With my newfound riches, I’m debating buying my very first sports car. Yes, I’ve been a car journalist for over a decade, and the sportiest car I’ve ever owned is a BMW i3. This must change. And right now, two cars are really pulling me in: The OG Audi TT and the OG Mini Cooper S.
It’s become clear to me that these two vehicles are future classics, and given that they’re reasonably small and efficient, they fit into my new suburban LA lifestyle better than would, say, another 4×4. More importantly: Right now, they’re cheap for what they are. I’d say that, on a soul-per-dollar basis, it’s hard to beat the Audi TT and the R53 Mini Cooper S.
I mean, just look at these two.
The ‘Italian Job’ Mini Cooper S Is Luring Me In
Right now, decent R53 Mini Coopers are selling between $3000 and $8000. That’s insanely cheap for a quick, fun, manual transmission car with this much soul.
And I know, you’re heading to the comments right now to write: “DUDE THESE THINGS ARE STEAMING HEEPS.” They have problems. That supercharger will need to be rebuilt, the engines themselves aren’t amazing, the front suspension tends to need love, and they take premium fuel.
But live a little! It’s a supercharged hot hatch that is sure to be a future classic. Spin a few wrenches, say a few cursewords, and then enjoy days on the canyons. I don’t know that I’ll be able to resist the R53 Mini Cooper S much longer. As long as I can find a red one with stripes for under 4 big ones, I’m probably onboard. (The one above on Cars & Bids hasn’t hammered yet; I’ll guess it’ll go for $8-ish, but we shall see).
My wife isn’t sold yet, but I’m working on it.
My First Love: The Audi TT
Is it just me or are Audi TTs on the rise? That’s not to say they’re pricey, but they used to be just a couple of grand, and now a halfway-decent one seems to be about $6-7 thousand here in LA.
Regardless, they deserve the love, as their rounded design is truly timeless. You get a 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive, a great little turbo motor (I’m told the 1.8 is the one to get), and style inside and out.
Yes, like the Mini, there are concerns about a 25 year-old German car potentially ruining one’s life. Will I be replacing a timing chain? Is the water pump going to go out on me? Do I have time to deal with a Piech-era VW product given that I have a baby at home? They are good questions.
I’m personally leaning towards the mini, since I think I can get a decent one for $3500. But people keep telling me horror stories…
Topshot: FB and Cars & Bids
The TT stopped me in my tracks when I saw the concept at the LA Auto Show. Buy the pretty one.
If it’s going to be broken on your driveway you want to at least enjoy looking at it.
I’m confused by the challenge to pick a sports car from a choice between a German hatchback pretending to be British and a German hatchback unsuccessfully pretending it isn’t really just a Golf.
Neither of these is a sports car. Ive driven Ford Transits that were more involving to drive than a TT.
Buy a Miata, or an Elise, or (checks budget) yeah, just a Miata.
He’s already got the Elise (checks budget).
Well played!
Get a Saturn Astra instead. They are MUCH better cars and just as fun too. If you’re really lucky, you can find one with a big sunroof and manual transmission 😀
TT. Don’t listen to all these lame-os telling you to hold off on your dreams. Hop onto the deranged, violent bull that is Piech era VW/Audi and ride until you’re rag-dolled into a trash can. That’s the real way to live.
*Hops into minivan, drives away*
Picked the TT because I haven’t set my ass in a Mini. My teenage son bought this same TT in blue, though the 180 hp 5 speed version. Insurance was the same as our Corolla. It’s fun to wind up the turbo, it handles well, they nailed the interior and it just feels good for this long-legged driver.
All that said, an elderly family friend wants to sell their 6 speed NC Miata to him eventually and I’ll end up with the TT… and enjoy it!
In 3 years we replaced the timing belt, front CV shaft, alternator, and dealt with a small coolant leak. Not the easiest car to work on but not horrible.
It was a mistake to give “neither” and option on these, David.
That said, I voted Mini, mostly because it is more usable with a family. Both have a semi-timeless design, and while the TT is the nicer car from the get-go, the Mini is satisfyingly sporty and the form factor lets you trot kids around and still make a quick shopping trip. At this age, both will let you down in some costly mechanical way, but I think the Mini is the better overall choice.
David, as a fellow dad, the question I think you need to ask yourself is: Will it Baby?
That TT will not. That Mini will. And while you probably think you have enough babyable cars in your fleet, there will come a day when everything is going wrong in your life and you need to trust Delmar-not-his-real-name to your fun car without worrying Elise-not-her-real-name. Just get the Mini.
If you want a sports car, I’d get a classic roadster that isn’t suffering from cramming everything under the front hood, or worst case a Miata.
Triumph, MG, classic Cooper.
If you call mushroomed strut towers needing love, well chase your dreams. I’ve known several used Mini owners, they were like boat owners, their happiest days were when they bought them, and then sold them.
Can confirm, though I had a third happy day taking my Cooper S to performance driving school at Road America and hooning it. Three days out of three months of ownership is a lousy ratio though.
The MINI is the less-worse option, though you’re wise to consider “a decent one for $3500” instead of this one. That said, how’s it any different from the i3?
The real answer for that price range is an NC, but if I had to choose one I’ll go with the technically more sportscar like Audi
There are a few comments saying that neither is a sports car, but no-one else has pointed out that neither is German either. The MINI was built in Oxford, UK, and the TT in Gyor, Hungary. The brands might be German-owned, but that’s not the same thing.
I have always liked the baseball glove stitching on the TT’s seats… but I don’t like tan seats on silver cars. Mini with a stick sounds like fun. But I think with all of the access to Galpin’s trade ins, DT can sample a variety of cars. Now’s not the season in life for the sports car. Then again, my idea of a sensible mom car was a CTS -V because I needed four doors.
I *think* the baseball glove leather with the heavy stitching was only on the early, Neiman Marcus special edition intro cars, but maybe they brought it back later/again?
I remember seeing that interior at the Los Angeles Auto Show when the car was new; the Neiman Marcus version would not have been on display. That was before they moved the show to late fall.
it was available all from 01 to 06, but I believe it could only be optioned that way on the roadsters.
Supercharged Mini or go on up to the 2014+ Mini with vastly improved drivetrain. The Mini can baby, rear facing, front facing, 2 kids for a night away. Something you can drive WITH your kid has more value than a TT that you can’t.
David…you can’t put a “don’t buy either” button on there because it makes it too easy of a cop-out! Anyway, I’m doing the usual “must choose one” thing and going with the Audi, mainly because it fits the whole premise presented of wanting a *German* car. I realize that the Mini was made by BMW, but the whole zeitgeist of the thing certainly wasn’t. I mean…they’ve got the whole British flag in the tail light thing going on!
Truly in your case wait until Beau agrees to sell something sporty you like
These two cars are both versions of the pretty girl you thought you wanted to date in high school, but when the actual dating began, you realized the attention demanded and constant upkeep wasn’t worth the hassle.
Call the red one Ginger and the silver one Daphne, if you will – and keep looking for your Mary Ann or Velma.
I live in a town named Daphne.
Don’t insult my town, please…
This reminds me of me 10-15 years ago, only with guitars. “I just sold a guitar, what should I buy next!?” Older, wiser me knows that guitars deserve to be played, just as cars deserve to be driven, and I can only play one at a time.
Maybe hang on to that money. Rather than let it burn a hole in your pocket, keep it until the right car comes along. It’ll find you, rather than you spinning your wheels buying and selling and buying and selling.
That’s how I’m shopping for my next guitar.
I had that jones for years until I admitted to myself that yet another guitar isn’t going to make me a better player. Down to 4 now plus a bass and a couple of amps.
That mini looks sweet and well-maintained; you should get it. I bought a 2017 F60 Countryman S AWD 6sp this summer with nearly 100K miles – and it’s awesome. I don’t worry about eventual repair bills. I just drive it and enjoy every minute. I realize it’s just a re-skinned BMW X1, but I don’t care because it’s so much fun and yet very practical. Live a little!
Neither is a sports car. As usual the answer is Miata.
This. Can confirm. 🙂
I had an R56 Mini purchased with 60K miles, and drove it to 165K ( with original clutch).I loved it, but it was not and “S” model. I voted neither because small cars are really had to work on.
Don’t do it DT! Resist and enjoy your life exactly where and what it is. The ol’ cliche saying, don’t go looking for trouble because it can and will always find you.
Put the money and effort into your brother’s Mustang if anything. Drive it, enjoy it, have fun.
My daughter is now almost 22. Put the family first. Kids don’t care what you drive, just that you are THERE. It’s more than OK to drive a dad car – which it seems you have.
Whatever Delmar (NHRM) decides he wants to pursue, follow along or lead to the best of your ability.
Cars come and cars go, children are once.
You are the EIC – your choice of press cars. Borrow something nice.
Had to vote Mini. Those do look sharp and I have wanted one for a while. Neither is reliable but both are fun. Yeah Mini in red with stripes or BRG.
The Audi has 2 seats. You’ll never keep it.
2+2 seats, if it’s a coupe. The convertible one only has two seats.
No. Don’t buy another car until Delmar starts kindergarten and even then, one-in/one-out.