We're thinking about becoming a two-MINI family and trading off the VW for a base MC. I drive the MCS and love the power and cornering, though I wish for a little stronger brakes. I will test drive the MC first to see if the power drop is discouraging enough that I wouldn't want the car. The advantage of the 2-MINI family is no one gets stuck with the "family car" and we both can swap easily between the vehicles.

Frankly, after getting used to my MCS I absolutely hate driving other cars, especially the Passat SW, everything seems like a truck after the compact MINI. For those who drive both do you start to resent the lack of power in the MC, or is the fun level just about the same or in other words just different, but still FUN?

 

Good question...there are several folks here who have had both or drive both regularly. If you want usernames (for PMs) I can give you a few if they don't see this post.

 

I've owned both (originally a '02 MCS and now '06 MC), and don't find the MC loses all that much to the MCS in most daily driving conditions. The only area the MCS does a little better is acceleration for making a pass, but other than that, the MC is just as good, and even then the MC isn't anywhere approaching dangerously slow, just that the MCS was more effortless.

That said, around town, I prefer the MC, especially with the getrag 5-speed in the '05/'06 models. There is no first gear bog in the MC that the MCS can exhibit off the line. The fact that it's just as fun and gets better gas mileage isn't a bad thing either.

Also, I think if you tried, you be plesantly surprised with how good the MC really is when it comes to performance driving. I'm sure snid will pop in here too at some point, but my experience has been that the MC will definitely hold its own against the MCS (including the JCW MCS) in autocross.

 

I agree. I've been driving a CVT (avoid the CVT!) base 2005 mini for work and love it enough that we ordered a 2006 MCS (due this week). When test driving the MC and the MCS (both with manual-avoid the CVT like the plague), I liked them both very much. The manual MC runs well, with the MCS having better top-end punch. After test driving, I was long debating MC or MCS, but figured around the Washington DC beltway areas, a little more punch might be best. My only "complaint" with the MCS was noticing some low-end hesitation at take-off, but with adequate rpms, this is minor.

 

I really like my MC, have gotten used to blip-ing the gas off the line, revving harder before shifting, downshifting more frequently. I would consider getting another MC next time, too. And I went from a car that weighed about the same and had 238 HP to the Cooper!

 

I honestly didn't notice that big of a difference. The hood scoope is nice, and gives a a sportier look, but I just love driving an NA car. I used to drive a WRX, and I don't feel that I have any less passing speed in the MC than in the WRX.

Now a turbo on an MC....yum.

 

Many have tried.
Many have failed.
Many have just given up.

If you want turbo, than buy an 07, or get an MCS, and switch the SC out for a TC.

 

I have driven both and I would rather spend the price difference on luxury options like leather. Plus most dealers have a mark up on the MCS and not on the MC.

The trick is to learn how to drive the MC to take advantage of the gearing and power. If you shift at optimal times and you learn how to heal toe downshift you can get more than enough out of the MC to have a blast.

Also the MCS requires extra cooling and I would bet more expensive tuning over time.

Oh yeah, can't beat the fuel economy of the MC.

 

I've priced it and considered it. I think for about $7,000 you could do it right and have something to be very proud of. Anything less would leave you broken down on the side of the road.

Yes, of course I could have bought an MCS. I really considered it, but the MC is the car for me.

 

But what does the difference in power and application actually FEEL like? I notice the power really comes on in my MCS in 3rd or 4th gear when I am revving up past 4K rpms to the redline. I assume that's the supercharger kicking in under load. What's the MC feel like in those conditions comparitively, from those who have regularly driven both?

 

The MC starts to feel fast, at least in my opinion, at about 3500 rpms in 3rd and 4th gear. Nowhere near what the MCS does, but you can still feel a nice boost of speed. Or maybe I'm imagining that.

 

Youre right, I love it. Its very quick, and a quick/beautiful/stylish/economic car is the way to go.

 

I've driven the MC a few times and feel its pretty pokey. There is no subsitute for power if that is what you are after. You could ask another question: How many MCS owners would trade down?! Not me, its too addictive having the extra grunt all the time.

 

There is a purity to the MC that the MCS lacks... but I still prefer the acceleration of the MCS.
I would only consider the MC is you got the manual tranny. The auto with the MC is marginal. The MC with AC on and auto should be illegal.

 

I know a few people who have, as you say, "traded down." The simplicity and purity of the MC has a very strong draw. Also, I've driven the MCS many times and enjoy it to no end. I just don't see that big of a difference in the low end.
People often assume that purchasing an MC over an MCS is simply a financial choice. Not true. When you finance a car that couple extra thousand isn't really that big of a deal. For me, the MC just had more appeal.


Thats a given. I wouldn't buy an automatic....EVER.

 

Well to be honest I think the MCS sounds and goes better. That supercharger whine is really cool, and the more you push, the louder it is, awesome! That said, I prefer the MC's handling, without that extra 200lbs up front where you don't need it, there is something about the way it turns in and goes round corners that just ticks. If you regularly need to pass people on 2 lane highways at above 75mph, I would get a MCS, otherwise, I see very little difference between a MCS and a MC.

Oh yeah, the gas mileage rocks too, even when I'm driving like a maniac!

 

I've owned both, and both are great cars. The MC is loads of fun to drive and many prefer its styling. I traded my 2002 MC in for Wicked Wanda, my 2003 MCS. I prefer the six gears and just love the SC! It's fantastic to have both MINIs in the same household...what fun!

 

The Cooper has a nice power boost that comes on at around 3500 RPM. Sure, it's not like the MCS, but it's certainly not dangerously slow.

If you're willing to work the gears and run the RPMs up over 4000 RPM, you'll be smiling in a Cooper. If the thought of cruising down a road at 60mph, and downshifting from 5th to 3rd for a pass frightens you, don't get a Cooper.

I haven't had the chance to drive an MCS on a closed, high speed track yet, so I don't know where the accelleration tapers off on an MCS. In a Cooper, it pulls pretty good up to 60, 60-90 starts getting sluggish, and over 90 (still in fourth gear) is just painfull (in track terms when you're running around with M3s).

But how often does someone really need to accelerate from 90mph? I have yet to get my Cooper into 5th gear on the track. :D 4th is good for at least 110mph, which is the fastest I've gotten my Cooper up to - on a closed race track, not a public road.

Ignoring all this race track stuff, if you are content to stay with the flow of traffic and maybe downshift a little here and there, the Cooper is fine. If you need to be the fastest person around, you won't.

 

Could not agree more. I put the JCW sound kit on, some extra guages, sunroof, winter package, fog lights and still had money left over that would have otherwise been spent on a noisy supercharger. ...,, And the performance is frankly comparable having driven both an MC and a MCS.

I like the styling of the MC better, I like the smoothness of the engines performance better, I like the price better, and I like the fact that there are far fewer of them on the road than the MCS.

But the one thing that should push anyone over the edge to an MC who is vacillating is the gas mileage. With the MC getting 40%+ better gas mileage it becomes a no brainer. This will become especially obvious once gas prices resume their ascent immediately after the election. At $5 a gallon, that lovely sound the supercharger makes will be synonomous with the sound of money being sucked out of your wallet.

 

I have also driven both and agree there is a purity to the MC, even though the sound of the supercharger on the MCS is intoxicating. I almost purchased an 02' MC that had an exhaust, chip and AEM intake but had high miles. I was hoping they would just get stuck with the car and I could through out some ridiculous number at them and see if they went for it. Well the car has been sold and now, I'm going to wait and look for an 05'-06' MC in a couple of years when all the hoopla is done with the next gen. Long story short, MC for me, who doesn't like to row the gears, 5th to 3rd "lets see if this bastard can do ninety" (to quote Marty Mcfly)

 

Me and a lot of MC CVT owners would say "no way". I have an '04 MC with the CVT auto, and have driven an '06 MCS with both the six speed, and with the new auto trans. My '04 in sports mode wipes the floor with the '06 MCS auto. Totally out-performs it. The six speed standard MCS is sweet. But for my needs (bad knee and hip from riding a flying brick (dead-stick Huey UH-1) nose-first into a rice paddy at speed way back when). It had to be an auto, and the CVT kicks butt. Lots of reviews out there on how well the CVT MC performs, both on and off the track.

 

I've lived with my 5-speed MC for over a year now. I did go test drive a 6-speed MCS earlier this year, and compared to my minimally optioned MC, the heavily optioned MCS really wasn't much faster at all. If you do get an MC, make sure it is has a manual trans and isn't burdened down with a lot of extra weight from a lot of options, and keep the wheels lightweight (holeys are nice), and you'll rarely miss the power of the MCS.

-Keith

 

Although I've only owned a MC, I'll give my opinion anyway. After test driving an S, I appreciated its extra power but it wasn't overwhelmingly faster. I hope to upgrade to a JCW in a couple of years but for now I'm perfectly satisfied with my Cooper. I don't think you'll be disappointed at all with having both an MC and MCS around, in fact I think you'll really enjoy it. Just don't run the A/C in the Cooper unless you absolutely need it because it kills all of the fun.

 

I own a Cooper. It's totally rad! But I wouldn't mind the extra power of an S. If your into modding, there are more options for the S, and of course that means there is more to BS about on the forums

 

Please try to keep an open mind, because if your only measure is a sense of it's power you will miss a lot of the nuances that make Cooper ownership so great. People often describe the Cooper as quick or nimble and the MCS as fast. Interesting huh? I would agree with the folks that mentioned a "purer" motoring experience....but you have to really want that and get into that (some of us actually prefer that) to enjoy the whole Cooper thing. In the end, the Cooper is a perfectly servicable for fun, engaging MINI motoring...everthing you could need in a well-balanced package. But then the MCS adds more power on top of that. Many can't resist the "more power" thing...and I really can't blame them.

But then, consider the source here....I spent many years with small, light British sports cars that may have been down on power but handled superbly. You had to "manage" the whole thing...and could!! That's what I love!!!