OK so the Project Binky thread has got me wanting a classic mini, but a classic mini in good shape costs as much as a new sub compact/city car. What new car is the closest to the classic mini in performance/size ratio?
Some numbers on the classic mini first.
Max power factory was 95hp/85hp for a turbo 1275cc in the Mini MPA turbo
It weighed 1300 lbs
So hp per lb is 13.7
Contenders that I have found:
- Mazda 2: 2350 lbs and 100hp/100ftlbs = 23.5
- Fiat 500 turbo: 2450 lbs and 135hp = 18.1(though 200hp is an ecu away = 12.25)but that puts it in FiST range
- Mitsubishi Mirage: 2050lbs and 75hp = 27.3
DrBoost
UltimaDork
9/30/14 3:56 p.m.
There's more to a classic mini than the numbers though. I owned one and put a LOT of miles on it. The feeling that, at any speed you could pull a 90* turn without skipping a beat is hard to fine in todays cars due to weight. And the honest, connected feeling is hard to find too. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I'd actually lean to a first gen New Mini.
not "new" as they're nearing 30 years old, but a fx-16 may be the answer.
Ford needs to aluminum the fiesta, then the 1.0L ecoboost fiesta would become the answer.
Fiat 500 Abarth---- fun, tiny and flingable. They also sound killer.
In reply to Joe Gearin:
the issue is they are more expensive than the fiesta st in my area and around here they have FiSTs for $19K
A 2.0 litre, 16v motor in a 1st generation Rabbit/GTI.
FiST is better than the Fiat Abarth IMO. But in terms of overall aesthetic and smallness the Abarth is probably closest to the original/classic Mini.
Like someone else said, a Corolla FX16.
There are FWD cars that are better though, like Integra Type R. If you want the ultimate fun FWD get one of those.
Going to disagree here. With sway bars and sticky tires the Scion IQ is so much fun. Tires at the corner's not to much power and actually fits real people in the front seat.
At least they made classic mini's till 2000, that means I can import one in a few years once I have room for one. the only one I could consider to be a dd is a vtec swapped one and those are $20k but 200hp in a sub 1500lb car 
Have had my Mazda 2 for 1 year and 20000 miles. No disappointments. More a reincarnation of the 83 Gti than perhaps the Mini, but small, light and fun applies. Love tossing it into corners, the back end tracking well. Auto-crossed it bone stock and finished 20 of 42 overall. Cheaper than Abarth, without the awesome sounding exhaust.
This is analogous to trying to get the feel of a Willys MB flat fender from a new Wrangler.
With all the modern advancements cough-obesity-cough in cars nowadays they'll never have that bare-bones functionality feel to them.
But I certainly can get what you're asking.
Probably an Alfa 4c with the seats and roof raised a foot.
I would have to say the Mazda 2 is about as close as you'll get. There are others that are small with low power, but the Mini was a nimble car. I wouldn't call the Mirage nimble, or the iQ
T.J.
PowerDork
10/1/14 8:08 a.m.
If you can put up with the poor crash safety, just get a Mini. There are lots out there and not all of them cost as much as a new car.
Go and drive a Fiesta ST. 2600lb's with 180hp all day long. Overboost of 197 hp for up to 20 seconds at a time gives 13.2lb's/hp. Feels and drives lighter than the 2,600lb's says it would. A riot to drive.
