My girlfriend wants a Cooper S if the VW r32 takes longer than another 5 months to come to the states. Her and i drove a stock S and a John Cooper(i think?) modified S. The John Cooper was quite a bit faster than the stock S but it's a very pricey kit. The salesman wasnt totally knowledgable on what was included in the kit, but from what i figured it was a smaller pulley, chip, and exhaust. Are they any more modifications available for the S to make it even faster than the one i drove? Forgive me, for i am pretty new into the scene. I come from the land of Mofifying VWs and Audis. Links, pictures, or anything will be much appreciated. thank you.

Things i like about the car: the very precise steering, HID's, Optional NAV to take the place of that monster Speedo, the two toned leather seats, the very short shifter, and the overall size and styling of the exterior.

Things i didnt like: The clutch seemed a bit soft and mushy while engaging. Some parts on the outside seem plastic like enough that they might crack from leaning on it. i'm not a big fan of the clown like interior with the exagerated gauges, but my girlfriend seemed to like it. :smile:

[i should have posted this in the performance forum, sorry :smile:]

 

If you don't mind my asking, how can you call a JCW S expensive when one can be had for ~$25K, when the r32 is going to be around $30k?

Check out the Performance Mondifications to see the various things people have been doing to make their MINI's faster. You can get the same performance as the JCW kit for less than $3k but you won't have a warranty.

 

For some reason, I think she'll get the MINI. Arnold is governor though.
r32 in US = slim chance

_________________
-goin440 IB/IB MC on 17" Volks

 

I agree with you, but you don't know what the dealer was asking for the JCW. Some dealers (as people have posted here) are asking close to $40k for a JCW b/c of the limited supply.

 

He could also be saying the JCW kit is expensive, for what he is getting. There are people who can afford M5's that think the "kit" aka JCW is expensive. We might understand better when he clears up exactly what he meant. Most JCW kits (5500) plus about 23-24K for a well equipped MCS puts you at about 29K-30K, thus right around the price of the R32.

Btw the MCS has Xenon headlights.

And to answer your question simply, speed costs money, how fast do you want to go?


-Barry

 

Base MCS = $20k
Works Pkg = 4.5k
Installation = 1.5k
-----------------------
Total $26k

Ok, so my $25k estimate was off by a grand but it is still well short of $30.

ps - The xenon's are not standard on the MCS.

 

Grahambo,
B.S. You find an S with a works package at 26K and I'll kiss every Dollar bill under 30K.
Again B.S.
Lotsa luck, Woody

 

This works...in theory. Because of the limited availability and the long waiting lists, many (or at least more than a few) dealers are charging $10k or more for the JCW. It's the same thing they did when MINIs had a huge waiting list everywhere. Some dealers had a $5k markup. Others didn't markup MINIs if you wanted to wait but if you took a rare one off of the lot, it add every dealer accessory imaginable and you paid a premium for each part. For example, I saw base Coopers with aero kits going for $30k!!!

 

>>>>This works...in theory. Because of the limited availability and the long waiting lists, many (or at least more than a few) dealers are charging $10k or more for the JCW. It's the same thing they did when MINIs had a huge waiting list everywhere. Some dealers had a $5k markup. Others didn't markup MINIs if you wanted to wait but if you took a rare one off of the lot, it add every dealer accessory imaginable and you paid a premium for each part. For example, I saw base Coopers with aero kits going for $30k!!! :smile:

 

>>What i am asking you guys to do is to try and convince us that the MCS is a better car for what it's worth, that is all. :smile:

Haven't driven a R32. Looks like a great car. I'm sure it is. The MCS is known for it's handling. Bottom line. Period. Nothing short of a Boxter S can touch it in the curves. That's pretty cool for a car just over 20k. But you're right, if you want the Mini to be fast in a straight line, you need to shell out the dough for the JCW package that comes with the factory warranty.

You wanna buy a car that can go fast in a straight line? Buy a Mustang.

If handling means a lot to you, I would check out what they're running at the track. See for yourself. For a daily driver, I think the MCS is hard to beat. The halfshalfs are equal length which means very little to NO torque steer. This is a big deal, especially if you decide to pack on the Mods later. And it's an even bigger deal if you don't want to scare yourself when you decide to nail it in traffic.

 

Hi everyone, I'm the above mentioned "girlfriend".

I do appreciate all your help and opinions. Mini's are a new world for us.

See, I've had a deposit on a R32 since last January. They've already delayed it twice, and now swear up and down that it's coming in first quarter 2004. I'm getting impatient and if it's not here this time, I'm going with my #2 choice, which at this point is a Mini. I think they're awesome cars, the styling is very nice, and I've heard lots of stories about them tearing it up at the autocross. Just trying to figure out what I'd be getting into before deciding that this car is really for me. The stock MCS and the one with the JCW kit on them were fun, but I'm not sure that either of those would satisfy me... JCW is peppy, but I assume that you're paying for the warranty too which is why it's so pricey...

Thanks a bunch!

 

There is plenty of collective experiance and knowledge available on this site. It's all research, research and more research for you to explore. There is much more to specs and HP numbers when you factor weight to HP ratio. Handeling is major factor for an autocross future as a nitrous charged demon may be a better fit for a go fast street racer.

If you post your intent for the car perhaps people can give you some direction for the MINI from experiance. If it's exclusive one of a kind bragging rights and a street scorcher you seek, you won't get many bites here.

Good luck with your purchase (and waiting time).

 

AS a non-VW person, please excuse my ignorance. Isn't this another Golf varient? This r32 is in fact front drive. It is, in fact 600+ lbs. heavier than a MINI and I would have to see a car like this on the autox course with 18" wheels wit6h an excellent driver beat our own RandyBMC. Therefore, I would save my money and unless straight line acceleration on the street (day in day out driving)is more important. I don't think you will get more bang for you buck than a MINI.
Would the VW beat it in straight line acceleration? Yes most definitely.
Would you get to legally enjoy that extra grunt on US roads? I doubt it and I would be willing to bet the MINI would offer more fun and certainly more attention getting and attraction.
But, don't pay any attention to me. I love my Cooper with 15" wheels and at roughly 60% the price of a new r32 (assuming you could pay 29-30 grand and get one anytime in the near future) I will have run my Cooper 40,000 fun filled miles before you ever sit in a new r32.
Good luck in whatever you purchase.

 

I had a mildly modded GTI 1.8T and now a mildly modded MCS. The MCS beats the GTI in every imaginable performance category:



This is a pulley/intake/catback on the MINI and a chip/downpipe on the GTI. The GTI definitely has more comfortable seats (front and rear) and way more cargo room, but I'm very happy with the MINI.

 

Ok, let's not even mention the handling... Who was it road&track... or Car&driver, I don't know, can't find it, but anyway, one of those mags that seem to know a couple of things about performance automobiles stated flatly that the Mini Cooper S was the best handling car ever tested. And they went on to further list some very expensive cars that they had tested... I think I can recall one, it was something like Porsche 911RGTII. $170k for one of those.

 

This is all that I can find tonight. No mention of Porsche though... maybe I glossed it a little... http://www.mini2.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-20289

 

Kyle_K
Welcome to MCO
I think we just lost a member to the VW club. Great car hope you and your girl enjoy.
Charles