So, i'm debating on what my next car should be. I currently drive a 1989 300zx Turbo. I generally like smaller cars, two door hatchbacks, with forced induction adding to the fun factor.

I absolutly love the look of the MCS. I love the interior, and just about everything.

I have a lot of questions, personal experience is what i'm looking for.

1: Does the speedometer being in the center of the car bother you? It seems like it would bother me, having to look not just down, but to the right.

2: I'm 6' tall. I've read that people are surprised by how much space the interior gives you. Would i be too big?

3: I have a lot of confusion about the base MCS power ratings. I read it has 163 BHP. I've seen people say "BHP at the flywheel". I laugh because it makes no sense. Is the 163 rating before or after transmission loss? I've heard both... I've searched for stock dyno sheets of the MCS & JCW but have only seen one or two.

4: How well does the MCS respond to modifications? Not meaning exhaust or intake, more-so boost/cam/ecu.

5: How much boost is the stock pulley outputting (i've read 10-11). The 15% pulley raises ~4 psi, what about the 17 & 19% pulleys?

6: What type of fuel rail does the MCS use?

7: What are your average city & highway mpg findings?

8: What type of supercharger does the JCW kit utilize? MCS Stock is a M45, right? Whats the difference between the two?

For the same price as a MCS or JCW Mini, i could get a C5 Corvette. More than double the hp, good mileage for a v8, it's a freaking corvette.
For a little more i could get a 350z. I love Z's, i love Nissan.

I dunno. I'm kinda torn between spending mid/upper teens for a 160hp hatchback, or a 350hp hatchback. I love the Minis, it's tiny, different, blown, but slow. I like the corvettes, v8, fast, etc.

The earliest i will be able to get a new car is early 2007. Just keeping my eyes open for possibilities. I really want to go test drive a Mini. There's just something about them that pulls me away from having a Corvette. i just wish they were more powerful.

 

1: Does the speedometer being in the center of the car bother you? It did at first, I won't lie. So I had the OBC (readout set in the middle of the tach which is above the sterring wheel in line of sight) tell me what the speed was. Then I got SO used to the speedo in the middle, and I think the speedo in the middle is something unique that makes our cars special!!

2: I'm 6' tall. I've read that people are surprised by how much space the interior gives you. Would i be too big? Absolutely not. My husband is 6' also, and he has more than enough room to still scoot the seat back quite a ways more (that is, when I let him drive it). There are dudes in this forum who are over 6'4", and they fit just fine. I think one's even a college linebacker. BUT, you won't fit in the backseat, that's for sure.

3: I have a lot of confusion about the base MCS power ratings. I read it has 163 BHP. I've seen people say "BHP at the flywheel". I laugh because it makes no sense. Is the 163 rating before or after transmission loss? I've heard both... I've searched for stock dyno sheets of the MCS & JCW but have only seen one or two. Sorry, I can't help you here.

4: How well does the MCS respond to modifications? Not meaning exhaust or intake, more-so boost/cam/ecu. Sorry, I can't help you here, either.

5: How much boost is the stock pulley outputting (i've read 10-11). The 15% pulley raises ~4 psi, what about the 17 & 19% pulleys? Sorry, can't help, but at least my response is bumping your post, and I could answer your first two questions.

6: What type of fuel rail does the MCS use?

7: What are your average city & highway mpg findings? I have an MCS, and I drove 40% city and 60% highway, and I average 28-30 mpg. And I drive it hard.

8: What type of supercharger does the JCW kit utilize? MCS Stock is a M45, right? Whats the difference between the two?

For the same price as a MCS or JCW Mini, i could get a C5 Corvette. More than double the hp, good mileage for a v8, it's a freaking corvette. Is that a used Corvette? To me, a stereotypical vette driver is a guy in his 50s, looking to cheat on his wife, wears a hairpiece, has one heck of a gut on him, and has really hit his midlife crises.

For a little more i could get a 350z. I love Z's, i love Nissan. I've always been a fan of the Z, too. In fact, my husband convinced me to look into the Z when I was looking at MINIs. He knew I wanted a MINI, but just really wanted to to look at other cars for a comparison. My heart was already sold on the MINI, so the Z never stood a chance. The Z is a great car, fun, but doesn't corner like the MINI does though, costs more, and to me is more "average" of a sportscar.

I dunno. I'm kinda torn between spending mid/upper teens for a 160hp hatchback, or a 350hp hatchback. I love the Minis, it's tiny, different, blown, but slow. I like the corvettes, v8, fast, etc. Ok, so here's the question for you. What's more important to you - blowing past someone off the line, or taking them through the turns? And if you get a MINI, you could get into come autocrossing, too.

The earliest i will be able to get a new car is early 2007. Just keeping my eyes open for possibilities. I really want to go test drive a Mini. There's just something about them that pulls me away from having a Corvette. i just wish they were more powerful. If you mod the heck out of it, you will increase the speed dramatically. Or even the JCW. But no, it will never be as fast off the line as the vette. I'm not sure if you're single or not, but you'll get a lot more attention from the girlies in the MINI. Most young girls have the stigma I mentioned above about drivers of vettes.

I hope that helps a little!!! [Opinions from a 30-something year old chica]

 

I'm 21 years old, very soon [hopefully] i'm going to start my career and thusly, i'm looking for a more suitable car. Any car that i would get, would be used - i can't afford a new Mini, and definatly not a new Vette or 350z.

I can see that opinion [50s guy who cheats] on just about any car that cost a good bit and is fast. I don't have to have the fastest car, i got over my speed fix long ago when i first got my Z.

I guess my main concern isn't with engine capability, but mainly with how the car is on a whole. Recently read some threads with people complaining about how crappy everything seems put together. Little quirks such as how far the rear wheels are to the hatch, so it gets filthy quickly after washing it.

What really bothers me is how so many are claiming that it's a hard starter in cold weather, and that it most-times dies quickly after driving away. These things are new, too.

For something that expensive, and for something so little, i'd hope it was put together like a rock. Although i have read several good stories about Minis. A lot of "the good outweigh the bad"...but some things to me aren't things i can just say "oh it's no big deal". That's one thing i'm getting tired of now, my car's almost 18 years old and with age comes the expected wear and tear.

Anyways, thanks for the reply.

 

Since I don't own an MCS I can't give you great answers on most of your questions, but for the first two:

1. The speedometer is not a problem for me at all. I also have a speedometer on my trip computer right above the steering wheel so I'll use that some time, but it really hasn't been a big issue because I usually have an idea of how fast I'm going anyway so I don't necessarily need to look over that often.

2. Height isn't an issue at all unless you are really tall. I'm 5 11 and I have as much headroom as anything else I've owned (including a Honda Accord and a couple of Volvos). I've seen a lot of tall people fit in the MINI just fine and they have been perfectly comfortable.

From what I've observed it seems like MINIs have overall good reliability, especially the later model years(ie. 05-06). If you buy a newer MINI you'll also benefit from free maintenance, which was a big factor in my decision to go with a MINI. I'm 24 and I just began my "career" and it's been the perfect car for me. Eventually I would like some more power, but for now I'm extremely satisfied with my purchase after 4 months and about 4800 miles. Good luck in your decision!

 

As for height issues, I am 6'5" and seem to have more room in the MCS than I do in my wrangler, I don't even have the seat all the way back

 

1: Does the speedometer being in the center of the car bother you? It seems like it would bother me, having to look not just down, but to the right.

Doesn't bother me, because I got the Chrono Pack, which places the speedo in front of me where it belongs, and places oil pres, oil tem, water temp, and fuel over on the dash.

2: I'm 6' tall. I've read that people are surprised by how much space the interior gives you. Would i be too big?

I'm 6'7", 280. Next question? (I can't even begin to fit in a Vette)

3: I have a lot of confusion about the base MCS power ratings. I read it has 163 BHP. I've seen people say "BHP at the flywheel". I laugh because it makes no sense. Is the 163 rating before or after transmission loss? I've heard both... I've searched for stock dyno sheets of the MCS & JCW but have only seen one or two.

Really depends what year your getting, and what options. The 2007's are going to be a completely different Mini: different engine, different induction, different suspension.

4: How well does the MCS respond to modifications? Not meaning exhaust or intake, more-so boost/cam/ecu.

Responds well if it's done well.

5: How much boost is the stock pulley outputting (i've read 10-11). The 15% pulley raises ~4 psi, what about the 17 & 19% pulleys?

Don't know.

6: What type of fuel rail does the MCS use?

Don't know.

7: What are your average city & highway mpg findings?

Over 300 miles per tankful with a JCW. My driving habits vary too much for accurate mileage.

8: What type of supercharger does the JCW kit utilize? MCS Stock is a M45, right? Whats the difference between the two?

I believe it is the same SC as the S, but tuned by JCW and with a smaller pulley. But since you won't be getting an 06, you should be asking about the turbo for the 07.

If you have no need to carry much, get the Vette. You can get better mileage with the Mini. With all the changes in the 2007 models, many of your questions will have to be re-asked after those have hit the shores.

 

Hey, WELCOME,

All I can say is I have had a LOT of cars in my life and the MINI is the one I will keep forever. I'm 66 and I have more fun in my MINI than any other car, even ones with bigger back seats .

Earl

 

07's are being turbo? I can't afford a "new" car, but i am a big fan of turbos over superchargers.

The JCW kit states they replace the S/C with a more efficient one, as well as a 13-14% pully (or so i've read).

I would be looking for a used Mini priced below 18-20k. I don't think i could sleep at night if i paid any more for such a car. But in all honesty, i have no idea what i'll be making at this job, or if i'll even get it. This is all speculation and such. Just looking around and researching so i can make a solid decision when the time comes.

I just made my "Turbo 300zx Owner" badge I need to spend more time on it :(

 

I just got a MCSca,it's the best car I've ever owned. For the price and fun factor,you can't beat it. Driving in the SoCal night with the top down and feeling the AIR is just so calming to the soul... BUT... I do have a bit of regret.. so if I had to do it over again I would wait and order exactly the one I really wanted with the 1st choice in color and Chrono pac.. ect..after driving the floor model I just wanted one ASAP and the order allocations are tight this time of the year..
I also would not have gotten the 'S' model... It's just too fast for my kind of driving..I was going 90+ on the freeway with no problems,, I read that"it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow",sort of true,I can't imagine all those people with JCW where do you drive that ? the MCc 5 speed would have been a better choice... OH well next time...All in all it's a keeper...I had a hard time putting premium in my tank though...

 

Let me start by saying that I whole-heartedly disagree with the above negative assessment of Corvette drivers. I have participated in my Mini in some of our local Vette club rides & they have come in their Vettes to do a Mini ride with us. I found them all to be very nice, like minded people (in a Mini sort of a way). They are no different than Mini drivers in their enthusiasm of their cars, they just appreciate a different car.

That said, park a Mini in between a Vette & a 350Z & see where the crowd gathers. If you are most interested in straight-line speed you should def get a Vette or 350Z. If you are looking for a car to make driving the most enjoyable experience of your day then the Mini is the way to go. The Mini has plenty of pep to get you off from a redlight but the fun is located in the twisties.

There is nothing more fun than passing a {insert muscle car here} while leisurely going around a curve with my dog in the passenger seat looking out the window at them as we go by

 

What's a MCSca? (i know what the mcs stands for, but not the ca)

There are so many abbreviations on this message board, i'm about to cry.

 

Mini Cooper Supercharged Convertible w/automatic transmission

Check out this thread for an abbreviation cheat sheet It doesn't give em all but will get you started. (then there's MA=Motoring Advisor, OBC=On Board Computer, LSD=Limited Slip Differential, MOTD=Minis on the Dragon, & on & on & on)

 

That's a lot of abbreviations.

 

Go drive one - you will soon make up your mind if you like it or not - probably within the first 100yds or so

You will figure out if you fit, if you love or loath the speedo position and if 'only' 163hp (or whatever) is enough to have a lot of fun in the car.

One thing that you really need to understand is that the Mini is not a dyno queen, sure there are a couple of 300hp+ and even a 500hp+ examples around and yes these are still daily drivers ! But generally much more than 200hp is not needed for almost any circumstance and the vast amount of drivers.

Fuel economy depends on how you drive it and on your usage, my MCS averages about 25-26mpg, I have a slow/busy commute, I use AC year round and when we road-trip speeds tend to be high. If your usage matches mine you are looking at similar numbers. Do not forget that you need premium gas too - 91 or better.....

I too looked at the 350Z, when I was looking my short-list pre-driving them, was a 350Z, a Pontiac GTO, Subaru WRX, Mitsibishi Evo 9, BMW 330 Coupe and an MCS. On a single sunday I drove all of the above. Less than an hour after driving the Mini I owned it ! Subsequently I have added over 30K to the odo and pretty much ignored my weekend car - a modified MR2 Spyder......

 

There aren't any Minis around my area, i'd have to travel about an hour to find a dealer. There's one JCW mini about 12 miles from me, but i don't want to give the seller false hope if i go test drive it. I'm not able to get a car yet. Car dealers are used to people test driving, so they wont get depressed when i tell them to shove it.

Thanks for all the reviews

 

Obviously everyone who is saying that the vette is for straight line speed hasn't autocrossed one!! Check out my gallery, that's me in my Z06. Vette's were made for curves, now if you were talking mustangs then I would agree about the straight line part.

Now for the fun part, I def. do not fit the stereotype. I am a 27 year old girl. There are several types of vette people just like I see that there are several types of Mini people. The Z vette crowd typically likes to mod and drive fast so I fit in very well. The vette can make so much power with so little mods. I was pushing 442 RWHP with a cam, headers and intake.

With all that aside and you probably won't believe this but I sold my Z to get a Mini. A couple of reasons that I did were that I could drive the Mini year round here in Ohio and that the maintainance and upkeep were included in the car. While it is fun to mod a car, I eventually got bored of it and wanted to go back to a car that was "worry free". I liked that the Mini did not take away the fun of driving and I really think it will be an excellent car for auto-crossing come Spring. I will have to get used to the FWD part though. Price can't be beat, I love the fact that it is individual to the owner. It is very hard to make a vette look different from another vette trust me on that.
Gas mileage is a wash, I was getting 27 MPG with the Z. Trunk space is greater in the Z but there is no backseat like the Mini has.

Before I got my vette I also looked at 350Z, I did not like the realibility concerns (tranny esp.) and since I was familiar with small block Chevy's I went with the tried and true.

Well now I am trying something new and I am very excited about the whole deal.

The vette was a serious "bad a$%" car, the Mini to me is a "let's go have a good time" car. It will be a hard call for you because if you drive a vette the power will lure you in, but in the long run I think the Mini is an excellent choice.

Rachael

 

I'm pretty much at that point. I've done a good bit to my Z. Just last night i fixed a little timing issue that was giving me hell. Turned out the cam gear bolt got loose some how, so the cam notched away at the cam gear, making it fit loosely, thus giving bad timing. The good thing is i have two 300zx's, one parts, one DD - so parts are plentiful.

I'm tired of my Z's engine bay. I love the car, there wasn't a problem with it unless i caused it (IE turboing, cam, fuel etc) and thats usually me just overlooking something or the like.

I like the look of the mini, i love small cars - there's just something about them.

I'm used to having a RWD car with ample torque....FWD bothers me a good bit...how's the torque steer and understeering

BTW nice z06.

 

In my MSC-JCW. A little of the first. None of the second. Wants to oversteer a little.

 

Sorry for the 'vette stereotype. Just an opinion only. They are still beautiful, fast cars, I certainly won't knock it there.

 

HAHAHAHA - I can see my two dogs now on the passenger seat REALLY leaning through the curve.

 

Actually, Teresa, in MCS, although the engine is supercharged, the S does not = Supercharged. It stands for Sport!

 

We own both an MCS and a Corvette. I prefer the MINI!

 

2nd this i'm 6'-2" and this is the first car i've ever had where i don't have to have the seat all the way back. Plus the other day i was in the riding in the back seat while my wife was drving shes 5'-2" and i had lots of leg room. As long as i didn't have to ride back there for more than an hour i would be all good.

 

My inlaws have a Vette, and I plan to corrupt them!

 

I had the same concerns going from a RWD RX-8 to a MC. Since the torque in the MINI is, um, understated, you don't get too much torque steer, even in the S. Actually, I think the torque/HP balance is perfect for such a light car, and you can't beat the FWD handling.