Ok, first remember I'm an MC lover, and have no qualms about showing that I can keep up with MCS's while out on the road. However, there comes a time, when not having to push my car 10/10ths, or not having to make sure the AC is off, or making sure I'm solo with no passengers, becomes highly attractive.

I swapped MINIs for half a day recently, and the MCS owner loved my MC and I loved her MCS. Well, the tight clutch wasn't very fun in traffic, but the fact, I could stomp on the gas, and leave everyone behind was a terrific thrill. That is, I drove her MCS like I drive my MC, and wow. However, there is one thing about this power that I fear.

It would encourage me to do things I know I normally cannot do, like passing someone in a spot that I'd never be able to accelerate to in the MC, etc. In other words, an MCS would enable me to take more risks, and IMO that's bad.

Although I have an '03 MC, the MCS just feels like a better all around MINI with less compromises as a daily driver especially if you like spirited driving like myself. But then again, I have yet to have any extended time with an '05/'06 Cooper.

And what's this about PlaneGuy Swapping MINI's???

 

It was good meeting you too At the moment, I'm running on a set of Azenis which I think have been good for learning how to autox and my first track days. Once they are gone, I want to do the same tire setup as you for autox and find something else that would be good for the occasional HPDE, maybe a nice summer tire, as a set of slicks for that could be bad for someone with little track experience. Hope to see you at more events this summer. We'll probably run at most of the events for the 2 Dayton groups and maybe an occasional Cincy event.

 

Without getting into which car is better, I drove a MC before driving the S. I drove two MCC after purchasing the S. I had the MCC for almost three weeks. So some S owners do have experience with the Cooper.

I thought the 05 gear revision took car of the first gear bog in the S. I bog sometimes but more throttle and a little clutch slip takes care of that very quickly.

With that said, a stripped MCS with LSD is quite a bargain. Too bad I don't have one.

 

I own both. I think the MC and MCS are very different cars. The MC is raw fun, nice sharp handling, peppy off the line and excellent fuel economy. The MC mission is clearly to be something more involving and exciting than your run of the mill econo car.

The MCS' main emphasis is power and top end speed. The MCS is more the "sports" car with less emphasis in fuel economy. It is also a car that affords more modding flexibility.

There is nothing wrong with neither car. Basically it all comes down to your needs/wants and budget.

 

The first gear "bog" present in the MCS (To a lesser or more degree) was caused by the very tall 1st gear ratio in the '02-'04 MCS. I used to own a '04 MCS and this was the most annoying aspect of that car in city driving. MINI got rid of this problem when they revised the gearing for 2005. Totally different car. In my opinion, '02-'04 MCS owners owe to themselves test driving a '05-'06 MCS for comparison sake.

 

I did test drive both the MC and MCS. found both to be excellant. As has already been stated here, I went MCS for the extra "spirited" driving potential. Ours is an 03 and the only thing I am not happy about is the 1st gear ratio, or bog. you do need to get the revs up and slide the clutch a bit. Wish I had an 05 or 06. But we are keeping "Zippy" in the family for a long time.

 

While I have considered buying a new MCS for the gearing, I probably will go with something else when it's time to part with the MINI.

 

I never did. I told the dealer that I wanted a MINI to have fun. He said "if you had told me you were looking for good mileage, I'd have recommended the MC. Since you told me you wanted to have fun, go with the MCS."

This was to be my first manual transmission. The dealer told me that 75% of the manuals he sells are MCSs and that 75% of the automatics he sells are MCs (CVTs, of course).

 

It all boils down to your right foot.

 

So you're saying that if you like to shift (use your left foot), get a Cooper. If you're lazy and want to just hang out in whatever gear you happen to be in, get an MCS.

 

Now not only does my car not "really perform", I have to stop having fun in it too?

 

Well, what about the eighth mile time for a stock mcs?
:impatient

 

You don't get a mini for the raw horse power. It is for the FUN factor. If I wanted 1/8 or 1/4 mile times I would get a '67 corvett or camaro. This is a go cart with a motor.... lots of FUN, with that said, the bigger the go cart motor the more FUN.

 

Are you kidding? Of course!!!!

 

I know this, but I was wondering if they could hold up in a drag race, I know they are for fun and handling.

 

They are both great cars, but the S is well worth the minimal cost difference IMO. Aside from having about 50% more HP and an extra gear, the S also looks substantially better in my eyes.

 

I'm talking about having to hit the accelerator hard all the time to get it going. As was pointed out in another post, this is likely due to the 17" wheels and gear ratio.

Personal opinion, but I found the MC to be more fun to drive (lighter, easier to handle) without HAVING to floor it ALL the time...sure thats fun, but in city traffic it can get to be 'work'...that's all I was trying to say...but maybe I'm just gettin' old

 

Here's another unsolicited opinoin, if both the MC and MCS are/were selling at the same price, I'd still choose the MC.

 

This question is a lot like the one you read about in The Sword in the Stone. The young Wart (SPOILER: later to become King Arthur) notices a mousetrap dangling from the saddle of one of his knights (Sir Pelinore?). Wart asks the knight why he has a mousetrap on his charger. The knight answers, "It's better to have it, and not need it, then to need it, and not have it."

Make sure you order the LSD, too....

(As a sideline, I've read many comments about Coopers hanging with the MCS at the track, and you just need to make sure you know how to drive it to do so. I've driven many examples of both models, and let me tell you, for a good driver, it's a lot easier to walk away from any car by taking full advantage of the car you are driving--in the Cooper this is a bit more difficult, in the S this is a bit more terrifying!) :impatient

 

Thats what Im talking about....I have not met the MC owner who wishes they had a supercharger and is willing to part with the cash to purchase it so that it is there when they "need" it. They are happy with their "underperformer"

 

NO, I'm saying - If you like to have the ability to do really spirited driving buy the MCS. Thats the difference between the two. Both drive great and handle well but for those that always seem to need a bit more - thats who the MCS was built more. Mini went even further and built the JCW for those that have the "more need" than the MCS delivers.

When am I glad that I have a MCS over a MC -

1) when i'm doing 60 on the highway and
a) want to pass a truck
b) get away from an idoit.
c) see an opening in traffic that will let me get away from the pack and get open road in front.

Punch it, and your gone.

2) when I'm sitting at a light and some young guys pull next to me in a car twice the price.

heheh .....Bye, bye

Can you see a maturity parrallel? mature = MC, less mature = MCS, immature = JCW and totally immature = Mod'ed MCS.

I know where I fall in

 

There are some MC owners decide to sell their Copers because they have purchased S'. Personally, I don't know any of them but there are posts on NAM that stated this. Some of them probably needed or wanted something the S had to offer. So while you haven't met these people, they do exist.

 

I actually went yesterday and looked at 2 "S" models at different used car dealers. An all black one with no stripes, and an Electric Blue one. I really like the black one as it fits my personality to a "T", but it was a 2005 and they wanted 25g's for it. I would be so upside down due to the mileage on my car, that I couldn't do it. Plus I have a baby on the way and I'm trying to save money. The blue one was nice too, but I wasn't really feeling the color, and it was 2003 with 32,000 miles on the clock and they wanted $23,900. I figured if I did get one of the 2, the 2005 would be a better deal. The ONLY thing I like about the S models is the tranny being Getrag. My tranny in my 2003 is still good, but there has always been a clunk while taking off in first. It sounds like the axle turns just slightly in the gear box and once it catches, that's the kind of clunk you hear. Anybody know the reliability of the 2003 standard Cooper?

 

So I may drive myself completely crazy (actually I won't be driving, just waiting), by re-ordering an MCS. I'm currently waiting for an MC, but after driving the MCS, I couldn't believe the power. The MC is great, but the S is incredible.

Anyway, beyond the fact that the S has more power (pro), slightly worse gas mileage (con), and costs more (con) what are people's opinions about the differences between the S and MC?

Is the S more tempramental and prone to problems versus the MC? Or are they about the same? I'm not mechanically inclined, so I just need a car that will run without a lot of babying beyond the usual checkups and oil changes.

Also - does the S automatically come with the run-flats or is there another option? (if yes, that seems like a Con based on their cost).

Is the S worth the approx. $3,500 more?

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

A search on this forum will most likley produce a few 50 or so threads like this one but ill answer any way.

Both of the cars are fantastic. I think engine wise the mc is probobly a bit stronger of a 100k plus candidate but realisticly the S is just as strong. I think you will find similar amounts of problems in both, that is if you find any problems.

As far as driving and chosing the car that is right for you. I love my mcs. I don't think i would have enjoyed the mc quite as much. That being said the mc is probobly more of a driver's car and a traditional mini enthusiest car. The mc can be just as fast as any mcs if driven well, in an autoX situation. Handling on the cooper is fantastic because it feels like the traditional mini, aka just the right amount of power.

I like the S because i am some what of a powernut deep down. It sounds like you are facing the same deepdown urges that I had. I think the power of the S is really what makes it fun for me. The handling is obviously great but it makes me smile when i come out of a corner and hear the sc scream and sink my foot into it.

Imho I think you should go with the S. If you find yourself longing and enjoying the power of the S then you should prob just get it over with now instead of searching for that power later on with an mc.

As far as ordering the car. I'm not sure which boltons you plan on adding if any at all. If I had to make my purchase over again, I would have bought 16" rims. I say that because then i could use them for winter/road trip tires down the road. Now with the 17" runflats and slites that i have (which i am not particularly fond of the tires, i like the slite look but they are too heavy) I have a set of rims that will serve no purpose to me once i buy a nice set of summer dress shoes.

gl with your choice.