5 lanes each way; your lane comes to an abrubt dead-stop. Traffic in lanes on either side is whizzing by at 50 mph with no merciful gaps between the cars. 4-way flashers ignite on the car 5 cars ahead of you.
What would you rather be driving to merge/escape now? Highway travel around here is at two speeds, floored and stopped.
There's been no infrastructure improvements in the greater Atlanta metro area in 3 decades while the population has more than tripled.
We've recently passed L.A. for having the worst traffic and the worst smog.
Who said that rednecks couldn't be #1??

 

See, this I just do not understand. Assuming that you are talking about a manual MC here (I have test driven an auto, and that was way too sluggish for me), I guess it's just a function of being used to driving a certain way when the power is just there on tap. You don't really have to necessarily think about what gear you're in, just step. I have never had a problem merging, and most certainly have never been scared accelerating into highway traffic on an on-ramp in my MC. I'm always able to get my Cooper up to speed as quick as, and most times quicker, than most of the other cars around me. It's all about shifting - if you're not used to how to shift the MC, you're not going to see its full potential.

That said, I thought I wanted the S when I first became obsessed with MINI's - the tendancy toward higher performance is in my blood. However, by the time I could actually afford a new car, my priorities had changed in a big way. So I test drove the MC with the mindset that if I had fun and it lived up to my expectations, I wouldn't even test drive the S. All I have to say is that my expectations were exceeded and I am in love with my MC. And while I hope to keep my little guy for a long, long time, I just might go for an electric MCS sometime in the future (ie., pretty far down the road) .

Either way, both are great, and they are both "better" and "more fun" - it just depends on who you're talking to!

 

Stuff like that happened to me when I was driving a Toyota Yaris. It's not as frequent I think you're making it sound but sure, it happens. Somehow, I survived. You in no way "need" power to survive a situation like this, in fact what will happen anyway is just that the other lane will naturally slow due to all the other people merging and it will quickly become easy to merge even if you're driving a riding lawnmower. I'm in not saying that more power can't be useful or fun. However the power of an MC is in all ways adequate and better than a lot of the other cars on the road which somehow "make do". I think we are talking "want" and not "need" here.

 

You crack me up I dunno where you have driven (Mayberry RFD?), but it is obviously not anywhere near an actual city with a population over 100 or the places we speak of so I will only speak to the situation that has already been addressed.... Please come to Georgia, try getting on say I-285 in Atlanta, get behind a guy who will not go over 50MPH in the far right lane, the rest of the traffic, a solid line of cars with 8' or so breaks in between, is zooming by you at 80+ MPH. Take your lil MC & pull into the next left lane & tell me you aren't scared (actually tell me you did that & lived). Sry but your talk of how you did it in a yaris is nothing but . Your claims seem so unreal.

 

Surely not every one in Atlanta drives a rocket?!?! I'm quite certain an MC would do fine for many folks....anywhere...although it obviously would not meet your expectations/needs.

 

Like the person said above, you just gotta know how to drive. If you do the MC will work, if you don't you may need the MCS. (I don't, so I got the MCS!)

 

Yeah UGH if I only knew how to drive a slow car fast, It's all on me.... I can see the light now as soon as the sun rises I am going to rush to Atlanta & trade my MCSC in for an MCC. What was I thinking

No gokart not everyone in ATL drives like a rocket but 90% do so you try to squeeze between that 10% in your MC

 

Sound pretty horrid, either way!!!

 

It is, I am not trying to be ugly, it is just a feeling I am trying to empart to you but I have <sigh> been thusfar unsuccessful. Come to bama, I will take you on some nice twisty roads but you gotta survive getting to me first. Can we call my MCS self defense

 

Sounds like survival motoring!!! I'm sure in this case it's best to optimize ones equipment to meet any traffic situation that might present itself. I will say, driving a Cooper, "I'm just gonna gun it" is not the first thought that comes to my mind...one is forced to think a bit more strategically, and that may not be desirable (or safe) in extreme driving conditions. By the same token, one might (and many do) choose an automatic to address similar conditions. I've opted out of that kind of driving myself (at least whenever possible)...many do not have that luxury!!

I guess the bottom line for me is that when I got into a Cooper on that very first test drive in '02 I felt right at home. I had driven a Spitfire and a Sprite back in the day and once in a Cooper, I felt this was exactly the kind of motoring I wanted. I had an expectation...and it was met.

 

I dunno. We have some pretty serious nuts around the D/FW area as well. If I run into a situation where I happen to get caught behind some clown going insanely slow on the freeway and all the other traffic is not, then I either sit behind the slow poke or get off the freeway and find a place to have a cup of coffee, or just toodle down the access road until the next entrance.

To me it seems there is a proper solution for the car you are driving. It becomes a matter if you like the solution or not. I guess I am never in a hurry anymore when I drive.

 

I go to Atlanta frequently and more often than every one going 80 on 285, everyone is going 20 on 285 or totally stopped

 

I based my decision to go with the 6spd MC on the fact that the speed limit, or even 20mph over, is far lower than either car is capable of so the only thing left for me is the handling and stock both cars are better than the competion. Now take the $4000+CAN you saved going with the MC over the MCS and spend even 1/2 that on suspension upgrades and customizing (as I plan to) and you have a better cornering, more personalized car for less money. Then of course there's the extra strain the turbo puts on the engine, the extra mechanical parts and electronc controls that can break or wear and the "oh you have the S........well then, your parts gonna cost $$$ more" even though it's virtually the same part scenario. Of course if unlike me and your fun bell is rung by speed and acceleration (I like it just not all the time) then no reasonable amount of $$$ is going to make a MC compete in that arena with a MCS so just buck up and buy the MCS.

Anyway, to each his own. We all had our reasons for buying the model we did whether it be financial or otherwise but the 2 things we all have in common is all of our cars have MINI emblems on them and we all love the MINI we have.

 

But the engine is built with stronger innards to handle that.

Uh, like the more complicated Valvetronic system? Lemme see... the S doesn't have that.

 

I believe the S engine has some type of variable control on the intake side, while the MC engine has it on both camshafts.

 

Generally, the want of more power comes not from the desire to hit higher speeds, but the desire for greater acceleration. This can be a safety issue as well as a performance issue. In urban areas where the traffic congestion has destroyed the safe separation distance, it is necessary to have sufficient power to enter traffic from a side street or on-ramp and reach traffic speeds quickly to avoid getting hit.

I understand that some among our group here with more reserved driving styles will suggest waiting for sufficient separation in the cross traffic to allow a leasurely run up to speed. During rush hour here (7am to 7pm here) you would have to wait for several minutes. In fact, at the entrance to our neighborhood I regularly wait 10-15 minutes behind drivers in typically powered vehicles who wait for sufficient spacing to make the turn, and even then the cross traffic quite often has to brake hard to avoid hitting them.

When I had a chance to drive a Cooper loaner, I felt that it was not adequately powered to safely merge into traffic in congested areas. However, it certainly is adequate for most other applications.

 

Just curious, was your loaner an R56 with an automatic?
===
I dunt(tm) understand why you folks cannot merge safely into traffic. I constantly have to slow down in freeway entrance ramps due to traffic in front of me. When I turn right from a stop onto a highway, I have had no problems getting to speed and merging in.

When I am not hindered by traffic in front of me, I have had zero problems merging safely into traffic. I usually find I need to slow down a bit while merging.

I have no idea where I could find cross traffic which does not have a light controlling the traffic, if there is that much traffic to contend with. And if there is a stop sign, I have no problem at all crossing traffic. The Mini being as short as it is does not need much of a gap to scoot through. I find I have to wait more when driving the Lexus just due to the length of the car and the Lexus would blow Romi away in acceleration.

I have yet to run into a situation where I needed more power, whether it be for acceleration or speed.

 

Snap back into reality and get off your MCS high horse, man. Atl is no different than Houston, which is no different that LA, etc. If you are too skeeeeered to drive an MC, that's your issue and you might want to seek professional help to overcome your anxiety. An MC is no different than any other car. You just drive it. If it was anywhere near as bad as you make it out to be, people would be dying left and right all across the country. And here is another little tid bit for you... MOST people, DO NOT want to get into an accident. They WILL slow down if they need to. Now stop being so melodramatic and rude to other MINI owners. You stated your opinion more than once already, and opinion is all it is.

 

[quote=Skuzzy;1589295]Just curious, was your loaner an R56 with an automatic?

No, but it was an R50, so the torqiness (I'm guessing not a real word) of the 2nd generation Cooper may have taken care of the problem.

 

Right back at ya on the rudeness/opinionated factor

 

I know you needed to come back with something, but I stated my opinion (that the mc is just fine) once. One time. And I won't do it again. Arguing on the interweb is just dumb. There was no rudeness about it, just calling you out on a couple things. If you get offended as easily as you get scared, then I sincerely apologize for that and will respect your sensitivity in the future.
Motor on!

 

right back at ya #2

 

Surfblue replies:
C'mon Putz, nobody said that a Mini S is the be all and end all of cars or some super "Fablarossa Testamonstra". There are plenty of bigger "handfuls" out there, but the average Joe can often be surprised by what happens when you slam the loud pedal down on an 07 S. I assume you drove the 07 S, cuz there IS a difference with the torque factor, especially with LSD.
Hell, I drove my Grinnall Scorpion last Saturday after having it sit since April and just driving the new 07 S, and my attitude, as soon as I got to hammering it through a series of S turns... immediately was, "Whoa, I forgot what this little lightweight was all about!" You don't stomp the throttle on a Grinnall Scorpion from a dead stop without being ready for things to happen quick. It's the same with most any high performance car, each with it's own quirks that need to be adressed. Making the switch from a performance fwd lsd car to a three wheel rwd "car" is very much a big (and necessary) SWITCH in driving attitude and style.
Point is, the Mini has it's quirks and if you're going to push it, it ain't nobodys' little grocery getter commuter special. Surely you know this.

 

gezzzz i can't believe where this thread is going....i supose i dependson what kind of driver you are. i myself like to drive hard and if you like to drive hard and you likethe twistys... i would imagine you would prefer to do it in a cooper s. i'm not saying nothing bad about a copper r a coope owner.....i had a cooper for three years and thought it was awesome but for the way i drive the pedal was always mashed into the carpet. for me the cooper s is the choice. everyone drives differently...it doesnyt make anyone a bad person...as long as your not putting anyone else at risk.

i live in nj...anyone from jersey or new york? if so...i love diving thru 7 lakes / harriman state park. i come in at sterrling forest do the whole park and go out at rt 106 to 9w. my average speed thru the twistys is around 60....muc more exelerating with my s.....w eagle f-1's...

bob

 

i?