I have been looking at a Mini for years and finally have decided to get one when my existing car comes off lease in April. I only drive 7,000 to 7,500 miles per year of mostly local driving. I can't decide to go with a MC and load it up with options or a MCS with less options, as I have a set price I want to pay. I would like to hear from those who got a MC and now have second thoughts and regret they didn't get a MCS. Why the second thoughts? Also, for those who have had both types, which one would you recommend based on the mileage and type of driving? Thanks for all your help and Happy New Year to everyone.

 

I think the answer you're going to get most is to drive them both. Everyone has a different opinion. Me, I'd reduce the options to get the performance of the MCS, but others will have different opinions and each is right.

You can go to the dealer and give both a good, long test drive. Simulate your daily drive. Is the Cooper enough or do you like the higher performance of the MCS?

Good thing is, you can't go wrong! Good luck.

 

get a convertible CooperS while you can still get the supercharger

 

How fast do you want to go? How twisty are your local fun roads?
Will you ever want to track the car or take a class? ---- don't assume you won't...
I wouldn't get a standard Cooper unless I was only going to use it for groceries and highway.

 

I bet if you buy a MINI your yearly mileage will grow a bit. Something about these little cars just makes you want to motor about with a smile on your face.

A Copper or a Cooper S tough choice. Me I'd get an S, but the Cooper is mighty sweet too. Best take a few test drives in both of them.

 

No kidding. I used to average 8,000 miles/year in my cars.
Arthur has almost 15,000 miles on him now and he's not even 5 months old yet...

 

what's the difference in cost between your spec'd MC vs your MCS?

 

Yeah, I have a Cooper and that's all I use it for. Groceries, highway and church. That's a good one.

Let's face it, if you get the S you'll get sucked into the mod vortex like the rest of us and spend the money anyway. So you need to get what makes you happy from a driving perspective. The S has more power out of the box, yes. But if you drive a Cooper to it's potential you'll find it to be the most fun you've had on four wheels. There's a saying that it's "more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow." If you plan to go to a track or plan to do a lot of drag racing, the Cooper can't keep up so get an S. If you plan to put the Cooper in it's element for some "twist and shout," I know the Cooper can keep up and more.

And the advice to drive them both is good as long as you give the Cooper a chance to show you what it can do. In the S it's just to easy to get mesmerized by the raw power off the line. I chose to drive the Cooper first and I was so happy with it I never even drove the S. I haven't EVER regretted it.

Good luck with your choice. Like someone else said, you can't lose either way.

 

well, let me put it this way...
I got a CPO '06 MCS for ~$20,000 about a year ago.
(I'd have spent more for the '07 MCS, or the same for a MC but liked this better...)

the car was a year old, and had 8200mi on it when I got it.
It has a 6yr-100K warr. (due to CPO).

It has 3 options.
Cruise control (w/ multi-fxn wheel),
LSD,
17" not-so-mini-lights wheels.
(Its dark silver, with dark silver interior, and fabric seats.)

Oh, and the PO imported a Mini UK silver Union Jack and had it installed in the US... its one mod before I installed winter wheels and tires this year.

I don't regret my choices at all.

As for modding, the Mini is basically stock.
The car I mod is my track toy Porsche 944 Turbo I bought for $5K....

 

As suggested drive them both. What are you looking for? For me it boiled down to do I want an economical car that is kind of sporty (MC) or a true sports car. I went with the economical car that is sporty (MC). i don't have any regrets at all. The MC is no MCS, but its not a Yaris or Fit either. It will move when requested.

 

I got the MC auto and I loaded it up with goodies---leather NAV, Hi Fi,driving lights, etc. It has plenty of kick-a$$ performance for my style, great gas mileage, soft quiet ride on the 15" standard tires, AND it has a spare tire. . I did not get a sunroof as they are having too many problems with leaks, squeaks and windnoise.

 

I would put the sport package into the MC, but probably not in the MCS to keep the cost down on the MCS. I would also do some of the interior options on the MC but wouldn't do it on the MCS, again in order to keep the price down.

 

This might sound odd but I think it not only depends on what you will use the car for but potentially your age. I am 19 and have no intention of getting a MCS, probably because I can't afford it with the options I want . I am getting a MC before the end of the year. That being said I have driven in both (my dad has an MCS). Perhaps in six or seven years I'll get an MCS! With everything I want on it. But keep in mind: Which ever one you choose you will do two things: Have a great time motoring on and modifications will have no end!

 

I like that!

 

I only test drove the MC. I pretty much knew I didn't need the extra power and I didn't want to pay the extra $3K for the turbo. I wanted a certain number of options that I was not willing to sacrifice and needed to stay within my budget. The MC has more than enough pep to pass other cars easily and gets through the twisties (even the ones with hills) with power to spare.

Don't forget that the MCS uses more gas, costs more to insure, and will more likely get you a speeding ticket.

Good luck!

p.s. I disagree with this completely:

 

Huh?!? I've never had any issues with any of that on EITHER of my MCS's . Nor have I read anything about people having "Issues" in my 2+ years on these boards.

 

Wow I missed that. That's a goofy comment.

 

Just avoid any potential regret and get BOTH !

Next problem ?!?!

 

I have not ordered one yet, but here are my thoughts:

MC
$18700
horsepower 118 HP
MPG combined is 28

MCS
$21850 ($3150 more **)
172 HP (46% more horsepower)
MPG combined 26 (2 to 3 mph hit)

The MCS has the following options added to it that the MC does not have:
-Spoiler $250
-16" wheels $750
-Fog lights $250
-Sport seats $250
= $1500 in included options

**This makes the MCS actually $1650 more than the MCS if you consider the value of the added options.

The MCS also has the following that the MC does not have:
-Stiffer suspension: cannot really add dollar value here since the MCS stock suspension is in between the MC and the "sport suspension"
-ability to add LSD
-you get more chrome rings if you buy the interior chrome line
-rear fogs are 2 lights instead of 1
-more agressive bonnet w/ scoop
-Dash/door trim line is different in standard form
-double cone tranny synchonizers instead of carbon friction plates (according to http://www.eurocarblog.com/post/416/...ficial-preview )
-snazzier exhaust

Consider what you want out of the car. If the added options and added power do not appeal to you, get the MC. Overall it will cost less to operate (about $180 less a year in fuel based on 15K mi/yr) and will probably have longer engine life and do better on tires and insurance costs (maybe less tickets too).

I would not advise getting the MC just because it costs less. If I did this, I know I would regret it. Like others said, the MC is also a fine car and can be just as fun to own and drive twisties.

 

There definitely are numerous reports of the sunroof developing rattles and increasing wind noise; haven't heard anything about leaks, that'd suck.
That said I have the sunroof and love it! No issues whatsoever. Although my MINI only has 3,000 miles on it, so that's not to say that I won't have problems down the line. Frankly I'm willing to risk it though. Couldn't even imagine not having my huge, awesome sunroof.

Answering the OP's question, I'd go for a completely stripped MCS over a loaded MC. As others have said it all depends on your priorities. All I use my MINI for is recreation as I don't have a commute (college student living and working on campus) and haven't taken it to the track or autoX. Yet performance is still the most important aspect of any vehicle for me.

Additionally I prefer the look of the MCS. Yes the differences are subtle and the MC has more of that 'sleeper' look which many appreciate, but I prefer the aesthetics of the MCS. I didn't test drive the MC but from looking at its specs I can tell it's no slouch either, especially within its class. So basically you can't go wrong.

Best of luck on your decision!!!

 

My wife has an MCS and we love it! That said, I'm sort of batting around the possibility of getting either an MC or MCS to add to our stable. One caveat- I already have a high hp (Very!!) car for track use, so that doesn't enter into consideration.
To the O.P. -it really depends on what you use your car for; how you drive, how happy you are w/ your current car (and what you want to change).
Drive 'em both, as recommended above, and have fun shopping!

 

Coopers have always been totally engaging and outrageous fun for me in that they have plenty of power to compliment the outstanding MINI handling. That said, I have many friends who really are used to that extra power that the MCS has and I certainly won't begrudge them that. It's not important to me though, as I feel the Cooper has the kind of balance I prefer. The R56 Cooper is especially nice as the engine provides more low-end torque, has a 6th gear (which makes highway cruising a pleasure), and a whole list of other features that overall add up to a really splendid package.

I will add for the record that my '03 Cooper feels a bit rough around the edges in comparison but, since it is after all a Mini/MINI, "rough around the edges" kinda suits the car. I do think R56 is an improvement, though, especially for the Cooper.

 

Very valid points! $1650 more initially and $180 more per year. Can't quantify insurance costs or speeding tickets as obviously that will depend on the owner.

Personally that's a premium I'm more than willing to pay. You just have to decide if you can say the same.

 

People buy cars for different reasons. There's a lot of people out there that say moving into a standard Cooper is a jump in speed for them (). Don't get me wrong, the MC, and the MCS are both nice cars, but neither one of them are even close to fast from the factory.

There are cars out there for not that much more money (Or even less) that would blow the doors off both of them. I have well over 10k into my engine (And quite a bit more invested in the rest of the car!) and there are plenty of cars out there that would blow the doors off my car! . I'm not talking about supercars either.

Some people (You appear to be one of them) really don't care about speed. There's nothing wrong with that. I personally wouldn't buy a Cooper because I found even the stock S to be too slow for my needs.

As for insurance and tendency to speed, I haven't gotten a single moving violation in either of my two MINI's and I drive about 24k miles a year. I purchased my first MINI in August of 2005. Awareness is all you need to avoid tickets. Paying closer attention to the cars around me, and buying a Valentine One to help me pay more attention to police has saved me from countless tickets. I pay $1000 a year for full coverage on my car (250/250/500k, with $100 Comp Ded. and 500 Collision Ded. Uninsured Motorist Coverage, Etc, +$10k in excess coverage to cover my mods), I’m 21 years old with a perfect record.

Speed trap's are illegal in CA, so we don't have to deal with those.

I could care less about gas mileage, a Cooper would probably get less gas milage because i'd have the pedal on the floor every 10 seconds. If a difference of $15-$25 a month breaks your bank, you shouldn't be buying a $25k car.

I don't think the original poster left enough information for any of us to offer any specific suggestions. It completely depends on what you intend to use the car for.

If you truly drive 7k miles a year, and the car is only going to be used for going to and from the mall, getting groceries, etc, it's a bit silly to spend the extra money for an S, unless you're just that much of a speed demon (In which case, the MINI is probably the wrong car for you anyway).

If you enjoy driving quick through canyons, want to get more involved in local MINI clubs, and think you might be interested in tracking your car, jump up to an S, but there's no reason why you can't still have a bit of fun in a regular Cooper. Just realize, you're going to have a hell of a time keeping up with an S. I think the 0-60 difference is upwards of 2 seconds.

 

First, I'll just say, try both, and get the one that you think will bring you the most pleasure.

Its ALL about what makes you smile:

• I smile every time I get into my MC.
• I smile every time I take a freeway onramp with no traffic or have a green light for a turn at a deserted street corner.
• I can barely constrain myself with the high I get screeching my tires through the turns of a tight twisty road. (An extra thrill when I'm doing so and staying on the tail of an MCS or Porsche on a spirited run ).
• I also grin from ear to ear when I fill the tank with nearly 500 miles on my trip meter.

I would argue with you on every point you made. Yes, the MC isn't a drag monster or loaded with torque like the S, but I live near some of the best twisties around and have *NO* problem keeping up with an MCS or most sportbikes in the tight twisty stuff. Yes, I get smoked on the straights, but for me that's not where the true fun and skill comes into play.

For me, at least, the true excitement comes from reading the road, planning my line, gear, and speed, and keeping as much corner speed as possible and driving through a tight turn. This is the same thrill I have in the twisties on my lowly 65hp "standard" motorcycle, but I have no problem keeping up with the 130hp sport monsters in the twisties on that either. (I did do some amateur track motorcycle racing so I do know how to take a turn fast.)

I *HAVE* done a MINI trackday in my MC and was the only non-S in my group. Again, I waved the S'es by in the straights, but my ego isn't so fragile that this was a problem for me.

My first car was a '68 GTO (6.5 liter 400ci V8), so I know very well what raw power is, but hitting the gas and going fast in a straight line, isn't what does it for me. Yes, its fun to have "easy" speed and if that is what brings you the most pleasure that is what you should get and more power to you.

Its all a matter of personal preference. I just wish there wasn't such a palpable disdain towards the MC and its "perceived" lack of motoring fun and smile power by many MCS drivers. It has the same base handling as an S, so sprited twisty fun is just a matter of the skill of the person behind the wheel.


To each their own, and happy motoring to all MINI drivers.