I drove my buddies '06 Cooper S Sidewalk Edition Vert yesterday and i'm hooked! By far the most fun car i've ever driven.

I've decided I HAVE to have one.

I want a 6spd coupe but need your opinions on options.

First off, Supercharged or turbocharged and why? The sound of the supercharger on his was definitely noticeable and addicting, but turbos dont "rob power to make power" and run more efficiently.

Secondly, why do some models have the radio in the speedo and others under?

 

the super charger feal and sound and something to rave about too.

mcs says ,"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOT".

sorry i never drove a turbo, i cant compare. but with theory, SC should make a bit more torque at lower speeds, giving it a jump start. replace the uneffectent roots style with a screw style sprintex and your as efficient as a turbo.

the S/C is easy to up the boast with a new pulley. not sure how complex a turbo will be to boast up, or if you need to replace the whole unit with a larger one. but might be something to look at.

the s/c mini's are also smaller and lighter cars! and Dark Silver is proven the fastest! but im far from a expert.

 

Why not drive a turbo and a super charged MINI and decide for yourself? When I bought my MINI I didn't care as both seemed like a blast to me. I was hooked from day one of driving a MINI but cost was also a deciding factor on buying an R56. You are bound to get people from both camps giving pointers so my best suggestion is just focus on what is available in your market and decide based upon availability and cost.

As far as the radios in the speedo and under, all I know is that it varied on years, not sure if it was a first gen to second gen change but it was also something I noticed.

 

I plan on driving a turbo model before I decide, just wanted some input.

And thanks for the radio info, Im not a fan of how it looks in the speedo at all, just too busy I think.

 

S/C: People love the whine, almost no lag, can be modded to create more power at the moment, not as friendly on gas
Turbo: People love the spool, very little lag, in the process of trying to extract big power, super friendly on gas

Boost gets you laid, B*****s love boost!

 

I love my supercharger XD

As for the center dash, they vary quite a bit. If you are looking at a used MCS, you are kind of stuck with what is there, but if you buy new, you can customize it however you like.

 

The supercharged ones will all be older than the turbocharged ones. (With the possible exception of some of the convertibles.) In general they will have more miles and more wear. They will also probably be less expensive.

If you're going new, then the supercharger is not an option.

 

Depends on what you like in your car. If you want refinement (more isolation from the elements, quieter, smoother & higher safety standards) go for gen 2 Cooper. If you want more if a raw driving experience (less isolation, more noise, even more of that go-kart feeling) then get a gen 1 Cooper.

 

The turbo R56 actually makes more torque in the bottom end than the S/C R53. The turbo is tiny so it spools very early in the rpms. As a result, the R56 runs out of steam up top, however. It's really best to drive both to see which one you prefer both in driving dynamics and power delivery.


Technically, the R56 is lighter than the R53, though the difference is small enough that the options, wheels, etc, could make either one the lighter or heavier one.

 

I recently consulted owners manuals from a 2004 S and a 2010 S and noted that the vehicle weight increased only by 1lb for the 2010. Of course, just like Blainstang mentioned, weight varies based on how you equip the car.

 

FWIW, my weight comparison was from when the R56s were new, so it probably refers to an '06 R53 vs. an '07 R56. Weights probably change slightly through the production run depending on what is standard, what the base wheels are, etc.

Point being, the weight difference between any two MCS cars is minimal if the options are similar.

 

Ok guys I went and test drove a 09 MCS hardtop auto today and ways hugely disappointed. The turbo wouldnt spool until 4-4.5k, and the transmission took forever to shift, even in sport mode.

It may have just been the particular car I drove, I really enjoyed the paddle shifters and the sport button though. The steering when the car is in sport mode is unreal, ive never driven a car with such precise steering.

 

oOOOH Fenimore is purty!

 

Might I suggest giving a manual a try regardless of which specific year or version (S vs non-S) that you are looking at? I'm not a fan of the automatic transmission (not that they are bad) entirely because of the fun factor! If you don't know how to drive a stick you should learn! Maybe your experience would be different with a manual, maybe not.

As far as the turbo lag, I certainly don't feel much of it at all on my 07 MCS nor the other (newer) MCS's I've test driven. When I'm having a spirited drive sure I'm higher up in the RPMs as its more powerful but starting out is still a joy too and it certainly made me want the S over the non-S.

Oh, and yes...the steering on the sport mode should be always on, its a blast! I find myself constantly turning it on.

 

This is not normal. Something must have been wrong with it. Turbo is supposed to kick in at around 1750rpm and the trans should shift rather quickly.

 

Thank you!

 

Also with sport mode it should be changing the shift points making it more sporty as well on the automatic!

 

This!

I absolutely LOVE my 06 JCW cabriolet. But be aware that with the top up, vision to the rear and sides is horrible, though I'm sure that the 2nd gen really isn't a whole lot better. I've gotten used to having my mirrors "just so" and moving my head around more to make sure I'm getting the full view of what's in my proximity. Besides, even if it's freezing out, I've got the top down. The only time it's up is if it's raining. I simply wear my heavy North Face expedition weight jacket, turn the seats up on high, pull my stocking cap on, and wear some good (and not too thick) gloves from REI. People think I'm nutz, but I just smile.

(Love that supercharger whine!)

 

An automatic??! The whole idea of a sports car is to become immersed in the driving experience. Try a good 6 speed. Mini automatics are slush buckets. The only decent "automatics" are found on higher end cars like 370Z, Porsches, etc. And even then, they take some of the fun out of driving.

My advice: Find yourself an 06, 07, or 08 JCW cabriolet with low miles. They're out there if you're patient. I found my 06 two years ago with only 12,000 miles on it. It was showroom new looking.

 

seems everything i said was wrong., least i was right about the dark silver being the fastest!

 

Yeah, you really did get dumped on now that I look back. LOL By the way, dark silver is the SECOND fastest color after Spice Orange!

 

Turbo. More efficient. More efficient making power, more efficient in fuel economy.

 

Don't forget about the classiest color... (see signature)

 

i have a 02 R53, and have never driven a turbo. I can say that I have never had as much fun in a car, as I have with this super-charged ride! I can say that the super-charger has surprised all the people that called her girly! I wish the s/c was still an option. I guess though, I would take just about anything I could get if I didn't have my MINI, but I will always want the s/c!

 

There's just something that's so nice about the supercharger whine. A lovely noise!

Turbos sound like some big air bag deflating.