R56 '08 MCS 2000 mile review
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3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 208
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From: Churzee
'08 MCS 2000 mile review
The Car: 2008 MINI Cooper S (Lightning Blue/Black Roof) with John Cooper Works Engine Tuning Kit (intake, exhaust, engine software), Premium Package, Convenience Package, Cold Weather Package, Sport Suspension, LSD, DSC, Navigation, Carbon Punch Leather, Anthracite Headliner, Brushed Aluminum Trim, Chrome Line Interior, Sirius
Highs: Punchy acceleration, wonderful steering feel, low weight, go-kart handling, fantastic fuel economy, solid build, great engine/exhaust sound
Lows: Runflats, torque steer, seat adjustment difficulty, rear seat room, rear seat ingress/egress, no spare
-------------------------
The "C" word
The Cooper S' exterior does have some sporty flourishes to it, but basically I've just had to come to terms with the fact that this car is, in a word, cute. I wish it was a little less cute, with a little more "mean" in its appearance, but well, it isn't. It isn't a car that makes anyone have fear when they see it in their rearview... they're far more likely to smile. I'm secure enough in my manhood to accept that.
Once settling into that reality, you also notice the benefits. People are far more likely to let you merge or change lanes, fellow MINI owners wave to you, pedestrians grin and give you thumbs ups, and you no longer get the feeling that people immediately assume you're some sort of ***** or rich a-hole... the de rigeur feeling you have when driving a BMW, Benz, or a sports/sporty car.
Fooling them all
But you also feel like you're putting one over on all those people, on two fronts. Firstly, on the inside, the MINI really does feel like an upscale vehicle. The plastics are soft for the most part, the build quality is excellent, and the car just has that solid, chunky stiff-chassis feel common to all BMW products. Switchgear feels substantial, not flimsy. It all gives the car an overall feel that truly justifies its categorization as a "premium" compact. There's just no comparison to other cars in its size class... the Fits and Yarises of the world cannot even begin to compete in this regard. The MCS' interior feel is actually very reminiscent to me of my old E46, quirky design themes notwithstanding. This is not a modern Chevette. It's a little BMW, and it feels like it.
The second front on which you feel like you're deceiving the outside observer is in the world of handling dynamics and the overall driving experience. This car, torque steer notwithstanding, is a total blast to drive. The 1.6L BMW/Peugeot turbo powerplant is really a gem. With peak torque being reached as low as 1700 rpm, the power is ample. You never feel like the car is underpowered or can't get out of its own way, like a typical compact/subcompact hatch. Turbo lag is non-existant. Grunt is always available, even when in the wrong gear (within reason).
Handles like Rollie Fingers
Both the limited-slip differential and DSC help get the power to the ground with a minimum of drama. There is some tugging at the wheel, unavoidable in any front wheel drive car, but it's entirely predictable, and once acclimated to it, essentially a non-issue. Of course I wish it wasn't there, but it's totally livable. I've found that disabling DSC really minimizes the tugging, but with it disabled, great care is required in throttle application, as the power can easily break the wheels free in 1st and 2nd. I suspect that the LSD actually increases the frequency with which there's a bit of tugging, but decreases its intensity. You can really feel the LSD doing its job, as it gently tries to find traction equilibrium. Without it, I suspect the car would perceptually pull toward one side or the other less frequently, but much harder.
The lightness of the car, torque curve, and the amount of engine/exhaust sound that's let into the cabin (enhanced by the JCW intake/exhaust), really convey a visceral thrill on acceleration. I think it's probably a 6-second-ish 0-60 car, but it feels faster. Let's face reality... for typical suburb/interstate/city driving, that's more than sufficient power. With the sound and feel, it makes the daily commute a total hoot. The combination of the stiff chassis and wheels pushed all the way out to the extreme corners of the car enhance the go-kart feel exponentially. This car makes mundane drives a ton of fun. A great recipe for a daily driver.
Steering feel is excellent, though it's mandatory that the "sport" button be pressed immediately upon starting her up. Without it, the steering is far too light... it's kind of like the difference between a 2001 and a 2002 E46... maybe grandma would prefer the button off while parking at the A&P, but the weight and tightness of the steering when the button is engaged is right for everything else.
On sweepers, there's some gentle understeer that comes on predictably when pushed, but a little lift or a gentle tap on the brake lightens the rear nicely, allowing a bit of rotation. It's a much easier balancing act with this car than I've experienced with other front drivers. I'm sure all of this will feel much better still once I switch from the crappy all-season runflats that came with the car (Conti 195/55/R16s on MINI 16" Bridge Spoke wheels -- my winter setup) to the 215/45/R17 Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3s on 17" Enkei RP03s I bought from TireRack.
Clutch feel is very natural and predictable... the pedal throw is a touch long, but not at all distracting. I don't feel the need for a clutch stop, something that was all but required in my E46. Similarly, the shifter throw is a bit long. The gates are well-defined without being notchy, but the length of the throw is a bit agricultural. Unfortunately, I think an SSK installation on this car is a much bigger hassle than on an E46. I'm not a big fan of the stock shift ****, either -- I have the JCW pistol-type **** on order. These gripes aside, it's an easy car to shift -- I've never missed a shift or wondered what gear I was in. The ratios seem very well spaced, too -- no complaints there -- though the broad torque curve of the engine would help to mask iffy gearing choices, were there any.
I opted for the sport suspension with stiffer dampening and bigger swaybars. This really helps control body roll and brake dive. The ride is a little rough over less-than optimal roads (90% of the roads here in the northeast), but that's a sacrifice I've always been willing to make to avoid any sort of "float." This roughness is another thing I think will be alleviated greatly by switching to non-runflat summer tires with more forgiving sidewalls.
Overall, the handling of the car is simply phenomenal. It's so light and agile, it's easy to do slaloms of dotted yellow lines. Right-angle street turns at speeds that would roll your typical SUV. This car defines "tossable."
Internal Affairs
The sport seats with punch leather are very comfortable and supportive, with good side bolstering and plenty of adjustments available. That being said, It's all manual (no power/memory seat option available), and regrettably there is no seat cushion angle adjustment. Additionally, trying to adjust the seatback angle or lumbar support is impossible with the center armrest down. I'm really not sure why these adjustments are on the inboard side of the seat. A minor complaint, but annoying nonetheless.
On first glance, the highly-stylized interior would seem to be incredibly ergonomically incorrect. However, once acclimated, everything seems very natural and easy to operate. The cartoonish pie-plate speedometer (whose form:function ratio is substantially improved when opting for the nav system, with its screen in the center) is not really a functional problem at all, as the tach display is easily configured with a couple of stalk button presses to display your speed digitally. The auto climate control works great -- basically identical to the E46, except it only increments/decrements the temp in 2-degree (F) jumps. Big deal.
Visibility is very good, with a large greenhouse, and big mirrors. The one exception is if you have a habit of creeping up too far at intersections with only overhead traffic lights... need to make sure you don't move up so far that you can no longer see the light! Sometimes that's a half a car length behind the stop line.
The in-car electronics, encompassing navigation (w/real-time traffic info), bluetooth phone communications, AM/FM/Satellite radio, USB-based iPod integration, multi-layered OBC with trip computer, in-car settings, and voice commands all work just great. I'm continually impressed with the whole package. Its capabilities are FAR beyond anything I've had in previous cars, and as such I don't have much of a baseline with which to compare them to what other manufacturers offer. But I am thoroughly satisfied with it all, and very happy I bought the Nav option in order to get a reasonably-sized screen with which to operate all these functions. Even though I use the voice commands more than anything else.
The sound is okay. Plenty sufficient for me. I've never been much of an auto-audiophile, though, anyway... a car is just about the worst possible environment for serious music consumption. I've never really understood the obsession with which some approach this subject. Mostly I'm happy to listen to the engine. iPod integration and library navigation is excellent, though, as is the Sirius menu structure... though I wish there were a few more "slots" for Sirius presets.
Miscellany
Parking this car is so easy it's a joke. It fits anywhere, and I can't even begin to comprehend why anyone would bother with the available park distance control option.
My daily driving is pretty much 50% highway and 50% suburbs/city driving, including a daily trek into and out of midtown Manhattan. When safety and traffic permit, I usually drive it like I stole it. Not the best recipe for fuel efficiency. But even so, I'm averaging 30mpg consistently. This is HUGE for me, especially coming from an RX-8 that drank as much as a Hummer. In these days of near $4/gal. gas, this makes me very very happy.
Changing the oil is a fairly easy process with a top-side extractor, with one exception. In order to reach the filter housing, one bolt needs to be removed, so the coolant overflow reservoir can be dismounted and temporarily moved out of the way. Kinda stupid, but not really a big deal at all.
Three thumbs up
I highly recommend this car to anyone who's looking for a fuel efficient yet powerful small car for their daily drive, and especially to those who demand a car that provides a tight-handling, visceral, enthusiast's experience for their daily commute.
Highs: Punchy acceleration, wonderful steering feel, low weight, go-kart handling, fantastic fuel economy, solid build, great engine/exhaust sound
Lows: Runflats, torque steer, seat adjustment difficulty, rear seat room, rear seat ingress/egress, no spare
-------------------------
The "C" word
The Cooper S' exterior does have some sporty flourishes to it, but basically I've just had to come to terms with the fact that this car is, in a word, cute. I wish it was a little less cute, with a little more "mean" in its appearance, but well, it isn't. It isn't a car that makes anyone have fear when they see it in their rearview... they're far more likely to smile. I'm secure enough in my manhood to accept that.
Once settling into that reality, you also notice the benefits. People are far more likely to let you merge or change lanes, fellow MINI owners wave to you, pedestrians grin and give you thumbs ups, and you no longer get the feeling that people immediately assume you're some sort of ***** or rich a-hole... the de rigeur feeling you have when driving a BMW, Benz, or a sports/sporty car.
Fooling them all
But you also feel like you're putting one over on all those people, on two fronts. Firstly, on the inside, the MINI really does feel like an upscale vehicle. The plastics are soft for the most part, the build quality is excellent, and the car just has that solid, chunky stiff-chassis feel common to all BMW products. Switchgear feels substantial, not flimsy. It all gives the car an overall feel that truly justifies its categorization as a "premium" compact. There's just no comparison to other cars in its size class... the Fits and Yarises of the world cannot even begin to compete in this regard. The MCS' interior feel is actually very reminiscent to me of my old E46, quirky design themes notwithstanding. This is not a modern Chevette. It's a little BMW, and it feels like it.
The second front on which you feel like you're deceiving the outside observer is in the world of handling dynamics and the overall driving experience. This car, torque steer notwithstanding, is a total blast to drive. The 1.6L BMW/Peugeot turbo powerplant is really a gem. With peak torque being reached as low as 1700 rpm, the power is ample. You never feel like the car is underpowered or can't get out of its own way, like a typical compact/subcompact hatch. Turbo lag is non-existant. Grunt is always available, even when in the wrong gear (within reason).
Handles like Rollie Fingers
Both the limited-slip differential and DSC help get the power to the ground with a minimum of drama. There is some tugging at the wheel, unavoidable in any front wheel drive car, but it's entirely predictable, and once acclimated to it, essentially a non-issue. Of course I wish it wasn't there, but it's totally livable. I've found that disabling DSC really minimizes the tugging, but with it disabled, great care is required in throttle application, as the power can easily break the wheels free in 1st and 2nd. I suspect that the LSD actually increases the frequency with which there's a bit of tugging, but decreases its intensity. You can really feel the LSD doing its job, as it gently tries to find traction equilibrium. Without it, I suspect the car would perceptually pull toward one side or the other less frequently, but much harder.
The lightness of the car, torque curve, and the amount of engine/exhaust sound that's let into the cabin (enhanced by the JCW intake/exhaust), really convey a visceral thrill on acceleration. I think it's probably a 6-second-ish 0-60 car, but it feels faster. Let's face reality... for typical suburb/interstate/city driving, that's more than sufficient power. With the sound and feel, it makes the daily commute a total hoot. The combination of the stiff chassis and wheels pushed all the way out to the extreme corners of the car enhance the go-kart feel exponentially. This car makes mundane drives a ton of fun. A great recipe for a daily driver.
Steering feel is excellent, though it's mandatory that the "sport" button be pressed immediately upon starting her up. Without it, the steering is far too light... it's kind of like the difference between a 2001 and a 2002 E46... maybe grandma would prefer the button off while parking at the A&P, but the weight and tightness of the steering when the button is engaged is right for everything else.
On sweepers, there's some gentle understeer that comes on predictably when pushed, but a little lift or a gentle tap on the brake lightens the rear nicely, allowing a bit of rotation. It's a much easier balancing act with this car than I've experienced with other front drivers. I'm sure all of this will feel much better still once I switch from the crappy all-season runflats that came with the car (Conti 195/55/R16s on MINI 16" Bridge Spoke wheels -- my winter setup) to the 215/45/R17 Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3s on 17" Enkei RP03s I bought from TireRack.
Clutch feel is very natural and predictable... the pedal throw is a touch long, but not at all distracting. I don't feel the need for a clutch stop, something that was all but required in my E46. Similarly, the shifter throw is a bit long. The gates are well-defined without being notchy, but the length of the throw is a bit agricultural. Unfortunately, I think an SSK installation on this car is a much bigger hassle than on an E46. I'm not a big fan of the stock shift ****, either -- I have the JCW pistol-type **** on order. These gripes aside, it's an easy car to shift -- I've never missed a shift or wondered what gear I was in. The ratios seem very well spaced, too -- no complaints there -- though the broad torque curve of the engine would help to mask iffy gearing choices, were there any.
I opted for the sport suspension with stiffer dampening and bigger swaybars. This really helps control body roll and brake dive. The ride is a little rough over less-than optimal roads (90% of the roads here in the northeast), but that's a sacrifice I've always been willing to make to avoid any sort of "float." This roughness is another thing I think will be alleviated greatly by switching to non-runflat summer tires with more forgiving sidewalls.
Overall, the handling of the car is simply phenomenal. It's so light and agile, it's easy to do slaloms of dotted yellow lines. Right-angle street turns at speeds that would roll your typical SUV. This car defines "tossable."
Internal Affairs
The sport seats with punch leather are very comfortable and supportive, with good side bolstering and plenty of adjustments available. That being said, It's all manual (no power/memory seat option available), and regrettably there is no seat cushion angle adjustment. Additionally, trying to adjust the seatback angle or lumbar support is impossible with the center armrest down. I'm really not sure why these adjustments are on the inboard side of the seat. A minor complaint, but annoying nonetheless.
On first glance, the highly-stylized interior would seem to be incredibly ergonomically incorrect. However, once acclimated, everything seems very natural and easy to operate. The cartoonish pie-plate speedometer (whose form:function ratio is substantially improved when opting for the nav system, with its screen in the center) is not really a functional problem at all, as the tach display is easily configured with a couple of stalk button presses to display your speed digitally. The auto climate control works great -- basically identical to the E46, except it only increments/decrements the temp in 2-degree (F) jumps. Big deal.
Visibility is very good, with a large greenhouse, and big mirrors. The one exception is if you have a habit of creeping up too far at intersections with only overhead traffic lights... need to make sure you don't move up so far that you can no longer see the light! Sometimes that's a half a car length behind the stop line.
The in-car electronics, encompassing navigation (w/real-time traffic info), bluetooth phone communications, AM/FM/Satellite radio, USB-based iPod integration, multi-layered OBC with trip computer, in-car settings, and voice commands all work just great. I'm continually impressed with the whole package. Its capabilities are FAR beyond anything I've had in previous cars, and as such I don't have much of a baseline with which to compare them to what other manufacturers offer. But I am thoroughly satisfied with it all, and very happy I bought the Nav option in order to get a reasonably-sized screen with which to operate all these functions. Even though I use the voice commands more than anything else.
The sound is okay. Plenty sufficient for me. I've never been much of an auto-audiophile, though, anyway... a car is just about the worst possible environment for serious music consumption. I've never really understood the obsession with which some approach this subject. Mostly I'm happy to listen to the engine. iPod integration and library navigation is excellent, though, as is the Sirius menu structure... though I wish there were a few more "slots" for Sirius presets.
Miscellany
Parking this car is so easy it's a joke. It fits anywhere, and I can't even begin to comprehend why anyone would bother with the available park distance control option.
My daily driving is pretty much 50% highway and 50% suburbs/city driving, including a daily trek into and out of midtown Manhattan. When safety and traffic permit, I usually drive it like I stole it. Not the best recipe for fuel efficiency. But even so, I'm averaging 30mpg consistently. This is HUGE for me, especially coming from an RX-8 that drank as much as a Hummer. In these days of near $4/gal. gas, this makes me very very happy.
Changing the oil is a fairly easy process with a top-side extractor, with one exception. In order to reach the filter housing, one bolt needs to be removed, so the coolant overflow reservoir can be dismounted and temporarily moved out of the way. Kinda stupid, but not really a big deal at all.
Three thumbs up
I highly recommend this car to anyone who's looking for a fuel efficient yet powerful small car for their daily drive, and especially to those who demand a car that provides a tight-handling, visceral, enthusiast's experience for their daily commute.
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte
Definitely a great write-up... Had my AB/AB with the Stage 1 JCW kit for a week now and it has been pure pleasure from the moment we settled in together. I agree that the car has "quirks" but so do I so we are a match made in heaven. The engine sound from the JCW is simply sublime. Even my wife who cares about cars the way eskimos care about ice enjoys the engine sound in the cabin. It is simply awesome and the performance is out of this world. Haven't taken her over 4,500 RPM yet because of the suggested break-in period but will in about 1,200 miles and will do so often as the JCW just wants to run.
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
Fantastic review!!
As a former RX-8 owner, I can attest to how great it feels not to have to fill up every 4 days. I filled the tank last Monday and still have 7 bars left on the fuel gauge, after driving to work every day.
As a former RX-8 owner, I can attest to how great it feels not to have to fill up every 4 days. I filled the tank last Monday and still have 7 bars left on the fuel gauge, after driving to work every day.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Churzee
[B]I'm sure all of this will feel much better still once I switch from the crappy all-season runflats that came with the car (Conti 195/55/R16s on MINI 16" Bridge Spoke wheels -- my winter setup) to the 215/45/R17 Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3s on 17" Enkei RP03s I bought from TireRack.
Smoother, quieter, grippier, sharper handling, yet more comfortable over crappy roads.
Wow. Really makes me realize how much those runflat all-seasons truly suck.
I'm going to be sobbing in my Cheerios next winter when I have to switch back!
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3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Churzee
I wish there was a spare, but I'm okay with a compressor (with optional goo injection), a dynaplug kit, and a cell phone for day-to-day driving.
For longer road trips I'll probably shoehorn one of my winter wheels into the boot just in case.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
jeezus..... i actually read that whole thing. and i hate reading. great job!
EDIT: oh. this is for the JCW. i don't have a JCW. still a good read though.
EDIT: oh. this is for the JCW. i don't have a JCW. still a good read though.
Last edited by steaming79; Apr 9, 2008 at 04:15 PM. Reason: realized its jcw
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
As others have said, great review. It sounds like you have a similar set-up to mine, so I can second much of what you wrote, especially regarding the JCW additions.
One difference: I have to keep the Sport button off or I'd be liable to rack up a small country's GDP in speeding tickets. It's hard to keep the car running under 4,000 RPMs with the button on; it does absolutely improve the steering. The last time I had the button pressed, I easily tailed a Boxster, the driven of which seemed annoyed.
One addition: I have the JCW aero kit, which I think cuts down on the "c" factor a little.
One difference: I have to keep the Sport button off or I'd be liable to rack up a small country's GDP in speeding tickets. It's hard to keep the car running under 4,000 RPMs with the button on; it does absolutely improve the steering. The last time I had the button pressed, I easily tailed a Boxster, the driven of which seemed annoyed.
One addition: I have the JCW aero kit, which I think cuts down on the "c" factor a little.
4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 362
Likes: 2
Thanks for the update, Plaz.
I remember reading your review above, it went a long way in helping me to "pull the trigger" and order my MINI. At the time, I was looking for a smaller car (I had a Lexus) with a good, solid quality feel, emphasis on handling/braking, and great fuel mileage.
I opted to go for a low-optioned '08 "JustaCooper", purposely foregoing many of the options yours has. Ordered it in May '08, took delivery in June '08. Nightfire Red & white (love the color!!). I'm closing in on 30,000 miles now.
I can say that your review was spot-on in all respects. Even though yours is an "S", almost everything you say in your original write-up also applies to the non-S Coopers. Just subtract a bit of torque and horsepower! I've never regretted my choice, the plain-Jane Cooper is as good a driving machine as the "S". You just need some different driving techniques to get the most out of it - you don't have the same reserves of power and torque that the turbo provides, so you have to keep the revs up, learn to heel-and-toe downshift so you're in the proper gear all the time, keep your momentum and speed up while entering and exiting corners, etc. Great fun!
Still love my MINI, too!!
I remember reading your review above, it went a long way in helping me to "pull the trigger" and order my MINI. At the time, I was looking for a smaller car (I had a Lexus) with a good, solid quality feel, emphasis on handling/braking, and great fuel mileage.
I opted to go for a low-optioned '08 "JustaCooper", purposely foregoing many of the options yours has. Ordered it in May '08, took delivery in June '08. Nightfire Red & white (love the color!!). I'm closing in on 30,000 miles now.
I can say that your review was spot-on in all respects. Even though yours is an "S", almost everything you say in your original write-up also applies to the non-S Coopers. Just subtract a bit of torque and horsepower! I've never regretted my choice, the plain-Jane Cooper is as good a driving machine as the "S". You just need some different driving techniques to get the most out of it - you don't have the same reserves of power and torque that the turbo provides, so you have to keep the revs up, learn to heel-and-toe downshift so you're in the proper gear all the time, keep your momentum and speed up while entering and exiting corners, etc. Great fun!
Still love my MINI, too!!
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