it's unamerican not to want conspicuous consumption...that's why 50% of demand in US is for the S, while worldwide outside US that demand is less than 10%.

Americans always want bigger, better, faster....lol !

 

I think this thread goes right to the point on why MINI offers the MC with 5speed and CVT and also the MCS....different options for different buyers...some like the styling of the S, some like the styling of the Cooper, some like extra power, some like the better gas milage, some won't drive a standard for a variety of reasons - they don't like to or they drive alot of city miles in stop and go, one car isn't better compared to the others...they are just different options for different buyers....get what you want to and don't let others say you shouldn't have...I have a MCS - I prefered the front of the S - just personal taste...I also love the feel of the 6 speed and the few extra ponies and figured the money I spent extra on it would come back to me in resale or close to it. I've also driven the two cooper models and there is certain things about them I do enjoy as well....the CVT is a bit different, you have to adjust your driving to make use of the power, just takes a different style of driving, I love the feel of the 5 speed Cooper's clutch...I think it has a ton better feel then the S clutch which in my opinion is just mush, but I prefer the feel of the S gearbox over the 5 speed.

But at the end of the day...they are all MINIs...and that is the best part :smile:

Side note - I thought i heard that the chrome bumper inserts and the full chrome grill will soon be available on the S...can anyone confirm this?

 

>>I keep reading over and over in the posts of people that either have or idolize the Cooper S. I feel like i am the only one that is not in the least bit interested in having one. All i want is a Coop. Black...very plain and simple.

Actually there's people out there who want a Cooper. They want a One instead, even more simpler than a black cooper.

 

:smile: It's not that I don't like speed and power :smile: :smile: just wanted the "look". I really can't say much more. Simple. :smile: Yeah. Oh and I'm thinking about naming her Justa Cooper.

 

That's awesome!

 

I love my Cooper and never considered the S. How often do I really have the opportunity to cruise an open road at 90+ mph? Paying for that capability when almost all my driving is suburban/urban commuting is like buying a great big SUV to haul my grocery sacks home in. Fine for some people, but I'd just never take advantage of what the S has to offer. The Coop's pickup is more than adequate for everyday driving, its front end is cleaner and more pleasing, and I think it's truer to the spirit of the original MINI. "Motoring" isn't always about max horsepower -- it's more often about making creative use of the horsepower you've got.

 

No, you aren't the only one not interested in a MCS. I very much prefer the looks of the "plain" MC. All of 'em are beauties!!

 

Have to side w/ those who prefer the look of chrome and the clean lines of a scoop-free bonnet. Saved a few thousand and bought some options I wanted instead. The extra power would be nice, but I felt it would be unnecessary, also dangerously temping where speed laws are concerned. I can get in plenty of trouble w/ my regular Cooper as it is. It's painted to the road where the curves are, and I hit between 110 and 115 (on a long safe looking stretch) passing a line of slower cars not too long ago- wasn't aware until I looked down at the speedo!! The new digital mph readout coming on the '04 tachs will be a nice improvement!

 

The S looks meaner, which is a good thing - cuts through some of the "cuteness" factor.

 

Having both, I enjoy my cooper very much
I think the cooper is a "jam up" car!

just my 1/2 cent worth.

 

I went for the Cooper instead of the S as well. I just think it looks better, more so with the Chrome Inserts. I'm not all that impressed w/ the performance differences after owning and loving my 93 Twin Turbo RX-7. That thing was a ticket printing machine.

 

I have an 02/02 build MINI Cooper 5-speed also.

I would like to correct the statements that half of all sales are MCS.

On Roadfly, a BMW salesperson posts the monthly sales, and here is
a graph for every month MINIs were on sale in the US.

You can see that the MCS sells roughly 2/3 the MC sales.

60% MC and 40% MCS and you can see the MC sales going up as
the MCS sales remain flat.

So don't feel that EVERYONE wants an MCS. (Or even more people want one)

 

Well the sales might be higher for one verse the other...but look at what the waiting lists are for the Cooper vs the Cooper S and then compare that to the allocations dealerships are getting for each and you will see why it is 60/40.

Not trying to imply here anything against the Cooper - just thought since you mentioned the sales figures I wanted to make sure people understood why they are that.

 

The new digital mph readout coming on the '04 tachs will be a nice improvement

That's a cool new feature....wonder if it can be retrofit and the cost??

 

>but look at what the waiting lists are for the Cooper vs the Cooper S and then compare
> that to the allocations dealerships are getting for each and you will see why it is 60/40.


I probably misunderstood your post, but it sounds like you are saying
that MINI is making more Coopers than Cooper-S and that's what is driving
the difference.

I'm kind of doubtful about that theory.

I'm guessing that MINI is smart enoughto produce the cars in the correct proportion
to the demand.

I mean they are not beginners in this industry, and they are going on 15 months of
US sales, so they should know how to make and sell the cars people want right?

So, I still think that it's actually the demand for Coopers driving the sales,
and that MINI adjusts the production to meet the demand.

But we'll never know will we?

 

trippy - yea we will never know - but fun wondering none the less...a lot of dealers have zero waiting lists on the cooper right now...but still have 5-6 month lists on the S - if my memory serves me correct they are actually producing alot less S's then Coopers (in part because in most other countries the demand for the cooper is higher), but I would venture to say that in the states it isn't the case, but I still believe that the allocations for the Cooper are 3 to 2 for the Cooper S - I'll call some friends at a few dealerships and find out what they are getting in for numbers (might take me awhile though as in a few hours I'm heading to the airport and off to get married this weekend so I'm sure someone else could call up their dealer and get the info quicker then I could right now)