Just been wondering so thought I'd pose it here , what currently availible new car is really the modern version of the original mini . Not in appearance , name or anything else like that (and not taking anything awa from the new Mini or Bini) but in the spirit of cheap motoring with performance and character . Basically what car has a really cheap and cheerful base model (like the Morris 850 or Morris Mini Minor) , a mid level model (Deluxe or K) and a sports model (cooper S) ?

The closest I can think of is the Mazda 3 with the poverty pack version up to the SP23 (I think that's it ???) sports model though I think their poverty pack is still much higher standard and price than an 850 would have been .

Anyone got any other ideas ?

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I like the Suzuki swifts

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

Yeah , but do they have a super cheap base model right up to a high performance version ? I'm talking about a car that can appeal to most types of driver from someone wanting a cheap 2nd car to a weekend warrior .

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Ford Feista XR4 has to be a modern day Cooper S, smallish car as standard, then put a bigger motor, brakes & suspension, has Cooper S written all over it, not bad to look at either.

Doogie

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I won Hay once, here's the pic to prove it..


Hay, it's not about the car, it's not about the venue, it's about the people that come here. Peter Dwyer, Mayor of Hay NSW.

Hyundai Getz

cheap, well put together (for the price), honest basic transport that brought new cars to the reach of lots of people who couldn't afford one otherwise

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'62 Morris 850 (Marion)
'65 Mini Delux - sleeper 1275/S discs (Ms Plum)
'69 Vanden Plas Princess 1300
'71 Wolseley 1300
'74 Austin 1300 Countryman
'94 XJ6 Sport 3.2
'04 Rover 75 CDTi

Yes , the Getz is close to a modern version of the 850 but Hyundai doesn't do a performance model of it .

Fiesta's getting closer though with base model's and performance models .

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My wife has a 05 model Feista, just the LX model, it's a great little car, the 1.6 Zetec motor is quite punchy, stops great, doesn't mind a bit of tail out sliding either.

I think the best feature of the car is the stereo, gets louder as you drive, get quieter when you stop.

Hopefully we will be upgrading to a XR4 soon.

Doogie

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I won Hay once, here's the pic to prove it..


Hay, it's not about the car, it's not about the venue, it's about the people that come here. Peter Dwyer, Mayor of Hay NSW.

wouldnt the mazda 3 mps be the equivalent of the cooper s, not the sp23?
what about the vw polo...still not cheap compared ot the getz though

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finally own one

Quite likely , whatever the performance one is like Kyoda owns .

I'd imagine this would be a different discussion in Europe with the likes of the golf and polo as well .

The Daihatsu Charade was a pretty close approximation while it was running , 3 cyl 1 litre craby engined base model up to the 1.6 litre fuel injected model or the 3 cyl turbo , covered most needs through the range .

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The suzuki swifts do have 3 model ranges. The fully blown "cough cough" sports model actually has a different engine to the other 2. Its larger in capacity but also has a better flowing head, different pistons, oil cooler and fly by wire throttle. Plus better exhaust, suspension and brakes and closer ratio gearbox with a shorter throw stick.

Unlike some other up market sportier versions, the suzuki is more then just badge upgrades.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

OK, this may be a little out there, but to me the Fiat 500 is a reasonable comparison. We ain't got the Abarth version here yet but if you check out comparisons of the BMW Mini and the Fiat the results may surprise. the Abarth for mine will be as close as damn it to the Cooper S .For a generation on generation comparison. Happy to be howled down, but the Fiat is the best take on a retro IMHO so far.

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1964 Cooper UK 970 S 'CZ 4289'

I would go with the VW Golf. Puss pack all the way up to the R32.

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But he's thriving and striving and hugging the turns.

I had a spin up the mountain in a Ford Ka a couple of months ago....and it wasnt quite the big grin mini fun, but it was almost getting there........not a recent/current model as you have asked for Ian, but it was still fun with a bit if that mini feeling to drive

Thirty years ago, was the Datsun 120, twenty years ago would've been a Corolla.
Ten years ago it was the Excel, and I'd say now it's got to be the Swift.

Can you still get a Renault Clio Sport here? They have a good range of prices and the Sport is a bit of a rocket.