Another issue that has not been addressed is that probably 9 out of 10 people that make these kinds of comments have never even driven a Mini, regardless of the model. I have an S and people always say to me, "Glad you bought the S I bet". If I ask them which model they've driven, they usually say none. They just get their opinions from magazines and adds. Please don't start to hate S owners, I think most of us are on your side! If you got a Mini, any year, any make, even if its a ragged out piece of crap, your a pal of mine. Hell, my first mini was an 84 Mayfair. It barely started some mornings, but I loved every minute of it. Most people wanted to borrow my 84 just because it WAS a Mini.

Frank

 

I tend to measure in smiles per dollar.

For me the S will win
For my SO the Cooper is more than enough
And the Miata now woops a Cobra

 

I bought the s because the articles I read indicated I could duplicate the performance of my"81 Porsche at a bargain price.During the test drive I was elated to find the s exceeded the Porsche handling.I returned to the dealership at the end of the test drive to order the off white color with the black roof,a great retro color.I had to " settle" for the dark silver and black.I driven both and love both cars.I do wish both cars could have all color and interior selections.
Don't debate too long over which model to buy, just buy.Soon you too will have that all knowing look;that look that comes from a recent religious experience,a major unexpected inheritance,doing way too much acid in your youth,or driving a mini. Mike

 

MCS owner and no attitude toward MC...if I had to do it over again I'd probably buy the MC and would agree the performance is not as big a difference as I thought it would be (actually test drove only the MC in spring of 2002 and bought the MCS since there was not one to test drive at that time, so bought based on what I thought the difference would be). The 115 hp rating on the MC I think is very conservative since it is definitely much quicker than the regular bug rated at 115. I think the difference between MC & MCS is greater at high end than low end based on driving both cars, both models are pretty dismal under 2500 rpms, so either model you need to keep rpms over 3000 to eliminate the sloggishness from lack of torque....ironically I had to modify my MCS more like the MC by getting rid of the heavy 17" rims and awful runflats which cost me over 1K. I do wish the MCS had a spare like the MC and I do wish it didn't have the hood scoop which I really don't like. I did remove the rear spoiler which I really didn't like the looks, but just personal preference.

In regard to salespeople at the dealership telling you to buy the MC because the MCS is not worth the difference, that is probably due to the fact that they can get far more MC's than MCS's and want to get you a car right away instead of waiting on your check for the MCS, so I would discount that totally..it's the car business at it's best or worst, laugh!

My suggestion....go drive them both, decide if you can live without the spare as you will definitely want to eventually get rid of the runflats and decide which one you like the looks of best.....

 

I don't need no stinking S!!

My Cooper w sport seats/suspension is plenty entertaining. Just keep the revs above 4k and corner hard! If you can't have fun driving a base Cooper, you've got major psychological problems that a supercharger will not cure.

Cooper drivers unite!
Overthrow the arrogant 'S' oppressors!
The revolution will NOT be supercharged!!

 

I had a MCS on order. Had test driven the 'S' and thought that it was what I HAD to have. After reading recent posts here, I went back to my dealer today and drove a MC. The following things swayed my decision from a MCS to a MC.

1. Performance difference, although noticeable, to me was not significant.
2. Price difference IS significant.
3. Better fuel economy.
4. Spare tire.

That being said, I really did like the 'S', I just realistically don't see the need for myself personally to go 135+ mph. If I was going to autocross or race or MOD my Cooper out, I'd definitely lean towards the 'S'. But mine is to get me back and forth to work, in a vehicle that is fun to drive, gets decent mileage, and looks damn good. MC vs MCS? No real right or wrong answer, just what fits best for each particular driver. MOTOR ON.

T J

ps - I hope to have this car for a while and can see passing it on to the kids when they start driving in 6-8 years, and I'd rather the kids NOT have an 'S'. Maybe then, I'll get myself the 'S'.

pss - Due to the dealer's allotment, going from a MCS to the MC looks like it may move my date up from June to May. Not the reason I switched, just a nice bonus.
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IB/W MC Premium, Sport & Cold Combo

Waitlist 2/15/03

 

I initially went looking for the S, and if one was in stock...may have ended up with it. BUT, being the impatient type, I wanted the car then. Loved the color combo of my Indi Blue MC and the stripes, rally lights etc. And comparing the 115 HP of my MC to my previous VW GTI, there is no comparison. Handling wise as well. After 12,000 miles, it performs better all the time. I have test driven the S a few times now since I have gotten the car, partly due to the fact that every time I turn around I am reading that "You have to get the S. Have to." It's definitely quicker, but I really like my MC, and I know if I didn't read every article and every thread on performance, I'd never be tempted. Any S owners I have met at meets have never indulged in the S snobbery either. At the Rogue and Helix performance gatherings I went to, didn't feel like the kid sitting alone at the cafeteria either. Great community of owners, have had plenty of S owners beam me on the roads as well. Either way, it's a great little car with highly impressive handling characteristics.

 

We are definitely all in this together. If I ever get the attitude that an "S is better" comes people that don't drive either cars. I've been told that I wasted my time in not getting the supercharged version. But look what that guy was driving....I believe it was a riced-out Honda Civic.

I think that all MINI owners look out for each other....we're like a family!

 

I bet that riced out civic still had stock hubcaps on its steel wheels? Heehee.

 

I have an MCS and I like it because I like to go fast. I have nothing against MC owners, because if you own a mini I like you.

 

Weel I can see that owning a MINI brings unity. So for the few (HEE HAW) S owners out ther I should just let it roll off my shoulders. I now know there are more true to life MINI owners out there, then the ones that just want to look cool.
I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! and gals too. :smile:

 

I haven't driven the Cooper, but I have an MCS on order, and have driven many. I never considered the Cooper, since the Cooper S is the higher performance-for-the-cost-of-ride-comfort-and-gas-milage, which is my preference. There was no question for me which model I wanted. My first impressions of the S were that it was much "softer" and more usable as a daily driver than I was expecting, so I can imagine the Cooper would feel downright flabby to me. I drive an //M3 currently, and had an order for a Honda S2000 before cancelling for the MCS (needed more utility than a 2-seat 'vert could offer, I realized).

 

Drove a Cooper - Loved it.

Drove a Cooper S - Loved it more.

Its really that simple.

Both are amazing cars, and in the end it just comes down to personal taste.

I LOVE the extra horses, I LOVE the hood scoop, I LOVE the Six-Speed, and I'm ABSOLUTELY CRAZY about my Lapis Blue interior.

But most of all, I love the fact that there's no speed limit where I live!

( just the limits imposed by common sense and responsibility..)

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2003 DARK SILVER / WHITE MCS.