Do you think people will cross shop the Fiesta with the Mini Cooper (non-S)?

[tjl]

Both the Fiesta and Mini Cooper (non-S) are small cars of similar power and weight, both on the sportier side of the market.

Will people be cross shopping the two, or do things like greatly different price ranges make that unlikely?

[CarefreeAZ]

I did earlier in the year but like the Fiesta much better. I've always liked the MC but favor the first US edition over the current one in terms of styling. The higher prices (due in large part to dealer optioning practices) are somewhat dampened by the low financing rates currently offered. But the turn-off for me was the interior, quirky but somehow cheap feeling. Still, if you like two doors and go-kart handling, even the non-S versions are neat.

[Corvair]

I didn't.

The Mini's price isn't mini. Also I've heard too many quality issues with the Mini, while Ford's quality has been increasing to the number 1 spot for non luxury brands.

My Ford dealer is about ten minutes away for service, the Mini dealer is about an hour on a good traffic day.

Fiesta time is Monday

[Paradocks]

Originally Posted by Corvair

I didn't.

The Mini's price isn't mini. Also I've heard too many quality issues with the Mini, while Ford's quality has been increasing to the number 1 spot for non luxury brands.

My Ford dealer is about ten minutes away for service, the Mini dealer is about an hour on a good traffic day.

Fiesta time is Monday

I cross-shopped at first. My Dad bought an S model when the new versions first came out several years ago. He loves it and, while I have never driven it myself, it does have superb handling and quick reflexes.

I used the Mini configurator on their website to build a non-S model with all the options I would want, but it ended up costing over $25K. I think the final nail in the coffin was having only ONE Mini dealer in the immediate area. That kinda scared me.

[Audrey]

My aunt and uncle have had a Mini Cooper for a while now. They love it, it's cute, but for the things I want it is out of my budget.

[mrbirdman330]

Mini might be a B Seg Car but its class isn't that of the Fiesta. The Mini is more or less for sport more than commuter. The Fiesta is mainly aimed as Commuter with a bit of class. Mini isn't in that category.

[LMTech]

I was at a family reunion this past weekend and one of my cousins had gotten a new Mini because here car got totaled and the Fiesta wasn't out yet. She was aware of the Fiesta and wanted to consider it for purchase but none of the dealers in her area had one so she went with the Mini. I would have like to have shown her my new car but all I had were the pictures in the fold out mailers that I have gotten. Her older sister had also gotten a new car and went with a VW wagon.

[Zinky]

I really liked the car (2003) the three years that I had it but the long term ownership prospects sort of scared me. Everything is covered for the first three years/36k miles. Even the $75 oil changes after the three years weren't bad considering they were every 10-15,000 miles and were synthetic. But during the three years I owned it, I had several things replaced under warranty; mainly trim coming loose. When I sold it, I got very close to what I paid for it, but I don't think that would happen now.

I looked at it again, but the $6,000 more it would cost for similar equipment just dropped it out of consideration. I'd have dropped another $2,500 for a loaded Fiesta before choosing a Mini again. The new Focus would probably get the nod over the Mini if they were similarly priced because it would be better equipped and be so much more spacious especially in the back seats.

[eRic]

the MINI Cooper is retro cool and fun to drive but more pricey than the Ford Fiesta. I can see some folks cross shopping them however there's one MINI dealer compared to 12 Ford dealers within 15 miles of Detroit.

[golf strom]

Possibly, if the Fiesta would have arrived on the scene back when the Mini debuted back in 2003 the prices MIGHT have been in the same league...I think a base mini cooper in 2003 cost about 16k or so. Which for the money and enjoyment was a pretty good value.