Hey guys, I own a 2004 Dodge SRT-4 neon with some mods, and I absolutely love it. Although I have had it for nearly 2 years now and I have "gotten used to it" so it doesn't really get my pulse racing like it used to when I first got it. And lately I've gotten fed up with how uncomfortable it is on long drives. No cruise control, and the viper seats, while extremely well bolstered and supportive, give you sore legs and back after a couple hours. (although I guess it doesn't help that it's lowered 2 inches and is sitting on 18's with 35 series tires)

While this car just kicks your *** in a straight line, through the twisties it just doesn't give you any confidence at all. The steering wheel is huge and a bit clumsy to handle, the brake pedal has a spongy feel, and the gear shift is even notchier than a Mini's. While the car actually does handle fairly well, it's not a whole lot of fun to drive fast through the twisties because the car feels nervous and just doesn't give you any confidence. And lately this straight line speed has just gotten kinda boring to me.

I never really paid much attention to the new Mini until I went over to England this summer. They were everywhere over there. I read about how wonderful the new Mini was and how amazing it was to drive in a few British car magazines, so I became interested. Then a couple days ago I saw a used Mini on a dealer lot here, so I checked it out. I knew the interior was BMW made, so I was expecting better than average, but I was surprised how nice it really was inside. This little car had more options than cars costing 3 times as much. The interior was a little funky, but comfortable, cozy, and visability out the windows is excellent, there seems to be virtually no blind spots. The clutch was light as a feather, and the gearshift felt light and fun to use, although the 2-3 shift probably takes some getting used to, as it feels quite different from my car. And I love the upright driving position, it's alot like my car, except with more comfortable seats. :D And as I sat in it I thought, damn, this car must be SO easy to drive in traffic, parking lots, and urban areas. Hell, just easy to drive period.

The only real problem I had with it was the cargo space. I knew there wouldn't be much room, but when I opened the hatch I laughed out loud. Even with the seats folded down, I had more space in the trunk of my neon with the seats folded UP.

But, I actually still haven't driven the car. I'm going to go to a Mini dealer sometime and drive the S, which if I were to get a mini, that would be the one. But I have a few questions...

How loud is the stock exhaust note on the S? And what does it sound like? How loud does it get with aftermarket exhausts? Is there an audible supercharger whine? (As a huge fan of the SVT Cobra, this one is important to me :D ) And how fast do they run in the 1/4 stock, and with some simple bolt on mods (i.e. intake, exhaust, chip, pulley).

Thanks so much for your help and taking the time to read!!

 

First and foremost, I want you to realize something. The MINI isn't a car designed for straight line speed. It never was, and it never really will be. Sure, there are some who have managed to mod their MINI up to very respectable HP levels (especially for a car so light!), but if straight line performance is your goal, you're looking to the wrong place.

The MINI's claim to fame is ALL about the handling. So if you look at the car with handling as the first priority, you'll appreciate it more.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate straight line performance too. I have a Mustang myself, which satisfies the urges for a torquey V8 RWD (with throaty exhaust!) that I get from time to time... but the MINI is an entirely different animal that has to be appreciated in a different way. One thing's for sure, they're a BLAST to drive - I highly recommend you test drive one as soon as possible... just make sure your test drive includes some windy or curvy roads, so you can see it in the best limelight!

I'll leave the actual performance numbers to the other replies. I just wanted to make sure you understood that the SRT-4 and the MINI had completely different design goals.

 

i can answer a question or two here--the supercharger whine is noticeable, moreso if you go with the alta intake with the wall removed allowing air in from the windshield cowl. there are several exhaust threads here, or you can go to webbmotorsports.com and check out his rating of exhaust systems, sound and hp gains. the exhaust note on the S is fairly tame with the factory exhaust, but from what i have read, you can get pretty loud...

 

I agree with everything edge said except for the "especially for a car so light!" part. For such a little car, it weighs pretty much. somewhere around 2400lbs.

 

Everywhere I've seen puts the car at 2600 lbs.

 

My "especially for a car so light" comment was an observation based upon the weight of the MINI versus most other production cars out there. Any car under 3000 lbs. is light for a PRODUCTION vehicle, at least here in the U.S.! Even the SRT-4, which is also small and "light" by my standards, is several hundred pounds heavier than the MINI.

 

A viable explanation, to be sure. However, I don't think I'm alone in feeling that the Cooper S's power output is fairly anemic compared to its weight.

Oh well, not much you can do (reliably) with only 1.6 liters.

 

The exhaust thread has most of you exhaust answers with downloadable clips of just about every system (including the stock setup). There are also some systems that are louder and rarer, like the Supertrap exhaust, or this custom exhaust.

Yes, the whine is audible, and even more so if you change the pulley (to a smaller one).

Check out the Unofficial MINI 1/4 Mile Time Database. The times range from 12.81 (twincharged) to 15.578 (best all-stock car). 14.201 is probably the best time of "bolt-ons" (no nitrous, not twin-charged).

 

A modded MINI is not as slow as most people think, in comparison to other cars.

I've got a movie I can send you of one of our built cars passing a Porsche 993 turbo and staying in front of him throughout the rest of the race. This was a modded porsche as well, and both drivers were excellent.

Good reliable power Add that to the cornering abilities of the mini and you've got a car that's damn near impossible to beat on a somewhat twisty track.

There are always those cars throwing over 400 at the wheels (reliably, I'm not talking about the twincharge) that will smoke you in the straights, but for the most part... the MINI can hold itself very well if modded properly.


EDIT:: I'd also like to add that the SC whine is very audible after adding a pulley... even without cowl modifications. An intake increases it even moreso. Add a cowl mode (or just remove it completely) and it's even louder.

 

Which is why I sprang for the JCW bits... it better be reliable - at least until the warranty is done! :smile:

Since I came from my Mustang, it was all the more important to me to get the extra power... I do miss that low end V8 torque sometimes, but the JCW was a satisfying way to make up some of the difference in power feel, while giving me the full confidence of "any MINI dealer in the country" warranty. The additional "cache" is nice too, but certainly not the reason I got it.

 

Welcome to NAM, slo neon! Well, fair warning: once you test-drive a MINI, especially on a twisty road, you will HAVE to have one! I take mine on a long cross-country roadtrip every spring and it is fantastic for long drives. Put the backseat down and you have PLENTY of room for stuff.

The MINI is also really fun to mod.....you'll see! Muwahahahahaaaa!


Clover

 

there are 265 WHP Minis out there...and some with 350 WHP that are running 22 K plus miles....NO hitches...making cross coutry trips on a regular basis...

unfortunatley cause those who have pioneered the way did break a few eggs now it's "unreliable"...WRONG!! hehehe...it's called break a few eggs before you learn how to make an omlet...

265 WHP in a mini is MORE than enough to walk a Z06

let alone 350 WHP! heheh WOO HOO!!!!

and as I am sure slo neon can tell you FWD with alot of power is drivable...you just have to know how...

FWD, RWD, AWD...if you don't know how to handle the power it's ALL undrivable...hence the reason there are so many WRECKED AWD veihicles

 

Hi slo neon,

A good friend of mine has the same car as yours. I was really impressed with the power delivery of the car, although it is a NEON. Now, that is the problem. Regardless how fast straight line you have, how powerful your motor is, IT IS A NEON. That is a big turn-off for me. I recon you spent considerable amount of money, because they are not inexpensive. When I was in the market for a car, I had to consider all my options, the Neon was out of the list to start with. I could have bought faster cars (I work for a GM dealership, so I could pay nothing for a 2005 GTO, and it came to the same price as my MCS), including R32, WRX, EVO... But I guess I did the homework smart. As far as quality, reliability, performance is concerned nothing comes close to a Mini Cooper S. It is the best package, and I would consider the JCW option. I got it with bunch of options, so it feels like a 5 series inside(except the space, which I careless, the car is for me anyways). It is a blast to drive everday, it puts a smile on my face everytime I drive it, and it turns heads all the time. I love the attention that I get from people, and that is priceless buddy.

The S exhaust is pretty cool, it is not very loud, but not quiet at all. I have ALTA CAI, now supercharger sound is much louder, which was very noticeable before.

I can tell by your write-up you are on the wright direction, so keep up with us, and if you drive one, the car will sell itself.
Good Luck and let us know if you need anymore assistance.

 

go drive it! i always though they were cool cars and then i saw the inside one day and liked it even more but wasnt thinking about getting one really. I was gunna get an evo,sti or something along those lines. I was going to trade in my nissan se-r spec v which i loved and was in morristown (where i train in MMA and always see the dealership on the way) and drove by the dealer and was like hmmm, y not drive one for fun? When i got in and pulled out of the lot and went 50 feet, and heard the exhaust pop when shifting and the sc whine and incredible control, i was convinced. Got my 05 in feb, dont regret a thing, funnest car i think ive ever had overall, its not just like a daily transport mechanism like some i tested, it has a personality and feel to it. Modded, its quick, its not a 13 sec car (not including twin & nitrous and stuff...) but realistically, I dont need that, twisties are more fun.

 

In all honesty, I'd love to see these super wheel horsepower Minis you mention. Do you have any links or other, well, you know, proof? Because for what it probably cost to give a Mini that much power, you can have a car that was fast to begin with.

Secondly, I'm not interested in seeing any cars that get that rating on the bottle. That doesn't equate to power to me. If you have a Mini making 300whp only while on the bottle, that means if you find yourself dueling a Z06(to use your example) on a long straight(or several lights in a row), that Z06 is going to spank your *** as soon as your bottle runs dry. So therefore, no it can't walk a Z06.

 

First off that was 350 WHP not 300...although it did that first
and NO it was not on the bottle...I do not like the bottle...

but since you brought it up...with the bottle...the mini made 430 WHP that being 500 at the crank... do a search...the dyno sheets have been posted...and the video of 426WHP the video camera left right before we did the last run isnt that typical

the Mini I speak of has been in numerous magazines infact, along it's path the the 430 WHP mark...so belive it or not...it's real and yes most people don't belive it...but remember...the 275 WHP is MORE than enough to walk a ZO6 not the new one...the c5 version...the new one is yet to be found...and no not from a Dig....and YES it's been done...if I had video I'd post it. So therefore ZO6 has been walked I do not speculate on this...and I am sure more than what I know of cause i am not always there.

oh and the twin charge kit is $5850 ruffly..and with a head and cam will make 282 WHP with out changing anything else

you shouldn't be so doubtful of these little cars...that is the mistake the muscle car boys make all the time...LOL...don't be like them...we're all into Minis and some of us (like me) love cars in general...some have just had more time to tweek out more various cars...and therefore figured out a formula that worked.

No mine is not that high WHP...I am saving for more mods but it has smoked it fair share of C4 vets and 5.0 stangs...NA versions ofcourse and only currently has 188 WHP with very little mods

15% pulley, CAI, and UUC woo hoo!

 

I'm "doubtful" because you're attempting to say that a ridiculously modified(I sincerely, sincerely doubt that this "super-Mini" you're talking about is even remotely streetable) car is the equal of a stock Corvette. I love Corvettes a lot more than I love my Mini, so to me that's a sign of respect for the Corvette that you're attempting to make that comparison. Hey, you had to spend over ten thousand dollars to get a Mini Cooper to perform like a Z06. Awesome! Not to mention, I bet that the handling our cars are so famed for, is out the window with it making that much power. Oops!

Secondly, again, I'd like to ask you for links to proof of this "super Mini". Ten bucks says its engine bay doesn't remotely resemble a stock cars, thus rendering the comparison moot, since a modified(hey, let's compare apples to apples after all) Z06 will rape an entire fleet of "super Mini's" and still have time to do nearly 180 mph on the drive home.

As well, you bring up twincharging. Hmmmm, you asked me to use the "search" function. Well, doing so brought up a bunch of threads where the people who HAVE twincharged their cars keep having to have them towed to the shop because something else broke. So sad.

For the price of a twin-charging set-up installed on a new Mini Cooper S, you could have a lightly used Sti. Therefore, that's not a smart use of money in my opinion.

But hey, we're all friends here. So, hey friend, show me some links to this 430whp Mini. I can't wait.

 

Magazine test results on new Z-06.


Car and Driver 0-60 3.6 sec and 1/4 mile in 11.7 at 125 mph. Motor Trend 0-60 3.5 sec and 1/4 mile in 11.5 at 127 mph. Top speed (mfr rating) 198 mph.

My MINI has 115HP, which is plenty for me. I do wish it would get 40mpg on the highway though.

 

surprised no one had mentioned it... on the mini international site there is audio of the cooper s engine from both inside and outside the car.

http://www.mini.com/com/en/mini_cooper_s/index.jsp

click on the 'driving' link and that should get you there. The exhaust pop alone gave me reason to go and take the test drive.

 

The following link is for the Hubie's 12.81 second MCS: Video 426hp (BTW, I do believe this is with some nitrous help)
I really wish I weren't contributing to this thread hijack.

 

I see that NOS was used. Uh-huh. Well that, and a huge load of boost. Yep, sure sounds reliable to me!

 

Another thing I find amusing is that a stock Z06 will run mid to high 12's with a decent driver with less power.

Ummmm, so Tuls, where's this "rape" supposed to be happening exactly?

 

I agree it's probably not reliable, never said it was

 

And that was my point to Tuls. No insult or slight to you intended.

You're going to find people in every "enthusiast" circle who have modified their cars way past the norm. Eight and nine second Vettes, F-bodies, Mustangs, Vipers, and Grand Nationals abound. So to see this guy Tuls on this thread crowing about a super-mini with all that horsepower and then we find out the car ran a time that most of these cars will run with minimal mods(if not stock) was...well, dissappointing at best. Ah well, I still enjoy the Mini for what it is though. But if I want straightline speed, I'll get an actually fast car.:smile:

 

most impressive is that he tripled his stock HP!