My friend has a r32 and both the owner and my other friend say that it handles better than my 09 mcs. I said that it doesn't but I'm not sure, so does itt??
I thought the mini was made for handles . (Gokart like handling)

 

First or second generation R32? MKIV or MKV? The first one had a pretty good reputation, actually has a cultlike following, the newer one not so much. I rode at an autocross with one of our local MINI club owners in his brand new '08 R32 and he was really frustrated with it, but a lot of that had to do with the crappy OEM tires (of course most people that autocross their MINI's wouldn't think of doing it on the stock runflats either.) I will go out a limb and say the MINI is ONE of the top FWD handlers currently produced. It's relatively light, has good suspension design, and solid chassis. That said, FWD is never going to be the ideal, and the R32 fans will say that their AWD takes away some of the negatives. I would say the MINI's lightness would be most advantageous on a tight, closed course, i.e. autocross. On a faster, more open course, the extra power and AWD of the R32 would come into play.

 

Take them for a ride. "BUT" remember this, A good driver in a lousy handling car will be better then a lousy driver in a good handling car.

All that really matters is if "you" like your car. If so your friend and his buddy can both go kiss & hug each other.

 

That's just marketing hype. The Mini handles nothing like a real go-kart.

 

I have both cars with stock suspensions and upgraded tires. MINI handles a bit better IMO. The R32 (MK V) is pretty heavy with a lot of body roll and has slightly vague steering. (MINI also could use some improvement in this department) R32 has a pretty conservative stock AWD setup, which is why a lot of people upgrade the haldex units. I'm a bit more comfortable pushing the MINI harder out of the two.

 

Mini does, they are jealous becuase you can have more fun with yours.

 

 

Handling wise R32(3500+lbs) is an equivalent to a MCS(2600-2700lbs) with 3-4 persons on board + 1 dead horse sleeping on top of the engine(very heavy V6) + Haldex AWD(which means it's FWD most of the time)

 

 

R32's, while great cars....are little pigs and you can feel it.

They don't necessarily handle bad because of it, but in terms of nimbleness the MINI wins hands down. And I'd have to say in overall handling, the MINI has the edge as well, especially on the MkV. The R32's AWD (which is FWD based...) is useful....I'm sure you could have a better driver in an R32 beat a lesser driver in the MINI. But I can promise the guy in the MINI will be having more fun

 

I actually like driving with 3 more people on board-it sits even lower and takes corners even faster .

 

I've had a total of 7 in mine..... needless to say....it didn't handle well.

 

Dude, put down the crack pipe. Have you owned an .:R32? Or even driven one? I can't believe anyone could possibly come to that conclusion unless they're hallucinating.

I've owned one, an '04 (Mk4/1st gen) myself. It outhandled my MCS by a HUGE margin.. and that's after my suspension & tire tweaks to the MCS, which has rendered it far better than stock.

Yes, the R is/was a bigger, much heavier car. You seem to feel that this fact makes it a pig of a handler. Not so.

 

1:24 @ willow is pretty hard to beat... Id say mcs... R32 is nice to power out of turns though which helps.

 

The R32 to me it feels slower since I have to go into turns slower than with the MCS, but the AWD grunt after turning is far superior than the MINI, so it's really not any slower in the end, possibly even faster (in stock trim). Again, it just feels slower and I don't drive it nearly as much as the MINI to really know, nor have I tracked mine.

 

That a stock or modded MCS?

 

Modded... Hey I was just in pasadena yesterday with my mini... I saw a bunch out there, wondering if any of the r56's i was playing with are on here?

 

I'll bet a twin turbo R32 with a haldex upgrade, suspension, ect would whoop that MCS' time. Of course, any modded car given enough time/money can win against most anything else. Two very different cars.

There are a ton of MINI's in Pasadena, most of which don't care about other MINI owners and will do their best to ignore you!

 

Lighter is better for handling perception. The R32 is bit of a cow.

 

Having owned a 2004 Tornado red R32 I would say hands down the MCS kicks its *ss, "crack pipe" or not sorry "dude". There is no comparison to a car that weights nearly 700 pounds more, and has a lesser suspension, the hp doesnt make up the difference the 0-60 of my new cooper and my old r32 are effectively the same. However in the turns the FWD biased AWD system can't make up for all that fat... Strip it out and add a roll cage... then maybe....

However the sound of that Porsche like exhaust... is absolutely incredible... the long weeks waiting for the car to get out of the shop.... not so much..... The final straw was 6 trips to the dealer for a CEL over the course of 4 weeks..... to which they had no explaination...

Overall the MCS is a better car!!

 

Sorry to hear that. I really like the MK IV R... It's the seats... It also sounds better than the MK V I think. Oh yeah it has a proper transmission as well!

My MK V has been pretty bomb proof... except when it comes to tires. Gone through 3 so far.

 

Driven both, came really close to buying a blue R32 instead of our second MINI. I bought the R56 instead because it handled soooooo much better, changed lanes faster and was more fun to drive. The seats, v6 power and AWD were better in that car and it rides nicer. We all know, if it rides nice, it pretty much handles like crap unless it is a really high end car!

 

Glad to hear your good luck. I agree on the seats... I've been searching this forum for someone who has successfully put in the Recaro's without airbag issues.

I had pretty decent luck with eagle F1's, lasted for 20kmiles.... which is better than some I had.

 

There are at least 3 people on here that have swapped out for the European JCW seats. Very nice, but $$$ and you have to put in the sensors from the stock seats.

On the R I have Michelin Pilot Sport AS Pluses right now after a stock Dunlop failed. Always sidewall issues.

 

"Gilboyto" did it recently, FYI.