I drove both on my test drive day. Drove the MCS first, and was pretty disappointed when the numbers came back too high for me to afford it. I took that disappointment right to the MC and gave it the same run. Any disappointment I had was wiped clean by the mile wide smile on my face.

For all the reasons everyone said above, plus a thousand more that I can't even place into print, I also love my MC and even with all the money in the world wouldn't switch.

The MCS is awesome as well, but I do not regret the decision to get the MC.

 

I test drove both the Cooper and the S, but the both went the same speed in traffic, and the same speed around the corners (the only chance to accelerate around here). But all that chrome looked much faster to me. The lack of chrome just looked like a hunk o' plastic so I bought the S and saved $5k. Yes, I have always been a sucker for shinier things.

I have since decided that maybe I will get the S next time around, but I am a little too crazy for it yet. The Cooper keeps me out of trouble, which is the most important thing to me.

 

Yes, yes I am. The thought of getting a MC first started brewing for me in October of last year when I had the opportunity to have a MCc for a day.


I was shocked at how much pick-up it had with the revised gearing, even with the additional weight of the top.


Isn't that what i said?


Thanks! :smile: I swore to myself that this time it would be different, that somehow I would be better about it and not check the OL three times a day for updates:impatient but truth be told, I think I'm more excited about this new MC than I was back in '02.

Definitely.

Mid November can't come soon enough.

I like your thinking.

 

For some reason, had seen G-stock in my mind's eye.

 

Y'all are making me jealous! I didn't even bother to test drive the MC when I ordered my car last year. I just looked at the numbers and figured it would be too slow.

Don't get me wrong - I love my MCS, but now that I'm 14 months into MCS-sized payments and paying $3 for gas, I kinda wish I would have at least given the MC a chance.

Happy motoring to all - MCs and MCSs alike!

EDIT: Okay - went up to the mountains east of San Diego on Saturday, and am no longer jealous of MC owners! A trip up the steep, South Grade of Mt. Palomar proved that the MCS is exactly what I need. Maybe I don't need it every day, but it was nice to play with it on Saturday.

 

Its not all about power numbers....gotta look into gearing and the most important thing....lightweight! :smile:

Both are amazing cars

 

Another Cooper lover here...

I love mine even more after my last driver's ed / track event. I passed a completely stock MCS (twice) and was staying even with an S with all the aftermarket go-fast parts (wheels, tires, springs, ECU, intake, exhaust, and pulley).

That's on my Cooper with Goodyear F1 tires, Hawk HPS brake pads, JCW suspension with RDR rear swaybar, and Borla exhaust. Everyone at the tracks / autocrosses loves the sound of the Borla on a Cooper.

And I love pulling into the infield at a track day and having everyone be surprised when I tell them my MINI is not the supercharged one. Then they get even more surprised when I tell them it only has ~115hp.

 

I love the MC In fact I'm on my second one Like DID says, the 05 with the new gearing is so much peppier than my 03 was. Along with the top down experience, it's the best car I've ever owned

Lois

 

I bought my 03 MC off the lot compulsively. At the time, I was told that the MC would be better for my commute (100 mi round)..... I only drove the MC so I guess I really don't know what I'm missing without the "S". I will say that after I got my MC I suffered from "S Envy" for quite some time. I bought S-Lites and S-Side skirts... I guess my thought was to take the things that I liked about the S and put them on my MC... I love the look of the lil sucka! And, the first week I had it, I got my first speeding tik in over 20 years! Yes, I love my slightly "S-Modded" MC...


LL

 

This quote is from another thread, but it definitely belongs to be posted here too.

 

too bad you pulled it from my MC traitor thread

i love my MC to death... it just needs that whine!

 

then mod it.....a throttle body will make your MC howl

 

OK, don't throw stones at me yet (S owner here)... I was given a MCC as a loaner last month when I took my S in for it's 25K service. I've always loved the convertibles and was thrilled to get one for a day.

Having never driven a Cooper before, and always being told (by other S owners) that I wouldn't like it, I was pleasantly surprised at how peppy the car was. I was doing 90 on the highway before I knew what happened.

Even though it was a heavier convertible, the steering felt extremely nimble, maybe more so than my S. And I have always admired the cleaner look of the nose of the Cooper compared to the S.

Suffice to say I am now planning on getting myself a convertible in the spring and it will be a Cooper! Of course, I'm keeping the S too. Can't bring myself to part with Nittany.

 

I especially love Eggbert more than I would a MCS when the insurance bill shows up

 

That makes two of us (MCS owners) that were impressed enough with the MCc to consider ordering up MC's. Mind you I didn't put my order in for about 11 months after my day with the '05 MCc, but that day with the MCc was the beginning of the end for my '02 MCS whether or not I knew it at the time.

What colors/specs are you kicking around for your MCc?

 

I'm leaning heavily toward PW with a blue top. I was considering the dark blue leather interior, but then I learned that it has orange stitching. I hate orange. So now I'm thinking of going with the grey leatherette and eventually getting some dark blue Wet Okole seat covers.

Having lived with Nittany for 2 years now, I've decided there are a lot of bells and whistles that I just don't really need in the MCC. That will help keep the cost down without sacrificing any of the features that I consider "must haves". :smile:

Hoping to save up a lot of money over the winter so I can have a nice big downpayment in the spring.

 

When I went from a Cooper to my S, the insurance was about $6 different. Not a big difference, eh?


Clover

 

I think it's just the Blue Leather / Orange Cloth ($800) that has the orange stitching. I'm pretty sure the Blue Leather ($1300) doesn't have orange stitching.

I'm right there with you. My MCS has premium, sport, and leather. My MC is going to be pretty stripped by comparison.

 

Every time I start thinking about my next MINI, I keep gravitating back to a Cooper. An S just seems like cheating. If I had enough money and a place to keep a second car, I'd build up a track car Cooper - as light as possible and with all the suspension, brake, and tire goodies. I already love watching people's reaction at the track when I explain to them that my MINI is not the supercharged one and only has around 115hp.

 

not all of us are older women

 

I love my MC too, but have never driven an MCS. The CVT is awesome, although a bit slow off the line, but once you get moving it's fantastic. I've driven the earlier 5-speed tranny MC and it was great too. I agree wholeheartedly that weight is extremely important with the MC. Hopefully, there will be more light weight parts we can add, such as carbon fiber body parts, and anything else that can save a lot of weight.

 

That's what I thought but I did a little looking around on the UK site and it would appear that the blue leather also has the orange stitching. I will verify that before I place any order. I can't do anything until after this winter anyway so I've got plenty of time to research.

Same here. My S is pretty much fully loaded minus Nav and PDC. The MCC will have very little in it by comparison.

 

Yay for Coopers!

My wife and I are going to The Dealer this Friday for my service and hopefully an order for another Cooper.

Ohhhhh yeah....

 

I just sold my 200+ hp DINAN S last week, and my wife has a solid Jet black Cooper, blk/gray leatherette seats and the fender trim painted to match the car. I love her car, I mean for every day driving and probably in auto cross hers would be just fine. BUT, I have to admit, after driving "The Beast" for two years, the power and performance is like a drug! I am ordering another S, only I'm going with JCW instead of DINAN this time. I always clear my throat and nicley correct someone when they tell me; mine's JUST a Cooper. Ain't nothin wrong with that. I ride a Harley Davidson Sporster and I'm proud of that. Most people that have Sportsters say "mine's just a Sportster". I ride it because that's my favorite Harley, not because it costs less. Motor on wicha Coopa!

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bullfrog
Rise up, Cooper peasants!

Throw off the oppression of the compressor elitists!
Oops, sorry. My radical streak flaired up there for a second.

Seriously, I love all MINI's. MC's and MCS's are both light, small, and quick, but actually, even an MCS is not all that straight-line fast. There are a lot of cars that will beat 6.8 secs to 60. The key to all MINI's is that they are quick. That's a lot different than fast, and it's where MINI's shine. I personally prefer driving the Cooper because it's more subtle, it feels more nimble to me, and it's a little purer in it's British sports car interpretation, (to me), but I understand completely why an MCS can be so appealing. It speaks well for the designers that they came up with such a versatile platform, in that it can be a growling tire-smoking asphalt pounder, or a light-footed gazelle. I've never found another car that was as much fun to live with, and I smile everytime I walk out and see it sitting on the far end of the parking lot. Build it like you want it. I just ain't buying the idea that because the Frog doesn't have a super-charger, my life is somehow incomplete.