Yes and if you read the full thread you can see where I essentially said that on the page before

Yes I said dragstrip not Auto-X, but we're talking 1 sec 0-60 so it only quantitatively matters in a straight line, the MCS might windup easily making up that 1 sec. with superior handling on an Auto-X track.

 

NSX is a pretty fast car but lets not make it out like its on the elite level, a properly tuned MCS can perform just as good or even better, I've been in modded out VW GTIs with high 3 sec. 0-60 times, and both my WRX and my Audi A3 would pin me to my seat (infact most turbo cars do this). If you were leaving rubber on the ground it just means you weren't using the right tires for the power you were putting down. I've been in 700+hp tuned Audi B5S4s that would never loose an ounce of rubber, and would pass your NSX like it was standing still.

 

Thanks for all the info everyone.

I'm still not sure. I did test drive both. The Cooper was great fun, compared to my truck. The Cooper S was sure a bit quicker, but I'm just not sure it was worth the $3K. I'm not interested in a Prius, but then again I'm not sure I'd spend $3k to beat the car next to me to the next stoplight.

And I do think that the gas mileage is important, and might not be just 3 mpg between the two. There seem to be those who can milk 38 mpg out of the Cooper S, but is how much fun is that. It looks like the Cooper can get 40MPG easily. Recent article in WSJ stated we should plan on $6 a gallon by Labor Day. I've read that in the US, Cooper S accounts for 70% of sales (30% cooper) in the US. In Europe where petrol is very expensive, the numbers are reversed 70% Regular Coopers.

Then there's the valve drain-down-engine-noise (cold-start) issue with the Cooper S.

I don't know. Looking at it from another angle, $23K for a fairly zippy little sports car isn't bad. Heck, that's the price of a Prius.

 

It depends on what you want but two things to keep in mind when comparing prices is:

1) The MCS tends to depreciate less with age than the MC. So chances are the money you put down now you would make back when you sell.

2) Look at the things you might want on your MC that already come on the MCS when you build them, quite often the difference between an equally equipped MC and MCS winds up being closer to $1k than $3k.

 

Yes

 

Really? I had it at $2400, apples to apples. The S adds (if I recall) spoiler, front fog lights, sport seats...did I miss anything(of course the engine!)? (it's been a few months since I did my comparison) There are things that I did not factor in (such as the different front/rear bumper on the S -vs- a Cooper, hood scoop, 16" wheels, etc). Add that in to a Cooper and I calculated it at $2400. Maybe I was discounting things that didn't matter to me one way or another...things like the checkered dash trim?

 

I would do it again except I would add the cold weather package.

 

I could happily live with just a Cooper. When it came to the second MINI, I couldn't quite come to terms with just having Coopers, one of each is great.

 

NO! I love my Cooper and have no regrets. But do what makes YOU happy!

 

Although I'm still waiting for my S, I would definitely stick with my original decision. I too struggled with MPG and was seriously considering a Prius and for a fully loaded one, it was approximately the same price as a S with everything that I was looking for, but the MINI is definitely a lot more fun to drive and looks way better . Good luck with your decision.

 

Once again lets look back at some of the posts here. I know the checkered dash was a reason to spend 250 more not to have it. The fog lights, sport seats, and 16" were important to me and I added them to my MC. One post indicated why not sacrifice a few MPG for significant improvement in performance. Do you need the acceleration all the time? What about not having a spare and having to be with run on flat tires or replace the tires with non run flats and use slime and an air compressor? I could justify either the MC or the MCS, but to compare the MC with a Toyota hybrid. Where is the logic other then gas mileage. With the Cooper I feel I am at the helm in control, Toyota - well they can parallel park by them selfs!

 

OK. For me, it would be a $2750 difference, since the only thing I'd add to the regular cooper would be the sport seats. Spoiler, and fog lights mean nothing to me. The 16 inch wheels have pros & cons which cancel each other out in my opinion.

-

 

Well the 16" wheels are another $750 right there, but add to that the Black mesh grill, chrome gas cap, upgraded interior surface,, aluminum alloy foot pedals, and you get my point.

 

Perhaps if the dealer would allow extended test drives. On our last two vehicles, a honda and a toyota truck, the dealer was just about begging us to take the car home for the weekend, just get a feel for it. Not the same at all with Minis. Dealer had just a couple demos, and people lined u to test them!

 

The logic was exactly that, the poster said his reason was simply gas milage.

 

16" run on flats have both good and points. But with the MC you still have a spare if you want to go with non run flats. I did think the 15" wheels looked a little small on the car, however, when the winter comes I will get 15" winter tires. Looking back, I may have went with the 15" over the 16"

 

I just read back to some of the posts at least one comparison was the 0-60 times of the MC vs Toyota hybrid. This is comparing performance as well as gas mileage. The poster was comparing how the MC performed like the Toyota. - Absolutely dead wrong. I drove both and bought the MC.

 

What's the upgraded interior surface?

I'd skip the larger wheels, especially the runflats. Grill, gas cap, foot pedals...just trinkets to me.

 

The only interior upgrade I am aware of is the sport seats a big plus, foot pedals - looks nice, and the checkered dash a big minus.

 

Then you shouldn't buy a Mini, period.

 

The NSX is on an elite level. It's an exotic. MSRP was $91k. Handling, braking, and acceration together were on a level that is only matched by cars costing over $100k. The only cars under $100k that could match a NSX around the track was a Viper or a Corvette Z06.

Now, 5 years later, there are a few other cars that have improved and could give my '03 NSX a run for its money. I would imagine a new regular non-Z06 vette, a Lotus Elise, or a Porsche Cayman S could hang with a NSX around the track, and they do indeed cost less. But don't fool yourself into thinking a Mini Cooper is even comparable to a NSX. A NSX is more comparable to a Lamborghini than to a Mini Clooper.

As for tires, the tires on the NSX were the same make and model as those that came on the Porsche 911 Turbo at the time. The rears were 255/40/ZR17 size. I wasn't using anything different than came on the car from the factory. Any car with extreme performance is going to spin its tires on takeoff. Have you ever driven a Dodge Viper? I remember reading the Car & Drive road test where they said you could start the Viper in 2nd gear, upshift to 3rd at 1000 RPMs, and you would still spin the rear tires if you floored it. That's how high performance cars are.

 

I liked the checkered dash over the one in the MC, to each their own but it would cost you to add it to the MC. I have paid to add aluminum pedals to two of my last three cars. As I said to begin with its a matter of what you want it could be as little as $1k. Personally the first option I would add to the MC is a turbo, luckily I didn't have to do that.

 

Sorry, but I've got better things to do than just drive around with no real need of getting somwehere. If I had my choice, and lived somewhere that did not require ownership of such an expensive and quickly depreciating tool known as a car I'd skip it entirely. However, I might as well try to have as much fun as possible if I must spend the time sitting behind the wheel. I admit, the mini is fun to drive if I must.

I don't own one yet, but I will soon.

 

Really I could name a bunch all for well under $100k
RS4, M5, M6 (might be over 100k) Vette, Nissan GT-R, Cayman S, any 911, just to name a few.

Now if your talking tuned cars, I can find a ton for under $50k that will blow an NSXs doors off.

Hell in production it never even broke 300hp, the NSX was still just a Honda (in-fact, in europe it was badged that way), I would compare it best to the Nissan GT-R, all though the GT-R is a much better performer and still $15k less, hell with the performance numbers put up by EVOs and STI's you could say it was a huge under performer for the price. It was a beautiful car for its time yes, but an exotic and in the same class as a Lambo or a Ferrari, no not even close, in that regards its closer to a Mini (not even an S) at least 20K closer and thats for the cheapest of the true exotics.

 

$3k for an extra 70hp and a lot of low end tq? believe me there are a lot o people here who had spend $1K to get 10-20hp on MC's.
air filter, ecu, excaust.. and you will spend thoe $1k in a couple of months.

about the mcs vs mc? is more than just a bit quicker. but you need more than a test to feel the difference (the way a mcs accelerates and how you have to play with the pedal is very differnent than in a non-turbo or non-supercharger car) otherside you just don't get all the acceleration you can have in a MCS.

for 3K left just go for the MCS!!!