Hello All,

I am newly single and bored with my current DD. I am considering a 2009/2010 Cooper S or a 2009/2010 128i with sport package. The car has to be manual . I have about a 20km drive to work, all city, and want something fairly decent on gas, but fun. I will also drive this through Canadian winters, so I will be getting a dedicated winter wheel/tire setup.

As an additional note, this car will sit outside overnight (my other toys get the garage). It can reach -30C at times.

I have driven both cars. The Cooper S is a blast and puts a smile on my face. The 128i feels a bit heavy and could use more power, but feels solid...and I love its I-6 and RWD. My DD is FWD, and I find the torque steer a bit of a pain at times. I will only consider the 128i with sport package (18" wheels, sport seats, etc). The 135i is in my budget, but with added maintenance, poorer gas mileage, and potential HPFP/turbo/wastegate issues on the N54, I am a bit turned away from this option for a DD.

I understand this is a Mini forum, and I'll probably get some bias, but any considerations or comments are greatly appreciated .

 

Between those two vehicles, I would have to choose the 128i. I'm not an R56 hater, but I would never buy one. Too many potential problems. That said, RWD in the snow is not great. Fun, but I'm not sure I would want to daily drive one in the snow. The rest of the year would be a blast though! I'm glad BMW came out with the 1 series. It's basically the 3 series from decades past.

 

Well, the 128 definitely has a performance advantage with its RWD, although stock for stock the MCS and the 128 are similarly capable. The difference is in the way both cars react when pushed to their limits. The 128i will be more composed.

If you disregard track performance in the comparison, the MCS will get better MPG and will be more fun to drive on a daily basis imo. You could also get by in the winter with the MCS without necessarily having to buy snow tires ( I run all seasons here in CT). The 128 will need a good pair of snow tires.

 

I had an 08 128i and currently have a 2012 128i in addition to my Cooper. If you're looking for good fuel economy, the 128i should not be a consideration.

 

For a DD that gets great gas mileage and can still be fun if you really drive it, I would suggest a Plain Cooper. I have 2 Justa's (Cooper and Clubman) and they both have been great. My daily drive is farther than yours ~ 62km (both city and highway)and I get between 37-40 US mpg in my Cooper. The Clubman peaks at about 37.

They have plenty of "get up and go" when you rev it, handle great and are easier to drive in Canadian Winters.

Just my 0.02

 

Thank you all for the feedback! Not an easy choice...