Ward’s editors nominated 29 engines for Best Engines consideration. All must be available in regular production ’03 vehicles and all are judged against one another – there are no categories or other means of artificial competition. Eligible engines also must be fitted in vehicles with a base price of less than $52,500, a modest 5% increase from the original $50,000 price cap that has been in place since 1995.

All that being said, the Cooper S engine was on the 10 best of 2003 list!!!

Take a looksy!

R

 

Nice quote from the article

"As the anointed senior mullah of the Anti-Displacement Taliban here at Ward's, let me take the opportunity to sing the praises of the most powerful 1.6L engine we’ve ever tested.

The supercharged Mini Cooper S is a riot to drive, and it’s reasonably priced at under $21,000. On fuel economy (24 mpg city, 33 mpg highway), it destroys the nearest competition: both the highly regarded 240-hp 2L in the Honda S2000 and Volkswagen AG’s 1.8L turbo, a returning winner. "

 

I wish I could get 24mpg.

 

Excellent news! This should silence some of the most recalcitrant critics of the 1.6L Tritec engine. Although I have a regular Cooper, I still find the normal aspirated 1.6L to be a very refined powerplant and power delivery in the mid to upper ranges is excellent. I have never driven before a small engine so smooth as this, not even my '95 Acura Integra's 1.8L DOHC 142HP engine can touch it.

I am looking forward to the BMW-Peugeot engines for the next generation MINI, but for now I am very happy with the performance, smoothness, refinement and fuel economy afforded by the current Tritec.

Also, having a timing chain instead of a timing belt is a big plus in my book.

 

To Quote Judge Tom Murphy :

As the anointed senior mullah of the Anti-Displacement Taliban here at Ward's, let me take the opportunity to sing the praises of the most powerful 1.6L engine we’ve ever tested.

The supercharged Mini Cooper S is a riot to drive, and it’s reasonably priced at under $21,000. On fuel economy (24 mpg city, 33 mpg highway), it destroys the nearest competition: both the highly regarded 240-hp 2L in the Honda S2000 and Volkswagen AG’s 1.8L turbo, a returning winner.

To Quote Judge Eric Mayne :

Arguably, no ride provided more surprise and delight than the Mini Cooper S. Its supercharged 1.6L I-4 was downright sassy.

But it was no blow-hard, either. The intrinsic whine was audibly reassuring, yet unobtrusive.

As Bill Visnic says in his judges’ memo on the Mini: "There’s always fun when a supercharger’s involved."

The same might be said of a turbocharger. With one exception. The Chrysler PT Turbo’s 2.4L I-4 confirmed to me that some things can suck and blow at the same time.

MOTOR ON !

 

2minis,
I've been driving pretty darn hard since right after break-in and have averaged about 23mpg with 95% in-town driving. Nothing compared to my ex, a smog blowing VW TDI, but much more fun.

 

Cute new sig there Orbhot.

R

 

I like that: "We've won another award".

Can I put it on my coffee table for a week? I'll send it to the next MCOer after I'm finished showing off "our" award!

(It does feel "community" though, doesn't it?)

 

Whats the "we" stuff and the "our" award? All I did was buy a car I like and enjoy driving. BMW won the award.

 

orbhot .... Nice Tux, uh, I mean, Nice Car!