Good morning! I feel like I need to make up for yesterday’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad Nissans, so today, we’re taking a look at a pair of cosmetically-challenged but incredibly fun stickshifts from eastern Washington. But first, I guess we’d better see which SUV you disliked less:
CVT bad! Ugly V8… not good, but less bad! Noted.
Now then: There is a certain breed of small car that isn’t meant for everyone. They’re usually based on economy cars, and they do still tend to get decent mileage, but they sacrifice some economy and comfort to the horsepower and handling gods. These special examples tend to get driven hard, because they’re purchased by the sort of folks who like to drive small cars hard. They come in various degrees of seriousness, from a tame poseur like a Hyundai Accent GT all the way up to a fire-breathing Peugeot 205 T16 Group B homologation special. In the middle, you have cars like the two we’re going to look at today, cars you can drive every day, but every pothole in the road will remind you you’re not in a Tercel, and the stiff clutch can get tiresome in traffic. Still, if you can snag one for cheap, it’s a great way to get some driving jollies on a budget. Let’s see if either of these two does anything for you.
2006 Mini Cooper S – $2,900
Engine/drivetrain: Supercharged 1.6 liter dual overhead cam inline 4, six-speed manual, FWD
Location: West Richland, WA
Odometer reading: 140,000 miles
Runs/drives? Great, according to the ad
Who doesn’t love a good Mini? Sir Alec’s original took Paddy Hopkirk to a Monte Carlo win, and helped Michael Caine bring home the gold in a different way. BMW’s re-imagining of the little car made a lot of money for Mark Wahlberg, and for thousands of mechanics all around the world. Fragile, but brilliant to drive, the Mini has been a small-car icon for decades.
The S model of the new Mini (as it’s still thought of, even after twenty years) is powered by a supercharged 1.6 liter four, sending 168 horsepower to the front wheels throuh a Getrag six-speed manual. This gearbox is more durable than the Rover-sourced five-speed in lesser Minis. I’ve never driven a non-S Mini, but the six-speed is a delight to flick through the gears. The seller says this one runs and drives great.
This Mini’s low price, therefore, is due to cosmetic and minor legal issues. This car’s patchwork exterior is made up of bits from other Minis, stitched together like some frenetic little British/German version of Frankenstein’s monster. This work is presumably the result of some collision, enough to total the little car. The seller has done the repair work (such as it is), but hasn’t had the car inspected by the state in order to receive a rebuilt title. Really, I think they’re supposed to do that before selling it, but out in the sticks the rules get a little fuzzy. Use it as a bargaining point.
Early new Minis are going to end up as collector’s items, I predict. The mechanical and build quality issues have been documented now, and while the stigma of unreliability is likely to stick (it’s still there for earlier British cars, that’s for sure), the fun-to-drive reputation is here to stay as well. If you want one cheap, snag one now, and be willing to compromise on looks.
1996 Dodge Neon ACR – $4,500
Engine/drivetrain: 2.0 liter dual-overhead-cam inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Richland, WA
Odometer reading: 150,000 miles
Runs/drives? Oh yeah
First up, before anyone says anything about this car’s provenance: I cannot verify whether this is an actual Neon ACR or not. I can only go by what the seller says. The VIN isn’t listed in the ad, so I can’t check it. And this car has been modified quite a bit, so it’s hard to tell what’s original and what’s not. And since the ACR package mainly consisted of taking things out of the car, it’s hard to say what was there when it left the Belvidere assembly plant and what wasn’t. For what it’s worth, I’m inclined to believe it’s genuine; there’s no profit to be made from claiming an economy car was an obscure racing variant when it wasn’t.
I can say that it has the 150 horsepower twin-cam engine that made the Neon such a darling among enthusiasts. With this engine and a stick, any Neon is an eager little puppy of a car, quick and sharp, and rather shocking from a company that was peddling Omni 024s a decade and a half earlier. This Neon comes with a laundry list of modifications, including suspension and drivetrain upgrades… and a roll bar.
It also has that wonderful 1990s “Funfetti” upholstery, and the less-wonderful 1990s peeling paint. But at least it has always been a West Coast car, according to the seller, so worries about rust are likely unfounded.
Personally, I’d prefer it if this car were still stock, or at least stock ride height, but I do still love the first-generation Neon. Seeing this one makes me miss my red ’99 coupe that was rear-ended by a careless WRX driver a few years ago. It was a lot of fun to drive too, even with the single-cam engine and – don’t judge – an automatic.
I know a lot of you chose “none of the above” yesterday, and I know both of these cars have their detractors as well, but if you’ve never driven either of these, don’t judge. They’re both a hoot. Yeah, they’re rough around the edges, and won’t impress anyone who isn’t a like-minded car nerd, but fling one down a twisty road on a nice day, and I guarantee you’ll come back with a smile on your face. Which one will it be?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
Neon fAkeCR all day long. Sure, try to get the price knocked down. It’s less likely to break, cheaper to fix, goes like stink and … Well, it will stink. It’s from the 90s.
I usually call that neon interior the “Dorito” interior, since the later model seats look like actual confetti.
https://www.virtualparking.net/imgdir/11038-1200.jpg
My vote is neon all day. Fun, N/A car that will still get good gas mileage, run on 87 octane, and has a small but good support system surrounding it. Anyone voting for the mini just wants “Not a mopar”.
another none of the above! come on lol
I cannot in good conscience suggest either of these piles. the fast and furious on a budget Neon is so not worth that price. no matter what is claimed to have been done to the NA 2.0. if I wanted a fwd trackish car from that era for that price a TSI Talon would be it. https://www.showmethead.com/flushing-ny/cars/4500-1994-eagle-talon-tsi-fwd_18507389.html?utm_source=thribee&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=premium_cars
Run the other way from FrankenMini, where they’re afraid to take the final exam for a rebuilt title. Perhaps stolen parts?
Besides, that Neon look like fun!
I’ve never been very impressed by Krysler Kwality, but I trust it way more than the Mini – especially given the current lack of title. Besides, I’ve always wanted to do an SRT swap into a two-door Neon. (Yeah, I know the DOHC was snappy enough, but the SRT engine would really wake that thing up.)
Let’s see: a ‘new’ Mini, which cars have a infamous reputation for various quality and design
problems, that was in a wreck sufficient to total it, put back together from half a dozen donor cars by an amateur, and with said reconstruction/resurrection stopped just shy of the goal line of a state inspection. The final nail in the prison cell door though is “minor” legal issues.
Without going into details, the one time I was involved with a minor and legal issues, well… it weren’t good and there’s a reason I use a pseudonym.
My daily driver has a trailer hitch and roof rack, like the Neon, but is sadly a roll bar, extinguisher, spoiler and gaudy lug nuts. This is truly a does everything car . . . . . which I don’t want. Nor do I want the Mini.
No title = parts car.
This isn’t even a contest. If you voted Mini, you’re just wrong. But the price is $1k too high because it’s a fake. A good fake, but a fake.
The Neon ACR is a legend for a reason. This one has the impossible to find bolt-in stiffener. Dump the garbage BC Coilovers for Konis or Bilsteins, throw the spacers in the trash where they belong, rip off the decals, and find out for yourself why the SCCA permanently banned them to their own spec class.
These are “Miata, but actually fast.” (Come at me, Miata owners. This Neon should weigh about 2600lbs while putting down 50 more horsepower.)
This is not a legit ACR by any stretch, but it’s close enough. Crank windows, ‘lighter’ front bumper (fog light bumper without lights,) and the tune brings it close enough. You’ll still need the alignment parts, but those aren’t hard to get. That plus some light engine massaging makes an ACR.
But it absolutely is not an ACR, period. I don’t need the VIN for that. It has the required by law 5269944 sticker, which is a reman 5269943 with emissions campaign. Legit DOHC ACRs have 5269609. At $3500 though, this one’s a no-brainer.
Having recently bought a 3rd gen neu-MINI, I have to agree with Mark that they are one of the funnest cars to toss around the roads. The salvage title on this one would be perfect for my “never-gonna-happen-but-I-can-always-daydream” Renault R5-esque, mid-engine, MINI conversion. How amaze-balls would that be!!!
I detailed a Mini and got a chance to drive it to and from my friends house. Since he’s a car guy too, I didn’t feel bad for giving it the beans a few times. Hearing a supercharger whine in that little car–fantastic. Even though it has almost 180k on it and there were a bunch of warning lights on and it leaked oil. But a blast to drive, and I think I’d take it over the neon. Plus it’s a hatch so it would be more practical as a daily.
The price on the Mini dropped to $1900. That throws in to the ‘why not’ range.
My ex had a Mini in base model form, it was an absolute blast to zip around New Orleans in. I kinda miss her and really miss that car. Though my Crown Victoria was the road trip vehicle of choice.
Tough call as they are both bad options. If the mini can get a title, MAACO can make it one color again.
Neon all the way. Just the history of the celebrity races make it worth it.
The Mini is the better car IMO, but the lack of the title is a dealbreaker. And it’s not the nicest platform for a dedicated race car (having knowing nothing about what makes a nice dedicated race car).
The Neon is no Toyota, yet it is still miles ahead of the BMW Mini Cooper, one of the worst cars ever made.
I’d go with the Mini, but the lack of a clear (even if it is rebuilt) title scares me a bit. Don’t wanna deal with that.
Neon for me
Febreze Bros?
I owned an ACR in the ’90s (in Nitro-Yellow Green!). A few things make me think this car is a correct ACR-the lack of door guard trim, a fog light front without fog lights (you were supposed to attach brake cooling hoses there), plus the DOHC and a manual. It was great fun at the time, but by 120K miles, it was soon going to need suspension work and the clearcoat was starting to come up, so I let it go.
It’s not. It’s a good clone, but it absolutely 100% is not a legit ACR.
PCM replacement (emissions compliance) sticker gives up the game. It’s a DOHC Sport.
My buddy has a mini, and it broke almost immediately after he got it and it’s still out of commission. I think he paid 4500 for it, and it was nicer than the one shown. Based off that and the legal issues and the fact that I like neons, neon all the way
I’m going with the Mini, which is stupid. I feel like Phillip J. Fry-
“Shut up and take my money!”
You gave us a really tough choice here today. Normally, it’d be the Neon hands down, but the mods are questionable. However, the title and repair issues on the Mini are also exceedingly questionable. I think, on balance, and knowing that substantial wrenching is going to be required either way, I’m going with the Neon. It’s easier to put the Neon back to stock than to deal with the bureaucratic hell of titling a salvage car that hasn’t been inspected PLUS having to work on the Mini’s suspension and fuel injectors, since they’re probably in imminent danger of failing. Those little guys EAT upper shock bushings.
I’ve had 2 Neons in the past, these things are so easy and cheap to work on. I picked neon all day.
a Neon ACR and a VehiCross in the same driveway? This guy knows how to live.
To be fair, there’s also an Outlander Sport in the garage.
Yea but it’s next to an Eclipse (convertible?) so I’ll forgive it.
There is something else in there too. An Eclipse maybe?