I am putting this here because I wanted some cooper people to respond.

I just finished driving an 03 Cooper S at a local used car dealer. Gald I was behind the cooper S when he started it as a puff of balck smoke came out of the exhaust. When we pulled out of the dealer I was wondering where is all the S power I have heard about. We finally got a sharp corner and I took it like I was on skates I didn't look to see what the sales guy was doing.

However we came to a light so I stopped and then when I took off again I was looking for power I even had the gas pedal floored at one point.


So I am thinking that I need to test drive a cooper 5 spd to see what I like about that little machine. I kust read an articel in MC squared about both cars at a track and how they kept coming back to the cooper!

thanks for everyones responses-soon to be a mini owner

Kelly

 

I drive a MC with the CVT transmission and if I need more "push", I put it into SD mode or shift manually. I did drive a MC with the 5 speed and was impressed with the power. I didn't like the amount of revs however at 70+ on the interstate.

Remember "it is not about fast, it's about first".

 

black smoke would indicate ring damage/wear. I'd have the compression checked by an independent mechanic, and while you're at it, have him put it up on a hoist. It's a small price to pay when you're spending thousands.

 

The MCS's power over the MC is decieving. It does pull harder, by a lot.

I was in the same boat; had to have a mcs, test drove, about put cash down and thought, haven't tried the MC yet. Here I am 114k miles later on an MC. In my case, I felt the MC to be more rewarding to drive through the gears. In day-to-day use, I can keep up with anybody else on the the road. Sure, I may have to downshift, but it sure gives me that grin.

The biggest difference I felt was power delivery (obviously). The MCS pulls hard but doesn't give that kick to let you know it--all of a sudden, your going fast. The MC pulls and hits its power band and sings, a lot more noticable, feels fast but is slower.

It sounds like you've got a pretty big choice on your hands.

 

Love the feel of the Cooper.

Quick, nimble, and simply a joy to drive.

Most any 2 or 300 horsepower tank will clearly take her on the straightaway...

I don't take those roads much.

Enjoy your choice, either way.

Motor on.

 

One thing to keep in mind isn't just that the MCS has more power than the MC, but it also has greater power potential. The list of mods for the MCS is mind-numbing compared to the MC.

The MC also has an inherent problem that limits power potential, I think it's the engine bay mounted battery. It not only puts that weight in front, but also steals a lot of space that could otherwise be used by a Turbo or mods.... this is where the airbox sits in the MCS.

 

The MCS definitely pulls harder, etc. than the Cooper. That said, I prefer (and bought) the MC because when kept light (in my case, 15" holeys, no sunroof) it is an absolute joy to drive, and will chirp the tires in the first to second shift, and absolutely go as quickly as anyone needs to on public roads. If you want to accelerate faster, have more potential to mod the engine, etc., then the MCS is the way to go. If you want a "quick" car, tossable and great for everyday driving, get a Cooper, keep it light and enjoy. (30mpg per tank ain't bad these days either)

 

I have had my MC since April of this year and love it. I came out of a 4x4 truck that had more than enough power and I must say I am impressed and very satisfied with the cooper. The car is a blast to drive...maybe go and take a test drive of some new ones if there is a dealer in your area and see the difference

 

I find the Cooper has plenty of power for my needs and is a joy to drive even without the extra horsepower. However, you should test drive another S before deciding. Sounds like the one you drove has some problems. Can you tell us more about the MC2 article and why they kept coming back to the Cooper?

 

Issue # 3 Summer 2006 MC2 pages70-72 "Track Testing Two New Minis"

The motoring tests people were able to drive a 2006 cooper & 2006 S at speed on the Laguna Seca Racetrack. The Cooper had the premium and sport packages along with the Checkmate option.

"Both on the street for a week of varied driving, and on the track as well, we were very impressed with the Mini Cooper." The author suggest it is good for the long commute to work and the occasional track days.

"During the track day, we went back to the Cooper every chance we got, because it was just so much fun to drive."

I really need to find a Cooper to drive, most of the used ads are for the "S".

Patience....

 

Spend some time with both of them, you'll learn which one is right for you. If you really enjoy that straight line pull, go MCS. Remember though, that MCS torque is going to cost some money, and I decided that I could take that dough and put it in wheels, tires, and track time. There is something satisfying about taking a 1600cc 115hp economy car and running with everyone else. Sure, they blow by me on the straights, but how much talent does that take? If you enjoy driving and like to try to extract the most from a car, try a MC. I've never had any trouble getting on a freeway, and on a back road you'll be quicker than 95% of the cars out there.

But then, my favorite cartoon was always Underdog.

 

When I bought my 2006 Cooper Cabrio, getting a cabrio was high priority so I drove the Cooper first. It put such a big smile on my face that I decided not to drive a Cooper S. I wasn't already satisfied and didn't want to be tempted. And that choice saved me about $4K.

A few months later a buddy bought an S and asked me if I wanted to drive it. I resisted at first but then gave it a try. From a dead stop and in the straights there was no comparison. The handling was pretty much the same but because he had runflats the ride was much more rough.

A few weeks ago I added the MTH standard remap and last week I had the JCW Sound Kit installed. My little Cooper is now a rumbling pocket rocket. It's a blast to drive and unless I want to drag race, it has plenty of power on the roads. I have no regrets at all.

And at the Dragon, that extra hp won't matter since you rarely get out of second gear.

 

The runflats really hurt the S's handling imho. I can actually feel that stiff sidewall flop back and forth on the turns and you can imagine what the does to the car's line. Oh wells, one day the runflats will wear out, and from the experience with my Cooper, that day will be in about 18,000 miles.

 

Another present (and future) Cooper here. Have to echo the excellent comments posted above. I love motoring in a Cooper...a well-balanced car with everything I need and nothing I don't. Making purposeful use of the power the car does offer is a big part of the fun. Couple that with spot-on MINI handling and I personally couldn't ask for more although I admit for me going fast alone has limited attraction.

 

I've had two Miatas and a handful of motorcycles. The nearly bone stock MC gives me the thrill I like when I push it in the hills and twisties. Plus it gives me 35 mpg for a commuter car. And it has a back seat. And it makes me smile. When it comes time to replace the tires with some stickier ones, it will only improve.

Love the car. It's not the fastest in straight line acceleration, but I can live with that for the thousands I saved.

Personal preference. For me, the fun and economy is a winning combo.

 

I love my MC. It's more than fast enough for driving on public roads and since I have no desire to ever race it, it just made sense. It's an absolute blast to drive, and I'd definitely buy the same one again.

 

I love the MC! While it can't possibly pull like an S, it is lighter and peppier. Also, without increasing the weight, you can mod it up to 140 hp safely (and expensively). That will give it a significant increase in power and fun. Although I am looking for more power, I would rather tweak the MC and make it more fun than trade it in for an S. The problem that I have is that my entire commute is very long...and very straight. I would much rather have a long twisty commute. Miami is a boring place to drive.

 

MC owner here. Having driven both recently, including autocross, I can say that the MCS is quite a bit faster.

Road:
On the road the MCS feels a lot faster than the MC. Power delivery is smoother, engine is much more flexible.

Autocross:
The advantage of the extra power is not as obvious, but its definitely there. I recently drove my MC and a friend's MCS back to back. Coming out of the gates I was shifting into second earlier, had to feather the gas for the slalom earlier, had to brake at the end of the straightaway earlier as well. All because the MCS built speed quicker. But at the end of the day, the MCS, on that track, was marginally quicker.

So my belief is that the MCS is a considerably faster straightline car, but it feels faster than it really is. Like many have mentioned here, its the smoother power delivery and the sounds that make it feel much faster. Traffic light drag racing aside, you would have to drive the MCS at seriously irresponsible speeds on public roads to shake an MC. A bare bones MC with SS+ is also a better handling car cause its 200lbs lighter, a nice plus.

 

I just pulled the trigger on MCSc 11/8/06 after driving my MINI a few days now I wished I got the MCc instead..MCSc is a awesome ride but it's too much for the regular driving that I do.. I don't need the extra burst of power and I have to keep myself in check all the time...It's sneeky fast and I end up driving like speed-racer...The power is there and nice to have but the over-all package of MCc is good enough...kalm

 

i dont think its miami, i think its all of south florida. but i agree with what every one has said

 

Q: Cooper power to be enough?
A: No.

No such thing as too much power. Grab the S. Feed the inner speed demon.

One thing people haven't mentioned is the S LOOKS much better with that hood scoop. A lot more masculine.

 

I LOVE my new Cooper. I've had it for almost two months and try to invent reasons to go drive it! I think it depends on your needs. For me, it's my only car/daily driver, and most of my driving is in the city with a jaunt to the mountains once every few months. I'm not planning on tracking the car, so for me all the extra performance isn't necessary. The fun factor and gas mileage is what sold me on my MC. Before test driving, and after reading on NAM all the people who can't live without a supercharger, I was thinking the MC would be disappointing and sluggish. However, once I drove it I found this couldn't be farther from the truth, and I didn't even bother testing the S out because I knew the Cooper had what I wanted and the S would just be overkill - still tons of fun, but more power and less efficiency than I really needed.

FWIW, I drive on some hills here and there, and have driven on the freeway with no problem whatsoever. Figure out what you want from the car and then test drive. The answer will be obvious.

 

Agree that the S is considerably faster, but questionable if it looks better. I actually find the base cooper more balanced looking, the beefed up hood and the scoop on the S upsets the balance of the car a bit in my eye. But all other appearance accents that come standard on the S do make the car look better.

 

I think it's clear at this point that this is an entirely subjective evaluation and anyone who even needs to ask the question needs to drive both the Cooper and the S for themselves. Some things you should depend on for yourself.

 

If you want a better ride, better mileage, and better handling, get the MC. If you want the "pull" and the whine and the potential to wring all kinds of HP out of a car, get the S.

I went from a fast, light sports car to a MC because I just wasn't using all the power I had, and if I jumped on it I was way over the speed limit. The MC (with a few mods, of course) gives me the balance I was looking for.

Really, you can't go wrong. Either a MC or an MCS will get you into the cult!