MX-5 or Cooper S - MINI Cooper Forum

The General · #1 (**permalink**) Feb 18th, 2003, 08:33 PM

Had a March 02 build Cooper last year and sold it on mid-summer. Was going to order a Cooper S but had a change of heart and went for a pre-registered MX5 1.8.

Don't get me wrong, the MX5 has been totally reliable and is as tight as a drum. No sqeaks rattles etc and it is a good to drive!

Thing is I want a Cooper S BADLY - but am put off a little by what I am reading here.

Should I sell my perfect MX5 and get a Cooper S which maybe(just maybe)may have a few teething problems!

Or should I sell the MX5 after the summer (say September)and order a 04 model Cooper S?

To those of you who have had all these problems posted here; I would welcome your thoughts.

T G.

MiniMan7 · #2 (**permalink**) Feb 18th, 2003, 08:44 PM

Get the Cooper S or leave this site!!

JUST KIDDING...

I would say get the Cooper S, you know you wannnnnnnnnt it!

here2help · #3 (**permalink**) Feb 18th, 2003, 09:20 PM

Isnt this a "FAULTS and Fixes" Forum where in???

I was once told to "KEEP IT TECHNICAL" in here...
Lets see if he says the same to you????

The General · #4 (**permalink**) Feb 18th, 2003, 09:27 PM

Er - yes.

And if you read it, it says for all those who have had faults with their MINI ......

Where else should I have posted, on the Cooper S forum, for people who have perhaps had no faults? Come to think of it, is there such a person?

T G.

here2help · #5 (**permalink**) Feb 18th, 2003, 09:32 PM

i wouldnt of thought so general...and i was'nt having a go mate...just getting a point across..

stefan · #6 (**permalink**) Feb 18th, 2003, 09:43 PM

MX-5

The General · #7 (**permalink**) Feb 18th, 2003, 09:51 PM

Yeah, perhaps it is in the wrong forum after all! Please move it if this is the case.

What I really wanted was for people who have had a shed load of problems with their MINIs, and lets face it, there have been the odd one, to say if they would trade a reliable (good) car for the Cooper S? A few people on here seem to be sorry they bought their MINIs ...

I've almost made my decision to get the S, but at the same time can't face the nightmare of having a troublesome car! Are the new MINIs any more reliable?

T G.

Speedd · #8 (**permalink**) Feb 18th, 2003, 09:52 PM

S

well... I have ordered a

S

4 the mrs and after joinin this site with still NO

i want an S 4 myself....... original plan is she gets the pooper cooper and i get 996 some time this year... lets seeeee

as 4 uuuuu!!!

SSSSSSSSSSS dude and The General Levy has one....

All the best what ever u decide.. sure if u still on this site u want that extraaaa!!! ahhhhhh si push it... push it real goood .... S it is the ahhh ssssssssss

only in

HonoluluDoug · #9 (**permalink**) Feb 18th, 2003, 10:03 PM

I had to make the same choice and had the same concerns. The MX5 (which is what we call the Miata over here, right?) has a very good reputation for reliability, and I knew I'd be sacrificing some of that even if the MINIs were up to BMW standard.

Both are drivers cars. You can drop the top on the Miata, which would be fun, but you can only share the experience with one other person. Music sounds better in a sealed car, especially John Christian Bach (the "London" Bach -- a German composer writing English music -- he was the MINI of composers).

I figured I'd experience more mechanical/reliability probs with the MINI -- with 2K miles my coolant tank is leaking.

So I LEASED a MINI Cooper S on the 15000 mile/yr (lots of miles for Honolulu) 3 yr deal at 61% residual. With a high residual, my monthlies are low ($269) and at the end of 3 yrs, if the MINI has a lot of probs, I can just walk away from it, if not, I'll buy it.

Actually, I don't think you can make a big mistake between the two. But I have to honestly say that I've never had so much fun, so much satisfaction, driving a car than I am now behind the wheel of my MCS.

cordial · #10 (**permalink**) Feb 19th, 2003, 11:16 AM

I owned a 1995 MX-5 for 5 years and it really was a fun reliable car. I sold it with 80'000 Km for half the purchase price!

Having said that, the MX is not an alternative to an MCS today. The MCS handles better, is more practical and it isn't a convertible...

As for reliability, my MCS has now covered 10'000 Km without a squeak, rattle or significant problem. Only prob was the oily window syndrome which has now disappeared of its own accord.

Goodspeed · #11 (**permalink**) Feb 19th, 2003, 11:29 AM

You can't really get a good feel for how reliable a car is by going to a forum. Mainly because this is were we ***** and moan about our cars :-) So at times it may seem like a certain car is a bag of bolts. Usually that's not the case, I wouldn't worry about it the chances that your mini is going to have _serious_ operating problems are probably minimal and if you can live with a few nagging things then the cooper S is a great car. It's new and fresh, can hold four people, and handles awesomely. Plus it's got personality and personality goes a long way. IMHO unless you live in sunny Miami or SoCal a convertible is not worth being your daily driver to use for only 4 months out of the year.

just wanted to add that I have much respect for the Miata

aircanuck · #12 (**permalink**) Feb 19th, 2003, 02:37 PM

Do you really expect any of us to pick the MX-5? I think you've already made up your mind and you're just here for justification. Because there isn't a person on this site that I know of that would tell you NOT to get a mini!!

PS. I have a faultless Cooper S. So go play

Neil

Tone · #13 (**permalink**) Feb 19th, 2003, 02:44 PM

The MCS is a real stonker, a go-cart on wheels, and F.U.N
Go for it!

MiniShuttle · #14 (**permalink**) Feb 19th, 2003, 03:28 PM

Sold my 95 Miata for an MCS. Miata is a great little convertable, but the MCS is much more fun, IMHO.

adcoops · #15 (**permalink**) Feb 19th, 2003, 03:43 PM

Had a 1995 MX5, moved up to a Cooper and then Cooper S. The MINIs have not been fault-free and I miss the Mazda tailslides (wet and dry roads!) but you will not regret changing to a MINI...