R50/53 To S or not to S
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 413
Likes: 0
From: Dublin, NH
1st. I love the fact that the MCS only comes in a manual transmission... I always thought it was silly to have a sports car with an automatic transmission.
2nd. I'm more sport driving oriented. You may not be.
I went with the MCS because I loved driving it. I did think about getting the regular Cooper but I couldn't resist the hood scoop and the extra power. I debated long and hard over the sunroof option (as well as the white wheels option). I was mainly worried about weight and stress. However, I've wanted a convertable for a while and I was looking around for one when I found the MINI. While it wasn't a convertable I liked the way it looked and handled.
If you want a car mainly for going to and from work, the Cooper may be the best for you. A cooper with 16" wheels, a new exhaust and intake is an option if you want just a little more from it.
While you can still do these same mods on the Cooper S, you may not feel the need to. I love my MCS and I haven't regretted it since. (Though I am now on a budget to try and save up for a future wedding... luckily I ordered the MCS before I got engaged and she didn't ask me to cancel the order... I think she likes it too
) I'll probably end up doing a few things to it eventually, it is mainly because I like to tinker, not because I necessarily feel it needs it. (Though I do need to get rid of the runflats as they are rather hard)
If you get the MCS, you'll have a lot of fun... If you get the Cooper, you'll have a lot of fun. I haven't had the sunroof in the hot summer yet but if it gets too hot I'm considering getting a perferated sunroof which should (in combination with the shades) reduce the sun a little more.
-Chris
2nd. I'm more sport driving oriented. You may not be.
I went with the MCS because I loved driving it. I did think about getting the regular Cooper but I couldn't resist the hood scoop and the extra power. I debated long and hard over the sunroof option (as well as the white wheels option). I was mainly worried about weight and stress. However, I've wanted a convertable for a while and I was looking around for one when I found the MINI. While it wasn't a convertable I liked the way it looked and handled.
If you want a car mainly for going to and from work, the Cooper may be the best for you. A cooper with 16" wheels, a new exhaust and intake is an option if you want just a little more from it.
While you can still do these same mods on the Cooper S, you may not feel the need to. I love my MCS and I haven't regretted it since. (Though I am now on a budget to try and save up for a future wedding... luckily I ordered the MCS before I got engaged and she didn't ask me to cancel the order... I think she likes it too
) I'll probably end up doing a few things to it eventually, it is mainly because I like to tinker, not because I necessarily feel it needs it. (Though I do need to get rid of the runflats as they are rather hard)If you get the MCS, you'll have a lot of fun... If you get the Cooper, you'll have a lot of fun. I haven't had the sunroof in the hot summer yet but if it gets too hot I'm considering getting a perferated sunroof which should (in combination with the shades) reduce the sun a little more.
-Chris
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,365
Likes: 2
From: Yinzer in Exile
I was hellbent on getting a Cooper. In fact, I was totally, 100%, thoroughly and completely AGAINST the S. Bad fuel economy, I thought. Excessive, I thought. Unnecessary for the likes of me, with literally no prior experience with a stick. Pure, unadulterated siliness to spend the extra money.
Now, if you'll note my info at the bottom of this post, I have an S. I decided to have my boyfriend test drive it for me. Just cause. Something to do. Yeah, if you think you might not want an S, don't even test drive it, because getting in that Cooper after wailing around in the S was uninspiring, to say the very least--and its not like the Cooper is any slouch, either. The S, in my obvious opinion, is just that much cooler.
AND... my fuel economy has been excellent (i.e above and beyond EPA estimations, by hand calculation). So I'm having tons of guilt-free motoring fun.
Do it! Do it! Love it! Love it!
~Kelley
Now, if you'll note my info at the bottom of this post, I have an S. I decided to have my boyfriend test drive it for me. Just cause. Something to do. Yeah, if you think you might not want an S, don't even test drive it, because getting in that Cooper after wailing around in the S was uninspiring, to say the very least--and its not like the Cooper is any slouch, either. The S, in my obvious opinion, is just that much cooler.
AND... my fuel economy has been excellent (i.e above and beyond EPA estimations, by hand calculation). So I'm having tons of guilt-free motoring fun.
Do it! Do it! Love it! Love it!
~Kelley
Neutral
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Dickinson TX
It's really a matter of needs and wants. If you just need the car to handle the 70-100mph range effectively, then the Cooper will do nicely, with a smaller pricetag and less fuel costs. I also prefer the looks of the Cooper to the MCS, and I haven't yet seen a MCS that I like better than my red Cooper with 16" white wheels and chrome bumpers.
I just made the Houston/Dallas/back run this weekend, and found that my Cooper is really, REALLY happy to cruise along at 90mph. This seems to be it's "happy speed" when it just FEELS like it's going it's preferred tempo. The car also handles amazingly well at that speed, and never once did I feel that I was unsafe. My previous Honda del Sol would make 90mph just fine, but it scared the hell out of me once it got past 85. The Cooper seems to go "aaahhhh" and feel right at home at exactly 90mph. I pushed it to 95 or so a time or two with no loss of handling or increased worry. It will do fine on a SoCal freeway![img]null[/img]
I just made the Houston/Dallas/back run this weekend, and found that my Cooper is really, REALLY happy to cruise along at 90mph. This seems to be it's "happy speed" when it just FEELS like it's going it's preferred tempo. The car also handles amazingly well at that speed, and never once did I feel that I was unsafe. My previous Honda del Sol would make 90mph just fine, but it scared the hell out of me once it got past 85. The Cooper seems to go "aaahhhh" and feel right at home at exactly 90mph. I pushed it to 95 or so a time or two with no loss of handling or increased worry. It will do fine on a SoCal freeway![img]null[/img]
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 0
From: Lockport, NY, USA
Test drive them back to back, and let yourself decide.
My rule of thumb is that if you do a lot of city driving, (esp. winter city driving), spend the money on options.. if you're going to do a lot of highway/open rural road driving, by all means, go for the S...
But personally, I noticed a HUGE difference between the MC and the MCS with two adults, so if you have a dealer that lets you take a test drive by yourself, bring a friend or two so you can get a better feel for the car...
Rocketboy_X
My rule of thumb is that if you do a lot of city driving, (esp. winter city driving), spend the money on options.. if you're going to do a lot of highway/open rural road driving, by all means, go for the S...
But personally, I noticed a HUGE difference between the MC and the MCS with two adults, so if you have a dealer that lets you take a test drive by yourself, bring a friend or two so you can get a better feel for the car...
Rocketboy_X
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Sweden
Testdrive is the way to go. I bought a MC in september 2001, the car was delivered in Jan 2002 owned it for seven months and 23000km. Then I saw the Cooper S a few weeks prior the the release in Sweden, took it for a testdrive and what to say, seven weeks left to the arrival of my MCS, I think that the MCS had all things I´ve missed in the MC (torque etc.)