<p>The Mini Cooper S is the sport version of the engine, not the convertible.</p>
<p>The Mini has some of the best crash test results out there, has 6 air bags, and has an available navigation system (which Honda does not). I consider a nav system to be a safety feature—my D has found the ability to not follow the directions someone else gave her VERY useful on occasion.</p>
<p>Can’t one get the Mini convertible as an S (supercharged) version?</p>
<p>You will really like it…</p>
<p>My kids don’t, as their heads tend to get whacked back against the headrest when I shift.</p>
<p>UCgradmary,</p>
<p>My neighbor’s D has a Honda 2007 CR-V. She absolutely loves it and it has excellent crash ratings. I think it also comes with a navigation system. It looks like a mini SUV, but she said it drives like a car. I think it’s good looking. Check it out!</p>
<p><a href=“http://automobiles.honda.com/shop/?modelName=cr-v&ef_id=1097:3:s_0225b1dd6550102a5c4ab0ed72c368f3_500956800_honda%20cr%20v:BulSVEGvMUMAAH4vztoAAAAK:20070719231823[/url]”>http://automobiles.honda.com/shop/?modelName=cr-v&ef_id=1097:3:s_0225b1dd6550102a5c4ab0ed72c368f3_500956800_honda%20cr%20v:BulSVEGvMUMAAH4vztoAAAAK:20070719231823</a></p>
<p>(It looks smaller in real life!)</p>
<p>CGM, My mom bought a Boxster new in '04. The Boxster has always been reliable. It is great for scooting around the Bay Area, top down, on all those sunny days. She has no regrets on settling for the Porsche!</p>
<p>I think he should get the Boxster if that’s what he likes. He’s looking at used so the price hit won’t even be bad. A previous poster had sound advice about the engines on earlier models - a colleague of mine got hit by it (and ended up giving up his Boxster for a 4-Runner).</p>
<p>He’ll want to stay away from ‘chick cars’. He’ll know what these are but you likely won’t. There’s no sense trying to talk him into one. I’d list some but don’t want to offend anyone however, here’s a link -
<a href=“http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/Guy-Chick-Cars/chick.html[/url]”>http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/Guy-Chick-Cars/chick.html</a></p>
<p>Something a little more practical (sort of has a back seat) but the fun quotient can be optioned is a convertible Mustang. The Boxster’ll probably get better mileage though.</p>
<p>We just did a mini-vacation and I spotted a little convertible Audi. Don’t know what model it was but it was really cute.</p>
<p>Probably the Audi TT. We’ve got a 2001 Quatro (like I need 4 wheel drive in my convertible?-but what the heck). Way fun. The brand new ones are a bit bigger. We seem to have a thing for certain German cars at our house.</p>
<p>LOL - my husband loves his Boxster. It’s a 1998, red, in great shape with very few miles. He says if something ever happened to it, he would get another one just like it. Wonder if he feels the same way about ME?? ;P</p>
<p>
The Audi TT would, I think, rival the Boxter for impracticality in terms of seating more than 2 and toting golf clubs, etc. I think it’s more likely that mom60 saw the Audi Cabriolet, which my DH has.
<a href=“http://www.europeancarweb.com/lookback/0206ec_audi_cabriolet/photo_01.html[/url]”>http://www.europeancarweb.com/lookback/0206ec_audi_cabriolet/photo_01.html</a> I must say, cgm, that it was a relief to me when he got that over some of the less-sane options he was considering ;). It does seat four (although not “big” folks in the back and not for long rides, I don’t think). Handles two sets of golf clubs and a couple of overnight bags, at least. </p>
<p>It’s cute and fairly practical and <em>might</em> fill the sports car fantasy needs of your DH. Worked for my guy.</p>
<p>But…
people don’t buy sports cars to be practical - which is perfectly fine. I say skip the practicality, don’t worry about the back seat unless it’s really needed, don’t worry about mileage since most 2 seater sports cars get pretty decent mileage anyway, and golf clubs will fit just fine on the passenger seat with the top down.</p>
<p>How about certified pre-owned and go with the car about which he is fantasizing, but take it at a discount?</p>
<p>Ah, but you see, if you take the driver out of the bag first, one set of golf clubs will fit in the trunk of an Audi TT. It’s not easy, and it’s not exactly pretty, but they do fit.</p>
<p>Folks, some guys actually take their wives golfing :eek:. Or if that freaks you out, a golfing buddy. Ergo, need for passenger seat <em>plus</em> golf club storage.</p>
<p>exactly ucdad. Btw if I give you my husband’s phone number will you straighten him out about practicality?? I want him to shake off that need to be practical for once! Everyone should have a moment or two of frivolity before they kick.</p>
<p>I have been following this thread with amusement. DH traded in his SUV about six months ago… for a Porsche (Carrera, which has a minuscule back seat that’s been used exactly once for visiting children). DS drives DH’s old two-seater Z3; DD drives a Mini… and I have the “dog car”–an Audi A6 station wagon–which the others borrow when they need a practical “big” car. (It’s pretty fun to drive and I’ve averaged 22 MPG since I bought it.)</p>
<p>Golf clubs? Isn’t the latest idea the mini-set of clubs, with just the three or four most essential clubs?</p>
<p>Well, I get the impression we Mini owners are not gaining ground with the OP. But in the interest of being fully informed, I will quote here from the “Unauthorized Owner’s Manual” I got with my car. (Actually, it came in the mail a bit later. They make an effort to maintain the fun in Mini ownership, with occasional surprises in the mail.)</p>
<p>In the chapter headed “Best Places to Stash Stuff in Your Mini”:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Back in the early-mid '70’s my very reserved New England Yankee-type father, who disliked gifts, celebrations or excess of any kind, shocked us by buying a rusty little fixer-upper porsche (who knows what model). It was silver with red leather seats. My mother (who really wasn’t the naggy type) hated it because it was small, sporty, and had no heater. She disapproved enough that he gave it up within a few months, and ended up replacing it with a VW beetle. To him, anything was probably exciting compared to our buick wagon.
He died back in '82, and Mom still says one of her biggest regrets is not letting him keep that little car. </p>
<p>Sort of a downer of a story. No point, really, but it WAS about a porsche…</p>
<p>A Honda instead of a Porsche ?</p>
<p>The man worked all his life to put his child thru school. Now he’s done and he’s entitled to splurge once for himself. By the way, he is being very reasonable. I am sure he shopped carefully and came up with 1999 Porsche not a 2007 one. And you try to talk him into a Honda and a Ford TBird retread they couldnt give away ? Have you seen how far Ford TBird have fallen in last 3 decades. They were good 'ole boy heaps. Recent retread try to bring back old memory (they weren’t that good even in the orig version) doesn’t work either. “Go ahead, Dear, and make a bid on that Porsche if you really want it” is what I would say.</p>
<p>Mazda miata is a tight car!!!
and of course the mini cooper.</p>
<p>^^ See my post above about chick cars.</p>