I am looking for opinions and driving differences between the Cooper and the Cooper S. On both models I would get all three packages. Is the Cooper S more fun to drive than the Cooper? I am looking for something to fill my sports car need. Obviously not looking for a super car, and wondering if the Cooper is quick enough to have fun.

Thanks,
Kenny

 

If you look at miniusa's website, you can pretty much outfit the Cooper with just about every option the S has except the 6-speed and the Supercharger. The base Cooper's 115 hp does get it from 0-60 in about 8.5 seconds (various car mags get various results, so noone get in a huff if that number is incorrect) . ) as well as a high flow intake with a K&N filter in it, and you could probably gain at least another 15 or so horsepower, for less than $1000. And you'll have the benefit of the car remaining Naturally Aspirated, no supercharger putting excess wear on the engine and components. I say vie for the base Cooper, then hop it up a bit. My father plans on buying an S in the future, so it will be fun to compare the two cars, with mine having new exhaust, intake and ECU chip (as well as new brakes, I'm thinking, as I plan on racing it). Hope that helps some. If you're looking for MINI parts, just run an internet search on them.

-Sarcux

 

Tough to say which is better. It really comes down to personal preference. The best thing to do is to test drive a Cooper and then test drive an S back to back and then make a decision. Since you can pretty much load up the Cooper with everything the S has the only question is do you want the supercharger and the 6 speed. If you want more power and a six speed then get the S. If the base cooper engine is enough for you and you like the five speed then go with the cooper. Also consider the obvious exterior differences, i.e. the hood scoop of the S. Some love it and some hate it.

 

The other issue I am concerned about (only a little) is it being new and having peddly problems that require me to go to the Mini Dealer. I live about 60 miles from the dealer (I am in Colorado Springs). Do dealers have very good service about rental cars. What if the car ever needs towing in while under warranty, will they cover that? I am hoping to go test drive this weekend. But I am thinking of holding off because I know I will want to place an order, I know it will be a couple months for delivery, and I don't want to get the car in the dead of winter. So I may hold off to time delivery in March/April or so.

Later,
Kenny

 

Kenny, I test drove the Cooper and Cooper S. I was willing to buy the Cooper cuz it was there and the S wasn't out yet. My wife told me I could get that one but that I would be most likely happier with MORE POWER in the S. She was right (again, I hate that when that happens :???:

 

>>Kenny, I test drove the Cooper and Cooper S. I was willing to buy the Cooper cuz it was there and the S wasn't out yet. My wife told me I could get that one but that I would be most likely happier with MORE POWER in the S. She was right (again, I hate that when that happens :smile:

Rocketboy_X

 

Thanks for all the input! I am scheduled for a test drive at 7:00 tomorrow. If that does not work out I will for sure make an appointment for early morning next Saturday. I just got off the phone with the Denver dealer. They are taking $500 refundable deposits to get on the list and then eventuall place an order for a MCS. He said as it is right now if I got on the list for an MCS I would have it this time next year, but its very possible that it will be sooner considering they keep getting a higher percentage of MCS's.

What are the odds that I will end up with an MCS next year? I sure hope so. Actually this will be good, I won't take posession of it in the winter, and will be able to pay cash with this timeframe...

Geez its going to be a long wait...

Kenny

 

Last Monday the MINI of Concord had a MINI S that wasn't spoken for, plus two Coopers (they don't do waiting list so it is first come first served). If you want to lay out the cash, you could fly to a dealership that has one. Its up to you though. If you wouldn't mind flying for one call around to the different dealerships.

 

I've seen several S models in Los Angeles at dealers. If you're willing to come out here, go to the dealer rating system or MiniUsa for phone numbers. not sure of prices but, in recent weeks I 've seen 'em at Assael in Monrovia, Universal in Universal City, Long Beach Mini had one on 8/9 and an indenpendent dealer in Sherman Oaks, A.J. Risley, had and electric Blue with white top on 8/14. Myself, I couldn't wait a year. If that's the difference between the S and getting an MC now, I'd get the MC now. The S is DEFINITELY quicker but, at least in L.A. it's only quicker at a point where your breaking the speed limit (unless that's not a problem )
Besides there are more and more aftermarket items like exhaust systems, etc that will quicken up the MC. Well either way you can't go wrong. Good luck shopping.

 

I may look around and do that. But part of my delima even with the MC is the time at which it would be delivered. I do not want to place an order for one and then have it delivered in December/January/February. Here in Colorado they use so much sand on the roads that it just messes up a cars paint and windshield. Yeah, I will have my Jeep, but then I just have to sit and look at an awesome car that i don't want to mess up on the sandy roads. It really sounds like it will be much less than a year, if January comes around and I am still way at the bottom for placing my custom MCS I will then start to look at other dealers.

Does anybody see a problem of not getting a custom MCS at all? I really want to build my own and don't mind waiting to get exactly what I want.

Kenny

 

>>I really want to build my own and don't mind waiting to get exactly what I want.

That's what I did. this is my first new car, and will be for the next 10 years. so I waited. it will be 7 months by the time I see it.

 

>>I may look around and do that. But part of my delima even with the MC is the time at which it would be delivered. I do not want to place an order for one and then have it delivered in December/January/February. Here in Colorado they use so much sand on the roads that it just messes up a cars paint and windshield. Yeah, I will have my Jeep, but then I just have to sit and look at an awesome car that i don't want to mess up on the sandy roads. It really sounds like it will be much less than a year, if January comes around and I am still way at the bottom for placing my custom MCS I will then start to look at other dealers.
>>
>>Does anybody see a problem of not getting a custom MCS at all? I really want to build my own and don't mind waiting to get exactly what I want.
>>
>>Kenny

Kenny, There's a nice guy on this forum, Dave, who lives in Denver and had a clear bra put on his car to protect it from the harshness of winter. If you check around, you may find cars that have been special-ordered, but for one reason or another, folks don't accept ($$ problems, whatever). You may find one that meets your exact requirements! So go to MINIUSA.com, look up a bunch of dealers, and start calling. Then, come back to MCO (this forum) and ask questions about the dealers. Like, which are selling at MSRP, etc. Make full use of this and all the MINI forums. You'll learn alot, be entertained and will even make some new friends!:D

Cheers!
Clover

 

If you check around, you may find cars that have been special-ordered, but for one reason or another, folks don't accept ($$ problems, whatever).
>>Cheers!
>>Clover
>>
>>
>>

Wow, that would be a bummer... Order a car and not except. The Denver dealer said its a $1000 non-refundable deposit to order. I would have just found a way to buy it and sell it right away. There are a bunch that are selling on ebay, and some of them hardly above MSRP.

Has anybody used the Mini Select program for financing? If I wait to buy I will buy it straight out, but if anything comes up sooner I would not have the cash readily available...

 

Really not much difference in performance in the cooper and the S....more hp in the S but it weighs more....Car and Driver test....cooper thru 1/4mile 16.5 and 83mph, S 15.5 and 90mph...if the average driver can tell the difference in 1 second over 1/4 mile, I'd certainly be amazed....I know I certainly couldn't notice that much difference....I did notice the cooper felt quicker through corners than the S because of the weight advantage....stock cooper is also showing quicker times through the cones than the stock S according to a couple web sites.....waiting on the 200hp cooper next year, laugh....that one should show the performance gap many are expecting from the S....if you have the cooper, don't worry about not having the S...save your money and wait for the next engine upgrade...cheers

 

The thing I really like about the S is the 17 inch rims are available and the 6 speed. The 6 speed is what really does it for me. And I just don't like those 16 inch rims that are offered in the sport package for the cooper...

 

I guess I really didn't get the 6 speed....to get to top speed you need 5th gear, I guess 6th gear is really just an overdrive for highway cruising to improve gas milage...the lower gears seemed too tall for low end acceleration and 3rd seemed too tall for faster cornering...anyway, just my impressions, not sure the S would not have better performance with a 5 speed at 163hp....over 200hp I could see 6 gears maybe..the 17" wheels with runflats were pretty harsh for an old guy like me...I certainly could tell a difference in a less harsh ride with the 16" without the runflats....the 17" chrome wheels certainly look terrific though....always tradeoffs, laugh...

 

The 6 speed gears are taller? Hrm... I figured more gears would let you have a lower ratio in each gear, but still having 6th gear for highway driving...

 

I own two of the exact same identical MINI's; a Cooper and a Supercharged Cooper (even the same Silver/Silver Roof)...I am pathetic and spoiled! Only slight difference is that the S has 17" wheels and the reg. Cooper has 16" (and all three pkgs, sport susp. +) You name it "they" have got it!!! So YES my Cooper S is faster, but only when over 35 MPH and/or over 3700 RPMs. Add on all of that stuff to a reg. Cooper, chips and exhaust...I have no idea. The S is faster, how much faster, REALLY it's about 30%...if you drive like a maniac, high RPMs and always wanting to push the car and accelerator, than wait & get an S!!! My 3rd car is a Chevy Suburban, I have five kids, so my Cooper is my "Fun" time to drive. I wanted the power.

So you have to ask yourself. Will you regret the lack of power? Re: the wait...anything worth having is worth waiting for...can you wait?, you should if you REALLY need an S. Evaluate your style of driving. Are you a commuting schleper or a MINI motoring maniac?

One thing I have learned, it's kinda hard to give a "thumbs up" back to all of the MINI admirers, especially when you are screeching around town like a Motoring Fool!!! Good luck with your choice, my need for more speed cost me about $8,000. Take your time...the wait/anticipation (if you decide to get an S) is also a large part of "the fun of getting a new car."

 

Since when I go home and visit my parents I have the ability to drive my dads new Carrera I think I am going to need the S :smile: (Damn that car is just amazing), but I will know after the test drive. I will probably end up waiting just so I can get the 17 inch rims. If I get the MC and then add wheels later, the cost will be up close the the MCS...

Kenny

 

The S is faster, how much faster, REALLY it's about 30%...

hmmm......at 1 second faster over 1320 feet, meaning the S gets there about 75 feet quicker...the laws of physics..... 1 second quicker and 75 feet quicker over 1320 feet, that's only about 6% faster....maybe it feels 30% faster, laugh!.....30% faster would be under 12 second quarter mile times...does your S run alongside 911's?

 

I end up always cringing when someone asks this... it always turns into a bicker fest, and quite frankly, I have NO idea why... Here's some things to consider...

Cooper /--------------------/Cooper S
No Bonnet Scoop /---------------/Bonnet Scoop
5 speed or CVT/---------------/6 Speed Only
Cheaper - More/---------------/More Expensive- Comes standard w/more stuff
money for options/---------------/
May not need extra/---------------/Faster
speed/---------------/
Comes W/a Spare/---------------/Comes W/Run Flats
Optional chrome bits/---------------/Standard agressive front end
on the front/---------------/

I'm sure there's more, but really, it boils down do A: Which one do YOU think looks better, B: Do you need an automatic, and C: Is it worth the extra cash for a peppier engine, (and I have no idea how you can NOT feel the difference, test drive them one after another (try the MCS then the MC)) or are you going to be doing mostly city driving, so you really won't get much chance to drive fast?

And D: What do you want..

Rocketboy_X

_________________
Remember, it's nice to be important, but more important to be nice....... Chili Red MINI Cooper S, White Rims, White Roof, White Stripes, From port, to the dealer, it shouldn't be much longer now...:: AKA "Mach 4"

 

I just got back from the test drive. They only had the MC to test drive, they will have the MCS in a month and said they would give me a call to test drive that. I definitely think I will wait for the MCS. The MC was fun and peppy, but it took longer than I expected to get near red line.

The MCS just looks tougher to me, so that is what I will go with. It will be worth the wait. Hopefully I can work it out to get one when my number comes up.

Thanks,
Kenny

 

Drove my friend's modified cooper last night. He had driven my S before I sold it and decided on the cooper with plans to modify it.....he just got back from San Diego where he had the superchips tuning, a new exhaust and air intake...wow...what a difference, felt much quicker than my S, especially at low end and starts from a dead stop...they told him where he got it tuned that all the minis have a lag on starts and that would be fixed with the chip adjustment...anyway for less than 1K he got a mini that was quicker than my S...I told him I thought he was nuts because of potential warranty problems, but guess dealers won't know unless they drive it and then they'll wonder what is up, laugh....anyway I wouldn't do the chip upgrade, but guess it shows there is something still left in the engine...maybe the software upgrade later in the year will fix the lags from start.....cheers!

 

For those of you who have driven the MC and MCS....what did you notice on the feeling of shifting....one magazine article said the S had a more precise 'clicking' feel......And did you notice any difference in the feeling on cornering....

 

the shifting on the S felt more mechnical to me, more substantial like it would hold up better..the cooper with the sport suspension felt quicker than the S on cornering, but that was due to the weight advantage...the tuned cooper was a blast on cornering, blowing away both the regular cooper and S....but hope he doesn't have warranty problems.....