Replace the S4 with the 2007 MCS?
Possibly. If the following applies:
If you have a longer rather than shorter commute.
If you want significantly less car insurance payments.
If you want better mpg- maybe, depends how you drive.
If you mostly drive by yourself. (not needing to have 4 people)
If you like to drive and take your dogs (rear seats down).
If you enjoy an excess of handling over an excess of power.
If you enjoy modding but don't want to break the bank.
If you enjoy autocrossing over quartermile racing.
If you enjoy hanging out with MINI enthusiasts which tend to be a broader mix of owners than S4 owners.

I think the new MCS is quite good and very usable for an S4 owner.
Order the 6 speed with LSD, sport suspension, upholstery of your choice, sunroof with Multifunction steering wheel, xenon lights. Forget the DSC.
Stick to basic 16" wheels and later go with lightweight aftermarket wheels.

 

It seems most people recommending that you only keep the Audi have the older generation of MCS. The new R56 MCS is a completely different animal. It's greener, quicker, faster, more efficient, smoother, and more luxerious. Go for the MINI dude!

 

My sister had an Audi and everytime I drove it, it went real fast. However, it ate the gas just as fast. I have had my MCS for 1 1/2 months. Lounge leather, wood and piano trim make it very elegant. Yesterday I hit <very fast speed>, but had to decelerate because of traffic. I think it could've gone a couple mph faster. It really flies. The best thing though, I still have around 380 miles left from a full tank. I think Audis are awesome, but expensive, if you wanna cut down on costs, the MCS is a no brainer. And if you still have your doubts, think about global warming man!!

 

<cough> Not if you live where it snows... right, Mr. Hawaii? Of course, if he keeps the Audi too, snow won't be an issue for the MINI.Warning issued to chasqui for highly illegal speed posting, per the NAM Site Guidelines.

 

DRIVE IT

 

i think that i am in the same boat as cole. i too currently don't drive a mini, but the mini has always been a car that i have admired. i say that i am in the same boat because currently i own a '05 nissan 35th anniversary ed. 350z. i wonder about how i will feel about the decrease in power, but overall increase in practicality of the r56 (at least as far as a usable hatch, good mileage, the ability to take more than 2 passengers). sorry cole, don't mean to highjack your post...but any members who have opinions on my situation feel free to pm me. and no...sadly the wife won't let me have both.

 

is ur S4 modded? I am an Audi fan(used to own an 99 A4 2.8TQ), so I know modded S4s are plenty fast! But if it's stock with 250hp, I doubt the 07 MCS is slower. So speed isn't a matter~
The 07 MCS also gets really nice MPG, I use KMs(as Im from Canada and Im too lazy to convert it for u) so search around.
Audi has the nicest interior in the market right now, so I don't think MINI can even touch Audi in this department. Altho, I would still rank our MINI better than 70% of cars out there.

 

I strongly considered an Audi against the Cooper S... but it was a TT. Of the two, I'm 100% satisfied I made the right choice between the two.

The S4, however is a whole different ballgame. No comparison. Get both or keep the S4.

 

I would say take the B7 TT. Saw one on the road today and was in awe, beautiful car.

Edit:: Realized it was B7, not B8 (The new A5 and S5)

 

Sell the S4 get a Mini (want to trade?)

seriously, it would be hard for me to recomend a Mini over the S4 as a piece of machinery...... S4 is one of my favorites...... The Mini is a ton of fun.... the S4 is far more serious.... IMO

this is what I call a high class problem

 

I currently own an '01 S4 (6spd), and my '06 MCS has displaced it out of the garage bay . I will be selling the S4 this year (wife wanted keep it through the winter, she drives it mostly now - but was never allowed to before I got the MCS ). I also do not modify my cars, except for putting good rubber on. Check out my gallery.

For me, it simply boils down to this - when it comes to motor vehicles, I've found fun is inversely correlated to weight. I'm a motorcyclist at heart and I know hundreds of miles of interconnecting very tight twisty backroads around my area which are relatively free of traffic and are fun, fun, fun...(see my 2 posts HERE). The S4 is just too heavy for these tight roads.

The problem with the fast sweeper type roads that the S4 might be better at is that they are always main through roads that attract tons of traffic and police traps.

The Mini is about as much fun, and close to the thrill of a motorcycle, as I could find, and still be able to haul my family of four. In a way, I see the MCS as a cross between my S4 and my bike (hence "The Parents" gallery photo).

Here's an interesting article about a guy that lives in my town and probably knows many of the same roads that I do CLICKY

 

This would be a bit easier for me if it were the new S4...340 hp V8, 6spd and AWD....hmmm but then again for $70K it shouldn't be THAT hard of a decision!

 

Cole,

I have a B6 S4 Avant with 340hp and I also caught the Mini bug. I can relate. The two cars are very different indeed. Do you take your S4 to the track? If you do than you can really push it and enjoy it. That is the one thing about the S4 I don't like , it is so fast and smooth that to have a little fun I need to push it and then I end up wanting to take freeway ramps at 100mph! Unfortunately there are no autobahns in my neck of the woods and that would make driving like that highly illegal! If you do not exceed the speed limit too much (it is just impossible to respect it in an S4) then you get a great sounding car the becomes a bit boring because with that much power everyhing is effortless. The fun goes away. I do not take my car to the track so that is why I got the bug. You really have to test drive the new MCS. No it is not nearly as fast but you can have so much fun just driving it to work everyday...and you can still take it to the track or the autocross if that is your thing.

So if you look at it on paper, the S4 will always come out as the winner but if you measure size of the grin on you face just after your test drive...you could be surprised!!!

I did see that your S4 is tiptronic and not manual...personnally I would go for a manual MCS in a heartbeat!!

P.S. I do also surf the Audiworld forums and I have witnessed you public bashing...I have to give this to this forum, the crowd here has a lot more class and can relate better. Way to go NAM!!

 

Thanks for the insights guys. At this point I will probably keep the S4 and keep researching the MCS and pick one up down the road.

Here is the main issue with the S4. With an est 460hp/600lbsTQ at the crank and full coil-overs, swaybars etc. The S4 can be a blast to drive. A real wolf in sheeps clothing. I have always thought I would just keep it. (I have 4 other cars hiding in the garage ). It can just be a bit trying to maintain and recently I thought I would just replace it.

I will keep listening to your insights though. Thanks.

 

nice jeep!!

 

Thanks. Here is a little better picture from a few years ago in Moab. It is slightly modified too .

 

Your S4 doesn't sound like a good daily driver for many reasons. Cost of maintenance and insurance as a daily driver would be way more than a new MCS.

For best winter handling using a new MCS-
Get the LSD with manual transmission
Use snow tires (with studs if needed)
Drive at a safe speed for the conditions at all times
DSC is optional but could be helpful in bad weather. Esp if there are other drivers besides you that drive the MINI.

DSC in the dry and for performance driving isn't so helpful. In the rain it might help. Having the LSD is good but won't always prevent DSC from coming on if you drive corners fast.

Review the other cars in your garage and decide if the MCS can be a good daily driver for you. It's your choice. I have three cars right now, the MCS as daily driver, a new Civic for my wife and minivan for hauling cargo or people.

 

Hey-that's EXACTLY how I describe MINIs!

 

Now I'm curious how you figure an AWD 4 door sedan is not a good daily driver? Keep in mind that it is a V6 with 2 turbos. So it is not a twitchy strung out 4 banger running killer boost. Drives like a nice mellow V6 until you drop the hammer. Drives better in the snow than ANY mini will ever do.

I seriously doubt my insurance cost would change at all going from a 7 year old sedan to a brand new "sports car".

Does this interior look like the one of a bad daily driver?

 

I really don't have any interest in selling anyone on a MINI. You get in it, you drive it. If that isn't enough, don't get it. I do, however, not wonder what the real purpose of this post is.

 

I test drove an S4 a couple of years ago. That car went like a bat out of hell. What put me off a bit though was that it felt like they took a 6 speed manual transmission from one source then an engine from another and then threw them into a gutted A4. The transmission seemed good (not real smooth but good) and the engine was good. But it felt like all elements including body and suspension weren't really designed to work together as a well integrated entity. I ended up buying an A4.

When I first drove the turbo MCS my initial feeling was that all elements of the car seemed to have been designed to work together as a whole. And I immediately developed great respect for that very smooth interface between the the clutch, the 6 speed transmission, and the engine. It was love at first sight.

Now I'm sure Audi has smoothed off the rough edges since I took that test drive, but I really do suggest you drive a MINI Cooper S, at least once. To me the S4 felt like an A4 that went very, very fast. The MCS, on the other hand, especially after taking some fast/quick 90 degree turns, left me with a felling of exhilleration that I hadn't experienced in any car before.

 

Chicks dig it?

 

To gain insight from people that actually own the cars and live and breath "Mini"

If I had no other car I would have been sold after the test drive. I put the car I would have to trade out to get the MCS into the discussion to give a point of reference. The whole point of a forum is to share ideas and opinions on a common topic. I sam using the useful input in my decision making process.


Best reason ever!!!

 

I now see you're from Colorado. The West has some wide open space, wicked steep and long climbs and seriously fast sweeping corners. Based on that, I'd change my recommendation from the MCS to keeping the S4.

The MINI would be a much better car, and lot more fun, for tight, darty roads like Deals Gap whereas the S4, IMHO, would be better for open sweepers the Cherahola Skyway and maybe the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The S4 is a very practical daily driver... fold down the rear seats and she'll haul a surprising amount. BTW, the Mini does not have nearly the same passenger space/knee room as the S4. My 7 year old S4 has had less problems than my 1 year old MCS.

Other than ground clearance issues that you'll have with both cars, in the snow, the Mini does not even come close to the performance and control of an S4... and I have a dedicated set of winter tires for both cars.

I live in a land of tight darty roads, so I'll choose the Mini to drive every time (except snow).... and also always seeking the "long way home" (something that I stopped doing with S4 after first 5k)

But you love your S4... keep it, it is a great car.

 

like i said....have both or keep the audi!!! i fully suggest you get both.


see how good that looks!



oh, and i just want to add on the comment about the S4 as a daily. my S4 is my daily and the Mini doesnt compare to the smooth, quiet yet powerful ride of the audi. please dont get me wrong, I LOVE MY MINI but, to compare it to an S4 and say its a better ride is just way off (in my opinion). i drove the 56....not impressed at all...as far as a S4 or a 56...s4 all the way.