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Hatchbacks MINI Cooper 2009 Mini v. 2009 Honda Fit Sport
25 messages, Last post on Mar 12, 2009 at 7:22 PM
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I could use some help from Mini owners. We are having a hard time deciding whether to purchase the 2009 Mini, or the 2009 Honda Fit Sport. a large part of the issue (most of it, really) is price -- at the outset, monthly, and over time. We have two kids, ages 6 and 3. I'm not worried about fitting the car seats, and the practicalities of the Mini as a family car -- we have a Suburu wagon as a second car, which will work for carpooling, long trips etc. the Mini is approximately $3000 more than the 09 Fit. while that may not seem like much, for us it is -- a couple thousand more for the downpayment, and $30-$40 more per month. while i can figure out ways to make that work, what scares me is the possibility of huge maintenance costs after the 3 year agreement is up. My research indicates that Hondas suffer minimal maintenance costs, are easily repaired, and last a long time. we tend to keep our cars for a long time, and would like to keep doing so. all the practicalities are pulling us in the direction of the Fit. the main interest in the Mini is aesthetic -- but i don't want to downplay the importance of that. neither of us has ever owned a fun car that we loved to drive. the new car will be used primarily for my commute (80 miles, 3 days a week), and for puttering around the city on the weekend. so: given the higher cost, and how tight our budget will be just purchasing the Mini, do the maintenance costs over the years make this a stupid purchase? all advice is appreciated.
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I am making the same calculations between the same two cars. I will buy one or the other, but I'm still undecided The Mini gets comparable mileage, and is definitely a more fun car to drive, even the non-S version, but you'll need to add about $1250 to the Mini's base for the Premium Pac for A/C, cruse, and sunroof. JD Power says the '09 Fit has a sunroof, but I haven't seen anyone confirm that. (I really want a sunroof) Although this will primarily be a get-to-work car, I need enough room to load a large Ice Chest and 2-3 bags, and 2 or 3 of us for trips to our mountain cabin. The Clubman or the Fit have the room, but the Fit is far roomier. Consumer reports say both are reliable, but customer testimonials aren't so kind to the Mini. The British make beautiful cars, but they just aren't as reliable as Honda. Both exclude the spare tire in '09. The CLubman comes with runflats (yech). I don't know what the Fit will have. Cooper has a very good safety rating. My insurance agent says that the Mini's insurance will be about $50/yr cheaper than the Fit. The '09 base Clubman lists for $20850, $22100 with the A/C package. I'm also seriously considering the Sport Pac for another $1500, bringing my new base price to $23600. I'm told that the '09 Fit Sport will be about $17000. I like the Mini more, I just haven't determined if I like it $6600 more. I've test-driven both 3 times, and I still can't decide. If the ‘09 Fit gets a sunroof, I think that will tip the scales for me. |
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thanks abqsammy, for your thoughtful response. we seem to be thinking along the same lines. my internet research seemed to indicate a sunroof (actually, a 'skyroof') option on the 2009 Fit too -- except that my dealer told me that option was only available in the Japanese version, at least for 09. of course, he won't know for sure until he actually has them at his dealership, in early september. i would love to get the Mini sunroof. unfortunately, due to the regrettable fact that i've never learned to drive stick, i need to purchase the d*amn automatic -- which costs $1500 more than the base price. i could of course try to learn between now and when the car arrives...in between getting one kid ready for a new school, potty training the other one, starting up teaching again, etc etc. you get the idea. the long-term maintenance costs of the Mini scare me. its probably the main thing keeping me from pulling the trigger on it. |
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One option for after the 3 year maintanance contract is up on the Mini, is to sell it. Mini's have one of the best resale/tradein of any car sold in America. It turns out that this topic has been discussed before at http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.f0c3598/142 Good Luck |
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| you can buy the sunroof without buying the package. you can get all weather tires instead of the runflats and i would recommend that. if you are buying a just a cooper and not the s then you get a spare. the auto should be 1200 more. remember if you can live with chili red, oxy blue , white , mellow yellow you save 500.00. the other colours are 500 more. if you want speed control you have to buy the mutli function steering wheel for 250.00 more or do with out it. best if you drive both. they are two really different cars. | |
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I've owned both a Mini (2003) and a Fit Sport (2007) and for me it is no contest. I like the Fit much better than the Mini. The Fit is more reliable, more comfortable, handles better, costs less, has way more room, looks better, and I don't have to deal with Niello Mini in Sacramento any longer. romaine
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Replying to: msantow (Jul 29, 2008 5:50 am) |
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I commented a few days ago regarding DSC/VSA. If you live where there is any ice/snow, it is false economy to get a car w/o it. DSC = Clubman basic = Fit Sport Navi = same price. Both Fit & Clubman are great but it' not possible to directly compare. Re: Spare tire - the MINIs have runflats & the Fit gives you are fixaflat kit (really lousy solution). For either, I'd buy a spare separately. Re: Fit is now on sale, and there is no sunroof option listed. Re: msantow, I am sorry you don't drive stick. But I love manual yet I'm getting the Clubman S automatic. Long story. Re: rik4 - absolutely correct on the logic. Re: amazinglyfit - also absolutely correct on everything. I just moved from Sacto to KY, and I didn't know Niello MINI stinks. A good reason for you to go with the Fit. ALL: This is my view on this discussion: I'm keeping this next car 10 yrs. In 10 yrs, NONE of the decent cars will be a gas-only vehicle (hybrids, plug-in electrics, etc.). The Clubman ("S" version in my case) is the last hurrah for a gas-only "yippeee" car while still getting Fit-like mileage. I'll get the Clubman S this time, and in 10 years I'll buy Honda. Cheers, ltq
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Just to fill in some blanks Spare Tire: The Fit DOES have a spare. Sunroof: None that I know of. I have a 2009 Sport and I didn't have the option of picking one DSC: No DSC on the Fit without navi. Audio Controls: Fit only has steering wheel audio with the navi. The odd thing is that a friend of mine just got a Mini Clubman (non S) with just about all the bells and whistles. He spent almost $10K more than me! If anyone has any questions about the Fit feel free to ask. |
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Replying to: ltq (Sep 14, 2008 11:12 am) But does the Clubman S get Fit-like mileage?
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