Kinda like there is always going to be someone richer and thiner than you... hehe. There will probably always be someone with a faster more expensive car than yours somewhere.

 

I have owned a number of different cars...from lifted trucks to hopped up AWD cars...I too own a non-s now...my decision was based on giving this car to my son to drive in a few short years...I cannot see giving a 16yr old a turbo car, plus insurance would be brutal...

My previous car was an EVO X MR...it was a blast to drive...and prior to that a modded EVO 8 MR...the X was deceptively quick being an auto and at hwy speeds went plenty fast being stock...and the 8 was pretty fun to drive but absolutely sucked in stop-n-go traffic...

All that being said if the MINI was to be mine long term I would have gone for the S model...but most likely with the auto...comfort of not having to shift all the time in traffic and 180bhp is a good thing...

Prior to the MINI I owned a Ducati 848 with Termi's and racemap...now that was a fun toy at that track and canyons

 

Wow. This topic sure has spawned quite the discussion. I'm glad that it's been civil. A discussion like this (A vs B) on other forums would probably get shut down due to all the bashing. Glad to see NAM members are a more level headed bunch.

 

A non-S means: Better gas mileage, smoother ride, more reliable.

 

Thanks for reading only the first post of this thread.

 

I test drove my identical car in non-S and really liked it, landed on a good deal and while they were drawing up the paperwork, I ran into finance and said "wait! I want a turbo model." This pissed off the sales guy for whatever reason, but I don't know why to this day.

Needless to say, I do not regret my decision, and reliability has not proven to be an issue thus far (only 9k miles). The torque of the S is excellent and while everyone seems to note that their "non-S" is really fun to drive, I can't help but think "they don't know what they're missing".

The obvious disadvantages are the higher price tags and of course, mpg, as a difference of about 5-6mpg over time adds up quite a bit. I average 28-29 in mixed city/hwy driving, and my buddy with his justa gets about 33-34 average. Beyond this I don't see blatant disadvantages.

It does run pretty warmer comparatively, and idle may indeed be "less smooth", but I've never though "wow the bonnet sure is warm" or "this thing idles rough".

The seeming drawbacks of the S are actually where the S shines a little bit, because it feels like a little race-car(t). It's peppy, surprisingly quick, and in Sport mode is plenty fun for even seasoned canyon drivers. It's a little hot-rod and is still getting close to 30mpg average (highway can exceed 36mpg in the 11+ in my experience).

Basically, whichever you choose, you'll probably be able to convince yourself it was the right choice.

I had a 335i, chipped and down pipe added, making well over 350hp before this car. Going from that to the NON-S was too much to bear.

 

I always feel the need to address this particular point, as it comes up often. I have extensively test driven Cooper S's. (esses?) including a 2008 Cooper S manual, a 2010 Clubman S auto, and a 2005 R53 manual. With the exception of the auto clubbie being shockingly quick off the line, I felt the difference to be nearly negligible. Maybe my R50 was built on Bonus Cheque day at the factory and it's unusually perky, who knows. I was ready to buy both the '08 and '05 when I got the keys, but returned them unimpressed.

My previous ride was a Honda CBR, gently modded. It had more HP than my Cooper and weighed less than 400lbs, so I'm no stranger to a nice power to weight ratio.

 

I agree Danny, driving an S right before placing the order for my Cooper convinced me I didn't need the extra power. There are other reasons, too (reliability, mileage, color), but the test drive helped me realize that the characteristics that made me really want a MINI were present in both the Cooper and Cooper S.