What Car? (NLC)

[RDH]

If it was down to Mini vs CRV it would have to be the Mini simply because the Mini is, well something. It stands out, they look cool inside and out are fun and decent value (when you consider selling / residual values).

......though they missed 'though you'd loose it at the post office on pension days'

Apologies

Chris

Sorry Chris - but minis' are probably more common than CRV's - they don't stand out - there's too many of them.
Granted given the choice - the mini looks better and drives better - but one thing it doesn't do is stand out.

The old mini minis stand out now, but not the fat lardy BMW ones.

[cags588]

Go for a CRV, fit a tow bar and buy a trailer. You know you will need to tow the Elise at some point and it will save me using my old wreck.

Plenty of room for prams and buggies!!!!!, I'm too young to be a grandad

Dad in Law

[Gourlay83]

I'm keeping out of this. Jen has to buy a car she wants so im letting her decide. Still a little confused how you managed to get it down to a CRV and a Mini ???

Funny others should mention the Classic Mini. I fancy getting one for a kick around/track horse. I found a company that supplies a subframe that allows an R1 Bike Engine to fitted. Stays FWD which I think a Mini should be to keep the Go-Kart like handling. My plan would be to buy an old Mini (Pre CAT/Tough Emissions) sort out the body and fit a proper roll cage. Remove everything I dont need and fit a couple of racing seats. Fit the R1 Engine and away we go.

The bonus is i can use 10" wheels for cheap tyres/slicks (£25 each), A Carbed R1 Engine is very cheap and easy to install and no emissions or CAT to worry about. This can be used in so many ways ie Track Days, Hill Climbs and Auto Testing.

Me and another Se'r are thinking about doing a joint venture, i wont name him as he actually asks his wife before buying cars/engines . If he isn't up for it i still fancy building one.

Alan

Dad - Your car tows fine and would miss our little adventures.

[Corranga]

Sorry Chris - but minis' are probably more common than CRV's - they don't stand out - there's too many of them.
Granted given the choice - the mini looks better and drives better - but one thing it doesn't do is stand out.

The old mini minis stand out now, but not the fat lardy BMW ones.

I get your point but the rarity of the CRV doesn't stop it looking like almost every other 4x4. It's a bit like saying the Fiat Marea is a rare car and therefore stands out when it doesn't, it just blends in with everything else. The Mini might be mega common, but it doesn't look like any other car out there.

All this talk of Minis makes me want mine back on the road, and someone mentioned 10s. All I need is tyres to get mine on 10s...

Chris

[Stevoraith]

I get your point but the rarity of the CRV doesn't stop it looking like almost every other 4x4. It's a bit like saying the Fiat Marea is a rare car and therefore stands out when it doesn't, it just blends in with everything else. The Mini might be mega common, but it doesn't look like any other car out there.

Agreed. The Mini may be common but it still stands out (whehter you like the looks or not). And the fact that there are so many options and colour combos means that you rarely see two that are absolutely identical.

The CRV is dull dull dull. The 2007-on model at least looks a bit different but I had to google the pre-'07 model to remember what it looks like And did they only sell it in metallic grey?

Jen, it sounds like you really want a Mini and are trying to think of reasons why it's not a good idea- if you don't need lots of space (the Minis only downfall really) then just go and get a Mini

[mac]

I was going to post saying that you should be wary if using a CRV for towing as the nose weight for towing was suprisingly low - something to do with the car being a 2WD with the other 2 being powered by hydralics.


Mac

[alicrozier]

Get a MINI SUV...


http://www.worldcarfans.com/1080910241/ ... next-month

[chrisdb]

CRV:

Cons

Its not a mini

There's your answer!

We've been running an 02 mini since new and it's great. Still raises a smile every time you get in

It's definitely not a real mini - we had one of the last Rover made minis (which rusted really really badly) before, but the BMW mini is a worthy successor imo.

[Gourlay83]

The CRV uses cluth packs in the rear diff. So they only engage when the prop is turning above a certain RPM ie when your front wheels spin.

Its a terrible car to tow, its boring and it aint a proper 4 wheel drive.

Alan - stll not getting involved

[jen]

Hey guys! Thank for your opinions and input! I have made a decision.

Although the Mini isn't the most practical car I could go for, I can still see myself driving it so I could put up with the lack of space, so long as it's just me and Alan using it. Those that know me, or have met me will probably agree that a mini is more 'me' and I don't think Im quite ready to own a 'grown up' car like a CRV. But that's not to say I won't want to own one in the future. I would prefer a Disco or Range Rover if I went for 4x4 though. And once we build our house in the sticks, I can get one of those, that's all after I will the lottery of course!

As for your suggestions on other cars:
Ali, I quite like that! But no.......
Alan T, I really don't like the look of the clubman. Sorry!
Civic Type R-we've had one of these already and although at the time I loved it and cried my eyes out when we sold it, I think the ride is too hard (steady on! ), the tax and insurance is quite steep and it likes to drink so although a great car overall, the running costs are just too high, going by past experience. And we already have one type r engine to feed-don't think I could handle two. Although we would have two extremely reliable cars!
The Alfas. They're not really cars that would have normally sprung to my mind, so thanks for mentioning them. Alfas are a type of car that I don't know much about, and I will have a look at these more thoroughly.
Scooby Legacy. I think the running costs may be too high for my liking unfortunately.

I think that was them all?

So to summarise, I have my heart set on a Mini but after looking at the others and if I see another car that I prefer then I might just go with that. Watch this space.......

Thanks again!
You guys are the best!

Jen
x

[Karen]

I'm on my 4th convertible in 3.5 years (no not crashed the previous ones but those of you that know us, know that nothing gets to stay long in our garage)! Had a One initially but it was gutless so then moved on and since then have had 3 Cooper S's! Just got my current one in December last year which is Interchange Yellow, a bit like the Isotope Elise in colour and I could have sworn Mr Robertson was somewhere in the background when the salesman said "it was the only one that colour in Scotland"as it only comes in the Cooper S convertible in that rather fetching shade!

[jen]

that nothing gets to stay long in our garage!

Same as us - we've been through 9 cars in 4 and a half years. (Alan has owned 16 cars in 9 years! ) Something always happens like we buy a flat and sell the car for deposits/carpets, or people drive into me and write the car off, or they break and its not worth fixing. The Clio is actually the first one Iv simply got bored with! Just one of these things......

Clio Sport 172
Mk 5 Golf
Honda Civic Old style (easy to break into spec )
Mk 2 Golf GTI
Elise
Rover something or other (bought for £50 and lasted a month)
Fiesta
Civic Type R
Westfield

[renmure]

that nothing gets to stay long in our garage!

Same as us - we've been through 9 cars in 4 and a half years.

You guys have the wrong end of the stick. It's alright to change cars often, but you don't want to get rid of too many incase you change your mind

[Stevoraith]

Its a terrible car to tow, its boring and it aint a proper 4 wheel drive.

Alan - stll not getting involved

[andyc]

Well done on choosing the Mini. Plenty time for family cars when you have kids.
No kids = Mini!!!!
I would look at a Cooper S soft top one.....all the hot chics have these