Hey guys i sold my 06 MCS back in Dec due to financial issues, and originally was trying to find a 02+ GTI but ended up getting a 04 Jetta 1.8T and its fun but not nearly as fun as my MCS was, plus the MINI community vs the VW community is no contest the MINI comm. is 200x better. I miss my MINI but cant really afford a new one so i was thinking of getting a 05-06 MC just to get me back in the MINI, cause it will be better on gas, insurance, monthly cost, etc. But how much of a difference would i really notice? I am not as interested in racing or straight line speed as much as turning and handling. Which is another reason i am thinking an MC over an MCS. But i wanted to ask you guys for your opinions. Has anyone done this, gone from a MCS to a MC and been happy? I just figured i had to be ok with the Jetta even though i wanted an hatchback and had to be ok with getting a steptronic Auto tranny when i wanted a manual so i dont want to get a MC and wish it was more later. Anyway let me know.

 

If you got rid of the MCS due to financial issues, selling the Jetta and buying a MC is not going to help that. Can you afford the Jetta? If so I would suggest keeping that.

 

all depends on the moneys. you can pick up an mc for pretty cheap though.

 

I have to agree with the above posters. Plus the resale value of MINI's has gone way up with the rise in gas costs.

Now as far as going to a justacooper after a MCS. If the power isn't a big deal for you, then yes I think you could be very happy with a Cooper. Just stay far away from a CVT equipped Cooper. You can make the Cooper handle as well or better than a MCS. A big plus will be lower fuel costs.

Good luck...

 

The gas savings on a MC isn't all that great vs the MCS from what I've seen. I get 26/30 in real world driving and up to 33 if I hyper-mile. I think the extra power is worth it IMO.

 

Well your right but what i was looking at was finding a MC for around $15k and probably wont get it for a bit longer so i have enough time to pay down the Jetta more. Yes i can afford the Jetta fine, it was the monthly payments on the MINI i couldnt handle, if i had a MINI where the payments were the same as the Jetta it would be fine. Point is i know at least at this point i will be getting rid of the Jetta for another MINI sometime in the near future, and im thinking of an MC which is what i should have gotten the first time and maybe i would still have it. I just dont want to get it an MC and regret it, i dont think i will i just wanted some peoples opinion, especially people that have done it.

 

Used first gen MC's are in great demand now due to the superior MPG's over the first gen MCS. Prices are just crazy. Might need to look at a pretty high mileage one to get any kind of deal.

 

Hiya,

I suppose it depends on what you're looking for in a car. I love my 06 Cooper checkmate. Handling can't be beat. If I want to go fast I take out the BMW R1150RS motorcycle. Miles per gallon and the smaller carbon footprint is what I was after with the Cooper, but still wanted to enjoy the time in the car. I average 29 mpg around town with the a/c on, 31 in town , no a/c and 33-38 on the highway.

jrw

 

Hi JRW i was/am looking for a car that was just as fun as my 06 MCS but cheaper, so i figure the MC is a good choice. Same handling and fun factor but not as fast, cheaper and better gas mileage too.

 

All I had driven previous to buying my 05 MC back in Feb., were MCS's. Where I work here, we service a few S's. I bought the MC, and couldnt be happier. It has plenty of power, pretty much the same great handling, less initial cost, and better mileage.

so,.....either way,...S or just-a-cooper,....great ways to go!

Steve

 

Hiya,

Don't forget the insurance is much better with the Cooper than the S.

jrw

 

Within 200 miles from my area, I still see MCS's fetching a higher price on the used market then MC. And if it's a late model R53 (05 or 06), they're usually sold within a few days after it's listed.

 

I know this is digging up an old thread, but figure I would add my two cents. I went from 2 R53's (one extensively modified), down to an R50 and couldn't be happier. The insurance on the R50 is less than the Kia Rio5 I got rid of

I find the R50 is actually more fun as a daily driver as you can drive it pretty hard on the streets without getting into as much trouble as you would with an R53. It also has a little bit more punch down low in the revs than an R53 due to the higher compression engine. And yes, the 4k-6k rev range is very fun! Fuel economy is great. I'm averaging 29mpg in 90% city driving.

Since most other MINIs, especially with a manual transmission, are R53s, I also kind of feel like a "rebel" driving an R50