R52 To S or not to S?
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,326
Likes: 6
From: PA
The Cooper won't throw you back in your seat, but it's certainly no slouch. In fact, I find my Cooper every bit as fun to drive as my MCS, and in certain situations, more fun.
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 3
Sorry, but I fail to see the logic. You are comparing a modified cooper to a unmodified MCS. So put those exact same mods on the MCS and which one will still be faster around the track. The MCS hands down.
I am not saying the MC is not fun. I am saying it is considerably slower than the MCS. They are all Mini's and are all fun. But for me its my first performance oriented car and I need the extra power and supercharger whine. Others don't, that is why there are two versions.
I am not saying the MC is not fun. I am saying it is considerably slower than the MCS. They are all Mini's and are all fun. But for me its my first performance oriented car and I need the extra power and supercharger whine. Others don't, that is why there are two versions.
It's not as straight forward as you think.
I've got a 2003 Cooper with some suspension mods, light wheels, and super-sticky track tires.
I also have a completely stock 2007 MCS.
The MCS is much faster in a straight line.
The Cooper is much faster in a corner.
There's only one track I've had both cars on. There are lots of "excuses"... The Cooper is modded and running R-compounds. The MCS is stock and running runflats. I was pushing the Cooper to the limit and not running the MCS as hard. etc. etc...
The Cooper was faster around the track than the MCS.
Stock for stock, yes, an MCS will be faster than a Cooper. Modded vs modded, the MCS will be faster than the Cooper.
Well modded Cooper vs stock or poorly modded MCS - it's very close - with a possible edge to the Cooper. And, you can get the Cooper to that point by spending the price difference between the Cooper and the MCS.
I've got a 2003 Cooper with some suspension mods, light wheels, and super-sticky track tires.
I also have a completely stock 2007 MCS.
The MCS is much faster in a straight line.
The Cooper is much faster in a corner.
There's only one track I've had both cars on. There are lots of "excuses"... The Cooper is modded and running R-compounds. The MCS is stock and running runflats. I was pushing the Cooper to the limit and not running the MCS as hard. etc. etc...
The Cooper was faster around the track than the MCS.
Stock for stock, yes, an MCS will be faster than a Cooper. Modded vs modded, the MCS will be faster than the Cooper.
Well modded Cooper vs stock or poorly modded MCS - it's very close - with a possible edge to the Cooper. And, you can get the Cooper to that point by spending the price difference between the Cooper and the MCS.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 0
From: Greater Chicagoland. Ich Bin Ein Midwesterner!!!
Hey all, Tammy is gone, I think that this thread should die as it has become a my MCS is better than your MC and vise versa. We all know that there are advantages to both cars. Let's just be happy because we all have MINIs.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,021
Likes: 7
From: Burlington, VT
I'm not sure what's so hard to grasp.
If $s and lap times are all that matters...
Under $22,350 - the Cooper wins (you cannot get an MCS for under $22,350)
With a budget of $22,350 to maybe $24,000 - the Cooper wins (if you build it right).
Over $24,000... the MCS wins (if you build it right)
Or something like that.
Why isn't base MCS vs Cooper with $3,000 in mods logical? Same budget. And it wouldn't take $3,000 in mods to make a Cooper faster than a base MCS on many tracks.
I know. I have both.
Yes, put the same mods on the MCS and it will be faster than the Cooper. duh.
It will also cost $3,000 more. 
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
My experience is that what ever power I get I eventually want more. Not that I need it but human nature kicks in and I find myself wanting.
In the case of the Mini I purchased the S. To date I am fully satisfied with the performance. I don't yet even know what the JCW is but my guess is that it adds more power to the wheels. Well, I must tell you that for the first time the stock Mini S does every thing I want when I want it.
If I had purchased a non-S - I would probably want more. That's just me, YMMV.
In the case of the Mini I purchased the S. To date I am fully satisfied with the performance. I don't yet even know what the JCW is but my guess is that it adds more power to the wheels. Well, I must tell you that for the first time the stock Mini S does every thing I want when I want it.
If I had purchased a non-S - I would probably want more. That's just me, YMMV.