These have to be my two #1 favorite cars on the market today. I'm not eligible for my license yet, but the time will arrive fairly soon, and I'm looking into some facts and figures as well as popular consensus concerning these vehicles.

I love both vehicles, and am having a hard time determining my fav. I'm done some research, but personal experience and reccomendations are always the most reliable. I'm considering the following:

Primary Importance:

• Initial Cost + Maintenance
• Miles Per Gallon (the Bug seems to win on this)
• Safety
• Turning Radius

Secondary Importance:

• Storage/Seating Capacity
• Visibility
• Leg/Head Room (I'm 6' 2" and growing )

Tertiary Importance:

• Features (A/C, cruise, Radio, etc.)
• HorsePower
• Customizability

If anyone has one or has ridden in one, please say. If you think it is a totally awful car and is completely overrated, just say, but please be sure to state your case with backup. Also, I'm interested in an automatic (and I live in the U.S., North Carolina to be precise, but I have a British accent, so a MINI and me would mix! :p )

Here's some small bit of research I already did. Please build on it:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bestworst.shtml
http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/02/17/bbc_on_the_minis_continued_success

Thanks all!

I'm repulsed by the fact that you would even compare a mini to a beetle... The mini-coop is superior in every way, and insanely cooler... They're not even on the same class.

Why would you even want to look or be remotely close to a Beetle? They are so hideously ugly.

the only problem with a mini, is the fact that if you wreck it, it's almost deffinitely totalled

so many airbags in a tiny space and the car will disintigrate on impact...

I agree, but this is life. If the car did 60 MPG and was readily available (I know they're pretty cheap, but how does this compare with a Beetle?) I would be signing up for one right now. Ideally, yes, the Mini definately has class and sheer rock-solid-awesomeness, plus they're aren't that many on the road where I am, but is it cost-efficient, and will I be able to obtain a used one that suits my liking (yes, that is another factor, I'll 99% chance get a used vehicle)

Please, personal experience or talk with friends or web research, not fan boys! (but yes, the MINI is awesome)

There is no comparison.

Go with the Mini Cooper

This should be your only concern..

If you're getting an automatic transmission, the mini will be very slow.

If mileage is your primary concern, a VW beetle TDI may be in your best interests.

Go with the new Mini. Mainly because the new Beetles look like crap...

Old Minis > New Minis, but if you want the creature comforts of a newer car that's understandable.

Mini freaking Cooper

They're both ugly little things. :p I drive a Focus and whenever I'm beside one I feel like I can crush it with...um...the mighty Fordness of my Focus. Or something.

Dude, automatics are for wieners!

Seriously though, I've sat in a mini at a car show, and it was very comfortable. I'm 6'2", also. Can't say I've ever been in a beetle (very much by choice, mind you) though, so I can't really give you a good comparison.

Normally I would vote mini, but the one guy that I know who owns one is a couplete *******, so my vote goes to the Beetle. Even though it is horribly ugly.

Minis smoke beetles in every aspect. I mean there's just no comparing! Thats like asking what tastes better: A tasty burrito or a fluffy bunny?

I don't care how long it takes, the vehicle I'M going to get when I'm able to drive is the Coop. I don't care if I have to walk till I get it.

And by the way, of course it's the fluffy bunny. I hunt 5 every morning for breakfast.

mini

Beetles are surprising roomy. I'm 6'2" and I fit fine in them.

Mini is nicer-looking, but I don't care for either of them.

I prefer the cooper, it's just cooler looking.

Get a SmartCar instead. Who doesn't want to drive around in an egg?

SmartPeople

These two cars are also my favorite, and I think at the moment the Mini is the personal fav. It's a close call however.

Just give me anything that looks like a typical sedan with decent gas milage. that is enough to satisfy me.

Screw Mini Cooper and Beetle, gimme an '05 'stang.

I hope you're female or really like macs...because thats all I associate these two "cars" with

(yes theres one more association, but I do not wish to assume anything of your character, nor is it appropriate)

Screw the '05 'Stang, gimme an '87 Buick GNX!

The Mini is infinitely superior to the Beetle. I am a car fanatic, and give you a complete rundown on both, but I'll spare you the agony. Mini is the answer.

Oh, and regarding the Beetle, don't ever buy something with a flower holder/vase thing built into its center console. \/

Woah woah, we're talking new cars, right?

My dad has a BMW Mini Cooper. From my little driving experience (I'm only 19. You get your license at 18 here), its a good enough car. Very well suited for the southern Finnish winter with it's low centre of mass and proximity between the front and rear axles. It handles curves admirably, even at relatively fast speeds like offramps to the highway and such. It rides pretty low though, so no deep snow or uneven terrain. Surprisingly roomy though. I'm 189cm tall and I've got pretty long legs, but I'm fine in the front seats. Quite cramped in the back though, but you're probably not expecting to be sitting there very much, are you? Very easy to slip it into a parking space

The BMW Mini Cooper S is the more performance oriented model, you can tell it apart because it apart from the Mini Cooper and the Mini One because it has the air intake on the front. But you can also tune all versions by replacing a few performance limiting chips if you're into that type of thing.

Its a bit more ostentatious than practical or utilitarian (Like most cars in suburbs or cities to a Uni student accustomed to pretty good public transport) but you could certainly do worse (*coughNewBeetlecough*) than the BMW Mini.

Bah. As soon as I'm finished with them, both my '78 Firebird and my '93 Saturn SC2 will have enough horses to smoke either of those "things."

380hp/420ft/lbs - Firebird w/350HO minus certain modifications,
280+hp/?flt/lbs - Saturn SC2 w/centrifugal turbine supercharger, intercooler, dual exhaust, and ram air intake.

Who needs new cars? =P

If you're going VW get a Golf GTI, my mate just got a 1.8 GOlf GTI and it flogs.

^^ YES.

My buddy let me drive his Jetta 1.8T, and even in 5th gear at 100 km/h, the bloody thing accelerates incredibly. I have to shift into 3rd on my Cavalier if I want to pass anyone on the highway at 100 km/h.

I find this poll depressing.

VW is halting production on the New Beetle in a year or so due to low sales. This is a hint.

how much do you spend on gas?
I've got a 68 skylark that does about 12mpg at 280hp@4000 ft/lbs torque ...

Well, what do you want? I could lie and say that I've got a BMW Mini Cooper, but it's my dad's.

The thing is, both are really out of the price range of most forum-goers here, who tend to be 16-23 year old high-school/College/Uni-students. Next time, add options for which one we'd take if we had the choice

I'm entirely certain that you don't have 4000 ft/lbs of torque, otherwise the rear end of your car would end up sitting in the engine compartment... Were you referring to 280hp@4000RPM (which makes more sense), or 280hp@400ft/lbs (which is still a massive disparity between the two...)?

Also, I haven't the cash yet to aquire the engine, but I would guess between six and eight miles to the gallon.

Maybe it's a diesel....

In all seriousness though, odds are it would be very hard to get an engine to produce 400 lb/ft and 280 hp... and if it's only getting 12 mpg you have some SERIOUS problems on your hands. Like the fact that you must have a hole in your gas tank or something. Getting 12 mpg means you should be burning enough gas to be making at least 375 horsepower.

Two things.

First, I think this may be the first 100% conclusive poll ever at Massassi.

Second, you should go with option 3, my car:

2004 Dodge SRT-4

But if I had to pick between the Beetle and the Mini, I would go with the Mini.

pfffft my civic could own you all.

I would go with the mini, my nieghbor tricked his out, sounds and looks nice.