I'm very enthusiastic about buying a Mini. I've been doing internet searches at the popular auto sites, but haven't found "the one," yet. I'm looking forward to the driving experience but would I be missing out on a lot if I opted for the regular Cooper rather than the Cooper S? I know that the Cooper S is considerably quicker (btw, is it turbo or super-charged?) However, I've also heard that it's ride is much less forgiving than the regular Cooper. Looks like I can save a couple, three thousand by settling for the Cooper, but will I be disappointed. They both require premium fuel, so that's not a consideration....

 

Hi Ganton,
I was on the way to the Cooper but decided on the S at the last minute. Totally delighted. The Cooper was plenty sporty but I find myself attending MINI events and, at least in New Mexico, I've used the power to keep up. The ride is just fine since I've gotten the run flats off.
The MINI really isn't a compromise vehicle.
On the other hand, the Cooper is sweet and much more lovely than the S. Still, if you are enthusiastic . . .

 

It is your decision what you get.... and whatever you decide you will have to live with the decision. But I recommend the S. My S is a blast to drive especially after modding.

I recommend you go to MINIUsa.com and build one on the configurator and read up on the specs.

 

S=Supercharged. Drive both. Only you will know what you will be happy with. I drove a couple Cooprs before buying, and was happy with them, then I drove the S. If you like driving the S may be better. If you using it to comute, mabey the Mini would be fine. See what you want to do with the car, and just drive both. I love to drive, and in hindsight, I would pay a lot more now for the S.
Good Luck

 

I test drove both before I bought, I suggest that you do the same.
I wound up buying the standard model (with a 5 speed) and I love it.
Performance is good,( not as good as an "S" of course) and I can even chirp the tires in 2nd gear if I desire.

My main reason for not Going with an "S" was the difference in gas milage.
I'm getting 30 MPG around town, and that's with no highway driving !
That meant a lot to me. From what I've read on the boards, the gas milage with an "S" can go way down when you're "getting down" on it. You should search "Mini Cooper S gas milage" on several of these boards to get a good idea of what to expect.

After driving both cars, you need to decide what brings a bigger smile to your
face..... passing other drivers, or passing the gas pump more often. Both models are great choices. Go with what your heart tells you.

Good Luck,
Xtro

 

of course.....there is always the JCW.....I own one of those.......a lot more "juice".......depends on what you want to do with it......along with the lsd....it is a very different car...add lightweight wheels/sticky 18's or just very sticky 17's....and you have a little gorilla on your hands......big grins!!!!....good luck with whatever you choose

 

Ignore this thread. Drive both and make your own decision.

Threads like this have been done many, many times. The MCS owners will be convinced that the Cooper is inferior... many without having ever driven a Cooper. If you don't need straight line speed, you'll be thrilled with the Cooper and the extra money you'll have in your bank account.

 

Get an S, they are a BLAST. I drove my cousin's MC and it was fun, but once I got my S it's soooo much nicer. The response is better, more fun to drive, and the SC is fun. One thing though, if you get the S, you WILL upgrade it..so keep that into consideration.

Cooper - Gas Milage/Cummuter
Cooper S - Driving Machine!

Oh, and I get ~20mpg right now.
-Cody

 

I have a pretty fast Mini "S" with lots of mods but I have a profound respect for the Cooper..... there is something very cool about that car...... kind of like the book "My Volkswagon is a Sex Symbol" these people don't need the "S" to know they are cool.....

I like this advice....drive them both....if you don't see the need for the "S" go for the Cooper..... either way "your cool"

 

Personally... I would go for the S... If you drive the S "normally" you're mpg will be similar to the MC. When you want to play or have to accel with the AC on, then the car will get-up and go! You can have the best of both worlds depending on how you drive it... You have to pay for premium anyway.. might as well get the most out of it..

 

Personally, I am going for the Cooper. I just found the ride much more comfortable and it was more in line with my driving style. Mileage is a fairly important factor to me, and since the S is about $4000 more (with the same upgrades I'm getting on the Cooper), it just wasn't worth it to me. I test drove both, and the S seemed a lot more 'choppy' but I heard that is because of the sport suspension plus and the run-flats... You really have to make up your mind, and what suits you.

If you get the Cooper, I'd recommend at least upgrading to sports seats...

As far as gas goes, it's only about $2-$3 per fill up difference between regular and premium.

 

I am lucky enough to get to drive both my MCS and my wife's Cooper. Mine is somewhat modified and my wife's is a stock CVT. I can honestly say that I enjoy driving both cars. For long highway trips and stop and go traffic, the CVT Cooper is much more pleasant and easier to drive. But I love the power and accelleration of my MCS. The Cooper feels more nimble in the turns and is definitely a smoother ride.

But the best bet is to drive both and decide based on that.

 

Definitely test drive both and decide which one best matches your driving needs. Are you looking to get a manual or the automatic? My wife and I test drove the Cooper with the automatic and felt that it didn't have enough get up and go. We took out the MCSa for a test drive and there was a world of difference in the acceleration. She drives only 6-7 miles to work a day on back roads and I take her car once a week on my 76 mile round trip highway commute and she averages around 27 mpg. I have an '06 MCS that I drive three days a week doing the 76 mile NJ highway commute (75 mph) and I average a shade over 29 mpg calculated (the OBC figures 30.5). As far as the ride being harsh, it isn't a Cadillac (thank God ) but I like it. I have no problems with the runflats (but then again, I don't drive like Mario Andretti ). Good luck reaching a decision, I'm sure that you will be happy with whichever one you chose.

 

Why ignore other opinons and experiences? Isn't that what the forum is about?
I didn't see anyone say the cooper was inferior. Seems like you have some sort of complex yourself you need to deal with..

 

I test drove both, and this is what I decided:

In order to be able to enjoy the non-S at all, I would need the S suspension ($500), the sport seats (another $300), and that would still leave me with 15" wheels, and a 5-speed (my last two cars have had 6-speeds, so I'm constantly looking for 6th on 5-speed cars).

I was still concerned about fuel and insurance. After reading the "premium gas" thread in the 1st Gear forum, I learned that both the S and the non-S have the same octane requirements. After a call to my insurance company, I found out the insurance difference between the two was around $20 every 6 months (insignificant).

In the end I decided that the price difference between the S and the standard Mini (equipped as I would want it) was not enough to justify getting the non-S. Also, since I am used to driving around a 400+ hp car, going with the non-S would be too much of a shock to my system.

Drive both, it doesn't hurt. I swear.

 

9 out of 10 people here will tell you to buy an S.....But then if you visit the marketplace forum the MCS is being sold 9.5 to 1....You cant hardly find an MC to buy at all on this forum...

Drive both of course....but my story......I bought an S and I wish I had just stuck with the MC and saved the $3000.....I THOUGHT that I wanted the power but the joy of the MINI is NOT power it is handling! The MC handles the same (if not better...as some argue) and provides the same level of fun to drive. If you want power go buy a GTO or mustang.

The MCS is not any more fun than a MC, just a little faster.

 

You're right

But, with these threads it's usually only a matter of time before people start saying things that are not true. Anyone who says the MCS is more fun than a Cooper isn't trying hard enough when they drive the Cooper.

 

Well a few bad apples shouldn't spoil the bunch... There is a lot of good info on this thread. I am very interested as my wife would like a mini. I would have her go for the non S. My only concern is the CVT with the AC on. It seems to really sap the power when you need to merge or pass. Other than that I found the cooper to feel more nimble and direct.

 

To prove that I'm not completely biased...

The upgrades you get on the MCS are a bargain over the Cooper. Better transmission (although, not a much of a difference now that they both come with Getrags). Better engine internals. More horsepower. Sports Suspension Plus and the sports seats which are options on the Cooper are standard on the MCS. And a much easier platform to get power out of when doing mods.

But...

For people that don't care that much about straight line speed, those upgrades aren't all that useful. If you're not "performance oriented", there are better ways to spend that $3000.

For people that are "performance oriented" but on a budget, it depends on what the budget is. I contend that below some magic number in the $22,000 - $25,000 range (depending upon non-performance options you want), you can turn quicker laps at most tracks in a Cooper than an MCS. Below $21,600 it's no contest. For many people, those budget constraints are ridiculous (too low) for people who are "performance oriented". For some people, that's the reality of their situation.

I'd love to do a $22,000 MINI shootout!

 

we went in to buy a standard MC and walked out with a MCS-C - how's that for blowing the budget?? We even have a second MCS on order, even though a MC would do fine for it's intended use...commuting.

 

I like the look of the Cooper much more than the S. Its more graceful and iconic looking to me. However, every time I drove the S I couldn't wipe the grin off my face for hours afterwards. That made the difference for me.

If I could, I'd buy one of each.

 

To chime in with snid and yucca,

I have owned both. Back in 2002 I purchased an MCS, which I sold after I got my 2006 MC back in November. I modified my MCS with regular tires, an intake, exhaust, 15% pulley, 22mm rear swaybar, and lowering springs (the standard list of mods). My MC currently has wheels/tires, struts and a rear sway bar.

• Was my S quicker than the MC in a straight line? Sure.
• Was it more fun to drive in the twisties? NO.
• Is the MCS faster than the MC when things get curvey? Depends. I'm sure more than a few MCS owners have been surprised at how well some MC's have done at various events and had to really wonder why they weren't quicker with their 55+ extra horsepower. Where the MCS (particularly with the pullley) has an advantage over the MC though is on long straight aways and going up steep hills.

I actually enjoy the MC more than my MCS, because the MC forces you to be smooth and pay attention to the powerband. As a result the MC is more involving, and doesn't let you compensate for mistakes by pouring on the power. The MC also strikes me as being better balanced, which is most likely attributable to its overall lighter weight.

As snid said though, a lot of MCS owners don't give the MC a fair shake. For a long time I was one of those MCS drivers that never drove a MC. It wasn't until after nearly three years of owning an MCS that I had an extended drive of a MCc press car and completely enjoyed the MC gearing.

 

We have an '06 MC and MCS. The MC is the wife's car. However, it has PLENTY of zip for the MINI experience and you wouldn't go wrong if you found the right MC for the right price. If you have the extra cash, then buy the MCS. It is quicker, but you can get a speeding ticket just as easy in the MC as the MCS. In fact, I have a bet with myself that my wife gets a speeding ticket in her MC before I do in my MCS!

Good luck and whatever you buy you'll be happy with.

 

I opted for the MC. It's plenty zippy for my driving style and, with the money I saved over the MCS, I was able to add a sunroof, driving lights, DSC, PDC, sport stripes, etc. and still have a fantastic vehicle for a really decent price. Further, buying the MC helped alleviate a little of my guilt over not purchasing a hypbrid

 

Right now I have an MCSc & get 25MPG which I am happy with. My future plans include adding a hardtop to my collection (once I get the convertible paid off). I am torn between getting an MC or MCS at that time. Future gas prices will probably make that decision for me.

That said, go to miniusa & configure both an MC & an MCS the way you would want them. The MCS really is a bargain when you look at all the extras you get for the bucks. Compare prices. Test drive em both & make your decision. You will be happy either way