We now own two Straight Coopers. Which means, there isn't a turbo in our cars. They breathe naturally. We never even considered the turbo, for our driving habits and expectations, we didn't want or need it. But if you are trying to decide between buying a turbo MINI and a straight MINI, let me give you some advice:
Find someone in a club who KNOWS how to drive a Straight Cooper. Who goes on runs and keeps up with their turbo'ed brothers. Who is used to pushing the car into turns, who knows how to get serious about moving the car around. Or go with someone who autocrosses theirs. See what the Straight Coopers can do, before you decide. It takes a little time to get used to driving a Justa, but once you get to know the cars, they are terrific, gutsy, willing, and eager little things.

If you just walk onto the lot, and go out with some MA who doesn't drive one for pleasure, you will of course not see the potential. Hopping into the turbo car, you get instant gratification. Anyone can make a turbo kicky! But the fun is doing the same in a Justa. Give the car a real chance before you dismiss it.

*** Happy Straight Cooper Owner***

 

Cheers, sister Winnie and brother Jasper!

 

Cheers, Cary Cooper! Motor ON!

 

Agreed. It'll never be as fast, but I wonder how many people putter around at 2500RPM and then dismiss it outright.

Don't be afraid to hit 5000RPM and get good at quick, smooth rev-matched downshifts, you'd be surprised how much performance you can squeeze out of the little 1.6L engine.

I had the opportunity to track a '12 Cooper at a MINI HPDE day and it really pulls when you get into it, feels significantly stronger than my '06. The R56 non-S is a great car. I've driven R56 S models too, and I prefer the more linear power delivery of the base for 99% of driving.

The only time I want/need more power is when I want to pass a speeding tractor trailer.

 

Even though I own an S, I agree. While looking for my current Mini, the first 1st gen I test drove was a loaded '06 Justa and I was pleasantly surprised by its pep. Obviously I didn't get it, namely because I didn't like the salesman (pushy and disrespectful), but it did make me seriously consider getting a Justa when I had previously ignored them. So for those looking for a Mini, test both variants before making your choice. A Justa can keep up with an S in the twisties and is generally more reliable and has better fuel economy, and that may make it a better fit for some drivers than an S, especially those who know how to get the most out of a small engine.

 

That's EXACTLY it! Until you get used to the slight acceleration lag and driving at higher rpms, you don't really know what it can do. They love to be pushed! The 2011+ models, in particular, are quite surprisingly peppy. And the maintenance and longevity are better than their hotter counterparts.

All that, and 32 mpg mixed driving. You betcha.

 

Get SERIOUS with trying the Cooper, and see what it can do. Better yet, go out with someone who already has one and uses it.

 

I was going to respond but you said it correctly. I used to have a Cooper and it was too slow for me but I loved it in the corners and on gas mileage. My range was anywhere from 500-600 miles on a tank. Since I bought my MCS, I have not regretted it since "I" wanted to go a little faster plus I love turbo's. A Cooper wouldn't keep up with me in the straights on a normal driving day but corner wise they should be able to keep up with me. Gas mileage range is from 400-450 miles on a tank.

Everyone has their own taste and what they want specifically. But this will be a good thread for those who don't like turbo's

 

MINIs in general are so fun to drive!! While I do love the zippy turbos I have a very big concern about the turbo's reliability.. When people are getting carbon issues with the S models even though it might not be a direct relation with it having a turbo I do find one that has to go in and have there carbon removed because of build up a major issue.. This day and age you shouldn't be going in for a walnut blasting to clean carbon..im sorry but really??? walnut blasting as part of a maintenance is way to bizzzarrr.. The straight MINIs are more then a good idea and are just as fun to drive.. Plus you can still trick your MINI out the way you like.. Also picture this...Your friend asks you what did you do today?? Your answer.. Oh I went in for a walnut blasting at the dealer.. There reply.. A walnut whaaaat ha ha you get my point

 

The best way to get maximum performance from an R50 is to keep the RPMs between 4000 and 6000. The car feels quicker than it is in that range.

 

Amen bro!

 

I have both a straight cooper and turbo R56 and I just can't get myself to enjoy driving the straight cooper. However, that's also because its an auto and I prefer manuals. Maybe if I could've convinced my wife to learn to drive manual I could enjoy it more! Don't get me wrong tho, I like both cars very much but that's why we have a his and hers!

 

Personally, I think the "right" way (for me!) to drive a Straight "Justa" Cooper is around corners. Quite frankly, I don't care that much about acceleration--I figure any idiot can put his foot down (and many around here do just that). I like bending the car into a turn, getting the tires to sing, and feeding throttle in to open up the arc of the curve for the exit. Especially when set up with a nice heel-toe double-clutch downshift!

The "S" isn't any faster in the corners, and many out there are noticeably slower than my Fenimore. (Mostly due to the driver.)

I also like trying to get 500-600 miles out of every tank.

Those are how I enjoy the car. So the "Justa" is the right choice for me.

 

You tell 'em, JoannieB.
Too many people fall for the up-sell. If its got "more", its just gotta be better, no? Well, NO, not really.
I've been driving my "Justa" for just about a year now and really haven't had a situation where I really needed the extra ooompf that the turbo would provide. When the revs reach what I call the "happy zone" the car takes off plenty fast to get me on the highway or past the slow moving truck on the rural 2 lane. And the turbo don't help you get around the corners which is the really fun part for me.
Mine's an automatic, too (I know, double dose of "uncool") and I really don't miss the manual. Works just fine for me.
If you need "more", go for the turbo, but JoanneB is right - try the Justa, you might justa like it.

 

I'm now on my 3rd MINI (a 2012 Countryman). The other two were an '06 R50 Checkmate and a '10 R56. All have been non-S (and the Countryman is an auto). The fact of the matter is, they are all a blast to drive, and unless you are looking for straight line acceleration, the turbo is unnecessary (and comes with all of the reliability issues). I live in South Florida, and with the traffic here, having a turbo would only let me get from one traffic light to the next faster, which is silly anyway. I'd rather keep the fun handling and get the improved reliability and fuel economy.

 

I'd like proof of how a MCS/JCW are slower around a corner vs a Straight Cooper please, not by stating nonsense but by showing a video.

 

Don't have videos.

Most people are more scared of their car than I am--years of autoX and some Big Track gives me a real edge there. (Perhaps that should be re-stated as "have a more healthy respect for the laws of physics.") My car also has the sport suspension option, while many S and JCW do not.

Very few cars of any kind are willing to keep up with me on an on-ramp.

 

Now I agree with the "very few cars" will keep up on ramps unless their just maniacs. But I'd still like to see a video(not by you) hopefully soon with both a Straight Cooper vs MCS vs JCW with all sport suspension and see how each one keeps up with one another.

 

I am happy that you enjoy your Cooper. The only thing is last time I went on a run all the S and JCWs were leading the "fast" pack up the mountain. There was a lone Cooper keeping up but, being extremely unsafe while doing it. Several times I thought he was going to smash into the mountain. That was more driver than car though.

My only advice for Cooper drivers is to ditch the 15" bicycle tires for something wider and with better grip. Though slipping and sliding in the rain is a lot of fun when you know what you are doing.

 

I have an S, but I'm not knocking the Justas. I personally like the extra burst of acceleration that you get from the turbo but everybody has their own tastes and likes.

As far a which one is quicker in the turns, the real test would be with the same experienced driver and both cars equipped with the same suspension and tires. The tightness of the turns would play a part in this...the tighter the turns, the less advantage the S has. My guess is that the S would be quicker in any case, if for no other reason than the quicker acceleration on exit from the turns.

 

The point is that a good driver can get a LOT out of a straight Cooper, it isn't about 'faster', it's about having a blast in the Twisties. That's a lot to do with suspension, not HP.

I agree, tires and wheels and suspension are very important. But those are just as fixable in the straight Coopers as they are in the Ss and JCWs. A CAI and catback helps too. Pretty simple mods, if someone wants to go that route.

Again, this isn't about who is faster. It's about not dismissing the straight Cooper without a fair test. And the straight Cooper is an excellent choice for a commuter who needs good mileage or for someone who mostly drives in town, where the turbo rarely comes on anyway. It's about longevity of the car, less expensive maintenance, and dependability. Everyone has to weigh their priorities, but it's a shame if people don't really find out what the NA engine can do before deciding that they 'can't live without' a turbo. :-)

 

I drive my Straight Cooper like...

1. It's an English sports car, rev it up, use the gears, and boogie!
2. I stole it!
3. It's a go cart!
4. Zoom, screech, zoom, zoom, zoom, screech!
5. Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!



Buy it, mod it, f'ing drive it like there's no tomorrow!

 

I totally agree with Joanie. Don't knock the Justa until you've given it a chance. I traded in a 2007 MCS for a 2011 MC and have never been sorry. Either car can be set up for optimum cornering, but the S will always have a large advantage in power. Since I rarely used the maximum power of the S, the power of the Justa has been more than adequate for my driving. I feel the Justa is more fun to drive under normal conditions because it requires extra care in keeping the engine in its optimal range. This is especially true with the manual transmission that I have in my Justa.

Morris, 2011 MC, PW/B

 

All MINIs are fun but saying the standard is as quick around a course as an MCS or even the JCW is quite frankly just dumb. Like I said they are all great but let's don't make a standard sound on par with their higher performance counter parts. There is a reason they are classed in H stock vs D Stock in autocross and that is because they put down slower time. If they did not then they would be bumped up in class.

And the final discussion does come down to which iisfaster because you put that great driver in a more ppowerful car and it will be faster.

 

D Stock MCS - Wiley driving (59.650)

H Stock Justa - Me driving (60.410)

Wiley had me by about three quarters of a second - both of us running the Hoosier DOT-R A6.

Cheers,

Charlie