Hi all, this is my first post. I plan on buying my mini next year but I am so split between the S and the Non-S. I did a lot of searching the forums but haven't been able to find the answers the some of these questions. Although I have yet to test drive one, I just want to see what other people have experienced.

I am from Canada so I will be driving the mini in winter, so I am wondering if the torque steer in the cooper s will make for any dangerous conditions during winter driving? or would the standard cooper be more safe?

Also, when your using the online build your mini does that MSRP include the shipping cost or will you need to tack on all those extra things as well onto the price when your thinking about budget?

 

I own an older Cooper and a new Cooper S and drive both in the snow.

As long as you have decent snow tires and aren't driving like an idiot, the added power / torque of the Cooper S is not a problem in the winter.

 

Agreed. The best thing you can do with the Mini in winter is put a set of winter tires on. With the torquier S you may need to be a little more careful with the power when it's slippery out, but both versions come standard with DSC stability control in Canada, so I don't think there's a question of one being safer than the other overall.

Pretty sure the mini.ca configurator doesn't include freight/PDI and provincial levies. Figure on another $2000 to cover those. Don't forget that if you do decide to get a Mini, the $1000 government eco-rebate doesn't apply to the S and is only good on '08 models. Got my MC last month and sent away the rebate forms almost right away.

 

You'll have to drive the MC and MCS before you decide personally what you prefer. The shipping cost is listed separately on the configurator, not in the MSRP. You'll see it when you attempt to build one. It's about $650 usd.

 

Unfortunately, things are a little different here in Canada. Freight & PDI, as it's called here, is $1595.

 

Thanks for the help everyone =) With that said I will definitely get the cooper S.

 

You won't regret it.

 

You should still test drive both. The base model first, then the S. You will KNOW you NEED the S.

 

The MC is plenty of fun and I'm getting 41 mpg.

 

I test drove both, and liked what each had to offer. I didn't feel that I NEED the S, but extra power was nice.

I agree... that's why I still can't decide between the two..

 

If you don't care about gas mileage and the car is mostly for fun, the S is a wonderful ride. If you want fun and mileage, the MC is a winner. A couple of other thoughts that helped me decide. The S model has run-flat tires. They are more expensive, have a stiffer ride, and can't be run-flat for long before they must be replaced. Some shops won't fix them even if driven within the limitations because they can't know you're telling the truth and they worry about liability from degraded sidewalls. If that happens, you're out several hundred bucks due to a puncture.

Folks will taut Slime tire sealant, sidewall durability, and various other fix-it options, but if I'm going to push the limits--which is why you get an MCS--I want fully reliable tires. I push the MC pretty hard, but it's tires, though not as sporty as the MCS', are reliably fixable and sidewall fatigue isn't a known issue. Plus, I have boththe Slime option AND a spare tire.

Unscientifically, the MC looks to be having fewer problems than the MCS judging from the trouble forum.

MC is $3k cheaper than the MCS. With speed limits in the States being no more than 75 (does Montana still have some unlimited stretches?), even if you push it on the public roads, all you get with an MCS is faster acceleration. How often will you use that? The R56 MC has better low end torque than the R53 MCS does.

The MINI shines on curves. The MC can get into a curve way too fast as it is, so the extra HP aren't a big deal going in.

The MCS accelerates faster coming out. But unless you're on a track or doing autocross, how much is that worth? I mean a couple of seconds diff 0-60 may be a big deal to real racers, but not in my work-a-day world. And not on the public streets where any back road can instantly sport a deer, a pet, a kid, a stopped car or a ladder just past the crest of that rise ahead. Off track, there are very few places you can use MCS power for more than a few moments. Big power in little spurts.

Personally, it's the challenge of carving curves and corners perfectly and the MC accommodates that well as is, even without upgraded MCS-like suspension.

Someone on this forum has observed that it is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. I don't see that as sour grapes or rationalization. And then there's the 41mpg (up from 37 on my first tank).

So for me it came down to how much track time would I want to make it worth the extra cash, fuel, and tire expenses?

 

I think it all really comes down to money and MPG. If you have the money and don't care about the reduced MPG, go for the S. Acceleration is better, and personally that is the fun part in any car - the handling and acceleration along back roads.

Run-flats do run a bit harder but buying a car based on what happens if you get a puncture is a bit pessimistic. I never had a puncture in 15 years driving, including 3 in a Z4 with run-flats. I've had 3 in the last 12 months in the Boxster...them the breaks.

We have a MC on order (production should be complete tomorrow) because we wanted a fun but economical car that is used mainly for commuting (60 miles each way). The S would have been more fun, but it was hard keeping the price down as it was with all the tempting options....

 

Good point rrcaniglia. MC is perfectly suited for my daily driving. Is extra power worth $3000, basically.

Actually, I do plan to autoX the car. So it's either G-stock or H-stock. MCS already domintates G-stock, which is good, plus car has LSD. But MC is also great in H-stock, which makes my decision that much more difficult.

 

Hi everyone I have a Mini Cooper base model and love it. This is the best car I have ever had. I went with the base because I put alot of money into accessories I have the checkerboard roof graphic, checkerboard dash, rooster red color line, checkerboard side mirrors and rear view mirror.

I have a question though I see coopers being referred to as the R56 what does that mean? and what am I? Mine is a 2008 Mini Cooper base model

 

I was really, really torn on this. I generally am more of an MC type driver.

But the mountains here in AL require a bit of get-up-and-go. So I decided for the turbo on my new one.

 

My husband loves my mini, I told him to get his own (just joking) We purchased an automatic transmission and what he likes is that you can also shift. It certainly has alot of get up and go. I picked up my mini on April 25th.

 

R56 is the designation for the new '07 and later MC and MCS. R53 is for 2006 and earlier back to some point (maybe 10 yrs?) that I don't remember.

 

Good points.
Main things I took:
Breaking the speed limit=a couple of seconds fun
Paying a speeding ticket=long agony
MPG + insurance cost.

I'm leaning towards the regular mini.

(OH btw anyone here have both non and s versions that can comment on differences in insurance cost?)

 

I have a 2003 Cooper and a 2007 MCS, and the difference in insurance for me is negligible. But, these things vary, so call your insurance agent to see what rates you would get.