RX-8 vs STi vs EVO vs MINI

[Novot]

Question for RX-8 owners:
I'm looking to get another new car. I've had all mazdas and like the RX-8 (I still want another RX-7, to be truthful), but I also think the new 200 hp MINI would be a blast, and it is a lot cheaper. Also, the STi and EVO seem to deliver more on paper, although the RX-8 looks cooler. Why did y'all pick the RX-8 over these cars? Thanks!

 

[ZoomZoomH]

how much is the John Cooper Works MINI go for nowadays??

STi and Evo do deliver more on paper (aka performance numbers), but it does sacrifice quite a bit in terms of day-to-day driving (they drive like a track car because they are, which also means a very minimalist interior and comfort equipments)

RX-8 is a good compromise between performance and comfort. IMO it's a great bargain in terms of what you get for the money.

 

[FC3s Boy]

We went with the rx8 because of the rotary engine along with the looks and handling of the car, The mini is a girls car in my mind, The evo is a little to boy racer for me and the STI was too much money.

 

[TX Speed Demon]

Don't waste your money on the Works Mini. It's about 5 grand more than the base model and is still slower than your msp. Plus with no usable trunk you have to stick with run flat tires wich are poor for performance. The only good thing I've heard about them is it won the distance burnout contest SCC had last month. And with the right girl in it they look pretty cute. Have a daughter you pan to give it too?

If you must get a mini you should get an S model and begin modding it. Since you already have 2 other cars to get around in, and you'll have about $5G to play with for not getting the works package you should be able to build a nicely performing machine.

 

[122 Vega]

JCW Mini is the Cooper S price plu $4500 (exchange) plus installation from the dealership. My dealer wants $4000 for labor. So, Mini S = $28,000 + JCW = $4,500 + Labor = $4,000 = $36,500.

So is it worth it? Look at the JCW specs, all the ower is way up in the powerband, and the 0-60 is still slower than the MSP. The 1/4 mile is also. The Mini needs a diet.

We have a deposit on a MCS due to be here in May, but I am trying to talk my wife out of the JCW and spend less money to get more hp, suspension and brakes from aftermarket suppliers.

Britt

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

The RX-8 is a well balanced car.

True, it doesn't have the brute power of it's higher hp competition. But having driven it, I would say it is by far one of the most civilized grand touring cars I have driven, as far as the feel of the handling. That is not to say that you have any sort of disconnection from the road or cannot predict what the car will do.

To say that one would merely buy the car for the novelty of the engine would be detrimental to the character of the car. There is so much more to it than the beauty of the rotary design. The body design itself is like no other 4 cylinder Japanese supercar out there. The completely new chassis and suspension are to mold the future of all non-platform sharing Mazdas to come.

I don't want to make this too lengthy, else face sounding like a MNAO Marketing employee, but those who own the vehicle surely compared more aesthetic and functionality aspects of the car to its competition, rather than just crunching the numbers on paper.

If you are still in doubt, just wait. The RX-8 is just the tip of what's to come from Mazda. Can you say 4th gen RX-7?

 

[Novot]

Thanks for all the replies, y'all. In regards to the last post, man, I hope a 4th gen RX-7 is coming! That would certainly get my $$$.
About the Mini: A girl's car? Have y'all driven one? They are ridiculously fun to drive. Also, I'm not sure what soursce y'all are using, but the S did beat the MSP in 0-60 times (6.9 vs 7.5 were the numbers I had when I bought the MSP, I think the source was SCC), forget about the JCW version. When I was considering buying my MSP, it came down to the S and the Mazdaspeed. 4 doors, mazda loyalty, and protege reliability won out in the end, since to me handling was only slightly better in the MSP. I've been thrilled with the MSP and don't regret the purchase in the least. Thanks again for the input yall! I am still mulling the decision over in my mind.

In answer to Zoom Zoom H's question, the JCW costs $4500 in addition to the $20k price tag of the Cooper S.

BTW, MSgirl, very nice miata!

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

Thank you. Just remember--if it's fun to drive, then that's all that really counts anyway, right? I'm sure many racecars would be a PITA to drive on the street, but then they are not made for daily driving. It's the "driver's cars" that win our hearts over, such as the Mini, miata, and Protege. Greg and I could certainly afford an "Ultimate Driving Machine", but when we test drove them, they just weren't as easy to throw around; thus they did not suit our tastes.

When you get what you like best, you win.

 

[Hyper7]

these three cars are all in different fields. first the mini, consider it a 2 seater chick car. yea they are cool but when i see guys in them it just looks funny. the evo, a 4 seater rally/street car with decent numbers, but then again its a hookedup lancer! i see these everyday now. the rx-8, a 2/4 seater, rotary power, more rare than the others and IMHO much better looking. not to powerful but handles unreal.

as far as space you need to ask your self how much space you need. mini has the smallest amount, rx8 is decent, and the evo, the most after all it has a full trunk and its a four seater.

IMHO rx-8 because of style and rotary power but its what pleases you not me. just wanted to point out those few things to help you decide

 

[1sty]

I love my STI.
I put a radio and some speakers in it and now I am all set. Plus with winter tires its a GREAt winter vehical

 

[BlueWolfCry]

ohhohohoho, how much did you pay, not including your mp3? i saw it but i cant remember it now

 

[manuel]

personally id choose the evo, it out performs the other cars without a doubt, but i guess it depends of what you are looking for.just so you people dont dog the mini, click here . from some comparison tests, i beleive this car was like 2-3 grand more(if memory serves me right) than the JCW Mini.

 

[Novot]

Thanks for everybody's replies -- they are appreciated!

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

I would still say RX-8

first the mini, consider it a 2 seater chick car. yea they are cool but when i see guys in them it just looks funny.

I like seeing guys in Minis. They attract more attention from me just because I know why they got the car; they're most likely into the same kind of driving feel that I'm into.

 

[Brian MP5T]

I test drove one last fall and what a sweet ride.

I was doing 155Km/h in fourth great at a mere 5000 RPM.

I was so smooth and low that I didn't even realise how fast it was.

GET A RX-8!!! (nana)

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

Km/h? what's that?



why in the world can't the US use the metric system?!

 

[FC3s Boy]

Re: I would still say RX-8

I like seeing guys in Minis. They attract more attention from me just because I know why they got the car; they're most likely into the same kind of driving feel that I'm into.

you would probably notice the guy in a rx8 as well

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

yes...but they never notice me and my puny miata.

I tried saying "Hi! Nice RX-8" to a ~30s-ish guy at a gas station in Kentucky once. He looked at me like I had lobsters crawling outta my ears, rolled his eyes a bit, and kept talking to his buddy and pumping his gas. guess he's one of those "look at my new car isn't it trendy" kinda people.

 

[FC3s Boy]

ahh I hate those type of folks

 

[twiztedjeckel]

he probably thought "hmmmf, she's got the front end mod ring thing done, i'm not cool enough to talk to her" let me go back to pumping my boyfriend, errr i mean gas