the yank says...
Cooper: very cool.
Cooper S: s'very cool

 

third person speech on 2 of 2 posts? You aren't the rock.

 

I've said this before...if I didn't read multiple MINI forums and performance sites, I would never even question my choice in getting an MC. When I had my VW GTI, I sometimes wished for the VR6 model, but I didn't let it torment me. BUT - I am an impulsive buyer and when I saw my MC on the lot, that was it. If an MCS was available, I might have swung for that. Didn't want to wait to special order a car, not sure I ever could. I don't regret for a second the choice I made - for one thing it has introduced me to a fascinating online community, as well as opportunities to meet fellow enthusiasts - any MINI meet I've gone to I've met people into performance owning both models with wide varities of mods. Never had this desire to tune a car, go to meets, etc. with previous cars I've had. Hadn't had an MCS owner deride my decision to drive an MC, don't expect to. The way I look at it, someone is always going to be faster than me, lighter than me, whatever. Regardless of whether I'm driving an MC or a Dinan M3

 

That's one pretty looking Cooper dandp has if I might say so...Sometimes I'll drive by his house just to get a glimpse of it!

And speaking of telling the difference between the Cooper and the S, this guy can not only tell the difference while you're speeding by, but he can tell you what stickers you have on your car!!!

 

Ha! Thanks Greatgro

 

>> I let a friend of mine who is a salesperson at a Honda dealership, drive my MINI. She was very surprized at the overall detail and quality of the car. She said "...this looks and feels like a $35,000 vehicle!" >>

I have to agree Ryan. For the previous two years I've been looking to replace my 270,000+ mile MB 300SE. I've looked at the C class, 3 series, Jag, Lincoln LS and a few others in the $30,000 - $40,000 range. On a lark, I went to the Motor City MINI Grand Opening and I was bowled over with the fit, finish, standard features and general feeling of substance. This was a car that, except for it's size, could fit with the other cars I was looking at. After a test drive, I knew that my search was over. Only the 3 series and Infinity G35 had the "connected" feeling of the MINI, but at a cost of +$15,000 or more. The only hard decision was Cooper or S? I loved them both. I chose the Cooper because I knew that I really wouldn't use the extra HP 90% of the time. Besides, if I need a head snapping acceleration fix, I'll climb on my bike and blast past damn near everything else.

 

Ryephile,

>>Brownie, you definitely misinterpreted my many posts.<<
---------------------------------------------------------------------

In my attempt to not pinpoint any member, I gave you the impression I was speaking to you specificially when I said "one person's views". I really wasn't targeting you at all because I wasn't upset about your post. I just contradicted ONE part of it! I was simply stating it's one view point that did not fit in MYcase.

You said, "
[note]: My multiple choice listing above was intended to be a bit comical, and totally literal, implying nothing whatsoever. "

I really didn't think it was comical, but I didn't find it offensive either. I found it wrong in my case only. So I said so.


Truth really is, I was surprised by the response I got from PJ and felt bad I accidentally hurt feelings so I simply wanted to explain I wasn't bashing "S" owners. To not hurt feelings further, I did not post to PJ directly, but made an open comment that you, Ryephile, took as if it was to you.

But due to your response I'm forced to mention PJ now. I find comments like this demeaning to those who are financially struggling in life. But it's up to them to resond.

Not everyone's choices are those of "settling" because they spend less, or didn't take one option over another etc.

And although your intended multiple choice post may have been well-intentioned, they do not fit ALL of us. But it certainly doesn't upset me you wanted to box me in some category I didn't fit. I just jumped out of the box!

 

I could have afforded a Cooper-S but I chose to buy a Cooper because I like the
looks a LOT better and I love the mileage.

The performance is superb.

 

I don't think this has been mentioned yet, but while a Cooper might be less expensive up front, my guess that the S will hold it's much more of its value over the long run, for obvious reasons. The $3.5k gap in MSRP between the cars is likely to steadily widen in the used market, with the base Cooper falling in value more quickly than the S.

If you are buying a new MINI and are concerned with "total cost of ownership," which you should be, then the S would seem to be a much better financial decision. This might be offset somewhat by higher insurance and fuel costs, though - haven't done all the math. I bought a used Cooper for a great price, but will likely move into an S once the secondary market cools down a bit.

The S is just more of a good thing, which is never a bad thing, in my opinion. For now, I do my best to simulate an S by keeping my right foot to the floor and keeping the revs above 4k as much as possible.

 

I think the MINI Cooper will hold up better in the years to come.

The S will lose value much faster due to the impression that people
will trounce them.

 

>>The S will lose value much faster due to the impression that people
>>will trounce them.

Huh?

 

People don't like to pay top-dollar for used high-performance cars since
the previous owners usually drive them hard, and things are pretty much
worn out or damaged due to hard-driving.

 

That is for sure. Everyone knows that whoever has an "S" beats the hell out if it. Stess the engine even more with pulley mods etc. So most "S"'s will depreciate in a few years at more of a rappid rate than a Cooper. Now these are the words of a "S" owner that wishes I bought a Cooper.

 

Brownielocks

I'm not sure exactly how you got the impression I was offended by something you posted, but, believe me, I was NOT offended by anything you said(or anything else in this entire thread-I don't get offended that easily!). The paragraph I wrote was not directed at you in any way(I know I quoted you at the top of my post, but that was only because I was trying to bring some levity to the thread before things got out of hand). The second part of my post was just a general comment about personal choice, blah, blah, blah. That was NOT directed at you at all. Sorry if you took it that way-it was not my intent. It's all good .

 

I put some miles on both, and they are both great cars! I had an original, so I liked the look of the Cooper better than the S.

I bought the "S" because the $3k seemed like a good deal for what you got (including forged pistons, connecting rods and crank), and because it was the first chance for me to get a truly fun car in 25 years.

It does not lessen my affection for the base Cooper, which may have been the more prudent purchase.

It's hard to believe some of the back and forth on this post! Every MINI is cool!

Red

 

Re: resale value- point well taken about higher performance cars being driven harder and looked at more skeptically. If I was buying a used car, I'd buy it off of a lot, and the lot had better warranty my purchase for about 3 years. Unless they're personal friends and I know their driving habits and the car's history, would I buy a used MCS from a private owner? After reading this forum? You've got to be kidding!!! Got even one serious engine mod done to it? Now I'm laughing out loud!!!!! An '03 MC from a little 'ol lady- low miles single owner, maybe. MC's look better. MC's are slightly more nimble in the serious twisties. MC's have slightly less trouble after purchase. MC's can handle the road w/ very few equals. Shifting 6 times is just one too many. Superchargers are stupid. MC's rock. See if you can find any opinions in this post

 

 

FMS - don't sugar coat it, tell us how you really feel!!

I want the S because it's weight to HP ratio is really close to what my old Toyota MR2 Turbo had! but my concern is the same as what I faced with the Toyota... the long term cost of the supercharger. With my Toyota it became very expenive at the 60,000 mile tune up. It was a mid-engine car with a turbo and they said to change out the timing belt they'd have to lift the engine out of the car, etc... it was very expensive ($1,200 at the time) and I was in touch with other MR2 owners who said that after they removed the engine and changed the belt, it never was the same again. so I agonized over it until I reached 50,000 and then I traded it in on a Celica Convertable. Toyota then quit making that type MR2 so many times I regret getting rid of it. . . I hate having regrets! SO...

Now I've decided ahead of time that I will pay for any and all required service work and keep my MCS forever.

 

This thread (and many a like) is just chasing its tail with everyone trying to defend thier position or convince themselves they made the right choice.

I'm just glad to have put my chevy to rest and be in a MINI *period*

 

>>I'm just glad to have put my chevy to rest and be in a MINI *period*

Wonderfuly put.

Motor-on.

(And that's a GREAT sig-pic.)

 

>>I have an MC now... will soon be ordering an MCS. Don't ask me why....I just want an S!!

This is so funny, but I want a Chili Red w/ Stripes /Union Jack MCS! but when I was at the dealer I saw a Pepper White Cooper and thought, well, after the MCS is paid for I'll get me a Pepper White Cooper with CVT ... so I can have one of each!!

 

>>This thread (and many a like) is just chasing its tail with everyone trying to defend thier position or convince themselves they made the right choice.
>>
>>I'm just glad to have put my chevy to rest and be in a MINI *period*
>>

"My point exactly. My previous post was submitted w/ tongue firmly planted in cheek," he said, just in case other MCO members had doubts about his motivation.

 

Shifting 6 times is just one too many. Superchargers are stupid. MC's rock. See if you can find any opinions in this post

 

>>Shifting 6 times is just one too many. Superchargers are stupid. MC's rock. See if you can find any opinions in this post
Phew... just checked, and I DO have a license in my wallet!! Notice that winking eye afer these "opinions" were mentioned? Just poking a bit of fun, and being...silly? As silly as the whole idea of comparing the Cooper to the "S"- again.

 

No matter which model you choose there are options that will make you smile either by appearance or by performance. That is the versatility and appeal of this car.

I have an S and have driven it for 2200 miles. I have never had a car that attracted so much attention- in a good way. I like how the S looks. But after living with the S and checking out the base cooper I see the appeal the cooper has. There isn't one that is better- it is up to you to choose. If it makes you smile more then that is likely your best bet for a winner. If you frown when looking at all of them then choose something else. Coopers have character.

As for performance. In an S, I can choose to drive very calmly or as spirited as I want. I bet I could drive as smooth as if I was driving a cooper with CVT or with the 5 speed. It is the driver who decides how to drive. I do not thrash my car, that would be unwise. On the other hand, the performance envelope of the S is very large. Yesterday a professional driving instructor (20 years of racing/teaching experience) took me out on a track during a driving school I was attending. He drove the car in a controlled way with each lap explaining how he wanted me to drive when it was my turn. It was amazing to see what a stock (plus intake) S could do even with the standard S-lite wheels. He said the coopers handle very well. If the driver of a cooper wants to drive it hard I would estimate that it would be much harder on that small 115 hp engine than if you drive an S hard. At speeds up to 80 mph the S has so much more reserve than the base cooper. The S was designed to be driven hard. Just for fun I drive my S as smooth as I can and try to get the highest gas mileage for at least a 100 miles. On the Highway I can get 35 actual mpg (not using the trip computer and I don't have cruise control) and in general mixed driving I can get 28 mpg. Not bad for a performance car.

If I were to take a cooper 5 speed and an S to the track, both with sport seats, sport suspensions, and the same 16" stock alloy wheels. Most of the performance of driving up to about 50 or 60 mph would be the same. Both cars could run together, maybe the S would have a smoother feel to it (the supercharger whine only occurs at full throttle and it is not very noisy inside-pretty mild), maybe the base cooper driver would have to work a little harder and the engine would rev a bit more. Overall it would be pretty close. You don't use gears beyond 3rd or 4th so shifting is not a big factor. Either car could be used well for spirited driving. It all depends on the skill of the driver- that is the most important factor.

As for the original question. Will the cooper make it to 80,000 miles in good shape- certainly if one is good on maintenance and if you take care of it in a reasonable fashion (not really baby the car excessively) I think that any model cooper will last 140,000 + miles. These are well designed cars using synthetic oil and on a free maintenance schedule for the first 3 years. If anything I see owners changing oil earlier than what is required. I also see most cooper owners are really good about taking care of their cars. They are really well kept.

I'm very happy with my S. It is reliable and very well designed. Both instructors I drove with at the driving school said good things about the cooper compared to other cars. I think I would have done well with the base cooper in 5 speed or with the CVT (automatic transmission). You just have to learn how to drive the car you choose. Then you can maximize your driving pleasure on demand

Drive with Aloha.