Dilemma: Mini Cooper S or Saab 9-3 Linear?

[PlatinumGold]

Mini Advantages:

Gas mileage
Price
Performance
Fun to Drive

Mini Disadvantages

Not designed for 4 adults (will rarely be necessary)
Not a lot of room for storage
Small car (don't really like small cars)

Saab Advantages

Roomy
More adult image
Nice size trunk

Saab Disadvantages

Gas Mileage
Price (actually pretty close after the GM Employee Discount)



i'm very very close to pulling the trigger, as soon as i can find a free 2 or 3 hours, right now, monday looks very good for this.

 

[DaWhim]

saab

 

[bootymac]

Cooper S

Saab is suxor

 

[EvilYoda]

The Mini's a much more fun drive, albeit a little less "luxurious"...the Linear trim level of the 9-3 isn't that great as I test-drove one last year. Nice car and all, but I think there's more personality in a Mini.

 

[brigden]

You'll regret not buying the Mini.

 

[Chrono]

MINI!
Saab makes some crappy cars.

 

[Caesar]

Mini

 

[Otaking]

I'd say Saab cuz I've driven a 9-3 recently, and it felt very smooth :thumbsup:. Having driven both the Cooper and the 9-3, I know while the Cooper S is *DEFINITELY* a fun car, it sure isn't as practical as the 9-3, and if you don't like small cars, why are you looking at it?

I'd try to take advantage of the Employee pricing if I were you.

Be aware of resale value though; Coopers keep them very well, while Saabs haven't done too well since being taken over by GM.

 

[bootymac]

Originally posted by: Otaking
I'd say Saab cuz I've driven a 9-3 recently, and it felt very smooth :thumbsup:. Having driven both the Cooper and the 9-3, I know while the Cooper S is *DEFINITELY* a fun car, it sure isn't as practical as the 9-3, and if you don't like small cars, why are you looking at it?

I thought the same thing when I got my GTI.. I was dead wrong. I'm not sure how it is with the Cooper, but anything with a hatch is more practical than a sedan :thumbsup:

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Otaking
I'd say Saab cuz I've driven a 9-3 recently, and it felt very smooth :thumbsup:. Having driven both the Cooper and the 9-3, I know while the Cooper S is *DEFINITELY* a fun car, it sure isn't as practical as the 9-3, and if you don't like small cars, why are you looking at it?

I'd try to take advantage of the Employee pricing if I were you.

Be aware of resale value though; Coopers keep them very well, while Saabs haven't done too well since being taken over by GM.

couple reasons i'm looking at the mini.

gas mileage is a very important factor for me right now.

the 9-3 is a very nice drive, i test drove it and the 9-3 linear is equiped very nicely.

i prefer larger cars but i am the only one in the car about 98% of the time. i use it mostly to get to my client locations. i drive on average 150 to 200 miles / day.

 

[edi sucks]

i don't like either car (the mini is WAY too small, i'd be scared sh*tless around suv's) and i've heard horror stories about saab quality...

but yeah, if i had to choose, i'd go for the saab...at least i'd have a fighting chance against a drunk soccer mom.

 

You're going to have only two doors (the MINI) if you've never had a coupe before. I refuse to ever buy a 2-door car unless it's a convertible.

 

[CrackRabbit]

I would say take the Mini over the Saab, Gas prices are going nowhere but up.
BTW you need a poll.

 

[mryellow2]

Mini

 

[Otaking]

Originally posted by: bootymac

Originally posted by: Otaking
I'd say Saab cuz I've driven a 9-3 recently, and it felt very smooth :thumbsup:. Having driven both the Cooper and the 9-3, I know while the Cooper S is *DEFINITELY* a fun car, it sure isn't as practical as the 9-3, and if you don't like small cars, why are you looking at it?

I thought the same thing when I got my GTI.. I was dead wrong. I'm not sure how it is with the Cooper, but anything with a hatch is more practical than a sedan :thumbsup:

I had an '02 GTI at one point of time too. Nice, crisp shifting, and I loved the hatch, but the body roll killed me. I traded it with my Brother-in-law for his Miata.

But I bought an A4 Avant after that to satisfy my hatch needs.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: jumpr
You're going to have only two doors (the MINI) if you've never had a coupe before. I refuse to ever buy a 2-door car unless it's a convertible.

I drove a Mustang LX 5.0 for 5 yrs. so yes, i've owned a 2 door before.

again, i'm in this car by myself 98% of the time.

 

[Otaking]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
couple reasons i'm looking at the mini.

gas mileage is a very important factor for me right now.

the 9-3 is a very nice drive, i test drove it and the 9-3 linear is equiped very nicely.

i prefer larger cars but i am the only one in the car about 98% of the time. i use it mostly to get to my client locations. i drive on average 150 to 200 miles / day.

I assume you've test driven the Cooper as well, so which one felt better? 200 miles is a lot to drive in a day. :Q

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Otaking

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
couple reasons i'm looking at the mini.

gas mileage is a very important factor for me right now.

the 9-3 is a very nice drive, i test drove it and the 9-3 linear is equiped very nicely.

i prefer larger cars but i am the only one in the car about 98% of the time. i use it mostly to get to my client locations. i drive on average 150 to 200 miles / day.

I assume you've test driven the Cooper as well, so which one felt better? 200 miles is a lot to drive in a day. :Q

i basically have 20 part time jobs. i have 30+ regular clients.

edit

and no, i haven't test driven it yet.

one of the advantages of the Mini is that the dealership is 5 minutes away. the saab dealership is 25 minutes away.

 

[hysperion]

Neither Mini's are one of the most unreliable cars on the market and Saab's are one of the highest depreciating.....

 

[Otaking]

Hmm...

I've really been looking at the Ford Escape Hybrid, but there's no way I can afford it. You get the best of both worlds.

 

[hysperion]

Originally posted by: Chrono
MINI!
Saab makes some crappy cars.

Funny considering that according to JD Power's 2005 study for long term reliability per 100 cars Saab has 286 problems per 100 and Mini has 383, sounds like Mini is making the crap to me.....In reality both of them suck but that's another topic....

http://www.jdpower.com/news/releases/vds2005089.asp

 

[DeviousTrap]

Saab, much more practical in my opinion.

Where's the poll?

 

[DanTMWTMP]

I thought you like fords..

I thought you have a family..

MINI''s are unreliable..

SAAB. Ehh, don't really need to say much.


Now, why not a Suburu Legacy GT?????

 

[Otaking]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
I thought you like fords..

I thought you have a family..

MINI''s are unreliable..

SAAB. Ehh, don't really need to say much.


Now, why not a Suburu Legacy GT?????

:Q

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
I thought you like fords..

I thought you have a family..

MINI''s are unreliable..

SAAB. Ehh, don't really need to say much.


Now, why not a Suburu Legacy GT?????

I do like Fords. but the 500 is too big the Focus is too small. the Fusion is not available yet.

the Saab really is a very nice size.

as to my family, i never drive them around in my commuter. i always drive our minivan for that. currently that's a Ford Windstar and we will probably be trading that one in for the Ford Freestyle by the end of the year.

legacy? nah. don't like the quirky looks of the subaru's.