Hey guys
I'd love to get a MCS but MPG is very important to me also. I"ve noticed from different posts that S models are only averaging about 30mpg, just wondering what Cooper models are averaging.
Thanks guys.

 

I have no experiance driving the new Mini, as I have an older R53, but the difference between the MCS and MC has traditionally only been 4-5 MPG difference. The way I drive i'm lucky if I see more than 20 MPG in the city and 27 or so on the freeway (Then again my car is modified). I think the new MINI (R56) is supposed to get about 30 MPG in the city and 36 or so on the freeway, compared to the EPA rated milage of 26 or so and 32 on the R53. In short, it's not a HUGE difference, so get what you want! The MCS is SOOO much fun to drive, don't let a few MPG sway you from having the additional power on tap .

 

I'd rather have extra mpg than unusably excess power as I motor about, so the Cooper is definitely my MINI of choice. I've not heard of any real-life mpg numbers yet and won't speculate (because that's not what this thread is about). Looking forward to R56 Cooper owners who can report in, although the mpg numbers will be lower for automatics and that's all we've seen in the U.S. so far.

 

The first day I drove my MCS (with 17" wheels - don't know if that makes a difference) about 35 - 40 miles using the, "force the rings against the cross-hatched cylinder wall" technique while keeping the revs and accelerator within the paramaters called for in the manual (see the break-in techniques post on this forum). My mileage that day was 24.8 mpg. I reset the mpg display.

Friday I drove about 140 miles circling the Sandias to Santa Fe (two lane rolling hills) and back to Albuquerque (>75 mph freeway driving), followed by running several errands in the city. (a very rainy day). Overall average was 37.7 mpg. I did not reset the mpg display.

Saturday and today I did city driving with only brief periods of rushing to the speed limit too quickly (squireling around - I'm having trouble with self discipline). The car now says I've gone 208 miles and getting 36.6 mpg. Oh, average elevation has been around 5,500 feet (don't know if that makes a difference).

Oops .. Sorry. Just went back and read the original question (non-S mileage). Sorry again .. Mine's an S.

 

So far with 880 miles, I'm averaging 30.6 mpg, that is with an average speed of 29.1 mph, clearly mostly city driving, the couple of times I was on the highway I was hovering around 40-42 mpg. A lot of this was during cold weather, and this is only the first two tanks of gas, Mines an MC with automatic. I will need gas today so I'm going to figure out my mileage the traditional way after I fill up.

 

just wanted to give this a bump...i'm undecided on getting an mc or s and better gas mileage could factor into my decision considering I drive 15k miles a year with lots of city driving.

 

As I still don't have my mini so I can't answer your mileage question but test drive both and MC and an MCS before you make your decision. I wanted to get an MC at first mostly 'cause of the gas mileage and because it was still a fun car to drive, but that all changed when I drove the MCS.

 

On my S, with more driving in the city than on the highway, I'm getting 33 mpg actual (35 mpg according to the computer). Just filled my 2nd tank; I'm getting 400 miles per tank. Oops! Did it again. I saw the, "S" but my mind ignored the, "non" preceding it. The question is for Non-S Coopers .. That's not me.

 

I have a MC. and i commute from San Jose to San Francisco, CA , monday through friday. avg speed 75 ( if your a highway patrol, disregard that number ) avg miles 90 ( 45 miles one way ) i can fill up on monday and then fill up again on friday.
i hope that helps

 

I have an '06 MC. Purchased new in Mid-Feb. My driving is split pretty close to 50/50 city v. highway. Have driven 2200 miles & am consistently getting 33-34 mpg. The weather here in NJ since I purchased the car has been generally on the cool side, so if my MINI is anything like other cars I've owned, my mileage should creep up a gallon or two once (if) the warm weather arrives.
Jeff
"Dorothy" '06 MC BRG/W

 

I have a 2007 MC. After about 1300 miles, I am averaging 35.6. That is mixed driving. That is also calculated the old fashioned way. Not the on-board computer.

EDIT: I have a manual transmission.

 

I prefer the old fashioned way myself, I don't trust a computer for gas mileage. I definitely want to test drive both models, I'm currently waiting for Rasmussen mini here in Portland to get the 07 stick versions in, I did test drive an MC auto tranny, I HATE automatics, so I'm anxious to test a stick, I did feel the auto was somewhat underpowered for my taste, but will not judge the MC based off of that. 400 miles on a tank in the MCS is also impressive. If I end up going for the S I can still fulfill my tree hugin' environmental green side...

 

I'm not sure which is truly more accurate. I guess it depends on how well designed the MINI's system is. As far as the old fashioned way, there are a number of things that can affect accuracy.

One gas pump may shut off at a slightly different time than another. So, you may get more gas at one fill-up than another. You would have to average a number of tanks to balance this out.

Gas is stored underground where it is fairly cool. It expands in warmer temps. So, you are measuring it cold, and using it warm. That could account for some of the discrepancies between computer and the OFW.

Some gas pumps are not calibrated perfectly. Somewhere I read a study that showed a fair amount of inaccuracy -- often to the advantage of the motorist. I think the study was conducted in Los Angeles.

Based on the reports so far, it looks like the MC gets 5 to 8 MPG more than the MCS, but at 28-30 MPG for spirited mixed driving, the MCS is doing pretty well. It is better than my '90 Integra that has a bout the same 0-60 time as the MC. So, my tree hugin' conscience is quite about getting the MCS over the MC.

 

Gas milage was a key factor for me in my decision to get a MC rather than an MCS. I haven't had a car for 16 years so it was a big decision for me to even get a car, so I wanted one that got decent milage (I looked at a Prius, but I really don't like the way they look - they're so ugly!).

For a little 'green' reading, here's some info on how much difference a few MPG does make, and ways you can get better gas milage:
http://www.slate.com/id/2164073/

I don't have my MINI yet (it's in the paint shop as of today!) I'd also be interested to hear what MPG people are getting.

 

Picked up my MC last week and with my first fill up I calculated 33 mpg. This was 50/50 city and highway with highway speeds of 75mph and partly in heavy rain. I generally take it easy while driving and hopefully the numbers will go up as the car gets broken in.

 

Robin, thank for the info, perhaps the computer is more accurate than I thought it would be. who knows?

 

I am right around 30mpg.

 

When I was trying to decide which to buy, it became apparent that an MC auto would have about the same mileage as the MCS manual. That appears to be proving out. Now that the MC manual is on the streets, how about responders to this thread mentioning whether their car is auto or manual. Extrapolating, I expect those driving the MC manual to report in the vicinity of 37 mpg and the MCS auto drivers to report around 29 mpg.

 

Ive driven it like I stole starting after the first tank of gas, I get 36mpg with the sport button on every time and driving it hard(all around town). get a lot higher mileage on the highway (over 40) on premium gas (93 octane).

 

Just crossed 2000 miles and my mpg on the last two tanks of gas ( i didn't reset the computer) shows 33 mpg these two tanks are 60 % hwy and 40% city. When i did the math on the last tank it was witin 1mpg so the computer seems accurate enough for me, I am happy with these results.

 

You have an MC? I guess I assumed you would have an MCS.

 

That's funny. I've been driving without the sport button averaging around 32-33 mpg. After my last fiil-up and using the sb all the time I'm averaging 34-35 mpg. I don't get it.

 

It's a sporty car and resents being coddled.

 

k so im not as familiar with the lingo, its a 2007 Mini Cooper S which I believe you call a R56.

 

MC is the pain MINI Cooper. MCS is the one you have. Both are R56, I believe.

36 mpg is pretty amazing for a MCS. That's about as good as people are getting for the non-turbo MC.