As you mentioned earlier, the MINI clutch is very forgiving...so I'm not sure if you need to consider getting an automatic at all. I average about 150 miles a day in Los Angeles county. I drive the worst freeways and hit the worst traffic on a regular basis.

I switched over from a BMW 330Ci (Auto) to a MCS 6-speed two years ago and I've never regretted it. I installed XM radio, which helps with dealing with the heavy traffic, but shifting is never a concern. The main source of frustration for me while I'm in traffic is that I'm not enjoying the funner aspects of my MINI. When I get off the freeways and hit the curves, I am reminded time and time again why I bought a MINI.

The two cars you mentioned from Acura are both great models. Their technology is excellent, they will hold their value well, and and are very reliable transportation. The problem (if it is a problem for you) is that you won't fall in love with those cars; you probably won't remember them 15 years from now. The opposite will happen once you own a MINI.

There are many reasons why there are so many MINI enthusiasts, to mention a few: the attention to detail in them are amazing, there is much you can do to make your MINI "your own" with countless tuners and other part/accessory manufacturers.

Maybe a MINI isn't for you...if you are just looking for transportation, there are many cars that will fit the bill. Most MINI owners just knew they had to have one from the first time they saw one. I knew right away, but I talked myself out of buying one several times because I didn't think it was "practical" or it was too small: I was dead wrong.

Good luck with your decision!

 

The three cars are so different in every way that I think you have to really consider what the car will be used for. The TL has a V6 engine, the TSX a 2.4 liter 4 , and the Mini of course a 1.6 liter supercharged 4 cylinder. Gas mileage to consider here? As has been mentioned I'm not sure you could spend anywhere near $ 30k for a well equipped MCS, a TSX would be at least $31k out the door, and the TL is way overpriced at $37k. The interior of the TL and TSX are very comparable in both size, and quality, the Mini is much smaller, and only has two doors. Will you be driving the car mostly by yourself, or with passengers? Being the owner of a 03 MCS I am biased toward the Mini. Another car I would consider, and test drive is the Acura RSX/s it is a much better car to compare straight up with the Mini than the TL or TSX.

 

reliable yes, hold their value i don't think so, well not as much as a mini will, you can pick up a used 2004 tsx for $20,000 with their base msrp at $27,000. this is for the TSX.... you can get a RSX for under $16,000. i don't know about the TL's...

driving those 4 banger car's that have no low end torque suck at driving around town they just lug around till they hit high rpms, torque makes for easy driving... you will always have to downshift and rev up super high to get any passing power too...

i like the nissan infiniti line much better then the honda acura line. for a family sedan i would go for a g35 sedan, i like the g35 coupe but the head room in the back seats is minimal, but they are sweet cars, reliable and super torque... you can also get the g35 sedan in awd and with a 6spd and you can always get a supercharger for the infiniti V6's to give them more pep.. oh and i guess the G35/350Z coupes are holding their value pretty well...

 

How many miles do you have on your MCS? I have almost 50K, and it is my daily driver and my cross-country roadtripper. It has never let me down. I have had a rattle repaired and some problems with the windows going up and down, but the engine and everything else have been great!

I suggested the MCSa to XX911XX because he is in a lot of stop-and-go traffic. Even with those driving conditions, I personally would choose the Getrag 6-speed...love that tranny!


Clover

 

--Wow you guys are getting great gas mileage on the mainland. Here in Honolulu our daily freeway rush hours have been said to be worse than even L.A. traffic during a traffic jam. Keep in mind our Island is only about 80 miles long, but when things get backed up people are stuck on the freeway for up to 4 hours to cross just 30 miles of road.

While I was still shopping for a new car I lurked on the G35 forums and Hawaii owners reported gas mileage as bad as 12mpg on some days. My neighbor owns a sedan and he says he rarely gets above 18mpg in our traffic. The V6 just isn't happy here in Honolulu. Lots of stop and go and our freeways are poorly designed so everyone crawls to a near stop (30mph) on some turns. Our highways re-define the word bottleneck.

But yeah I agree the G35 is a great car. If I had the spare dosh and a more forgiving parking structure I'd get one. Our other neighbor in the coupe used to scrape his everytime while going up the ramp. Still though that M45 just has sooo many goodies and it looks 10x sharper than the G35. Both really beautiful rides tho.

--pyratio

 

2003 MCS - 7500 miles. Car hasn't left me stranded (knock on wood) but it's been in the shop 17 times in 25 months.

The automatic is a great idea for a commuter - except that there have been quite a few problems with the one in the MCS with quite a few frustrated owners.

 

There is so much mis-information in this thread

I paid 27 out the door for a 05 MCS Premium/Sport/LSD/Tartan Leather. You can get a TSX w/ Navi for $27500, a TL w/ Navi for probably $32k. You don't seem to understand Acuras do not have options. As I said before my TSX w/o Navi cost less than my wife's MCS.

Wrong, Acura is the 3rd best brand at holding its value, behind BMW and Lexus I believe. It is ~50% for 5years. I checked the KBB of my TSX, 2004, non-navi 25k and its $22k for 3rd party, I'm sure a dealer would be even more.

 

XIZOR,
You are correct. Your prices are dead on. Wanna help me negotiate my mini!

I might hold out for an '06 MCS. Looking to pay $26k before TTL. When you order one, do you have to put down a nonrefundable deposit?

 

I put down a $1K deposit that was refundable.. the dealer knows they can put the car on the lot and sell it...
I paid just a bit over $25K OTD price for my MCS. That was optioned with everything I wanted...

 

Wow...was $25k sticker? Looks like you got a lot for 25k. Did you get leather?

 

Good luck, I couldn't find any of the 10 mini dealerships in 500 miles of my location that would budge off MSRP. Option a Mini on the miniusa website and the price is what you should expect to pay. I've heard some TSX owners getting $500 over invoice however.

 

xx911xx, have you used the configurator yet?

www.miniusa.com

 

Just because they don't have the huge amount of resale value that the MINI has right now, does not mean the Acura brand does not hold it's value well. Hondas and Acuras (another Honda product) have done well on the resale market for years. Compare that with a Nissan, Ford, GM products, etc and you'll see what I mean.

 

make up your mind already!

 

Just configured my white 2006 MCS with the checkered package, aero kit, chrono, and ipod adapter. Total came up to $25,889. I thought about the blue tooth, but my blackberry 7100t is not on the list of compatible phones.

I think I'll drop by Long Beach Mini to put my order in

It was a hard decision between the Chilli Red and what I finally decided to get, but the checkered package looks a little more race bred.

 

I got mine from Southbay Mini at sticker, the only option being Premium and automatic. They were good and didn't have any other mandatory options or crap like that.

 

Excellent. Don't forget south bay mini.

 

You know, just for your own amusement, I would post your question on www.vtec.net. It's a Honda/Acura enthusiast website that I'm on, and I would bet they'd give you a couple days' worth of opinions as to why you should absolutely, without-a-doubt purchase a TSX or TL over the Mini. This would be just for your amusement, of course. My personal opinion? You already have the 911...why get another small, sporty car? The TSX would be perfect...four doors, great mpg, best NAV system in the business, built-in-Japan reliability, and excellent resale value. Plus, now's the best time to get a deal on an '05 TSX, and as well you should because Honda restyled the TSX for '06, and personal opinion...it's fugly.

 

Not sure why you are asking. All three are nice cars. But quite different in nature. You'll have to examine what you need first.

In the 3 month period around when I picked up my car, a friend bought a TL and two others bought TSX's. For my needs, I needed a commuter car that was also entertaining to drive so the MCS made sense. The TL is a rather luxurious family car and the TSX makes a very practical everyday car with a dash of luxury and a small dose of fun. Actually, a good compromise between the MCS and the TL. That's not to say the MINI does not have any luxury features, but it does not project that kind of image.

gas mileage and all that other stuff not withstanding.

 

Wow, we got you sucked in, you will never get out again. You are lucky!!!! Good desicion, congrats, wish you luck.......

 

911...

Excellent choice Like I said, I'm very familiar with Acuras and they don't even come close to the MINI in driving enjoyment.

I like your color choice as well. My last car was white and it was extremely easy to keep clean. My current car is red and it shows up everything.

Have fun with it.