Mini-14 = incredibly reliable but extra mags can be $$ for good ones
AR-15 = more accurate than your avarage Mini but has that evil look and is not as easy to shoot from a bench

Buy a used mini and have an action job , trigger job and heavy barrel installed and get the best of both worlds.
I had a Colt Hbar that would shoot sub moa all day long butI enjoy shooting my Mini's more, especially the one in 222 as not everyone has one of them