I'm sort of a newbie to the Mini scene, but i was wondering how well the basic Cooper handled stock. If their are any after market parts that aren't too expensive and are the most effective I'd like to know of any. Thanks

 

I'm not into modding,so I can't help you on that.But my MC handles great.I don't motor real hard,but I have been known to get a little spirited.
The standard fare SUVs,1/2 tons,and even the VWs can't keep up in the twisties

 

I've read around that the Cooper handles better than the MCS. And also with many people saying just getting a simple aftermarket swaybar made their car feel like a "whole new car".

 

I motor hard. I'm constantly pushing my 2003 MC, like I'm riding a motorcycle (I used to ride them years ago). That is, I'm the first one to take off at a stop light (turn DSC off at take off), and driving in my own cushion of space---not speeding mind you, just accelerating fast to the speed limit. Do the MTH ecu mod which makes a huge performance difference for our MC's. My favorite gear is 3rd gear at 6,000 RPM, and I cruise in 4th gear at 4,000 rpm at 75MPH.

Other than that and an intake, my MC is stock. I've got the Sport Suspension and Yokohama AVS-ES100s and the ride is still firm, but a bit cushier than my previous OEM runflats. I haven't done any suspension mods. I like to run the canyons too, and have been happy with everything as stock.

Richard

 

While my MCS has already been built and is awaiting shipment, I sometimes wish I'd a ordered justa regular MINI. I drove one, and it handled great. Smiles all the way. Completely bone stock, it was the cat's meow.

The MAIN reason I went with the S is because I like the midrange performance on the crowded NorCal freeways.

If I still lived in the Hoosier Sate, I'd getta MINI Cooper.

 

Like Richard says,3rd is the best gear in a MC,and like him I'm the first to get to the posted limit.That is not driving hard,thats just using what you got to get there without spinning tires,or mashing gears.The MC is quick,and very nimble.I have the sport suspension.Going through twisties is a hoot.Going 125 MPH through long sweeping curves feels rock solid

 

I think virtually all MINIs out-handle most other cars out there on the road. It's their "thing," so to speak. Bone stock, its awesome.

Some people go for a rear sway bar for handling improvements, but I've heard you gotta push the car pretty hard get the real benefit of it. On normal streets, the addition might not be too noticable.

I've got a standard suspension on my 1/03 build...I got it because I carry passengers a lot and, back in the day, word was that this setup was the least harsh. It's been great for me (...as fun to drive as my old Spitfire) and I haven't had any reason to want more. Makes me think that all MINIs are really just plain good. Mine's just crazy!!!

Modding, imo, is a very personal thing. I've modded nothing (okay, very little) and my Cooper is perfectly consistent with everything I could hope for or dream up...so I just drive it and keep it shiney! Most folks here on NAM love to fidget, so mods are constantly being discussed and compared.

I think with any MINI, you have to find your own sense of balance with the car to make it fit you perfectly. For some, that takes some doin' (depending on how they'll use the car), but I expect for most (judging from all the ecstatic test-drive and first-drive reports) MINIs are pretty awesome to begin with.

Personally (and this is just me) I'd recommend someone get the MINI they want and then drive it awhile and tweek based on that experience. In my opinion, it takes a little time to guage the car's capablilties, which are substantial.

I must admit, as a disclaimer, that I've been cautious w/ mods as I very much appreciate and value my warranty.

 

Interesting thread, as my wife just bought an '04 DS/B MCS, loaded to the gills, and we've been discussing adding a second MINI to our household. I was thinking about getting a Cooper, but after owning and driving an S, would the Coop feel as fun, or would the difference in the two cars be real obvious? I think I might need to head to the dealer and drive both back-to-back to compare. . .but with the $$ I'd save not getting another S, well, I could put some fun mods on the Coop. . .decisions, decisions, decisions. . .

 

Hmmmm....good question. If I had an MCS already sitting in the driveway and was going to get another MINI, I think I'd have to go ahead and get another MCS, just because I'd constantly be comparing the two and having to decide between them. That'd be too awkward. It is a darn good question, though. Given a loaded MCS, what is a good (MINI) companion car?

If I lived in an urban setting, maybe a Cooper CVT would be fun. Or a cabrio.

 

The MC is all about balance. Sometimes I think, dare I say it, that the MCS has TOO much power. I think that, given the right situation, it'll get you into troulbe.

The MC on the other hand is one of those cars that always feels like you're going fast. It's just perfect for buzzing around town!

 

When you go test drive the MC, just remember that both cars are very different. The MC has less power than the MCS, so you maybe disappointed in the powerband of the MC if you drive it like your MCS.

When you test drive the MC, keep the revs up all the time, and keep it between 2nd and 3rd gear (assuming it's a test drive around town). Let the RPM's stay in the 4000 to 5000 rpm range and the Cooper will feel VERY lively.

Sure you don't NEED to push the Cooper like this, but it's a lot more fun than trying to drive it at 2,500 rpm and bogging down at every corner.

If you get to go on the expressway, keep it in 3rd as you merge--reving to 6000 rpm, then end in 4th (75MPH will be around 4,000 rpm). Stay away from 5th unless you just want to see how quiet it is at 3,000 rpm at 75mph. =)

Richard

 

I run my MC at 3500- 6000 rpm all the time.I don't go over the posted limits,unless I'm on the highway,then I go the 10% the mounties give us.
Running this car in the revs where it likes to run,3000-5500,just feels right,the car never balks,and it handles turns,i.e 90 degrees and tighter wonderfully
When on the highway cruising in 5th,great for MPG,and catching up to slow traffic,droping into 4th is normal to make a pass,going to 3rd is not unheard of

 

I got my Cooper with the Standard sports suspension and found that it handled great. When I wanted an improvement on the already great handling, I put H-Sport springs and rear sway bar on. This enhanced the cornering ability and the 1" drop that the springs provide adds a little bit of aggressiveness to the look.

 

I got my '04 MC with the sport package ($1200 option that includes 16" wheels and runflat tires as well as DSC and sport seats), and I also got the sport suspension plus option ($500) that includes slightly stiffer springs, dampeners, and slightly thicker anti-roll bars front and rear. It is a very balanced car for everyday driving. On smooth roads there is no problem at all, but on rough roads it does bounce around a fair bit, but this harshness is as likely due to the stiff sidewalls of the runflats as to the sport suspension plus. At a track day last year there was understeer at the limit. Not a big deal, and probably a good idea as well. You could put in a stiffer aftermarket rear bar, but it would probably be easy to swap ends with that kind of set up. I'll leave those kind of suspension mods to my race car (SCCA ITB); my MC is just fine the way it is!

(Also, be mindful that MINI creates much unnecessary confusion by calling their MC standard suspension "sport suspension" and their optional MC suspension "sport suspension plus" - which, to add more confusion, is the standard suspension on the MCS! Sheesh!)

 

Well, another consideration in possibly adding a second MINI to the stable is that I'd like to get back into SCCA Solo competition (after a 25 year hiatus) and I don't want a dedicated track car. I'd like to run in the stock classes, and I've heard that the MC is better in it's class (G/S, I think?) than the MCS is in it's class (H/S?)

The best solution would be for me to keep the MCS, and get my wife a new MC-C with CVT, but I don't think she'd give up her car if her life depended on it. I wonder if our local dealer ever runs "Buy One, Get One Free" promotions?!?!?

 

You actually have it backwards, the Cooper is in HS and the Cooper S is in GS.

I think that both cars are probably just about the fastest car in their respective class, so you really aren't doing too bad either way.

I run my Cooper in HS, and it is a lot of fun. It does handle very well in stock trim.

 

Gotta agree with most of the posts here. I own a MC and added a rear sway bar and intake. I picked them both up used and at a good price. The car is much more (yes more) fun to drive than stock. You can feel the sway bar immediately and at everyday speeds. Steering is noticably sharper yet no compromise in ride quality. The intake makes such a nice audible difference that it's worth it even if it doesn't add hp. I'm probably a little older than most here so I find the MC is a lot of fun at public road friendly speeds. I get my speed fix at motorcycle track days but the MC makes me smile every day.

 

Thanks for all the answers, and advice. Now I just need to figure out which brand of Sway bar would work the best for my driving. It will be my first car so I won't need the the most race worthy sway bar out there, but I will be turning really sharp and fast a lot, any body got any suggestions for me.

 

stock S bar works very well.. especially if you do not want to get yourself killed... otherwise alta 19mm or alta 19mm works very well for cooper...

get some lowering springs and im sure a cooper can run with the best sport cars

 

Not exactly sure why a sway bar would get you killed. I went with a version you can adjust and had it installed in it's middle setting. Took about an hour for Erik at Helix to install. When I drove out there was a really nice difference. Make sure everything is lubricated properly so there are no squeeks or clunks. Enjoy!!

 

Since I don't have a sway bar, can you feel the difference during general driving, or is it only when you are pushing it hard? What I don't exactly understand is that the MINI already feels like its on rails when cornering, and taking turns at high speed is always a blast. What does this do to the feeling? Does it keep the body from rolling during turns? Just curious.

 

Yes, that is exactly what it does. My understanding is it helps to transfer pressure from the outside of the car (the side that starts leaning on turns) and spread that pressure out to the other corners. You will feel the car dip to the outside to a very limited extent, and then it will NOT go any further! It will eventually (if you are pushing really hard) make the wheels start to slide. The bar I have is the H-Sport, non-competition bar, and I recommend it. It has three settings, I have mine on the middle setting. It also has nice, easy to get to grease zerks. I have heard they can get really squeaky if not lubed often/properly. Here is a blurb I found about the H-Sport sway bar. Note, this is from an ebay auction:

[size=1]About Hotchkis/H-Sport Sport Sway Bar Sets

The Mini Cooper, in stock form, has a tremendous amount of roll as it travels through a corner. Along with that roll, under steer develops and progressively gets worse until you are forced to back-off the throttle to get more weight to the front and subsequently, turn the rear. With the Hotchkis Sport Sway Bar Set installed, turn-in is very crisp and much faster while roll limited through the corner. The Mini now responds very well to quick maneuvers while the outside front and rear tires gain so much grip that they feel as though they have added tire pressure. This Sport Sway Bar Set consists of a tubular, 27mm front sway bar and a tubular 19mm rear sway bar. The front has two positions of adjustability while the rear has three. Polyurethane bushings and bushing brackets front and rear are included as well as 90-degree zerk fittings for easy lubrication. The Sport Set is perfect for aggressive canyon carving and track day events while not being too aggressive for every day street driving. All H Sport Sway Bars are CNC formed with forged ends and all are powder coated black.
Please note: This Kit Is Now Powder Coated Black[/size]

 

I had a fellow in my car today that drives a beater Chev 1/2 ton.We were going for donuts.I don't drive much in the city,and the pot holes are growing big right now,as I was doing some quick moves,staying in my lane,but missing the craters,his comment was his truck would have flipped,or spun out doing those moves.He said it was like driving his motorcycle,except we were sitting side by side