Thanks for all the replies. Bullit_Blue, we didn’t think about the Benz Coupe, will take a look at it next weekend. As for the VW Bug, we tested it, and didn’t really like its driving characteristics, the depth of the dash is a turn-off for us. Besides, the hatch is more like a coupe with fold down seats, the height drops downward at the tail end. Does cab forward mean move the windshield forward?
We didn’t really plan a budget for this. It will be our 3rd car. My new job calls for me to visit clients 2 days out of the week to improve customer relationships. I have a choice of a company car or car allowance plus mileage. I figure it is safer and more fun to drive my own car. Kind of pointless to put winters on a company car.
The wife will use the Mini as her daily commute, and the hatch is perfect for shopping at Ikea and garden centers. The lease payment will be pay for by the car allowance. If needed, we will chip in more, since we don’t have any outstanding debts on our cars now. Unfortunately, the car will have to be an automatic, the wife dislike manual shift in traffic. The F1 pedals were neat, and it worked well in our test drive, didn’t feel slow compare with the manual car. We are still deciding which model to get, Cooper or S. We pretty know what options we want. If the car is ordered now and it will be here in September or so.
The first impression of the Mini was awesome. When you sit inside, it just screams “go, go, drive me”. First word the wife said after driving the Mini were, “Go Cart”. Of the cars we had driven the last little while, including the RX-8, 330Ci, G35 Coupe, the Mini has a way more SPH (smiles per hour). That pretty much sums it up. If the car is good, keep it after the lease. If not, hand it back. Very simple decision at the end.
