Still can't make up my mind, Cooper or Cooper S.

One factor for me is fuel economy. Looks like regular Cooper gets great mileage regardless. However, I'm reading figures all over the place with the S model.

Anyone with MCS average in the high 30's? Not just for sections of a trip, but for total average of a drive. Ive read that if you keep off the gas, shift at lower RPM's the turbo doesn't kick in and great fuel economy is possible.

Any thoughts or personal experiences on this would be appreciated.


-Jeff

 

All highway, though.

 

38.2 is what I'd like to see. Is that an average reading, or an "instant" read?

Can you tell me what you get on country type roads, ie. not stop & go city, or interstate highway.

 

I commute 37 miles to work one way, 5 days a week.
2007 MCSa. Red (worth 2 mpg ).
60% highway at 70mph average/40% surface streets with some stoplights, but never stop & go
MPG average between 35-38.5

When my wife drives it to go get food, go to the gym, or we go out to eat, etc., the MPG goes between 34 and 37.

We drive EXTREMELY conservatively. The sport button is NEVER on, we never floor it to pass or accelerate, and I coast when I see that I have to stop.

 

50 miles each way to work. Average about 45 MPH. On NJ highways that means some days/sections you're going 80 MPH and other times I'm crawling (bumper to bumper) at about 5 MPH. Average MPG for me = 34-35.

 

I just recently learned to drive stick, and maybe I suck at it after looking at these numbers. OBC reads 34.2 overall, but each time I've filled, I calculate 30.something.

This is 90% highway also. I have a 50 mile commute each way, with about 10 minutes of stop and go each way. I shift at 3k. Sometimes I take a look at the instantaneous MPG and it's pretty much always over 40, and a good deal of time is over 50.

2008 MCS

 

65-70% Highway, the remainder on secondary roadways which invite spirited driving (wink wink) on the weekends. 4 tanks with an average of 33 MPG give or take a point here and there.
Definitely pleased considering the 4-Runner my wife traded in got around 17 MPG average and the around the same in my Tundra 4X which is my daily driver.

 

It all depends on how you drive.... I will say this much, 6th gear really isn't that tall, so getting 40 mpg (in a MCS) isn't as easy as it sounds. You have to be cruising at the speed limit on highway all the way to get that magical number. With mixed city (40%) and highway (60%) driving, I average around 30-32 mpg.
By the way, the trip computer is a little too optimistic (by at least 2-5 mpg) on the fuel economy. The fuel gauge isn't too precise either.....

 

I pulled off 42.8 on the way to work. All green lights mainly. 45 mph. 10 mile drive.

Best yet. I usually get 33 in town. Drive it easy. first, third, sixth gear. Easy.

 

The question is not if the car can get you great fuel economy...

The question is if YOU can get the car to give you great economy...

First answer is "YES".

Second answer depends on you. Keep in mind that you'll be tempted to accelerate a lot more if you choose the MCS :p

 

I have an 08 MC; not an S; with a manual transmission. I drive about 130 miles per day round trip for work; almost entirely highway. About 15 miles each way is "Country Road" 2-lanes; one each way. The rest is 4 lanes (2 each way) regular highway. I usually have the cruise set at 75MPH; but my speedo seems to be 5MPH high according to two GPS's.

The onboard computer says 39-42MPG; depending upon the temperature. It's been HOT last week, so it's been on the lower side.

Calculating by hand based on how much gas I put in when I fill up I'm getting more like 35-38MPG.

Given the 3-4MPG difference I'm seeing most S owners say they are getting, I'm not sure I made the right choice with the "Just A Cooper". When I start looking at all the mod options available for the S vs the pretty limited number of options for the Cooper; I begin to wish I had gone for the S. On the other hand; I certainly don't regret having bought the MC. It's still got plenty of get up and go...

I guess it's time to start plotting how I can convince the wife I need to trade up.

Either way you go, I'm sure you'll be very happy. If you have any thoughts you want to get involved with performance driving or tracking your car, you probably really want the S. The minimal difference in MPG isn't going to break the bank one way or the other I think.

Th other thing I have noticed in attending gatherings of the Local Tarheel Minis club is that the vast majority of the MINI's are the S variety. The last few events have had 8-10 MINIs and usually only 1 or 2 non-S models.

 

Are you saying you go from first to third to sixth?

 

Yes, it's possible.

Don't spend the money on the turbo if you're never going to get the engine into boost, though. You won't break it in properly, and you'll always feel like you're holding back. The MC can be just as fun without the temptation to wring it out.

I drive my MCS without a thought for my fuel economy for the most part (I accelerate to keep up with or pass traffic and cruise at or above 80) and average 32-33mpg on a tank. I LOVE IT. But if I had to drive farther to work or gas cost twice as much, I may have gone with the MC. But at the time I would have gotten an auto with the MC and the cost difference wasn't much to jump to the MCS because some other options I would have paid for on the MC were included in the MCS. It's not my personality to pass up 50hp for $2k.

 

The best I have gotten in my '08 MCSa was 38.4 MPG on the OBC but that was exclusive highway mileage and driving back from Minnesota to Florida with luggage.Calculated mileage was 38 MPG.Naturally everyones mileage may vary.

Excuse the camera phone pic which is kinda blurry.

 

On freeway I get 36+ mpg.

 

My best tank was in Utah. 43.8, hand calc'd. FOR THE TANKFUL. My average speed was in the 70's. Hanksville Utah to Ely Nevada 339 miles. We dropped in behind a big truck with a camper on it at 80. Ran 86 miles using him a wind brake.
I am certain that had I held the speed down after passing him I would have been above 45 mpg. You have to see that route to understand. Downhill all the way.

 

My average on mostly country roads is about 28 mpg with California 91 octane gas (Shell). However, at least 2 mph of that is going up my driveway. The instant mpg typically reads 6-8 mpg. It is a first gear only switch-back at a steep angle. Goes from the valley floor up about 400 vertical ft. to this view:



On a trip to San Jose I got 33 mpg at gotta get their quickly speeds, but no air conditioning. This was some highway, mostly freeway, but a serious grade on Hwy 17 over the Santa Cruz Mts. Mileage dropped a little the next day when the temps hit triple digit and I used auto air. No air and slower speed would probably get 35 mpg on mosly freeway with no traffic congestion.

The kind of mpg numbers you are looking for are more typical of the MC.

 

Two tanks of gas on my MCCS on hwy/city and I average about 30.

If you're after GREAT mpg, drive the MC again and pay attention to acceleration. It may be a perfect fit.

 

An amendment to my previous post....

I just filled up again this afternoon; I managed to get 43.8MPG out of this tank; calculated, not by the OBC. (OBC said something like 40MPG)

So, if you're looking for the absolute best MPG and do mostly highway driving the MC may be for you.

If what you're looking for is performance, and still good MPG, the MCS is the way to go.

 

My mpg has been pretty consistent in my MCS: 28-29 mpg town (avg 20mpg). 35mpg freeway/highway (avg 65mph). Best tank 41mpg (100 miles 4000' downhill to Phx). If you want high 30s get the MC.

 

I've gotten 41mpg on a tankful when I didn't exceed 55mph on my 25 mile commute. Never on the turbo and kept the rpms under 2000. When I drive it like a sports car I get 34-37 mpg. It really depends on the driver not the car.

 

Stop and go in the city i get 30 mpg and I have a heavy foot.

in the winter, that goes down considerably. If it snows a lot or if there are a lot of slippery roads you can go down the the mid to low twenties.

hope this helps

 

hand calculation is 30.2 MPG. My OBC is not accurate, I asked the dealer and he said that it gets better after break-in...let's hope so.
Mins is MCS 2008.....one more question...when does the TURBO kick in? Is 3000 RPM and above?
thanks.

 

9 miles to work, 50 mph road, 2 stop signs. I easily get 34 mpg calculated. If I try and be very conservative, I can get 37 - 38 calculated. (the obc say 41) I think the turbo kicks in at 1900 rpm, if not, it's pretty low and there is not much of a lag.

 

MINI states the turbo range as 1600 - 5000 rpm.

To stay on topic, I'll be happy if the MCS gets 30mpg, since my Neon can't even seem to nail that.