bigger sway bars. I haven't lost to one yet. It's been very close a few times, but it hasn't happened yet. There is a chipped Mini S with some engine mods in a higher class than me that is faster than me in an 55sec auto-x by a few tenths or 1/2 sec. but it has 200hp at the wheels (about 240hp) and like I said it's in a higher class because its power to weight ratio matches the S2000's. When S2Ks (completely stock) are present, that guy's Mini is still no match for them. In general, lighter cars with a smaller wheelbase can turn a little faster, but there are many exceptions and other factors like I mentioned above. Take an old Huyndai from the early '90's that weighed only 2300lbs that has a relatively small wheelbase, and you will find that it didn't handle very well because of its soft cheap shocks, soft spring rates, and non-existent rear sway bar. Suspension bushings also play a big role in handling and can dramatically change a car's handling characteristics. Some cars' bushings have a higher durometer than others (softer or harder bushings). Tires also make a big difference. Chassis rigidity, etc. In any case there are many factors that contribute to good handling and wheelbase is usually one of them, but that alone doesn't cut it anymore.
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