Been perusing the forum trying to gleen all the info I can.....planning on buying mini after the first of the year. Went down to the dealership and waited 2 hours to test drive (place was CROWDED!!). Couldn't wait longer for the MCS so drove the automatic....had the sling-shot effect like a rubber band...now know it was a CVT. Now I'm not sure which to buy...the faster S, or the fun CVT. Anyone care to pipe in? Anyone trade one for the other? I like the idea of the better mileage and still be able to run through the gears when I feel like it, but will I miss the zoom?
jc

 

Welcome to NAM!

I would wait until you can test drive both. Then decide. If you custom spec, it'll take a few months to get your MINI made, so you should take the time up front to make sure you're making the right decision. That can only come from a test drive (IMO).

Dave

 

yah, you should test drive the MCS first before you decide.

it's a completely different machine.




_________________
03MCS IB/Blk: 123, Aerokit, R90 17x7, TK5 16x7, 6CDMP3, and a few more.

 

Just know that shifting gets old, especailly if you have to commute in stop n go traffic. I absolutely love my MCS, which is 2 months old but I am begining to think that a day will come when I am tired of shifting all the time.

However, I love my MINI! It is the hottest looking ride around and so fun to drive as long as you actually like shifting.

 

:smile:

 

Hey there! Welcome to MCO.

I've got the MCS, and love it. I never did drive the CVT, though, and still wonder if that would have been a better choice (since I spend far too much time in traffic these days). I'll echo Dave's sentiment...drive both. A few times. Then make up your mind.

I know that I've seen messages from people on this board who have traded from MCS to CVT, and floks who've traded from CVT to MCS. I would try a search for those threads, they may contain some insight from folks who've made the decision both ways.

Good luck deciding, and again, welcome!

 

I have a CVT Cooper and I think it's a great choice. Perfect for stop-n-go traffic, but the manumatic mode is tons of fun also.

 

Welcome :smile:

I have the MCS. Took it in to have fluids checked prior to driving school (racing school) and drove a Mini to go get pizza while waiting and it seemed slow to me. But that's me.

Earl

 

Welcome, jbedy! I got the CVT because of my current employment (drive 30K/year). Been modding over the past several months but will discontinue shortly. This is due to the limitations that exist within mine, as far as the significant number of mods that can be made (seems that much more can be done to the MCS, as I've read). I'd say that I've done quite a few mods. Can't comment otherwise on the 5- or 6-speed manuals as I've never drove either. Can say this about mine: I've got zero complaints, take ultra good care of my MINI, & am one very happy camper :smile: ...

 

P.S. Keep this in mind... no matter which one you select, none are Ferraris. The adjective here is: fun. Take it easy

 

Hi jbedy!!! Welcome to NAM!!!

Yes, yes, you should drive them all... for me, though, it was a no brainer... HAD to have the six speed manual... a "driver's car" has to have a manual transmission-- period. Active driving = shifting.

Not flaming anybody... whatever works for someone else, I love it for you... understand, that for me it is an absolute.

God speed.

 

i would have not say don't get the cvt. i've heard that it is hard to even get past 100mph with it. Not that we all need to go that fast. lol

 

>>i would have not say don't get the cvt. i've heard that it is hard to even get past 100mph with it. Not that we all need to go that fast. lol

===>Yes, hondacivic's correct. In mine, it's a breeze from 60 to 90. In a heartbeat, no less. However, from 90 to cracking 100 seems to take forever. But wait -- I've got a NAM calendar & a couple of NAM t-shirts a coming and Mark promised instant HP from them all so we shall see

 

>>i would have not say don't get the cvt. i've heard that it is hard to even get past 100mph with it. Not that we all need to go that fast. lol

Dont listen to him, he has no clue what hes talking about. I got my CVT up to 125 with no problem. Breaking a hundred was not a problem. This is the same kid who is putting neon and an "exhaust tip" on his MINI. Please leave your rice culture off the MINI. Stick to a Honda.

 

>>I got my CVT up to 125 with no problem.

===>Damn, I'm jealous! Hmmm, then again -- maybe something's a matter with my... huevos

 

>>>>I got my CVT up to 125 with no problem.
>>
>>===>Damn, I'm jealous! Hmmm, then again -- maybe something's a matter with my... huevos

Ask GMINI, he saw it first hand.

 

>>Ask GMINI, he saw it first hand.

===>Oh, no need to ask GMINI -- I believe you full-on. rfibanez' pic of his speedometer still makes my heart pound! Then again, our roads run out & our men/women in black are real crafty. They tag team, too. One with the radar on a bridge, another revving his/her Harley down below. That's a great, great thing! I seemed to have contradicted myself right there but I see it this way: I put absolutely no one in harm's way & accept the consequences. Then again again, my speeding days are over (to be frank, my insurance policy holds me back -- I'm paying for that! ha ha ha). Even going 70, I'm hiding behind another -- letting them, not me, get clocked

 

>>>>Ask GMINI, he saw it first hand.
>>
>>===>Oh, no need to ask GMINI -- I believe you full-on. rfibanez' pic of his speedometer still makes my heart pound! Then again, our roads run out & our men/women in black are real crafty. They tag team, too. One with the radar on a bridge, another revving his/her Harley down below. That's a great, great thing! I seemed to have contradicted myself right there but I see it this way: I put absolutely no one in harm's way & accept the consequences. Then again again, my speeding days are over (to be frank, my insurance policy holds me back -- I'm paying for that! ha ha ha). Even going 70, I'm hiding behind another -- letting them, not me, get clocked

HAHA I know what you mean. But when your behind a Ford focus going 90, the cop still clocks the red MINI behind him going 80.

 

>>HAHA I know what you mean. But when your behind a Ford focus going 90, the cop still clocks the red MINI behind him going 80. !!)

 

Have to agree that to me, driving my MINI = shifting. Not shifting is great for a minivan or an SUV, but the MINI is a driver's car. I do cringe when I hear about getting nailed by radar. I can remember a run down through California on I-505 where I was following someone moving quite quickly and being followed by the same. It was a hot cloudless mid afternoon in August, and the 3 of us were on a VERY long straight stretch w/ no overpasses in sight and virtually no other traffic. I didn't see any Smokeys in the sky, or we'd probably have been toast. At any rate, when I looked down at the speedo, we were between 110 and 115. They'd have had to nail all 3 of us. Wonder how often THAT happens?

 

Drive them both and then make your decision... just don't let the MCS owners badger you into buying something you don't want just 'because' you 'have to have the S'. There's one CVT equipped MC running around Dallas that would make an MCS or two wonder what's under the hood.

In the twisties, they're on equal ground.

 

Personally, I had to have a manual tranny. I haven't had one since high school, and I wanted to go the purist route, traffic be damned.

I heartily agree that you should drive them all before deciding. I drove the MC and the MCS before deciding to splurge on the MCS.

Good luck! :smile:

 

I own both ('02 CVT and '04 MCS) and they are excellent machines in their own respective ways. My CVT with 19K miles has become much quicker off the line and turbine smooth as the miles have piled up. My '04 MCS is tons of fun also with the slick and precise 6-speed Getrag gearbox and in 2,500 miles not a single problem. Both cars are incredible fun and they both deliver different driving experiences.

The CVT is one heck of an amazing car...we took it to the blue ridge mountains just this past fall and the Steptronic felt right at home in the curvy Blue Ridge Parkway...we felt like riding in a roller coaster...what fun!.

I understand your dilemma, so what you need to do is to really look at your everyday driving environment (Tons of traffic or open highway, etc), your performance expectations from the car (Ability to do mods, etc) and of course your pocketbook.


Either way, you just can't go wrong. Best of luck and have fun deciding. If you have any specific questions between the MCS and the Cooper CVT, feel free to send me a PM.

 

*Cooper4us: I really dig all your open-minded posts

 

>>*Cooper4us: I really dig all your open-minded posts


Thanks!