We are delighted to have two Minis, one an 03 MCS with a 6 speed manual, and one a 2010 MCS paddle shifter. Both are great cars, but I wonder if anyone else has noticed that the 2010 is quite a bit louder car, a throatier roar, while the 2003 makes much more "refined" metallic noises from the engine. Is it just the two particular cars we happen to have, or is it common for the 2010 to make somewhat harsher sounds. Many thanks, Jim Schrager, South Bend, IN.

 

Interesting that you described it as such, but I would agree. I always found the 2002-2006 MCS to be a bit more metallic and loud and I attributed it to the sound of the supercharger (granted this was only with limited use on borrowed friends' MINI's or extended test drives from a very friendly local dealer). The newer MCS' do seem to have a louder exhaust though, but the turbo-charged engine isn't nearly as loud to me.