What's different between Mini Cooper and Cooper S? Everything about them.

 

About $3k!

In comparing the MC v.s. the MCS, for the extra $3k, the MCS has:

a Getrag 6 speed
a supercharger which gives an extra 50hp
Sport seats are standard
space cloth seats as an option
some colors not available to the MC

 

check out the FAQ if you want detailed info, but as far as i know:

the MCS has the roughly the same suspension as the optional SS+ kit for the MC.

has a supercharger, intercooler, 6spd getrag, different body (slightly), sport seats with better bolsters (comfort is entirely individual, however), standard 16" with runflats (as opposed to 15"), standard spoiler, and some engine parts are different. There is quite a few differences, and again, you'll want to check miniusa.com for that one, or of course, you should always check the FAQ for the more detailed stuff.

 

Now for the differences that are in favor of the MC vs. the MCS. The MC is over 150 pounds lighter, has a significantly lower overall gear ratio in first gear, has a slightly better coefficient of drag and has much lighter wheels and tires. This altogether makes the MC not as much slower than the MCS as it would appear if you only compared HP to HP or torque to torque.

The MCS is CLEARLY and MOST DEFINITELY faster than the MC, but it is not a super radical difference IMHO.

Good luck,

 

If you ask me, when you go from a Cooper to an S, you get $7k or 8k worth of stuff for only $3k - it's quite the bargain. Ironically, if you upgrade an S to a JCW, you only get $2k worth of stuff yet they charge you $6500 (installed).

 

S comes with a special express postal slot in the front.

 

well the supercharger is the biggest part, center exhaust, 50 extra hp, bigger wheels, same suspension i think. 6 speed. and wonder winding sound. later

chris

 

The MC has a cleaner body style then the MCS. The sport seats are optional in the MC while standard in the MCS. The MCS has a spoiler and the MC does not. If you are looking to modify the engine then the MCS would appear to the inside track at this point. However, the MC seems to be the car in the H class in autocrossing. With either model you can't lose.

 

The internals in the MCS engine are stouter to handle the aspiration of the supercharger, such as forged crank versus cast, stronger valves, I think the exhaust valves may be larger too, more engine cooling due to having extra holes for the water to cool and reach other places, lower compression ratio due to the aspiration. What else? hmmmm:smile:

 

well from what ive seen is the abouve mentioned pluse the oil cooling jets in the motor the rings and the valves are basically out of a race engine and the pistons are also forged, my uncles buisness did the prototype engine for the cooper and the s (pentagon) a while back and i remember how he told me that the s engine was truley bulletproof way overbuilt, for the application. also i think no one mentioned the kick plates, and rocker panels the cooper is flat and the s has a cool buldge on theirs gives a more squating lowerd look, and neat front and rear facias but thats a given:smile:

 

It's simple. It's a smile or a wicked grin!

 

Hey that's great news!

 

The engine for the Cooper and the Cooper S is basically a Neon engine with a different oil pan......... built in Brazil by Chrysler...... good engine, good heritage....not unique....

 

Neon in Europe - NOT America. The Neon in the US uses a 2.0L and it's the biggest piece of garbage on the planet. Everything in that engine "blew" before 40k miles in my wife's NEON several yrs back.

 

If the engine in our MINI's is also used in the Neons in Europe, then the market as was discussed for aftermarket engine-specific parts are not only limited to just the mini's, right? The point is, isn't the market larger than we thought?

 

Not really because almost nobody buys a Neon in Europe. Why should they? They have a wide selection of great small cars that don't seem so cheaply constructed, including the MINI.

Another difference between the MC and the MCS is that the MC has more optional chrome for the exterior if you like that sort of thing. (although it's getting drastically cut back for 2005)