hi everyone. I would like to start off by saying I am in the market for a new (used) car. I personally want a car that I can upgrade in terms of performance. and the mini happens to be on my list. also on the list are vw 1.8t`s and cobalt ss. when comparing all 3, in terms of style I personally like the mini the most, but performance wise I am a little worried. I want something that is relatively quick ie. (0 to 60mph in 6.5s). I have two questions to ask. If i get a mini s what would be some of the first ways to get a jump in power and would it be cheaper to get a base model mini and just turbo it. also what numbers would I be getting if i were to get an s and upgrade it, same goes with a turbo kit for a mini what numbers would I make.
please feel free to ask me any more questions if you are unclear what i am asking . I would really like some opinions and to be pointed in the right direction.

What's your budget? Are you looking at first or second generation cars? Your post would imply second gen turbo'd cars, but you've tagged the thread with supercharger too, so I thought I'd ask. ;)

I would say it's definitely more cost effective to just buy the S, which you can still do plenty of tinkering on. It sounds like you're keen to mod it either way, so that's the route I'd probably take. If you already had a Cooper, you could argue that it was more cost effective to just turbo it, but in this instance that's obviously not the case.

Your other option would be the 210bhp JCW model... in terms of later first generation cars and second gen examples, the car includes a bunch of styling tweaks and better brakes etc. and is effectively an "off the shelf" well modified Cooper S.

Both the S and JCW have various improvements (technical and cosmetic) over the base Cooper, which is another reason I'd be against your other proposed plan... although a really basic looking Cooper with a modified, supercharged/turbo'd engine would be an amazing little sleeper. ;)

Oh, and welcome to the forum. :D

Oops, just realised you've posted this in First Generation MINI Tuning (http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-generation-mini-tuning/) so now I'm really confused. :o

Yes I can see how you got confused. im talking about first gen mini's. what i meant was a base 1.6 mini and add a turbo to it, or just go with the MCS. what I was trying to say was should I get an S and mod it. with a supercharger I dont think gains in hp would be as signifact as turbocharger. for example if I did an exhaust system on a car with a turbo the gains would be 20hp, compared to a supercharged car where the gains would be 10hp.

OK, cool. Personally, I prefer supercharged to turbocharged, therefore I'd go for a first generation Cooper S, or JCW...

Also, my other point still stands - a base Cooper with a turbo (and whatever other necessary bits) will be about as quick as a standard supercharged Cooper S, but you'll be lacking S-level equipment and trim as a result. Have you considered buying an S, and swapping the supercharger for a turbo? Other folk have done that to good effect, and obviously then you have the supercharger to sell, to recoup some of the cost.

The motor is turning another pulley with a supercharger. Takes power to make power. Not so with a turbo!

or you could get a mk4 golf 20v aum code running standard 225 bhp and easily modify that to at least 300! ;) always the option because its been done to death!!

back to the mini's!
what sort of money would i be looking at if i wanted to turbo a mini cooper on a 06 plate (so 1st gen) and what sort of bhp would it be running?

what sort of money would i be looking at if i wanted to turbo a mini cooper on a 06 plate (so 1st gen) and what sort of bhp would it be running?
Don't think you'll find much input because I don't think many people have gone this route. The Cooper engine won't handle that much horsepower. The engine was beefed up internally for the Cooper S.

Much cheaper to buy a Cooper S and mod it ;)

okay thanks for the input everyone. I guess the best decision would be to go with a mini s. I dont think i can afford a second gen MCS and then mod it.
I really dont want to go vw.sure they make alot of torque. with a chip and a couple mods you can get them to 235hp/275 tq. I dont care if i can make a car run 5.8 or 6.5. I just want it to be peppy in the 0 to 60. but I have looked online and seen the stock numbers for the S 0 to 60. and to be honest, im not very impressed. does anyone know the gains i would get on an S if i upgrade the pulley,intake,exhaust?