Cooper - The Ultimate Compromise?

[skyhigh_71]

Hi All,

I know that the debate about MC vs MCS has been discussed at length, but I thought I'd add my take on this.

I knew when choosing a new car that a MINI was near the top of the list. My previous car was a Mk 4 Golf GTi 1.8 Turbo - beautiful build quality, comfortable and quick, but nothing special in the handling department. I test drove a mk5 Golf GT TDi, thought it was awesome, but way overpriced in the UK.

So, a MINI it was to be.

Deciding factors in choosing an MC over MCS:

Delivery times - 8-10 weeks instead of 6 months

Cost - for a £15k budget, a very nicely specified MC, or a totally basic MCS

Insurance - MC just over £300 p.a. vs MCS >£1000 p.a.

Initial thoughts on the MC - felt much slower than the Golf, but this was the running in period. Handling and involvement, fantastic. Now 3 months have passed, other than some irritating faults, not made any better by appalling dealer service, the car is excellent.

IMHO for most people, there is ample power with an MC. The lowish ratio gearing of the 05 model MC takes some getting used to initially, but after 3 months I realise these ratios are well chosen and work great. This is not a car you want to be driving along motorways at very high speeds - above 80 mph it's getting pretty noisy. Mine has cruise - the first car I have had with this and I love it - set to about 70-75 on the motorway it's ideal and fuel economy is good. Best of all, is driving twisty A and especially B roads. Other more powerful cars may pull away on the straights, but you'll be with them through pretty much any corner. Less power means having to plan overtaking, and very effective and rewarding this if when you get it right.

Fuel economy overall is OK. Probably not helped by the fact that you want to use the revs and have fun as much as possible. Overall economy according to the trip computer is 36.6. (aways running on Shell Optimax).

So, in summary, with an MC, for a reasonable (ish) cost, you can afford some extras, it's quite fast, handles well (I decided against sport suspension +, standard SS is again a good compromise with 16 inch wheels - ride not too harsh), is definitely fun, reasonable insurance & fuel economy.

Would I like an MCS ? - of course I would. Maybe next time!

[Hat]

good post & well summed up. i'm on my second Cooper & i've never regretted not upgrading to an S. Some who have made the move have said (quietly) that they preferred the Cooper.

[minisoopercooper]

I love my Cooper. I'm not that interested in an S and never really have been.

I prefer the styling of the Cooper and think it is well quick enough - especially when you drive it hard for a while so the ecu responds to this way of driving. The car then seems to come alive.

Glad your enjoying yours as much as I am enjoying mine

Paul

[Beastmaster]

The truth is that the Cooper for many is "The Ultimate Solution" and the S is the "Ultimate Compromise". The truth is that for so many, especially the young lads and ladettes, the S is just crippling to run. 20 to 25 mpg and £100 per month insurance and Hp repayments larger than a mortgage! Yes great car but it does compromise the wallet and ultimately all the fun goes out of the car if the budget doesn't really run to it.

I don't blame anyone for having or wanting an S, indeed our next one will be an S, but be not deluded, to have an S and it's performance you have to make many compromises on cost, economy and insurance.

Yes the Cooper is "The Ultimate Solution"

Mind you the One and the Diesel could be called "The Alternative Solution" and not having a mini at all - "The Disastrous Solution".

[DeadCanDanceR]

Other than the obvious price and maintainance issues, I think that the choice between a MC or a MCS depends on the priorities of their owners:

MC: Fun to drive, reasonably fast, exciting and confortable ride, sporting looks.
MCS: Even more fun to drive, really fast, more exciting but not as comfortable ride, sportier looks.

When I bought my MC I thought that maybe sometime I'd like to "upgrade" it and buy a MCS. However, the more I drive my MC the less that I think that a MCS will be my next MINI. Sometimes I wish that my MC was a little faster, but I know that I wouldn't like to trade comfort for speed.

However, if I had the chance to own two MINIs, I would undoubtedly like to have a MC for city driving and a MCS for the road!

[skyhigh_71]

Hi and thanks to all who responded to this post.

A lot (but far from all) of the posts written in MINI2.com threads have a rather machoistic tone, where to me the implication is that unless you drive an MCS with Sports suspension plus, minimum 17" wheels, and perhaps further sports modifications, making ride comfort non-existent, insurance stratospheric, and offering single figure fuel economy, you don't deserve to call yourself a MINI, or driving enthusiast.

Glad to see there are other "real world" enthusiasts out there.

Regards

Skyhigh_71

[Beastmaster]

Quote: Originally Posted by skyhigh_71

Hi and thanks to all who responded to this post.

A lot (but far from all) of the posts written in MINI2.com threads have a rather machoistic tone, where to me the implication is that unless you drive an MCS with Sports suspension plus, minimum 17" wheels, and perhaps further sports modifications, making ride comfort non-existent, insurance stratospheric, and offering single figure fuel economy, you don't deserve to call yourself a MINI, or driving enthusiast.

Glad to see there are other "real world" enthusiasts out there.

Regards

Skyhigh_71

Yes there are loads of us real world enthusiasts. Yesterday, I visited Mini Mania in South wales with some of the crew from the Newminiseverns club. The car they have modded with yellow leather interior etc was a Cooper! Also they are putting a lot of commitment to mods for the Cooper and One rather than the S stuff which everyone is doing.

An S is fast, but a Cooper is a real enthusiasts car. It hones your driving skills to perfection as if you get caught in the wrong place in the wrong gear it will let you know, whereas the S will allow you the odd mistake. A Cooper, modded or not is one heck of a rewarding drive.

Go on some Mini runs, I always wonder who has the most fun, the S drivers whizzing off or the Cooper drivers not letting their tail lights get away?

Answer? Everybody has fun!

[MINNOW]

A base Cooper right out of the box is so much better than other cars in or above it's price range in ride and handling, steering response, driving dynamics and tactile feel of controls that it is a steal.
They look good, they feel good, what's not to like?

[dansmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINNOW

A base Cooper right out of the box is so much better than other cars in or above it's price range in ride and handling, steering response, driving dynamics and tactile feel of controls that it is a steal.
They look good, they feel good, what's not to like?

Exactly!

[RICO UK]

When I was thinking about a mini I really wanted an"s" but To be honest when I worked out the cost of insurance and fuel for it over a year it would have just been to expensive to run for all the traveling I have to do so I thought the next best thing would be to get a "Works Cooper" as it has a bit more poke than the standard Cooper but is cheaper to run than an "S" so was a great compromise for me. Now I just wouldn't swap it for one as I love it's looks feel and comfort.

[robfenn]

I think my Cooper is too slow, it needs say, 140bhp. Hopefully they will have an in between model with the next model that magazines are suggesting.

I agree with Beastmaster about the Cooper S, i could never justify getting one personally, unless i was a millionaire and i needed a runabout!

-Rob

[mattheaven]

Cooper S who needs one?
I looked at an S but with 9 points on my license the insurance is too high!

My Cooper was an impulse buy, (I actually went out to buy a Mitsubishi Warrior!) Its the only impulse buy I've never regretted. Its had a few bits and pieces bolted on in recent months by those nice guys at Minimania in Newport, and I wouldn't change it.

When people at runs and shows ask me whats the best thing about your car, I have to say that its the fun I have driving it.

[skyhigh_71]

Quote: Originally Posted by Beastmaster

An S is fast, but a Cooper is a real enthusiasts car. It hones your driving skills to perfection as if you get caught in the wrong place in the wrong gear it will let you know, whereas the S will allow you the odd mistake. A Cooper, modded or not is one heck of a rewarding drive.

Go on some Mini runs, I always wonder who has the most fun, the S drivers whizzing off or the Cooper drivers not letting their tail lights get away?

Answer? Everybody has fun!

Hi Beastmaster,

Couldn't agree more with you on the above. As per the start of this thread, I have a less powerful car than previously, but find myself more confident in overtaking maneuvers, having to factor in an element of planning into the proceedings. Never more so than my drive to and from one of my employers offices - about 15 miles of twisty B roads with only about 5 moderately safe places to overtake throughout. I now find myself changing down the gears in anticipation of an overtaking opportunity - say into 3rd if the speed is about 40 mph, quick blast up to around 70 to pass, then swift progress from there on in! At slower speeds 2nd gear is just awesome to build up some momentum.

Regards

Skyhigh_71