I know most of you are going to be like MCS! MCS!, but first let me tell you my scenario. Im a freshman in college, and im going to be working at walmart to make the payments. Stduent loans pay for my college, and my parents give me enough money to feed me. Ill prolly have to work quite a bit to make the payments, but is it worth the extra work time to get the MCS? With a $1000 deductable my monthly insurance will be $150 on the MC. About how much more would it be for the MCS? Thank you all for your responses! :smile:

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"We must be the change we wish to see." -Mahatma Gandhi

 

I have a Feb 2002 build MINI Cooper 5-speed and it is great.

I love the looks and fuel economy better then the MCS.

I think it will have better reliability also, but people will
disagree with me there.

Don;t think the MCS is the only deal. Look at the sales numbers.
MC outsold MCS 90% of the months they were on sale.

 

Try searching around a bit; this is probably the number one discussed topic in this forum. My vote is for the Cooper, based on price, looks, fuel economy, insurance costs, and long term reliability.
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"Meine dispatcher says there is something wrong with deine cable"

 

Yeah, I like the look of the MC a bit better too. I get to test drive tomorrow!!! Another question, is the upgraded sound system a lot better, or is the factory sound system ok?

 

I feel that MC might be a better choice for you as a student. I personally place emphasis on education over driving a cool car. You can always upgrade to a MCS, once you finish college and have a better income. The question you have to ask yourself is - will the extra hours of work compromise your school work? . :smile:

 

>>Another question, is the upgraded sound system a lot better, or is the factory sound system ok?

Bring a CD with your favorite songs to the dealership, listen and compare the 2 systems. Even without HK, the OEM system is quite nice. You can save the $550 for now and if needed, upgrade to better speakers and even add an amp later. :smile:

 

Honestly, if you're on a budget a new car is bad idea. For 1/2 the price of a new MC, you can get alot of different cars that would be fun and reliable.

 

See which one you like more. Coopers have a more classic look... but get one before '05 if you want to keep that (the bumperettes are disappearing... still looks nice, but will look more like an S)

If you like the sporty look, go for the S.

 

I agree with early_apex on the idea of finding a used car that is a couple years old. Such as a sunfire or something along those lines will save you a TON of money. I love my MINI Cooper, but I wouldn't have bought one right out of school just going to college. If you really have your heart set on a MINI, get the Cooper and then upgrade after college if you want to. I have the HK system and really enjoy it. The money you save getting the option will save you probably about $1000 in the future. The HK reciever looks the same yet has a couple different things that the base stereo has, so have the salesman show you all about it before you test them both out and make your choice.

 

The monthly insurance policy difference between my '02 Cooper CVT and '04 MCS is $7 per month or $84 more per year. Both cars are insured with State Farm mutual. (But I am 32, married with perfect driving record).

How old are u? If you are under 25, male and single you will pay thru your nose for insurance coverage whether you get the MC or MCS, so factor these added costs into your final decision.

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'02 Cooper CVT PW/B, Bone stock (Hers)
'04 MCS CR/W/Chrome Grille and mirror caps (His)

 

Both, MC and MCS are great cars. If I were you and could afford a new one right out of High School, I would pick a 5-speed Cooper with just HK added and front fog lights. A "Base" Cooper is an absolute fun car for the money.

Remember that insurance costs may prevent you from buying the car at all.

 

I am getting a MCS, but I am not a student working at "Against the" Walmart. If I were you, then I would opt for the MC, not the MCS. It is a fine car and will be cheaper to insure and pay off.

As far as MC selling more cars per month than MCS, well Duh, MINI makes and imports more MC per month than the MCS model.

 

I dont listen to rap at all, so i dont need "that extra bump", which im assuming the HK is for..........am i wrong?

 

You don't really need the HK, and aftermarket systems are available for less than $500 if you want to upgrade the sound system later.

My advice: if money is tight (and often even if not), get the MC, not the MCS. The only "must have" option I can think of is the MFSW.

 

>>I dont listen to rap at all, so i dont need "that extra bump", which im assuming the HK is for..........am i wrong?


The HK is an audiophile sound system tuned specifically for the acoustics of the MINI interior. This is not a system designed for blasting music onto other cars around you in traffic.

If you want to learn more about the HK stereo, read this excellent document that will give you an idea of what this system is capable of doing. I don't like aftermarket stereos, so the HK was the best alternative in terms of sound quality, price and full factory warranty backing. (And with all due respect top the previous poster, you can't achieve the HK sound quality and DSP digital signal processing features for less than $500 going the aftermarket route..that is an oxymoron).

I have HK in my '04 MCS and the standard Boost CD stereo in my '02 Cooper CVT. The standard Boost CD stereo is decent but it lacks bass response and the treble is on the weak side. The HK remedies this and other deficiencies of the basic stereo system.

http://www.bridger.us/mini/?Y=2003&M...SystemReviewed

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'02 Cooper CVT PW/B, Bone stock (Hers)
'04 MCS CR/W/Chrome Grille and mirror caps (His)

 

My vote is for the MC. I'm very happy with mine; two years, 25k miles of problem-free motoring. Plenty of juice and the mileage is better than the MCS. Why not dress it up a bit with some functional options, like the sport package or heated seats if you live in a cold climate. I would recommend the base sound system, and then upgrade aftermarket if you need to. I could have bought either one, and I'm glad I went with the MC. I even test drove the 04 MCS to see if I wanted to trade up, but I'm sticking with my MC.

 

>>I dont listen to rap at all, so i dont need "that extra bump", which im assuming the HK is for..........am i wrong?


yep, that's wrong- all music sounds better on a better system. the H/K wasn't available when I ordered my mini, and I can't believe how much better my aftermarket system sounds. even classical music benefits from a better bass!


I also chose the MC over the MCS mainly because I love the looks of the MC, and I have been extremely happy with the performance aspect.

 

While I really like the MC, the MCS is a better drive and just the increased torque alone makes it worthwhile to jump over. Also the MCS has excellent stock mechanical enhacements over the MC (not just the supercharger) that make the car deliver more solid performance and increased durability. (Like the 6-speed Getrag transmission, oil coolers, etc)

I love my MC CVT it is a mighty fun car, but the MCS just takes the experience to a whole new level. You can add the JCW kit later on to a MCS, something not even available in the MC

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'02 Cooper CVT PW/B, Bone stock (Hers)
'04 MCS CR/W/Chrome Grille and mirror caps (His)

 

I chose the MC (over 13K on my PS/B) for looks as I like the chrome touches and the hood w/out the scoop is much more graceful, IMO. That being said, I have a CR/W JCW MCS ordered. I've gotten used to the look of the scoop, and I can live w/ it. The added benefits in terms of performance are what I'm after at this point, but I still love getting behind the wheel of my Cooper- it's a kick in the pants and quick enough to make a spirited drive on snakey roads way too much fun.

 

:smile: JiBiS, Why not look into buying a used MINI...Cooper or MCS? That may work best for you! I've owned both a Cooper 5-speed and now my MCS, and love both of them. Can't go wrong either way!

 

I own the MCS but there is a niggling suspicion in my mind that the MC will in the end turn to be a better car long term. I also think that for competition purposes (i.e. autocross or BMWCCA club racing anyways) life is much simpler with an MC.
Ann Randers syas given your situation young man, go get thee an MC. Even the CVT is cool and a harbinger of things to come. You could even Autocross w/it!!

 

With a $1000 deductable my monthly insurance will be $150 on the MC. About how much more would it be for the MCS? Thank you all for your responses! :smile:


We just bought a MCS and already have a MC, the insuarnce difference was only 456 per six months vs 448, my wife and I both have a couple of speeding tickets so I know we did not get the good driver dicount. The MC looks better in my opinion then the MCS but the MCS is more fun to drive. If I were on a budget I would go with the MC, the lower cost more classic looks and its just about as fun to drive as an S would out weigh the extra performance of the S.

 

You're going to work at Walmart just to make payments on a new car? What are you smoking? Buy a car for $1,000 and pay cash as soon as you've saved it. Insure it for liability only. Then go back to school until you have a degree that gets you a real job. Only then should you contemplate a new car. To do otherwise condemns you to mediocrity.

 

As a 23 year old male I am paying 644 dollars every 6 months for comprehensive with a 1000$ deductable. Insurance companies don't know the difference between the two and if yours does find one that does. Mine looks at the car as a two door hatchback with a 1.6L engine. Not too much of a risk, seeing as how most cars that fit that description can't go over 90.

 

I hate to tell you this, but I agree with this sentiment. Unless you have a full time job, it doesn't make a lot of sense to buy a new car. You'll end up being hostage to the payments.