Really, I know only I can answer this, but I do want opinions. I'm mostly a lurker here, but this time I need help. Due to a couple of really bad knees I'm going to have to get rid of my manual transmission. That means trading my S Cabrio. Now, my question is: If I get a non-S cabrio will I be satisfied with it? Should I bite the bullet and get another S? What are the real differences between the two? I've not driven another Cooper besides my own since I bought mine and I a couple of dealers have cars with the 1.9% financing that would work for me that aren't the S models. Seems that there aren't many S automatics running around!!

 

Well, the only real difference in the S and the Cooper is how many horsies you have running with yah. I'd say goto a dealer and test drive a Cooper. It's all up to you to decide if there is enough power for you.

 

Only you can decide this one. Plan your test drive to accomplish the task you deem important and then make your decision.

 

Yeah I'd give them a try. Your "need for speed" may have changed since you bought yours too. You may have found that the nonS has what you want. I remember meeting a guy and his wife at a Mini gathering in Moab, UT a couple years ago. They traded his M3 for a nonS Cabrio. Talk about giving up a few horses! But they were fine with it and loved the gas mileage a lot.

 

I have a MCS and had a "just a cooper" for 5 weeks (long story) as a service loaner.

The MC was a 09' with a Auto with paddles and not much else. Took it out on the twisties a couple times cause well it's a MINI.... Anyway biggest diff your going to see is going up hill. You def feel the 117 vs 175 HP then. I started messing around with the paddles and making sure I kept the RPM's high. It worked out OK.

That said you'll be the only one to tell. Take a MC out on a couple hills and mess with the paddles and see if it works for ya.

Good Luck

 

This may sound crazy but what about taking the money you would spend on the new car and put it toward Knee Surgery. Not sure if it would help you as I do to know the extent of your Knee problems but I know i would want to try that if I could.

 

FSUScotsman,

I feel your pain....literally....



This was my Before Pic...I ended up after 7 previous knee surgeries over 20 years getting a total knee replacement on June 30th of this year. The surgery so far has been a total success and after a month I could drive the stick again....THANK GOD because all of our cars (aside from the Jeep Liberty) are manual transmission ones.

As far as the Auto S vs Non S, I would suggest taking some test drives and compare if you can find them to test. For us the "S" was a no-brainer in either Auto or Manual (clubman mind you but I think the same comparisons could be made with the cabrio). For us in any combo (we tried em all) the "S" was just more fun to us.

Best of luck with your knees.....knee issues are something I would never wish on anyone!

We just really loved the "S"...we elected to go with the manual.

 

Do the Test Drive. I have an Auto Tranny S Cabrio R57. Totally fun and needed in the hills. Good luck!!