Good article. Having come from a MINI Cooper S (Not a Clubman, but still...) to the MS3, I had a lot of the same observations. I still can't wait to get the Grey Ghost up to the Tail of the Dragon/Deal's Gap in April & see how she handles compared to my previous MINIs. Here in Florida, we have precious little opportunity to toss a car thru the twisties... *sigh*
Deal's Gap motto: 318 curves in 11 miles!
T-shirt purchased at Deal's Gap: Ride Florida! 11 curves in 318 miles!
Notes I would make in comparison of a 2005 MINI Cooper S vs. MS3. Keep in mind, the 2005 was the older, supercharged MINI, before the facelift.
1. Auto-down windows. Should be plural. Windows. I had a modified window circuit in my MINI, but I believe both windows were auto-down from the factory. (The modified circuit added auto-up)
2. Auto-up windows. I had these on a VW Golf GLS Turbo back in 2001. No good reason not to have them on most cars by now. Neither car has them.
3. MS3 center console Aux Input needs a ground loop isolator built in. Period. That's just bean counters being stingy, right there. MINI doesn't suffer from that $2 problem. (Mind you, the 1st gen MINI's aux input was a dealer install option- not standard equipment.)
4. The undercarriage cover really makes oil changes inconvenient to do in the driveway. Again, MINI doesn't have that, although their filter is more of a PITA to get to, so let's call it even.
5. The MS3 feels heavier, and handles with less agility than the MINI, but not by much. And frankly, the comfortable & far quieter hghway ride make up for it, since most of my drive time is highway commuting anyhow.
6. MS3 wins for straight line power, hands down. MINI kicks MS3's arse for gas mileage (especialy the 2nd gen MINI). Personally, for now, I'll take the power over the frugality.
7. MINI has a pull-down handle on both sides of the hatch. Why does the MS3 only have one on the right?
8. Mazda's interior just beats the MINI, hands down. Extremely functional, well organized, intuitive placement & operation of controls. The 1st gen MINI had a much more logical interior than the current line, which is a total abortion, but niether of them looks as classy or functions as well as the MS3's.
9. Exterior... Mazda gets BIG points for headlight & taillight styling. Most people pay good money for aftermarket tails that look half as good as the stock MS3 lights. But the overal car does look basically like a grocery-getter with a spoiler. MINI may not have designed cool looking lights, but their overall styling is far more unique, and the "bulldog" stance is something I find very appealing. I think the MINI gets higher marks for exterior styling, but as that article said, one is an introvert, the other an extrovert. And right now, I kind of enjoy NOT being stared at in traffic or being singled out by the police because the car screams for attention. MINI wins for visual appeal, but MS3 wins for keeping me under the radar, as it were.
10. Both cars come with big, bulky, ugly stock wheels. MINI gives you a list of wheel choices, but almost every one of them weighs in around 23-25 pounds each, and most are just not very attractive. The MS3 wheels need at least 50% fewer spokes. They look like they were designed using too many popsicle sticks for inspiration.
11. Finally, the 6-speed Getrag transmission in the MINI has a much more solid feel. Shifts are smooth, quick & confident, no searching for a gear. The Mazda transmission can be a bit touchy about quick shifting 2nd to 3rd, particularly (is that just my car, or is that common?). Minor issue, but I have to think more about shifting in the MS3 than I did in the MINI. MINI's clutch was also more forgiving.
Fact is, I loved my MINIs. (03 & 05) And I love my MS3, for different reasons. I can see where a lot of people would not cross over from one vehicle to the other, as their personalities are very, very different. But they are both quite good at what they do.
I've heard MINI drivers say that cars like the MS3 are lacking personality & style. But I disagree. The MS3's exterior has style- it's just classy & understated.
I also hear MS3 owners rip on MINI for looking like a toy, or having no balls. Again, I disagree. The styling is unique, and it demands attention, but that's where small car design is headed right now. And "balls" isn't all about brute horsepower- the MINI is a freaking blast to drive because it handles like a go-kart. (Much like a Miata I once owned) I seriously doubt either car in stock form could lose the other on a road like the Tail of the Dragon when driven by comparably skilled people.
