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Hello! I’m new to this site, but not new to Mini. I previously had a R53 2006 MCS that I bought new and adored the whole time I owned it.
I’m now strongly considering a new 4-door Cooper non-S F55.
Wondering if you folks could help educate me on the differences between the S and non-S. Is the engine and body the only change? Are there any other differences related to brakes or suspension between the two cars?
I can’t seem to find anywhere online that compares the two, other than engine and HP.
Those are the main differences. Also, I feel the non s has a lighter steering feel and has more lively handling. If it wasn't for the lack of power when the engine is over 4000 rpm, I would've gotten one myself instead of a JCW. My daughter has the F55 Cooper, so I've driven it a lot.
I've driven both and they are both a good choice. The S has more power, but the Cooper has some handling advantages due to less weight on the front end. I don't think you'll go wrong with either.
I'm currently considering getting an F55 either regular Cooper or Cooper S. I find it interesting that people say the non-S handles better, because I've always found the steering and turn in to be softer than in the S...but then again, the 2 Coopers I drove were on 16" wheels and the S were both on 17" wheels...so I wonder if that's the difference I was feeling.
Does anyone know if the suspension is tuned differently between the two models?
I'm currently considering getting an F55 either regular Cooper or Cooper S. I find it interesting that people say the non-S handles better, because I've always found the steering and turn in to be softer than in the S...but then again, the 2 Coopers I drove were on 16" wheels and the S were both on 17" wheels...so I wonder if that's the difference I was feeling.
Does anyone know if the suspension is tuned differently between the two models?
Same questions here. Very interested especially in the tire size Q. These low profile stock 17" tires are great for looks, esp with black alloys, but certain experiences with them make me think a rollback to 16" is in my future. I want to *feel* the road, not bang around on it.
My earlier comments about handling are based on driving a Cooper with 17" wheels, although I suspect the 16" versions work just as well. I have a 2017 JCW and driven back to back, the base Cooper handles very well as is. The primary reason is that the Cooper has much better weight balance due to the lighter engine ... it turns much more quickly and feels more agile (a number of road testers have made the same comparison). To make a Cooper S as responsive as a Cooper generally requires some modifications, most notably a larger rear sway bar.
As I said before, they are both great cars and you should drive them back to back, preferably with the options you want. Either way, you will not go wrong.
My earlier comments about handling are based on driving a Cooper with 17" wheels, although I suspect the 16" versions work just as well. I have a 2017 JCW and driven back to back, the base Cooper handles very well as is. The primary reason is that the Cooper has much better weight balance due to the lighter engine ... it turns much more quickly and feels more agile (a number of road testers have made the same comparison). To make a Cooper S as responsive as a Cooper generally requires some modifications, most notably a larger rear sway bar.
As I said before, they are both great cars and you should drive them back to back, preferably with the options you want. Either way, you will not go wrong.
@rtowell major thanks for the feedback. I actually shared it with a friend who is less of a motorhead than me but navigating the Cooper vs Cooper S thing with my help.
Also, as a Cooper S owner, for my own purposes I heard:
blahblahblahstuffoknot16wheelsfirstsomeotherstuffa ndsomestuff
LARGER REAR SWAY BAR
andsomestuffandsomethingsandetcandsome
and then I went YAY and AHA I SHALL PRIORITIZE A LARGER REAR SWAY BAR
Seriously though, that was a big help for what I'm going to eyeball next as well. I hadn't figured out that that aspect of the back-end-of-the-car handling was what has been bugging me -- but that's what has been bugging me. Thank you!
When I was ordering my 2019 F57 in early 2018, I drove the Cooper, Cooper S, and JCW. Sure, the Cooper S and JCW had more power, but the Cooper felt naturally more sprightly. It's notably lighter, and virtually all of that weight savings is over the front axle. In an options-for-options comparison, I'd take the Cooper again in a heartbeat. Bonuses are a more interesting exhaust note from the 3-cylinder and more subdued exterior styling (both of which I recognize are subjective). The cars are otherwise almost identical in and out, and most of the aftermarket parts are interchangeable between the Cooper and Cooper S (some JCW parts, too). Throw on an aftermarket exhaust, high-quality aftermarket intake, and an ECU tune, and the Cooper really kicks butt 😉
↑ I agree 100%. After test driving the 4 cylinder and the 3 cylinder, I wound up buying the latter. The exterior lines of the four cylinder front and rear bumpers look too fussy in my opinion when compared to the simple lines of the three cylinder. I also prefer the basic headlights and smaller wheel size. The two tone British Racing Green / white top also looks fabulous. But what really did it for me was how it drove. The three banger is snappy off the line and has a very nice balanced feel about it. I am really surprised more people didn't opt for the three cylinder as it is more than enough for daily driving and a big savings in price.
Last edited by michaelo; Dec 18, 2021 at 02:19 PM.
↑ I agree 100%. After test driving the 4 cylinder and the 3 cylinder, I wound up buying the latter. The exterior lines of the four cylinder front and rear bumpers look too fussy in my opinion when compared to the simple lines of the three cylinder. I also prefer the basic headlights and smaller wheel size. The two tone British Racing Green / white top also looks fabulous. But what really did it for me was how it drove. The three banger is snappy off the line and has a very nice balanced feel about it. I am really surprised more people didn't opt for the three cylinder as it is more than enough for daily driving and a big savings in price.
Very clean looking car -- and in British racing green, one of the classic Mini colors.
I drove a 3-cylinder Mini that I rented from Turbo to assess whether I could live with the car and whether it had enough power, and it certainly did have sufficient power, but the car had 40k miles and was very beat up (wouldn't be surprised if it had been crashed). I noticed a very pronounced shake at idle, almost as if it had a bad engine mount. Was this just my example, or do other Coopers have the same feel? I'd test drive a new one at the dealer to confirm, but of course, there's zero inventory as they are sold before they even arrive at the dealer.
I did find the S to handle more sharply, but again, different tire and wheel sizes...
↑ I agree 100%. After test driving the 4 cylinder and the 3 cylinder, I wound up buying the latter. The exterior lines of the four cylinder front and rear bumpers look too fussy in my opinion when compared to the simple lines of the three cylinder. I also prefer the basic headlights and smaller wheel size. The two tone British Racing Green / white top also looks fabulous. But what really did it for me was how it drove. The three banger is snappy off the line and has a very nice balanced feel about it. I am really surprised more people didn't opt for the three cylinder as it is more than enough for daily driving and a big savings in price.
My car’s fully loaded and I run 17” Track Spoke wheels during the summer, but otherwise I agree with everything you’ve said!
Very clean looking car -- and in British racing green, one of the classic Mini colors.
I drove a 3-cylinder Mini that I rented from Turbo to assess whether I could live with the car and whether it had enough power, and it certainly did have sufficient power, but the car had 40k miles and was very beat up (wouldn't be surprised if it had been crashed). I noticed a very pronounced shake at idle, almost as if it had a bad engine mount. Was this just my example, or do other Coopers have the same feel? I'd test drive a new one at the dealer to confirm, but of course, there's zero inventory as they are sold before they even arrive at the dealer.
I did find the S to handle more sharply, but again, different tire and wheel sizes...
Definitely a bit of vibration at idle with the 3-cylinder, but it should be basically unnoticeable. I have a polyurethane dogbone mount and it’s slightly more pronounced, but my husband hasn’t noticed yet 😉 so it can’t be too bad.
Of the 4 Minis I owned, the one I regretted selling was my 2015 Cooper. Loaded up with a manual and 3cyl., it was the perfectly balanced setup. Looked better too. I sold it to get an amazing deal on a JCW, but the novelty of driving that on the street wore off quickly. I went to a fully loaded S after that which was a great car, but there was something about that 3cyl that I missed. Not fast, but loaded with charm.
