Picked up my MCS

[rumatt]

Originally Posted by ff

If the MINI was RWD, the point of the car would remain the same.

And it would be less sux0rs.

[Rob]

Congrats Plaz!

If it makes you feel any better, I agree about the tires based on my one experience with Contisport Contacts that came on the '01 330. They were so bad after about 7k miles I have never bought another Continental tire. I was hoping for the Michelins on the new car, but I didn't win the tire lottery and got the Bridgestones. It's no big deal though - it's not like they will last very long.

It's amazing how good the current generation of bluetooth and ipod integration are (and my opinion comes without having the nav screen).

Can't wait to hear how you like it after the break in. And to see pictures with whatever wheels you chose. And to see how well you adjust to fwd.

[zach]

congrats, plaz! I look forward to pictures.

[Plaz]

Originally Posted by rumatt

Let me handle this one for him.

RWD: Roxors

FWD: Suxors

I can't really argue that point.

But I will say that the MCS is quite a bit smaller, a bit lower, and a LOT lighter, and you can certainly feel it. In a lot of ways, it feels like what I was trying to make my E46 feel like.

[Sharp11]

Originally Posted by ff

If the MINI was RWD, the point of the car would remain the same.

Except it wouldn't be.

The Mini succeeds because of its packaging - there's no room for a rear drive set up in a car that small.

In the old days, it would've been a rear engine model if rear drive were to be specified.

Ed

[FC]

Originally Posted by Plaz

I can't really argue that point.

But I will say that the MCS is quite a bit smaller, a bit lower, and a LOT lighter, and you can certainly feel it. In a lot of ways, it feels like what I was trying to make my E46 feel like.

The small size, lightness, and price (relative to other cars I like that all seem to be in the 40-60K range) make it very appealing to me. If we got one, we would keep it indefinitely. It would be the wife's car/city car/extra car. How to justify getting one is the issue. But if dynamically it compares favorably with an E46 , then it has a chance. Soon enough it will warm up and I'll go check it out. I still do want to check out/drive the full JCW version though.

[lemming]

i know we all have a RWD bias, but go here:

http://www.dpcars.net/

and while trying to avoid getting distracted by dp's other cars, when you get around to his MCS, you'll click on the pages and see that it's pretty track-able.

[Sharp11]

Originally Posted by lemming

i know we all have a RWD bias, but go here:

http://www.dpcars.net/

and while trying to avoid getting distracted by dp's other cars, when you get around to his MCS, you'll click on the pages and see that it's pretty track-able.

No one should be surprised.

Minis have been successful race cars for decades - the original incarnation was a rally champ in the 60's.

In today's ultra-competitive touring class, FWD cars do quite well indeed - Acuras, Mazda3's etc. door handle to door handle with BMW's, the new Caddy's and AWD Audis.

Ed

[equ]

Originally Posted by FC

If we got one, we would keep it indefinitely.

Just keep the zhp indefinitely, it's a very, very good car. Then when you have the desire and the time go here:

http://mike.focke.googlepages.com/bu...97-2004boxster

[lemming]

Originally Posted by Plaz

Will post a more thorough review once I've had more seat time, but so far a few impressions, starting with some "T" words that come to mind:

Torquey
Tiny
Tight
Tossable
Terrible Tires (Continental all-season runflats... that's three strikes. They'll be fine for winters, I suppose.)

The JCW exhaust/intake combo is awesome. Very sonorous, in a deep, 6-cyl. sounding way. It's a little loud and bassy inside when pushing it, but I like that.

Still getting used to the "hill holder" feature. It's a little disorienting... I imagine I'll acclimate to it.

The car has plenty of go. Agree with (JST's?) assertion that it really doesn't need more engine... no regret on not waiting for factory JCW.

Mild torque steer is there, but I think it's got very different characteristics than in the open diff'd car I test drove. It's probably more noticeable as the LSD tries to correct all the time, but less severe. With the open diff, I imagine once the TS takes hold, it's unrestrained... the LSD tries to reign things back in, and you feel it trying to return to center. It'll take some getting used to, but it feels strangely appropriate for the car.

Armrest annoyingly gets in way of inside-side seat adjusters... (backrest angle, lumbar)

Visibility MUCH better than the RX-8... I feel like I'm in a huge greenhouse.

Steering, clutch, shifter all wonderful. The throw is maybe just a little bit long, and the knob sucks, but the gates feel great. Gear ratios seem perfect.

Bluetooth works great. Paired up effortlessly with by BBerry 8800 (once I realized I needed to disconnect from my Jawbone headset), and immediately downloaded address book from it.

IPod integration works great. Wonderful to have playlists right in the nav, and even scroll through artists and albums. Even the smart playlists appear.

Still playing with the voice commands. When I've known exactly what command to use, it's seemed to work very well.

Lots of fun so far!

so you think the JCW package is worth it?