I drove a 2007 Cooper S yesterday.

My initial impressions are that this is the best MINI yet.

It is definitely the fastest! This new engine is a gem!

As you can see from my sig I have had a 2002, 2005, and my 2007 should be here soon.

I would not be surprised if the 2007 does not dominate G-stock (autocross) THIS year. Mark my word...mid season everyone will be switching to the new car just like they did in 2005 because the 2005's were much faster than the 02-04's.

I am that much more excited about the 2007 after driving it. It is very fast! The handling felt just as good as ever. Track time will ultimately verify that.

The car is much more quiet but I'll trade that for raw speed any day. I can always make it louder....

The new design is amazing in person. The front end is very aggressive and postured. I thought I would not like it as much but I was wrong.

Kelly

 

Yeah...and it's still cute!!!

 

ALL MINIs are cute Probably will alway be so.

BTW, how "fast" is fast since "fast" is relative?

 

Faster than the 05.

 

What are the numbers 0 - 60 between the 2006 and 2007? I am sure there is some data out there but when I did a search I couldn't find anything.

 

How does the R56 compare to an 05 or 06 w/a 15% pulley speedwise?

 

I had 15% pulley on my 02 and the R56 would bury it.

A 15% on an 05...not sure. Only true track time would tell.

The mid range on the R56 (like any turbo) is much more exciting.

 

Honestly it felt as fast as my 2006 210 hp JCW. That's how torquey it is.

 

Interesting because the torque graph is pretty flat meaning you should be pulling at a constant rate cause I think you accelerate along the torque curve.

 

Somebody must have done performance testing by now ...

The turbo engine takes the Mini from 0 to 60 mph in 7 seconds
http://www.nctd.com/review-drive.cfm...&ReviewID=1970

Mini specs 0-60 mph acceleration at 6.7 seconds for the Cooper S manual
http://www.bmwcca.org/node/696505/06

MCS times per MINI are 6.8. JCW is 6.3/6.4 depending upon who tested it. I suspect it "feels" faster becasue of the flat torque curve and it is, by 0.1 secs.

But the JCW is definitely quicker. .4 secs quicker is about, maybe a bit less, that 10 yards difference at 88'/sec at 60mph. 10 yards is pretty big.

 

yeah the 2007 is quicker but the handling si not has good there is a lot of oversteer and the clutch is very light you would need to stiffen the suspensions and put an exhaust

 

Sweet.. Thanks for the data.

I went through Six Sigma training so I must be brain washed on wanting data on everything

 

MINIUSA in the brochures state..

2006 MCS - 0-60 6.8s
2007 MCS - 0-60 6.7s

 

Auto Express in the UK tested an R56 against the Clio and the GTi - 0-60 6.5 0-100 16.0 secs. That's dang fast.

 

I don't get it. I thought the R56 had more horsepower & would be quicker than the R53. Wasn't the 0-60 time on the R53 (no pulley) 6.8 secs?

 

Its like what a 5hp difference? lol nothing substantial.

 

Let's not even start disscussing 60-110 mph times because that is another area the R56 shines.

 

It went from 168 to 175 I think. Which isn't that big a deal but the thread author said the R56 was much faster. I guess it must have just felt faster. I am getting a 15% pulley on my old R52 at the Dragon. I have never driven a Mini with a pulley so I am excited & hopefully that will be plenty-o-fast for me for now

 

172hp I believe.

Sounds fun bamatt

 

What are the stats or what are you basing your statement on?

 

Thats still not as quick as your JCW.

Thats exactly what I wrote:

MCS times per MINI are 6.8.

Sorry, I should have been explicit. Thats for 05/06.

 

I am excited. I should have stolen borrowed somebody's pullied Mini at one of out local rides but I guess I can wait til May since I have already made it 2 years pulliless

 

Most likely you are correct - however, we're talking 3/10ths of a second. So that's nothing to sneeze at when you're down 38 hp.

 

Its the torque curve that gives the feeling of constant acceleration. It might "feel" faster but in reality is just a tick quicker to 60 mph than an 05/06.

 

No question in my mind that my 2005 with a 15%, SS exhaust and JCW intake is a faster car than a stock R56. I've tracked both and my '05 (expecially in the middle of the power band) is decidedly quicker. It also sounds and feels a lot quicker (make of that what you will).

But... a stock MCS would be a different story. As would a '02-'04 MCS with a 15% pulley. And add the fact that the R56 is an easier car to drive fast with all that torque down low (especially at the track) and the 2007 looks pretty impressive.