Article Comments - 2007 Mini Cooper S vs. 2008 Volvo C30

28 messages, Last post on Sep 01, 2009 at 12:54 PM

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What is this discussion about? MINI Cooper, Volvo C30, Car Comparisons, Hatchback

Comparison Test: 2007 Mini Cooper S vs. 2008 Volvo C30 - To see if the civilized C30 has a chance against the recently redesigned 2007 Mini Cooper S, we put them together head to head. We did all our usual track testing and back-to-back comparisons, and then plugged all that data into our scoring spreadsheet to determine the winner. (more)

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#9 of 28 cargo useability by joe233 Nov 25, 2007 (4:05 pm)
Replying to: eldaino (Oct 24, 2007 8:51 am) considering both of these(and A3) for downsizing from an SUV for gas milage. Which is the more practical for transporting 2 labs to the occasional vet/Pet's Mart visit and Home Depot runs for bags of mulch,etc? Replies to this message: zephyr_7 (Nov 26, 2007 12:52 pm) weldonblair (Mar 30, 2008 1:19 pm)
#10 of 28 Re: cargo useability [joe233] by zephyr_7 Nov 26, 2007 (12:52 pm)
Replying to: joe233 (Nov 25, 2007 4:05 pm) The Volvo C30 or the Audi A3 are great, very practical every-day cars. The will definitely beat the Mini in a practicality test any day; but, then again you don't buy something like a Mini for practicality, you buy it because it is a nice blend of quirky styling with reasonable functionality. The Volvo C30 and the Audi A3 are great small practical cars, but if you want some excitement in your daily commute, a Mini will do just that. Replies to this message: weldonblair (Mar 30, 2008 1:19 pm)
#11 of 28 Re: cargo useability [zephyr_7] by weldonblair Mar 30, 2008 (1:19 pm)
Replying to: zephyr_7 (Nov 26, 2007 12:52 pm) While I agree with you on the fun factor of the mini, I realized while taking the C30 on the same roads I took when test driving the mini that if I was ever in an accident, I'd rather be in the C30. I'll sacrifce some MPG for the safety factor...
#12 of 28 4 car shoot-out by gkelm Aug 13, 2008 (7:02 am)
Just FYI guys...I'm looking hard at tha A3 & C30...still have the TL, TSX, G35, Accord Coupe in the back of my mind! http://car-reviews.automobile.com/Audi/review/2007-audi-a3-2-0t-sportback-s-line- -vs-2007-mini-cooper-s-vs-2007-volkswagen-gti-fahrenheit-vs-2007-volvo-c30-t5-ve- rsion-2-0-comparison-test/5374/ Greg Replies to this message: qbrozen (Aug 13, 2008 7:18 am) hshp (Aug 13, 2008 12:39 pm) socalvolvo (Sep 05, 2008 9:59 am)
#13 of 28 Re: 4 car shoot-out [gkelm] by qbrozen Aug 13, 2008 (7:18 am)
Replying to: gkelm (Aug 13, 2008 7:02 am) Interesting. So the Volvo finished last, but, "it was the C30's keys which everyone fought over to take home at the end of the day." Ain't that what its all about? I mean, what else is first place for? The one they'd most want to take to the track? Replies to this message: hshp (Aug 13, 2008 12:39 pm) socalvolvo (Sep 05, 2008 9:59 am)
#14 of 28 Re: 4 car shoot-out [qbrozen] by hshp Aug 13, 2008 (12:39 pm)
Replying to: qbrozen (Aug 13, 2008 7:18 am) During our run up the main drag, the only car to receive We're used to seeing good looking Volvos, but this one's off the scale. second glances – and to our surprise, a variety of whistles and cat-calls – was the Volvo. If you want to define the “hot” in hot hatch in terms of looks, this is your car. - I definitely agree. I just bought my Volvo from an online listing site http://www.zibe.com, and I am very much in love with it! The car is eye-candy. Here are some photos: http://www.zibe.com/photoviewer.aspx?id=1854415&pid=1
#15 of 28 Re: 4 car shoot-out [qbrozen] by socalvolvo Sep 05, 2008 (9:59 am)
Replying to: qbrozen (Aug 13, 2008 7:18 am) I was lucky enough to autocross the C30, GTI and Cooper S one after another, and it really comes down to what you're looking for. The Cooper S is a cutesy looking, harsh ride that handles like a go-kart, but some people are willing to give up a comfortable ride for better handling. The C30 and GTI are faster and almost neck and neck as far as the numbers, slight edge to the C30, but the C30 won it for me based on looks and all around ride. Bottom line, like the review wrote, the C30 may not dazzle in one particular area, but overall you just love driving it. This is one of the few cars that I actually look forward to driving every day, every time. I work with a Southern California grassroots marketing group that takes Volvos to some community events and lets people see them and drive without any dealership affiliation or pressure. But I'm just a car guy at heart who loves the C30 for reasons completely unrelated to my affiliation. If anyone is interested in driving one, we'll be at the Cars and Coffee car show in Irvine, CA on Sept. 13th (link title) with a C30 R-Design (along with an XC90 R-Design, S80 V8 and C70) so you can see what you think for yourself. This IPD-built C30 for SEMA will be there too, but just for show.
#16 of 28 keep your sport Mini and your sport C30 by ellenbetty Jun 12, 2009 (7:19 pm)
When I pick a car, I want the best mileage for the best price with the best reliability. I did not give the Mini a second thought, in my last two car purchases, too low highway gas mileage, poor consumer report rating. This is the first time I have ever even heard of the C30. After driving my 2007 Toyota Yaris 2 door hatchback for a year, with it's four cup holders and four glove boxes, with 35 mpg highway mileage, combined with the ability to mount my after market navigation system right behind the steering wheel, and availability of automatic, power mirrors, power windows and A/C, I traded in my Ford Ranger, as a down payment on a second Toyota Yaris. That right, I now am making payments on 2 Toyota Yarises.
#17 of 28 Yaris? by rapidrick Aug 09, 2009 (8:17 pm)
Glad you like your Yarises...Yari...multiple Yaris cars... They are not in the same league as a Mini Cooper, and certainly not a C30. Drive safe. Replies to this message: ellenbetty (Aug 10, 2009 5:31 am) british_rover (Aug 10, 2009 10:03 am)
#18 of 28 Re: Yaris? [rapidrick] by ellenbetty Aug 10, 2009 (5:31 am)
Replying to: rapidrick (Aug 09, 2009 8:17 pm) According to Toyota Yarises is the correct spelling when talking about the more than one Toyota Yaris. Having reviewed photos of the Mini Cooper the Toyota Yaris has a better designed dash. The Mini Cooper dash is cluttered with things that I would never use. The Toyota is the best example of cab forward concept on the US market. I have not heard anyone boasting about the Mini Cooper's drag coefficient. The Toyota Yaris costs less than the Mini Cooper. The Toyota Yaris has the history of reliability that the Mini Cooper cannot match. You are right about the Toyota Yaris 3 or 5 door liftback with it's top center mounted dash being in a class of it's own. Plus I had never heard of the Volvo C30 until someone online did a compare beween the two vehicles. But a quick check upon the C30 shows the same design flaw of the Mini Cooper, dash gages mounted behind the steering wheel, lack of storage space in the dash, failure to fully use cab forward design. Plus the C30 gets poor fuel economy when compared to the Toyota Yaris. Plus the Toyota Yaris had another advantage over both the Mini Cooper or the Volvo C30. Toyota dealers. A Toyota dealer is within 5 miles of where I live. Replies to this message: british_rover (Aug 10, 2009 10:03 am)