I have an 03 S and I drive 700 - 1000 miles per week, mostly highway and I average around 30-33 mpg. I like the extra power when I have to pass (alot of two lane highways) and the milage isn't that much different. I've done the OBC estimated milage while passing and have seen the mpg drop to 6.5mpg . Buts thats just while passing.

Good luck -

Nik

 

"I have only driven the Non-S so I am gonna have to drive the S before making a final decision. Right now I am leaning towards the S as I don't want to get my car and want it and NOT have it. Then again, driving a lot of miles that extra mpg would be nice!"

You hit the nail on the head - the only way to choose is to drive both on the same day to compare - and you ought to drive both automatic and manual as well, to get the real feel. I commute highway 90 mi roundtrip each weekday, and having the S "boost" is very comforting. I've averaged 31.5 MPG over my first 1200 miles. The "S" with the "Sport" button feature makes driving a blast. For me, on the test drive, there was truly no comparison between the two, but many folks love their base Coopers, so a good, in-depth, back-to-back test drive session is going to be your best way to decide. If you're going to keep the car 10 years, the added cost for the "S" is not really that much of a factor.
__________________________________________
Pepper White/Blk top Manual MCS, Bonnet Stripes, Pac Blu Lthr/Carbon Blk Cloth, Prem, Conv, Cold, Color Line Blu Intr/Brushed Alloy, HIFI sys, Xenon HL
Delivered 10-12-07

 

Very true...there are just too many personal preference variables. Some like the power, some are addicted to power, some will never use the power, some don't like the torque steer, some need an automatic, some will never be caught dead in an automatic, then there's LSD, sport-suspension and the rest....the list is endless. It's great to have options, but it can be a bit maddening. In the end though, you'll work through your choices and that MINI will be uniquely yours and the romance can begin!!!

 

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Good question. The coupes you see are the new generation MINI with different, slightly more efficient engines. The cabrio has the previous generation engine.

 

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Last but not least. Wheels, chrome parts, decals, can all be added later, and almost always at a cheaper price then the dealer. You may have no plans to do any mods to your car like almost all of us on here have. So don't opt up to higher priced wheels etc. if you might change them out anyway a year down the road. Just food for thought.

 

You must not do much passing.

 

Not much really - just a few times a day. On a 140 mile round trip commute it doesnt really equal that much passing time.

Nik

 

Given the good amount of highway cruising you do, I do think an MCS cabrio might be best.

The R56 Cooper coupe got a 6th gear that makes highway driving pretty dreamy and bumps mpg way up there....but that's not yet available for the cabrio.

 

heh heh, uh, Jason, bet your cooper gets REALLY good mileage now!!
(he crashed it a few months ago and it is being repaired)

 

Take my advice get the "S" I owned several Non-S's since 02. Almost everytime I drove my cooper I wondered what it would be like to get the "S". The "S" is deff. worth the extra 3k or so. The "S" is also a hell of a lot easier to do performance mods to.

 

Seriously, but not everyone revs to 6K on every shift all the time.
I have a friend that drives "with spirit" and achieves 35 mpg, sometimes better and he ain't my grandma "24 MPGs in our MCSC". Wow I did get a solid 30.7 and was doing a good 70mph a good part of the tank. Maybe its the automatic that steals some of the mileage. I dont know but I like like good mileage, reasonable, but I wont ever never give up my fun to get it.

 

That chrome is actually plastic but, yes, it does look sweet.

The 07 Cabrio is a Supercharged engine vs a Turbocharged engine. (07 Coupe is Turbo as is 09 Cabrio)
matter of preference, but I like the jet engine feel and roar of the Supercharger.
Also the exhaust burbling is rather kewl.
I still get 30.7 and expect better mileage after break in.
The Cabrio weighs about 144 lbs more, mostly due to the ragtop motors.

 

Cabs also have stiffer chassis due to reinforcing plates underneath and in the engine bay, and have beefier A pillars to keep the roof off your head in a roll-over. Personally I never noticed the extra weight though and never had an issue keeping up with even a well-driven Coupe.

 

Nor have I.

 

I agree. Worth its' weight in gold.

 

...that...that Avatar of yours looks....looks....hmmmm....very familiar

 

At 20,000 miles per year, at 32 mpg, you'll use 625 gallons of fuel. At 29 mpg, you'll use 689 gallons of fuel.Difference of 64 gallons per year x $3.00 per gallon = $192 in extra fuel costs for the year, or $16 per month, or $.50 per day.So, skip having a diet pepsi with your lunch and drink tap water instead, and you'll now have paid for the extra fuel that would be consumed by the S, and you'll be healthier too!

 

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Go for the scoop thingy.

I'm a number cruncher too, but at some point you need to take care of #1. I mean if it was all about mileage/money, you'd get the coupe (or a Kia!), right?

 

get a classic as well as a MCS... My classic takes about $12 to fill and runs all week on that (it's my new daily driver).

Of course, nobody would ever call it "fast", but it's stupidly fun, and gets a ton if looks. When I want to straighten the curves (or when it rains - LOL) I drive the MCS. Bliss!

 

Oh, with either the MC or the MCS, regardless of year, you'll still be able to laugh at 99% of the other cars on the road -- it's all relative

 

I hope I'm not threadjacking this conversation, but this is something I've been wondering a lot about, too. Does anyone here drive the base Cooper in a hilly/mountain area? My neck of Southern Cali. is pretty hilly, and my current car (a base PT Cruiser) has a rough time getting up hills. I blame the automatic tranny for the most part, but the horsepower/weight ratio is pretty close to that of the base Cooper. OTOH, it's all about the torque, right? Can anyone offer any insight as to how the base Cooper does in the hills?

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

 

I have a MCSca I love the extra juice when I get that urge ... if you are thinking about getting a automatic then go with the "S" if you are getting the manual stick then the cooper is not that much of a compromise .... saving some $$$ at the gas-station is cool ...