MS3 buying questions. Please help.

J

Jason C

Member
So I drive a MINI Cooper "S".
<a href="http://s248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/?action=view&current=01small.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/01small.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
I absolutely love this car and the community that comes along with it.
Here is the rub, I have a 7 year old daughter and her sister is due in a few weeks. With just the 7 year old I have no problems with backseat access, but with the new one comes a big bulky car seat which seems like will be a pain to get in and out of the back. Also my wife hates the ride now with all the suspension work I have done(boobs);)

So whats the point of all this you ask.?. Well I have been looking at the MZ3's since they first came out, and with the creation of the MS3 I have always thought it would be the car to get when the family got bigger.
I got to do a fairly through test drive today. Up and down the highway a few times, a few curvy back roads, some mildly rough roads and a good hard on the brakes test. I even got to take it to the gas station! lol It performed about like I expected, which was good. The clutch and shifter where super light causing a few 2nd gear lunges, but that will just take some getting used to I guess. The main problem I have, and I know it may be trivial to some, is the fact that there is no sunroof option. I have read all the sunroof posts here, and have heard all the different supposed reasons for there not being one from extra support beams, higher COG, added weight or disrupting airflow to the spoiler but have yet to see a definitive answer. Besides the support beams, because I'm aware that they are there, does anyone have hard data as to why it is not an option?
Here is why I ask. I have found an 08.5 with low miles that has has a sunroof installed by the dealership although it is an aftermarket part.
<a href="http://s248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/?action=view&current=image003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/image003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/?action=view&current=image005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/image005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/?action=view&current=image004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/image004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Thoughts? Negative or positive I'm all ears.

The other thing is they want almost 22K and are 3 hours away from me. It's a GT without NAV, but that seems a bit high doesn't it? I've read few few posts about people finding used GTs for around 17K-18K. Do they really exist?
I would think with the 2010 being redesigned they would want to deal on these but neither this one nor the one I drove today want to move on the price any. 22K and 25K respectively. Any thoughts?

I have more questions, but I'll start with these so as to not bore everyone even more. Thanks for any help or insight.

Jason
 
Jason C said:
So I drive a MINI Cooper "S".
<a href="http://s248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/?action=view&current=01small.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/01small.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
I absolutely love this car and the community that comes along with it.
Here is the rub, I have a 7 year old daughter and her sister is due in a few weeks. With just the 7 year old I have no problems with backseat access, but with the new one comes a big bulky car seat which seems like will be a pain to get in and out of the back. Also my wife hates the ride now with all the suspension work I have done(boobs);)

So whats the point of all this you ask.?. Well I have been looking at the MZ3's since they first came out, and with the creation of the MS3 I have always thought it would be the car to get when the family got bigger.
I got to do a fairly through test drive today. Up and down the highway a few times, a few curvy back roads, some mildly rough roads and a good hard on the brakes test. I even got to take it to the gas station! lol It performed about like I expected, which was good. The clutch and shifter where super light causing a few 2nd gear lunges, but that will just take some getting used to I guess. The main problem I have, and I know it may be trivial to some, is the fact that there is no sunroof option. I have read all the sunroof posts here, and have heard all the different supposed reasons for there not being one from extra support beams, higher COG, added weight or disrupting airflow to the spoiler but have yet to see a definitive answer. Besides the support beams, because I'm aware that they are there, does anyone have hard data as to why it is not an option?
Here is why I ask. I have found an 08.5 with low miles that has has a sunroof installed by the dealership although it is an aftermarket part.
<a href="http://s248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/?action=view&current=image003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/image003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/?action=view&current=image005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/image005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/?action=view&current=image004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg176/JasonCoker/image004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Thoughts? Negative or positive I'm all ears.

The other thing is they want almost 22K and are 3 hours away from me. It's a GT without NAV, but that seems a bit high doesn't it? I've read few few posts about people finding used GTs for around 17K-18K. Do they really exist?
I would think with the 2010 being redesigned they would want to deal on these but neither this one nor the one I drove today want to move on the price any. 22K and 25K respectively. Any thoughts?

I have more questions, but I'll start with these so as to not bore everyone even more. Thanks for any help or insight.

Jason
Click to expand...
that looks like a clean install

I'd buy it if i still lived at Ft huachuca

Paid 15,200 for an 07 with 36 a few months ago that was still a skosh high
 
Why not just put the car seat in the back and leave it there? Is this your only family's only vehicle?
 
You'll find the MS3 can get a bit cozy with 2 kids and supplies, but it's definitely possible to do. I know one girl who had the sun roof installed by the dealer and it's been great. If you plan to track the car at all, I'd skip this option though.

You can get an 09 GT for 23-24K, and older near-new MS3 GT's for 21-22K. The used ones pop up once in a while, but they tend to sell quick. Good luck.
 
Last edited:
Jason C said:
...does anyone have hard data as to why it is not an option?
Click to expand...

It was simply a marketing decision on the part of Mazda.
Leaving out the sunroof makes the MS3 more price competitive, and simplifies the production and inventory.
 
Last edited:
matsuda said:
It was simply a marketing decision on the part of Mazda.
Leaving out the sunroof makes the MS3 more price competitive, and simplifies the production and inventory.
Click to expand...

Usually dealers will say it helps with the structural integrity of the car if the moon/sun roof is not there.
 
Thanks for the response so far, and thanks for the compliments. You're not making my decision any easier.lol
I finally got around to testing the car seat arrangement in the MINI today. Yikes! With the carrier and seat in the rear facing position behind the the driver seat, I don't fit. Forward facing is a little better, but still cramped. Switching sides and having my 7yr old behind me would be about the same as the forward facing car seat when you factor in her baby kangaroo legs.(angel)
Now when I drove the MS3 I had the seat adjusted the way I would want it and then got in the back seat. Plenty of room for me to sit comfortably so I assume the car seat would fit better as well. I guess I need to take the seat to the dealership and test it out though for sure.

Mike240SX: Yes I would just leave the base in most of the time and only take the carrier in and out. But even that today seemed like a slightly dicey proposition.
No this is not our only car. The wife has a CRV and wants something a little larger because she has to haul around all the neighborhood kids to soccer, etc. Only problem there is she won't switch cars because she hates the MINI's ride. I could soften the suspension back up a bit and get taller tires, but that still would not help her on the days she has all the kids. I drop them off in the morning, she picks them up in the afternoon.

///M Compact: Trust me I don't want to get rid of it, but it might come down to practicality. Besides I can always get another MINI in a few years when everyone is bigger. That's funny, big people fit better in a MINI than small people. Have you had a MINI before? If so can you give me a comparison between the two and why you feel so strongly about it?

Design: If the MS3 is cozy, then I'm really scared about the MINI. When I crawled around in the MS3 yesterday it felt pretty roomy compared to what I'm used to, and the hatch area has huge.
Do you know what brand of roof your friend had put in?

matsuda: Thanks. I had heard that as well. I do believe there is some validity to the roof structure argument. But then again my MINI's roof is two giant pieces of glass, or two big holes however you want to look at it, and it handles like a go-cart stock.(yes)

Thanks again for the help, and keep the comments coming.

Jason
 
matsuda said:
It was simply a marketing decision on the part of Mazda.
Leaving out the sunroof makes the MS3 more price competitive, and simplifies the production and inventory.
Click to expand...

Not quite.

The MS3 does indeed have more structural beams in the roof, for added torsional rigidity. It wasn't a decision made strictly for marketing reasons...
 
Jason C said:
///M Compact: Trust me I don't want to get rid of it, but it might come down to practicality. Besides I can always get another MINI in a few years when everyone is bigger. That's funny, big people fit better in a MINI than small people. Have you had a MINI before? If so can you give me a comparison between the two and why you feel so strongly about it?
Click to expand...

When I started looking for a new daily driver/track rat I was originally planning to get a 2-3 year old 330i ZHP or M3 ZCP. I got impatient and started looking at Minis. I decided a JCW would be an excellent choice. Lots of my friends in BMW CCA were running them and, as you mentioned, there's a great owners community out there. Just one problem: My 5'11" 8th grade son doesn't fit in the back. Which ruled out the MINI. I became even more impatient(stupid, I know) and bought the MS3. The MS3 is a tremendous bargain and a great FWD performance car, but I no longer get much pleasure from driving it on the road or the track- and I'm not the type of guy who flips cars every couple of years(I've had my 1995 Club Sport since new and I've owned the Jeep since 2002). The first person with $14,000 cash can have my MS3 in a heartbeat. It's a nice car but it turned out to be a bad choice for me.
 
Last edited:
Jason C said:
Design: If the MS3 is cozy, then I'm really scared about the MINI. When I crawled around in the MS3 yesterday it felt pretty roomy compared to what I'm used to, and the hatch area has huge.
Do you know what brand of roof your friend had put in?
Click to expand...

Being it was dealer installed, I'd assumed it was a Mazda OEM sunroof.
 
Jason- I also switched from an MCS to an MS3. For me, it was a heartbreaker of a decision, based mostly on my huge mistake in not getting an extended warranty for the MCS when I bought it. (It was my 2nd MCS)

6 months later, the only thing I truly miss about the MCS is the go-kart handling. The MS3 is a heavier car, the wheelbase is a little longer, and there is noticeable body roll in hard corners. That being said, it still handles better than most FWD cars out there. But like 99% of them, comparing stock to stock, it falls short of the MINI standard.

The best thing is that I don't really feel an incredible need for power upgrades on the MS3. On the MINI, I upgraded the suspension and the powertrain, probably spending $4-6k or so in total. The MS3 just needs suspension upgrades.

Beyond that, while the MS3 is still a small, nimble car, it is incredibly roomy when compared to a MINI. I know a lot of MINI drivers who traded "up" to a Clubman as a family solution, but the MS3 is a whole lot more car for a lot less money.

But I am not a sunroof guy, so that made no difference for me.
 
My boy is just now 17 months old. Got the speed about 2 months before he was born. I was driving a CX7 and the wifes Mariner lease was up so she took the CX and I got the speed. When we were installing the rear facing seats the speed had/has more room than the CX7, no joke. With the rear facing baby seat/base in I had to move the front seat further forward in the CX7 than in the speed, passenger side. I am 6'1", 275 lbs and I couldnt put it driver side in either car. Wouldnt want to as I couldnt see him but tried to see. I simply could not get in the car/cars at all. Maybe you can work a deal and get a speed and a Mazda5 at the same time. The 5 has been one of the best purchases we have made, we both LOVE that car!
 
Thanks again everyone.

numbnuts22715: I'm in Dallas. Unfortunately if I make the switch I'm pretty set on a white one. Why are you wanting to sell?

BillTheCat: I was hoping you would chime in. I have seen your sig in a few other threads and thought you would have a good perspective on the situation. I too have spent a lot of time and money modding the MINI, and I agree I would not feel as compelled to do all the speed mods to the MS3. Now suspension, and some styling work definitely. Also I have never been a fan of the R56 or R55 so those have never been an option. I don't care for the direction MINI is going with their design. The new SUV looks horrible!

mazdaspeedster3: Thanks for the input. I would also put the car seat on the passenger side and the booster seat on the driver side. The wife is only 4"11' so she would have no problem with the seat moved up to make room. I brought up the idea of the 5 to her when I came home from the dealer, but she was not very receptive. Then again she is 8 months pregnant so I'll cut her some slack. lol Maybe I'll take her to look at them next weekend.

Hank3: Thanks.
 
The reason for the roof is simple, the engine puts out a lot of torque and with the sunroof it looses a lot of body rigidity. The reason your mini can do it is the length of the car and the type of cage they have designed for it. I would avoid the sunroof MS3, if it was me. It may be ok now, but if you use the MS3 the way it was intended to be used, over time the roof will twist and it will cause the seals to go in the sunroof causing leaks.

As for price, the dealer has to work with what they purchased the car for. The need to make money as well! It's a hot car and they don't stay on lots for long. As I say to my customers, make me a resonable offer and it is yours. The price is the price with little room to move. Make an offer on what you think it's worth. If they like it they will sell it to you, if they don't, they may have a few people lined up to buy it and have better offers. It's not in their interests to keep it on the lot, but they won't sell it at a negative.
 
Please log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
2017 Mazda CX-5 Accessories Pictures: Splash guards, Roof Racks, etc.
2
Replies
22
Views
10K
Xeler8ing
X
A
what do you think about these wheels? thinking about getting these
Replies
7
Views
2K
CocoMs3
C
T
New firmware
Replies
17
Views
18K
Tonysmommy444
T

Latest posts

Back