OK, before I start, this is meant in fun.

I have a new 2003 MC (fully loaded - I say this because any weight concerns - I have to assume it's heaver then a stripped down model). I have been able to beat 4 MCS's up to 100 to 105 mph and lost to 1. I'm not talking blown away, but I kept in front.

First, I should stress that I put my automatic in the SD (I call it Sports Drive, I don't know if that's correct), it keeps the RPMs up high and shifts better. I do know that it' s faster then in standard drive. You can feel the difference.

I know the stock MCS is faster in horsepower but it's no good if people can't shift :smile: The standard MC can either keep up or beat a MCS if the owner can't shift. Now the funny part, the 4 MCS I beat were driving by men, the only one that beat me was by a very attactive young blond :smile:

I know most the people here can shift....unless you were one of the people in Chicago I beat on highway 53 :smile:

 

you were beat by an "attractive young blond..." i can only assume that means you were bamboozled by her looks and got suckered off the line!

keep in mind, your MC probably has smaller diameter wheels, making your initial acceleration gains much higher due to rolling weight...

 

My CVT (in SD) can keep up with stock Ss, but once they get the pulley.......I'm left in the dust!

 

I had a pleasant little run in with an MC the other day on the highway. It was a young man obviously in love with his Red/Wht MC, a beautiful machine I might add. Anyway, he came up on me on the freeway very quickly, changed lanes and slid in front of me and started to pull away.

I let him play out about 75 ft or so and then began to reel him in. I pulled up on him doing about 80, downshifted to 5th and moved around him easily. I let him catch and pass me several times and then downshifted once more and made a final pass taking full advantage of the supercharger. He was never able to catch up and he got ever smaller in my rear view mirror. It was fun to joust with another Mini, but at no time was I in any danger of being left behind. He simply did not have the horsepower to pull away for long even on the downhill stretches.

The MC is a fine, fine car. But on the straight open highway it is no match for the MCS in terms of the ability to quickly produce speed and power. I haven't had the chance to meet another Mini at a stop light, and I have every belief that it could be an even match for a short distance. Man, this is a fun group of cars isn't it!

 

They are soooo much fun. I do know the MCS are quicker, but I'm shocked how many people can't shift. I for one love sticks but my wife can't drive it

 

I've beaten cars that I shouldn't have in my MC cause the other driver couldn't shift. But I've also been beaten by a POS tercel because I messed up shifting!

 

Did they know you were trying to race them?

 

Just call me speedshifter. Try any of that off the line crap and I'll make you sorry you dared to mess with an S

X2

 

A man's got to know his limitations.

I'm not about to drag race an MCS. It is faster, end of story. Although my MC is really no slug, it does depend on your driving style.

If some yo-yo wants to race me, I let them spin their tires at the light. I'm getting too old for this sort of thing But if a dingbat in a Denali with bling-bling wheels is crawling up my rear, he's toast in the turns.

 

I'll take all challengers in an MC in my S. Bring it ON!!!

Actually, I've never actually driven my MINI and been going the same direction as another. I tend to see more when I'm riding in someone other person's car (yes, I actually let other people drive me around from time to time). I get thrill enough beating the pants off of somebody in a Honda who spent WAY too much money to make his car sound like a 450cc motorcycle. I have worked hard to get my shifting as good as it is, but I could be better, so I continue to practice.

 

The MCS is pretty tough to launch. First gear is equivalent to 3rd on a normal car so you just have to let the clutch burn and burn after giving the engine a big head start. It launches OK once you're used to it but it's vastly different from any other car I have ever driven. Jeez, if I kicked the gas pedal to the floor and waited a second before gently beginning to engage the clutch on the old Honda, I can't even imagine what would happen. Probably rip the engine right out of the car and then run over it.

 

Why on earth should it surprise you that women know how to drive.

 

<< Why on earth should it surprise you that women know how to drive.>>

Dam_ straight!

 

>>The MCS is pretty tough to launch. First gear is equivalent to 3rd on a normal car so you just have to let the clutch burn and burn after giving the engine a big head start. It launches OK once you're used to it but it's vastly different from any other car I have ever driven. Jeez, if I kicked the gas pedal to the floor and waited a second before gently beginning to engage the clutch on the old Honda, I can't even imagine what would happen. Probably rip the engine right out of the car and then run over it.

Hahahaha! That's sooo funny! I got a great mental image!

 

The MC is a great car for a skilled driver. The guy in the MCS, however, must have left his handbrake on.

 

There is actually very little difference in the performance of the MC and MCS. MINI likes to play up the differerence to justify the few thousand extra dollars they charge. One second faster 0-60 and an artificially limited top speed. Whoo hoo!

 

If a MC can beat a MCS it can only be because of driver error. Period!!! No other explanation needed. If you are ever in South Florida please call me so I can show you wht the back end of a MCS looks like doing 135mph....if you can see that far. :smile:

 

omtoast,
are you turning off the dsc?
---

toe,
i drive 53 everyday...but in rush hour traffic.
from 290 to lake street though it's wide open.
the only cooper i've seen going my direction was
another ds/b mcs...

_________________
ordered 21.oct.02 - delivered 9.may.03 - MCS - DS/B - stripes - prem. - sport - HK
"daniel striped mini"

 

<<omtoast,
are you turning off the dsc? >>

I guess that, technically, it's always off. As I do not have it. I have the ASR or ASC or PMS or whatever it is that comes standard on the MCS but did not order the other as all the initials were bringing me down...

 

I agree the MCS is faster. But like someone said for your 3000 dollars more you cut off 1 sec getting to 60. That's also shifting a few times buy then, it doesn't take much too lose the 1 sec leap. At 100+ the the MCS kicked my *** :smile:
As of Thursday the MC hit 120. I'm starting a new thread though on Mini in a Zone.

 

>><<omtoast,
>>are you turning off the dsc? >>
>>
>>I guess that, technically, it's always off. As I do not have it. I have the ASR or ASC or PMS or whatever it is that comes standard on the MCS but did not order the other as all the initials were bringing me down...

The ASC is killing you on launches. It controls wheel spin. The DSC controls lateral sliding.

 

i haven't seem many mini's in the chitown area. just ones that are being test driven near patrick bmw. so i'm not sure how my mini will stack up to the others out there. but hey, i'm always up to play. i'm rarely on 53 though. just look for a dark silver, white roof, white bonnet stripes. however, she won't be stock for long.

 

>>The MCS is pretty tough to launch. First gear is equivalent to 3rd on a normal car so you just have to let the clutch burn and burn after giving the engine a big head start. It launches OK once you're used to it but it's vastly different from any other car I have ever driven. Jeez, if I kicked the gas pedal to the floor and waited a second before gently beginning to engage the clutch on the old Honda, I can't even imagine what would happen. Probably rip the engine right out of the car and then run over it.

How pathetic is it that with six gears, they can't get one to launch you in first?

 

Yeah, it's too bad the 6 gears are actually 2-7. Top gear is perfectly suited for cruising at sppeds above 50Mph but I wish they would have taken the first 5 gears and cut them in half. No need for close-ratio 5th-to-6th spacing.

 

>>I agree the MCS is faster. But like someone said for your 3000 dollars more you cut off 1 sec getting to 60. That's also shifting a few times buy then, it doesn't take much too lose the 1 sec leap. At 100+ the the MCS kicked my *** :smile:
>>As of Thursday the MC hit 120. I'm starting a new thread though on Mini in a Zone.

Of course neither the MC or MCS classify as 'muscle cars.' They're not about 0-60 times.

The MCS has dished out pistons and a lower compression ratio, which will translate to less low-rev torque. This, in turn, can produce slower starts, unless you know how to slip the clutch slightly while keeping the revs up a bit.

Where both cars shine, is in the 'twisties.' I don't know how they'd match up. I don't drive all that competively, and I haven't seen them together at any rallies, but I think that a competent driver in the MCS would have a pretty good edge on a competent driver in the MC. However, with average/casual drivers in both cars, the edge would be much less, particularly if you're talking about the MCS with the 6sp.