Welcome to the zoo IamLili. These are good folks here. We look forward to hearing from you often (perhaps we will even hear from your husband -- after he sees the light. That'll take about a week).

 

Thank you so much! And thanks again everyone for your valuable input! (Unless I stumble across a "husband material" very soon, I'll most likely be the sole beneficiary of my future Mini!)

Well, I did get the chance to test drive a Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S back to back yesterday. It was a beautiful spring-like day, perfect for motoring! Dealer even let me go on my own! I drove both cars for about 1/2 hour each.

It confirmed what I felt about the base engine - more than powerful enough, and oh-so enjoyable to drive around town. However, it had to work a tad harder than my Rabbit to pass cars on the highway.

Then came the Cooper S. When I first stepped on the gas pedal, I was surprised (or I could even say stunned!) by its reactiveness! This simply made the test drive that much more pleasant. The ride was harsher than what I'm used to, but what I noticed was that it doesn't seem to matter as much, when your behind the wheel. When you're a passenger, that may be a different story! I also got a "niiice caaar" while I was stopped at a red light! (It was a red/white roof 2009 MCS). Have to say that felt great!

I think I'd be very happy with either model, but, a recent turn of events (and when I say recent, I mean last night around 9:30 pm!) may just allow me to afford a Cooper S!!! Not sure if it could be a Cooper S Camden, but we'll see. Nonetheless, this was a great experience and I feel I will be well equipped when comes the time to confirm my next car's specifications. So my choice is made: A Mini will be coming to live with me in a few months!

 

Haha, congrats and good choice. The odds of buying/leasing a MINI Cooper after a test drive must currently stand at 97% or something like that lol.

 

First off, welcome fellow canuck and future MINI owner!
I had the same feeling in my Mazda3 after test driving a couple MINI's, steering felt so over-assisted, the suspension so soft, too funny!

 

It'll make your heart sing & put a smile on your face. That's what I tell everyone about my Cricket & to future Mini owners - nothing else like it!

 

I think you are so right!!!

How's it going, eh?! Yeah, once you test drive a Mini, I guess you become way more critical of your current ride. Mind you, I have nothing but good things to say about my Rabbit. I think it's a great car in its own right, and it truly served me well over the past 4 years. But I think that my future Mini will bring my driving enjoyment to a whole new other level!

I believe you! Now that I've realized what a outstanding and fun car the Mini really is, I’m simply overjoyed about the thought of actually owning one in a few months! I don't remember being this excited about an acquisition – not even when I bought my first house 2 years ago!

What I find unreal is that I spent more than 1 year on another car forum community, feeling convinced that I would get this vehicle at the end of my current lease. Did so much research on that car and got the chance to drive it recently. I came to the conclusion that it was a great car. It felt very sturdy (but heavy) on the road, had ample power, and I always thought it had an original exterior design... But then I went and test drove some Mini Coopers... Oopsy! Well, I had to admit to myself that this other car did not came close to the way the Mini made me feel while/after driving it! Oh well, I guess this will teach me that perception can change quickly, and that one should follow one’s emotions rather than one’s reason at times! And I am happy to let my emotions take over this time around!

 

Every time people define torque they always use the specific definition and I don't think it means much to the average non-physics enthusiast.

When looking at the torque numbers think about it like this. Let's say you take two identical cars except car A's engine makes 200hp and 200lb/ft while car B's engine makes 200hp and 100lb/ft. If each has the transmission geared perfectly to the respective engines and if they are both shifted perfectly in a drag race then theoretically they should both be equal in speed. The difference is that car B's engine makes 200hp at a much higher rpm. What this means is that if both drivers make the exact same mistake in shifting then theoretically car A will be faster. Car A will also be faster if the gearing is not perfectly designed for the theoretical drag race.

Basically having more torque with the same power will make the car more forgiving when you leave it in a higher gear when you should have downshifted and doesn't require as much downshifting for doing things like coming out of a corner or simply passing someone on the interstate.

 

While I would consider some of the above to be generalities... For instance, high-revving engines may have relaively broad powerbands, too, just higher in the rpms... overall, that's a much more practical, understandable explanation than most.

Ultimately, torque means nothing if you don't know what rpm it's made at, rpm means nothing if you don't know what torque is made there, and even horsepower (which is the relationship between the two, and therefore a more telling number, like you indicated) can be misleading if the gearing is not known.

Peak Horsepower,peak Torque, peak rpm, and weight are important numbers, but they should be used cautiously as they are merely a tiny portion or snapshot of information that determines a car's performance.

 

Maybe last question for IamLili:
Have you tried the Clubman S?
More space, better looking (IMO, IMO), better ride (longer wheelbase), and within a fraction or two, just as peppy.

 

We haven't heard from Lili for awhile. Still out there????

Didja get one????

 

No, didn't try the Clubman S. It would probably be too expensive for me + I'm not sure the practicability of having more space ranks above my overall appreciation of the Mini Cooper (this time around at least). Even though it would be much easier to carry my dog around in a Clubman.

Do you have a Clubman yourself? Think I'd consider the Countryman in a few years time. We'll see!

 

Oh yes! I'm still here!

I'm "this close" to sending a firm/final request for quotes to a few dealerships, and I'll go from there. Waiting until the end of the month, as I've heard some dealerships may be more aggressive in their pricing around that time, in order to reach their quotas... I'm getting really excited, but I just hope to get a deal I'll be comfortable with!

 

FWIW, our Great Dane enjoys riding in the back of our Hardtop Cooper all the time!

Of course, we put the rear seats down.

 

Would love to see pics of that! I have an Australian Shepherd, so clearly much smaller than a Dane, but will have to put the seats down as well, and tie her up somehow.

 

I'll have to take some pictures of her in the MINI. She's not HUGE for a Dane, but she's still 30" at the shoulder, IIRC, and 100lb+ and she has no trouble getting in and out and being comfortable. I haven't looked into tying her down, but I'm sure there are options out there.