More Cabrio Shots from London

me too.

I'd love to have those wheels for my MCS. Curious about the prize though.

By the way… what do you think of the interrupted chrome rail on the formerly shown orange MINI Open? Looks kinda strange to me…

Nice. Like the new “Shark Blue” color, I also dig the wheels, but man, oh man!….those protruding boot lid hinges are ugly!Yeah, where is the 'S' chromed gas cap?

Also check out the inmense blind spots on the “C” pillars with the top up.

Thanks Gabe. I really like the color shade. It is the “Dark Silver Grey” but in the blue version. Fits nicely in between Indy Blue and Electric Blue…will it replace IB?

Is this purple blue a cabrio only color?

Also..is the new Orange a solid or metallic finish?

We really like the current IB and hopefully the upcoming revision is even better. I wish MINI would bring back an improved hue of Velvet Red ('cause I don't think Solid Gold metallic is selling well).

I too hope the new Orange color is a solid finish, the way this color should be.

No I'll probably be trading up for something around 2006/7 – especially since I just bought this.

By that time the R56 will have been introduced with the new engine. It looks like the Cooper will be bumped up to 140hp and the MCS will be at around 170hp. Of couse those numbers are targets – the final output may be slightly different. Based on that I might stay with the Cooper. Also the R56 MC will also be coming out earlier than the MCS so that might play a part of the desicion as well. Of course if I can wait I'll go for the MCS… something I couldn't do two years ago :)

I personally would stay with the hard top just because I'm not really a convertible person – if that makes sense. That being said I think it'll be a fantastic car that will sell very well.

Thanks – my wife and I love it. It's such a great change of pace from the MINI.

It's a very rare example too – loaded with manual transmission and sport package. We bought it used (ridiculous deal – cheaper than my Cooper with only 31k on the odometer!) with full CPO warranty. It was a corporate car and based on the address of the original location I believe it may have been a BMW Designworks car.

Great comments and look on the cabrio.

However, as much as I like my '02 MCS in Dark Silver w/lapis leather, I've found myself considering a 330i. Originally, I had wanted it though at the time wasn't able to garner a reasonable purchase price from a dealer. So here I am, just over a year into the Mini wanting a 3 series. Over the past couple of days, I've been reasoning why I don't care for the Mini and things I like about it.

Overall, I'm wondering if anyone else has already made the move to a 3 series from their Mini or vice versa and what were the results and satisfaction. Granted each person would move for various reasons, so I'm trying to get just an overall feeling.

thanks.

Thanks for the thoughts Gabe. I think that you bring up a good point with regard to the daily drive.

I like fun things and wonder if a 330i may be too serious for me. The MCS offers great mileage, though I would prefer a little softer ride. And I love the handling and the zippy feeling.

Not that I regret the purchase of the MCS by any means….though after having driven a 320i in 1981, I remembered that great feeling and handling of the car and have always wanted a 3 series. I guess after a year, I'm kinda wondering what that daily drive would be with a 3 series. I was wondering what I gain other than the obvious.

Don't mean to go too off topic and I appreicate the discussion.

2VIZSLAS – sounds like a similar stable to what I have :)

Nice to see someone else with an E46 wagon who also has a manual w/sport package – quite a rare combination.

The BMW is typically more rewarding only at higher speeds and when being pushed fairly hard. The MINI is immediately enjoyable and it's fun factor is accessable at low speeds. I've often said you need to double your speed in the BMW to have the same fun as you would in the MINI.

Further all E46s i've driven have very little of the initial sharp steering feel that the current MINI has. There's that point when you first turn the wheel were you really don't have much feedback at all. This is true of the 325 all the way up to the M3.

That being said when pushed hard it's the BMW that excels where the MINI becomes nervous and twitchy. A short wheel base and poor weight distribution is hard to overcome in situations like this.

Gabe, that 325 wagon looks brand new, again congratulations on a decidely smart purchase!

A couple of years ago I had the pleasure to test drive a new 325ix (All wheel drive wagon in Miami, please?)with the 5-speed and it was very, very nice. To me the inline 6 cylinder engines in these cars totally surpass any V-6 in the market in terms of refinenment, power delivery and butter smooth demeanor.

The current E46 3 series is a lovely car but it has become wayyy to common to be exclusive much anymore, but the Sportwagon version is indeed the best kept secret in the line-up as it is the rarest of all models, aside from the M3 SMG.

If MINI for one reason or another does not produce a MINI “Countryman” version in the current R50 platform or the upcoming R56 chassis, then we will give the 3 series wagon a good and hard look again. Hopefully by then (2006 or 2007) BMW will continue to offer the 3 series wagon but wonder how it will look after the all new 3 series is “banglarized” and introduced in a cpuple of years time.

Enjoy your wagon.

I have owned two E46 323i sedans, and before them, an E36 (1992) 325i. I have to say that the E36 was actually much more fun to drive than the newer E46. It felt “edgier.” The E46 was no doubt the better car and the car I'd rather live with every day, but the E36 had it beat in terms of road feel. And my MCS has all the road feel I'll ever want!

The E30 and E36 had somewhat cheap plastic interiors. The E46 has more of a luxury car look and feel, but that drivetrain is still awesome.

I hope the next generation (E50?) will not be Banglarized to the point of not having a center console but instead a LCD color screen with (Gasp!) i-drive!.

I am not liking BMW's philosophy as of late of turning “driver's cars” into “Rolling living rooms” or “Rolling offices”.

The E46 3-series, is the last true to form “BMW” left, sorry to say.

Gabe & Frank,

I totally agree on your comments re the E36 & E46 and the idea of a wagon vs a sportbrute. The E36 was definitely edgier. I believe the next generation 3 will go too far away from this edginess and I will be looking to the 1 series. I love the sportwagon in all respects except the clutch takeup. I plan to have my clutch delay valve drilled out. Curious as to what you think of the clutch in your wagon.

By the way Gabe, I enjoy your site. Informative, intelligent discourse but still lighthearted. Hope the site continues.

Oops, the mileage above should have read 24.63 mpgs for 2003.

Elmor – that's about my mileage with the 2.5L inline six (as oppose to the 3.0L).

If you're really interested in a smaller BMW I'd recommend waiting to see the upcoming 1 series.

My 4 month old '04 MCS with 3,800 miles is currently returning around 24MPG on strict city driving. I am pulling between 260-280 miles per tankful. I expect the mileage to improve as the car racks up more time on the road.

BTW I was just told by someone with some inside info that the color on this cabrio may not be Black Eye Purple but something called Cool Blue. I can't verify this but I thought I'd at least mention it in the comments.

Les – you may want to look at cars coming off of lease. You could probably pick up a 325i with sports package for not much more than a well equipped Mazda 6. While it's not as swift as a 330i if you can find one with a manual and sport package it's almost every bit as fun.

Personally I think the Mazda 6 is a fantastic car spec wise but I haven't driven one yet so I can't really say.

I think you may be surprised how new a certified pre-owned BMW really is.

Regardless best of luck with your decision and remember this – a MINI is more practical than most people give it credit for.

The new Mazda 6 is a markedly improvement over the old and humdrum 626 sedan.

I suggest reading test drive reports from sources like Edmunds.com. The car has a small back seat for a four door sedan and to be quite honest the looks of the 6 don't impress me much anymore. This car looked great in preview photos in magazines but in person does nothing for me. It reminds me too much of Acura's TSX sedan.

Mazdas don't have stellar resale values either. Service quality is hit or miss and it is a car that everyone drives like the Accord and Camry but much better handling.

Go with the MCS…you won't regret it one bit…these cars are addictive, cool, unique and a kick in the pants to drive. Not sure if I can say the same about any other V6 FWD sedan in the market today. BTW a “real” sports sedan has an inline 6 cyl engine, 50/50 weight distribution, impeccable suspension settings and rear wheel drive….that's a 3 series BMW…

For me it was a decision between the MCS and the Mazda RX-8, both awkward, fun to drive cars, with 6 speeds and great handling. The RX-8 has 4-doors, more power, rwd, 50/50 weight distribution, and more room than the Mini, but its not a hatch nor is it as pure of an experience and it'll cost 6-7000 more well equiped. I just wish the mini had the 9000 rpm redline of the renisis rotary engine.

While waiting for the service crew to install equipment to play my wife's mp3 player at Hank Arron's Mini,in Atlanta,I went over to the showroom to talk to the Mgr.there about the 05 MC Open. I was told that he went to a dealer's meeting in January of this year and they brought in an orange MC Open;and,yes… the roof does go back partially and,of course,fully. He also mention that the dealers,including himself,were drooling over how great the car look in the flesh. Keep up the good work Gabe. Peace.

Nice car, just like mine. the black cabrio looks much better.