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On a practical level, I'd have to go with a MazdaSpeed 3... It was my number one choice before I started looking at Mini's... Fairly quick, comfortable, and about the same $$...
Going exotic with no cost restraints... I've always loved the Porsche's...
My most serious option would be making lifestyle changes so that I did not have a car at all. I live close enough to a metro station that joining ZipCar and becoming more familiar with local transit would be my first choice. Mass transit would give me more time for reading than I'll ever get by being a car, and I see the world differently than I did a few years ago.
We have an MCS now, If getting a another car, I would likely head back to MINI and get a regular MC more lightly optioned than our present MINI which pretty much has every option except wheel upgrades and JCW. I don't know of a car that competes with MINI on the basis of size and economy that is as well built or handles as well that costs either the same or less than a MINI.
The Honda Fit Sport (manual transmission) it would probably be high on the list as a solid, economical car (and it's quite a bit less expensive than a MINI). In other words, I'd be looking for a practical car.
Either a Smart Brabus Roadster (not the ForTwo deathtrap) or BMW 1. The R8 is a beautiful piece of hardware, but not for me while I complain about $4 gas.
If all MINIs made since 2001 -- including my Chili Red R56 Cooper -- suddenly evaporated into thin air, I'd be looking desperately for a mint example of the closest approximation ever made: a BMW 2002tii.
Mazda3, good on gas, handles pretty well, just enough room, and not too expensive, and fairly reliable (just avoid BP gas)... Overall, a great all-around car. I used to own before the MINI....