Used 2005 mini cooper s or brand new 2009 scion tc?

Question

Hi :) so i just saw a car on craigslist for a 2005 mini cooper s manual for 12,500 with only 24,000 miles on it.. i LOVE both cars! the mini cooper is super expensive brand new or even a used one! and the 2008 scion tc automatic is 18,000..

if you could just give me specific details on what's so good and bad about each car it'll really help!

such as..

comfortability

space

safety

easier to drive

expensive/inexpensive for mechanical parts

and anything else that would be helpful! :)

thank you thank you so much in advance! :)

Answer 1

1) both cars are comfortable to sit in

2) both cars are very roomy for the driver and the front passenger. the mini in the back is a little bit cramped for taller people, and same goes for the tc (since it is a coupe). for the mini, if you want trunk space and want to carry 3 passengers in the car, you won't have much of it. not so for the tc.

3) the main thing for me is that if i were to take a car on the freeway i'd want to take a bigger car. with the mini, i just don't feel safe. also, the guy above said that the mini performed better than bigger cars in crash tests, but what about rear-ending? if you have passengers, they'll get squished especially if you get rear-ended by a semi-truck or an suv on the freeway going at 70 mph. i know thats a worst case scenario, but still, you need to be prepared for everything.

4) they are both easy to drive, but if you want to talk about it performance wise, the cooper s is the way to go. the tc's handling is a little bit stiff around the corners and has body roll because it is top heavy due to the way the engine is arranged and the double panoramic sunroof. the cooper is lower to the ground to begin with, and therefor hugs turns better.

5) i think the cooper would be more expensive because MINI is owned by BMW, and bmw replacement parts do cost a lot. i am not totally sure though. parts for both cars would be more than, say a ford or a chevy because the cars are imports.

6) gas mileage: cooper s takes premium, scion tc takes regular unleaded. cooper gets about 32-35 (depending on how you drive) mpg freeway and 25-28 mpg city. scion tc gets over 30 mpg freeway (depending on how you drive) and 25 city (if you don't drive with a lead foot.)

7) insurace: i think the tc is cheaper because it is not considered a sports car like the cooper s is. i'm not sure, but you should check with your insurance about it.

also, the ad you saw might be a scam. if not, ask for a carfax report, seems to me like this car could have been a salvaged title. email the owner and ask him for any maintenance records as well and ask him if it is a clean title. but i would say be very wary.

Answer 2

I can promise you that the Mini you're seeing on Craigs List is a scam.  Total scam.

No 05 Cooper S with such low mileage is going to list for that low of a price.  That car would normally go for about $20,000 in the real world, in good shape.

I would go with a Mini any day of the week over any Scion.

I'm 6'7", and am very comfortable in my Mini.

They're incredibly safe, and outperform SUVs and trucks in crash tests.

Maintenance is no more expensive than any import.

Plenty of space.  Put the rear seats down and you have all you need.

Easy to drive.  Nimble, quick, and safe.

Answer 3

Mini! they are such great cars and fun to drive

Answer 4

Scion tC. Pre owned cars always have problems with them. My sister bought an Altima and it didn't even last for a week, and also a Millenia and it had wood blocks holding the head lights, a broken a/c cover, a leaking trunk, and several break downs.

Toyota, Scion's parent company has a reputation for reliability. The tC has more space. The tC has knee airbags. The Mini Cooper s only has basic safety features.