...decides he doesn't need one (phew!)

Don't get me wrong, I loved the S. The Getrag is delicious. The extra power over 4k is great fun to work with, and the sound of the super charger is very sweet, but...

The differences were all suprisingly subtle in the flesh, even the power. I got back into the Cooper, thrashed her around the same circuit I had just driven in the S, and decided I was completely happy.

Until that moment, I had been tormented by S envy for months (and by the condescending comments of the many arrogant S owners on MCO.) Now I'm completely at peace with my Cooper. It is an incredibly engaging and rewarding car to drive - the S is just a bit more so.

But I think my Cooper might be a little jealous after seeing me in the S. I think I'll have to buy her a nice exhaust system, just to prove my love. :smile:

 

hahahhaaha.
i feel the same way man!
although if you drove a S with the 15% pulley, i think you'd have different thoughts!

 

Funny, I often wonder if I would have been just as happy with a Cooper (SH! Don't tell my MCS). I love hte power, look, and most of all the mods available. The seats are great, and suspension better, and you are right, the Getrag is delish!

But the lines (especially the hood), colors (velvet red, silk green at the time), and availability of tan leather really made me check myself a number of times.

I actually ordered the S before I drove one. I am happy with my decision, but would have been just as happy with a Cooper.

Good for you - glad you settled that conflict in your head. Now go get that exhaust before your Cooper starts misbehavin'!

 

>>Funny, I often wonder if I would have been just as happy with a Cooper (SH! Don't tell my MCS). I love the power, look, and most of all the mods available. The seats are great, and suspension better, and you are right, the Getrag is delish!

IQQIMINI-
I agree. I got a MCS. Both models are quite good and for most street driving come close. Differences in price ($3000) and availablity (much longer for ordering a MCS ) depending on where you live.

>>But the lines (especially the hood), colors (velvet red, silk green at the time), and availability of tan leather really made me check myself a number of times.

This is a big point. The Look, definitely the colors (anyone for gold?- I hope to see one very soon), I really liked the tan leather/ tan interior. Too many choices.

>>I actually ordered the S before I drove one. I am happy with my decision, but would have been just as happy with a Cooper.

I drove a MCS and a cooper CVT. I bought an in stock MCS that was ordered by someone else (5 months previously) Originally I was thinking of a Cooper CVT. I would have needed more time to get used to the CVT and to learn how to make best use of it rather than just drive it like a normal automatic which it is not.

>>Good for you - glad you settled that conflict in your head. Now go get that exhaust before your Cooper starts misbehavin'!

One thing about test drives is the wheels on the car make a difference. The harshness of many MCS test drives is largely due to the runflat tires and 17" S-lites (sport package). To be fair to the MCS try one with the 16" X-lite wheels without runflats. Smoother and lighter set up and also less costly. However the S-lites still look nice as I am not partial to the X-lite looks.

You also might be able to tell the difference between the two models on the track. Both handle well and do well from 0-50 or so but once you get up to higher revs (depending on the track you are at) the MCS starts to pull away. If you are a talented driver you can keep up in a cooper in most cases.

And the other big factor is that for the base cooper the number of fun performance mods is more limited than that for the MCS. In some ways this is good because you just pick a few really good things. Intake, plugs, header/exhaust, ECU, brakes, wheels,seats/covers,stereo,aero look, and suspension upgrades. That is enough to keep anyone busy.

And for some people, driving a manual transmission is not something they want to do so the cooper is a better match for them. The Cooper CVT is versatile being capable of full auto or use the shiftable mode if you want. Nice feature for families that have more than one cooper driver and a budget for only ONE cooper. Coopers are more Happy in Pairs- Did you know that

 

I did the opposite. I purchased a Cooper because I didn't want to wait the 6 months or so for an "S" and couldn't find a dealer with an "S" . I had been driving my Cooper for 3 weeks and decided it was close to me giving it its first oil change (1250 miles), so I decided to go to the dealer and buy an oil filter. While at the dealer with my oil filter in hand and walking out the door, a delivery of Cooper "S"'s had just arrived. I looked at them with envey and the, you should of ordered what you wanted mental torture continued. I saw my salesman and stopped to say hello and we started talking about the cars on the trailer. He told me that they where all cars that where sold and ordered 7 months ago. So I told him I wish I had one and let me know if one came available. So I said my goodbyes and walked out the door. The sales manager comes running out the door and tells me that one is available because the persons loan fell through. He asked me do you want it? I said will you give me a fair trade? He said of course. All said and done I left the dealer with an "S" and haven't been happier since. I absolutly LOVE the "S". But the funny part was when I was driving home from the dealer it was thinking, I went to the dealer to buy an oil filter and 2 hrs later I left with a diffferent car.
Well just thought you guys might get a kick out of my sick story.

Sergio

 

>>Until that moment, I had been tormented by S envy for months (and by the condescending comments of the many arrogant S owners on MCO.) >>


Granted there are, unfortunately, a few condescending , arorogant S owners here. But I don't think there are MANY, are there? I think the few that are here just speak VERY LOUDLY and make it seem like most S owners are jerks. Just something to think about.

 

Tan leather? Tan leather belongs in old Jags and on old men wearing Member's Only jackets. In fact, the only reason I got the Cooper was to eliminate even the remote possibility of a factory mix-up and possibly seeing my beautiful car tainted by the sight of her in tan. Simply put, tan sucks. I hate tan.

_________________
http://www.axisofjustice.org

 

Do I detect an early 'bad tan' experience?


Jim

 

Sounds like it. That's pretty funny.

 

It's a good thing to be satisfied with what you have; way too few people are (and that goes not just for cars).

After a long decision process, we got the S, but it could have gone either way. The S is intoxicating, but I found the ride to be much better in the Cooper and we're even "down-grading" to buy the 7-holeys (from the 16-inchers) to get the ride and save about 40 lbs.

 

We currently have a Cooper CVT and love it. Originally I was thinking of adding a second Cooper CVT but decided to try the MCS for the first time and liked that as well, so I ended up ordering a '04 MCS at the end of January.

As far as I am concerned and for I can remember from the 20 minute test drive is that the MCS feels a bit stronger in the low end but the Cooper CVT when either Sport or Steptronic mode can also deliver pretty strong acceleration. I think where the MCS really comes nto its own is in the upper powerband where the engine takes full advantage of the Supercharger, so in all and all the MCS is the slightly better highway car than the Cooper.

The CVT is the more practical car, but it is also loads of fun once you learn all the tricks the CVT has to offer. My wife can't drive a stick shift car so she enjoys driving the CVT due to the flexibility and fun factor in driving it offers (Contrary to what all the die hards may say outhtere).

There things that I like about the Cooper better. The cleaner bonnet, the extra chrome, the nicer looking 16" 5 star wheels not available in the MCS (Well they are available at a $500+ additional charge) and the generally classier and shaper looks of the Cooper.

If all you care is about handling, the a Cooper with SS+ suspension and 16" tires and wheels will give you the handling prowess of the MCS for less $$ and better fuel economy to boot.

Face neither stock Cooper or MCS are what I would call drag strip racers. the beauty of the MINI lies in its tenacious handling not in stoplight contests. I think a lot of stock MCS owners have been very dissapointed thinking that the Supercharger would give them rocket thrust from the get go, just to find OK acceleration quality but nothing else. This is why BMW acknowledges that the MCS is not yet up to par in this regard and now offers us the overpriced JCW package to turn the MCS into what should have been from the get go.

However, since I am not interested in stoplight competition, either car offers more acceleration and handling that you'll ever need in the street. Sometimes I keep looking back at the Cooper CVT and think about changing my order from the MCS to the CVT but since we already have a CVT I wanna get something a little different this time around.

In the mean time I am trying to convince the wife that she can drive a stick shift just as easily. I would love for her to enjoy the MCS as well. We shall see. I may end up with 2 CVT's...

 

I have a Cooper S but I want all you cooper owners out there to know that I think most MCS owners are OK/fine with anyone who drives a CVT or 5 speed cooper. I don't hear other MCS owners talk badly about the base cooper. To each his own. If you are happy driving which ever model made the most smiles for you :smile: :smile:

_________________
03MCS-IB/W, aero grille, white tail lights, MB Quart speakers, euro parcel shelf, Madness intake/ rear swaybar- Get In.Get Out.Get Even-Motor On

 

I have never driven a Cooper...in the summer of 2001, my sights were strictly on the Cooper S for the extra power and the fact that many of the options for the Cooper were standard on the "S"...

I also feel that MC owners and MCS owners are on equal ground here and on the road. It's a MINI world and let's all enjoy it together. :smile:

 

Yeah that is very true. Unfortunately there is a group of MCS owners that get a kick out of belittling and insulting MC owners (Specially CVT owners) for their choice. I think some (not all) MCS owners have serious self steem and ego related problems. the car and the 6-speed manual helps them make up for these perceived deficiencies in their personaility.

Are MCS owners perceived as arrogant? Unfortunately the answer is yes. There are always those who like to play the part of the school bully....

 

I've done the same thing - test drive an S after being tormented. Twice I've had the financials run, and both times I would have gotten hosed trading in my Cooper. I have also come to the conclusion that even with a Porsche or BMW M3, I wouldn't drive any faster than I do in my Cooper. Sometimes I'd like a little extra power, and the performance stuff the MCS guys are doing is intoxicating.

IN any case, the MCS owners I've met at meets, have all been great to talk to - only condescension I sense is in some threads that get out of hand on BOTH sides, and MCO is more civil than other forums in that sense. And hey, it's fun to try and sneak up on our MCS brethren

 

>>>>Until that moment, I had been tormented by S envy for months (and by the condescending comments of the many arrogant S owners on MCO.) >>
>>
>>
>>Granted there are, unfortunately, a few condescending , arorogant S owners here. But I don't think there are MANY, are there? I think the few that are here just speak VERY LOUDLY and make it seem like most S owners are jerks. Just something to think about.<<

I totally agree.

 

I can't even count the number of times I drive by an "S" driver and they coldly blow off my waving hand. They just kind of mockingly chuckle, point, laugh, and drive off.

 

In your case in might not have anything to do with what you're driving...

 

Same boat here. Wait was too long for an "S". Drove the Cooper wasn't disappointed. Dodn't even test drive the "S" (still haven't). Same demons exist, but wait a couple of years to see what comes out next.

In the meantime, I'm perfectly happy!

Cheers,
Bill

 

>>Same boat here. Wait was too long for an "S". Drove the Cooper wasn't disappointed. Dodn't even test drive the "S" (still haven't). Same demons exist, but wait a couple of years to see what comes out next.

I think you need to drive an S to fully exorcise those lurking demons. Worked for me.

I totally agree on waiting a couple of years. I bought my Cooper used for $2k under MSRP. It was clear that I wasn't going to come near an S until I put at least another $5-6k into the game (+35%), never mind the wait. Just didn't make any sense to "upgrade."

I'm guessing my Cooper will be hitting the end of its warranty period about the time the fabled 300hp AWD RS goes into production. Might have to put in an order and cough up MSRP for that one. :smile:

 

With the power loss at high altitude, I think the S is better suited for me. I test drove both before my order, and though I could have gotten a standard Cooper much sooner, I'm happier with getting EXACTLY what I wanted. I found the Cooper to be pretty gutless up here and the S was about right. When I got my S down to low altitude, I found it had far more power than I could really need (want, yes). I imagine the MC feels much better down low.

 

it's funny how this thread pulls on your heartstrings (no pun intended) for so many of us Cooper folks... same as some of these people in this thread, I have test drove both the S and regular cooper and came away that the cooper was the one for me... I know, before I get those flames, here are my reasons: when the opportunity arose (finally got the wife to approve of my new toy), I decided to go with the cooper. Less expensive, less wait (which is a big deal since patience is truly a virtue for me) and better mileage.... with just a few mods, I am so happy with my Coop that wanting an S is unthinkable right now... and yes, even if the S had a pulley :smile:Cooper

 

>>If all you care is about handling, the a Cooper with SS+ suspension and 16" tires and wheels will give you the handling prowess of the MCS for less $$ and better fuel economy to boot.
>>


I'm not sure about the fuel economy though. MINI has the CVT's gas mileage rated about equal to the MCS.

 

I truly don’t understand all the talk about MCS owners bashing Cooper drivers. Each person’s needs and circumstances are different. On MCO I once stated that I thought that the MCS was a pretty good deal as you got a 40+% increase in torque and hp for only about a 15% increase in price. I was accused of bashing Cooper drivers. No offense was meant, only my thoughts. Yet Cooper drivers will impugn the MCS for its “mail slot hood”, or “lack of chrome grille” or “the MCS not having the flowing lines of the Cooper”, or not being able to get this or that color combination. I take no offense to these comments as they are your personal opinions and you are welcome to them. I was willing to wait and I ordered what I wanted. I like the scoop on the hood, the six speed gearbox and the noise the supercharger makes. I even like the ride I get from my 17” S Lites with run-flats. And I didn't buy a MINI for the gas mileage. But don’t say because I like my MCS that I’m bashing Cooper drivers.

 

Funny, I was just talking to my boyfriend about this last night. I originally decided on a Cooper because I liked the lines better, I didn't want leather (any leather-I don't have cruise control because I couldn't get it without the leather steering wheel) and I really wanted to turbo it anyway. What IS going to make me want to trade the Cooper in, however, is the turbo diesel Mini that I just read they were working on! Wish I would have bought the magazine, I would scan the article. Was a UK Mini magazine, I think.

Also, I see mostly MCS's here in So Cal and they've always been friendly. Sometimes I look like a snob because I zone and don't see them before they've gone by - oops!