That’s what I expected, but I didn’t expect the little LeCar to be quite so polarizing. You all seem to really love them, or really hate them. Me, I could have fun with either of those choices, but the Monterey is more to my current tastes, I think. Today we have some disparity in size as well, as you can see by the two cars’ names. One of them isn’t nearly as small as it used to be, however, and the other never was as big as its name might suggest. You’ll be happy to know that both of today’s entries run and drive, but of course as usual there are some caveats. Let’s take a look.
2003 Mini Cooper S – $2,500
Engine/drivetrain: Supercharged 1.6 liter inline 4, 6 speed manual, FWD Location: Commerce Township, MI Odometer reading: 101,000 miles Runs/drives? Yep I’ve been a fan of the “new” Mini Cooper ever since it appeared in the US in 2002. I test drove one back then and loved it, but couldn’t quite swing the price. Since then I’ve been watching the used market for them, watching the values drop, and now that they’re in cash-purchase range, I’m interested again. But if this is what $2,500 will get you, maybe I should reconsider. Or wait a little longer.
This is the Cooper S model, which by all accounts is the one to get if you’re going to get one. It has a supercharged engine and a Getrag six-speed manual, which is much stronger than the Rover-sourced five-speed of the standard Mini Cooper. There was an automatic available too, but the less said about a Mini with an automatic the better.
So on paper at least, this should be a good deal. It has low miles, and the seller says it runs well. And yet, it looks like every warning light on the dash is lit, it’s somehow missing a taillight, and the whole car has a “ridden hard and put away wet” vibe to it. Not to mention, it’s a Midwest car, so there’s the question of rust; as much as it pains me to realize it, this is now a nearly twenty-year-old car. That’s a lot of winters.
I have also heard that from a maintenance standpoint these cars are not for the faint of heart. But they are an absolute hoot to drive, and that much should still be true even of an old threadbare one like this. Is the fun to be had worth the potential heartbreak? That’s the eternal question with cars like this, isn’t it?
2002 Nissan Maxima GLE – $2,300
Engine/drivetrain: 3.5 liter V6, 4 speed automatic, FWD Location: Bellingham, WA Odometer reading: 152,000 miles Runs/drives? Sure does Nissan’s flagship Maxima is going away next year, another casualty in the automobile market’s War on Sedans. It’s a shame, because there was a time when the Maxima was a well-respected sports sedan, the darling of automotive magazines and drivers alike. Nissan’s sedans in general don’t have the most respectable reuptation these days, but old Maximas like this are really nice cars.
This 2002 model is powered by Nissan’s ubiquitous VQ35DE engine, which has been stuffed under the hoods of everything from the Altima to the Pathfinder, as well as several Infiniti models. It’s a solid engine with a good reputation. In this comfort-oriented GLE model, it’s backed by a four-speed automatic. Sportier versions of the Maxima could be had with five- or six-speed manuals and some other performance goodies that this one doesn’t have. But this one probably wins in the comfort and ride department.
The seller says it has had some recent work done and runs well, and it doesn’t have many miles on it. These are reliable cars in general, so there shouldn’t be any issues there. There is some weirdness with the paint on one rear quarter panel and door; I can’t tell if the clearcoat is bad, or if it’s badly-painted repair work, or what, but it sticks out like a sore thumb on a black car.
The inside looks better, with nice leather seats in good condition. And being the GLE model, this car will have all the bells and whistles on it. At least, all the bells and whistles available twenty years ago, which means standard equipment on base-model cars these days. So that’s our Monday: a fun but fragile hatchback and frumpy version of a sports sedan. Which one will it be? (Image credits: Craigslist sellers) Quiz Maker The Mini is the one I regret selling. Put a huge smile on my face every time I drove it. Just don’t let it be your only car. I won’t miss sedans when they’re gone, but the wagon and hatch-filled future I’ve always dreamed of is going to be a sour CUV reality, so that’s a real monkey’s paw situation. Not unlike the pyrrhic victory of growing up on French House only to see the goddamn Chainsmokers rule the land. Hence, I vote for the trashy Mini. If it runs it will be fun, and it’s such junk that you won’t feel bad experimenting with pick-n-pull parts. Still have a soft spot for old Maximas though. Underrated and pleasant cars, so long as you don’t mind “meh” mileage and keeping an eye on the dipstick. I’m attempting to put an R53 back together after a crash with a full rebuild while adding the common upgrades. I’m banking on it being the best driving experience known to man but good lord is this thing a pain to work on. I sometimes wonder if it’s worth it.
