Sorry yeah it's just a cooper, not an S. Aside from the $4500 upcharge, what dissuaded me from getting an S was the mileage. Understandibly the fuel economy goes down because it provides more HP.... but I'm not going to be drag racing in it so who cares?
I-95 in CT is the same.... lots of people whizzing along at 80mph+. There are other benefits to driving 65 - I find myself changing lanes alot less, because I'm not fighting to get through traffic. Also I don't have to worry if I see a cop because I'm going the speed limit. I'm not sure how an auto would do in these circumstances, but I'm beginning to see why the stick saves gas (this is my first stick car) - I find myself staying in higher gears longer (that is, while slowing down), whereas for example my old automatics would downshift right away anticipating that I'd want alot of acceleration. There is definately something to be said about having more control over the car in general.
My father-in-law is one of those people that is set in his ways and can't comprehend how speed plays a role in MPG. My brother in-law just got a brand new civic a few months ago and I think the EPA mpg is "supposedly" 33 mpg or so. Last week when I brought the mini over to his house, he asked the MPG and when I said 40+ MPG he said I would never get that much as my brother in law was only getting 29mpg or so in his civic. Now when he calls and asks how the car is doing and mentions MPG, I tell him the current # of 42ish and reiterate that the fuel economy is ALL in how you drive the car! |