Mountains

[zhigadum]

I am considering buying a Mini and am leading towards a Cooper rather than a Cooper S. Do the Mini Coopers pull mountains well and at the speed limit? My old vehicle would not go over 37mph on mountains and this is something that I want to avoid.

Also - what are reasons that you picked the Cooper over the S? What advantages are there?

I'm excited

[RallyMINI]

Um, power power and more power!

For your specific area, and car that has forced induction (supercharger or turbocharger) will work much better at altitude because the thin air is not an issue. In a Forced Induction Engine (FIE) the engine sucks air in, compresses it before it gets to the engine to make in denser, and then cools it off, again to make it denser, and then sends it into the engine. This process helps a FIE breath better at altitude.

I'll tell you one thing, a MINI Cooper S will NOT have any problems in the mountains! I have maintained 80+ MPH uphill in every mountanous region I have been in!

Personally I think its hard to have too much power, so I would always advise an MCS!

ciao
RM

[fred3]

over the S because I didn't want to spend the money and I didn't need a car that would do more than what the Cooper offered. I can't imagine the Cooper would have any trouble in the mountains. While I haven't been up one there are some good sized hills in Maine and when I'm going up and need more speed just pushing the accelerator gives it to me. It's not like my wifes automatic Civic which can bog on hills a bit. So are the Cooper shows no signs of this at all.

I do have a standard shift.

[Cooper54]

Trust the Americans to worry about mountains . Most UK drivers are happy with the car being able to go up speed bumpers or maybe venture through some country lanes

[dansmini]

Yeah, my Cooper pulls hills fine. It is the 5 Speed. If you are leaning towardst he Cooper, I don't think you will be disappointed. Just drive both, then decide. I picked the Cooper because I wasn't worried about HP. I do not get out on the highway much at all, all back roads. So handling was my primary concern. I got my Cooper, added H-Sport springs and rear sway bar, and now my car corners like a champ! Also added a nice R Speed exhaust and BMP intake, S bumpers and grill and aero kit side skirts. And after all of these mods, my total cost is still less than a base S! I have the greenlight from the Mrs. to order an 05 S if I want it, but I won't. The Cooper really is all I need around here, and I have mine done up just the way I want it!

[pocketrocketowner]

I've heard MINIs are awesome, but on the downhills.......



Kidding....just kidding.....

[rfibanez]

I've driven my cooper in the mountains many times, it does great!

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

My Cooper went mountain climbing (heavily laden) in Wales this weekend and it loved it. Come to think of it, so did I

If I lived there I would probably still have the Cooper as I wouldn't be able to take exploit (and really enjoy) the Cooper S' extra power on those narrow lanes.

What are the mountain roads like where you live?

Tigger.

[zhigadum]

Thanks for all the input

Where I live there are lots of steep hills and curvy roads that climb straight up mountains for ten minutes or so. This is a LOT of fun if you are in a vehicle with oomph; however my old 86 trooper (which just lost its engine) would not go over 37 on these roads with the accelerator to the floor in 3rd or 4th gear, much to the aggravation of myself and anyone behind me . I want my next vehicle to ZOOM up and I've heard that Coopers do even without the S - just wanted some owner verification that if I do indeed get my dream car I will no longer be honked at on mountains.... !

[Boondox]

Well, I've only test driven an MC, not an S, but in the twisty hills where I live it did just fine. I don't need the extra HP nor the complexity with the nearest dealer nearly 200 miles distant. Figured the S was just something else that might break!

But the real reason I'm staying with the MC is the suspension. The stiffness of the S with those run flats would likely jar my fillings out on these rural backroads of ours!

Pete

[matt21]

went to the alps last year with 10 others minis and was quite interesting. my little cooper bombed up every hill no matter how steep. we did twenty odd passes including some of the highest roads in europe so pleanty of altitude. as long as you kept it in 2nd you could comfortable accelerate up to 50mph and third will take you to about 90mph and yes above that in 4th it may struggle but i doubt u will get that fast. as long as you use your gears and revs u will not be far at all behind a cooper s. finally what about a chipped diesel. one of them was quicker than mine up hills due to the torque.

[snid]

I cannot speak to elevation concerns, but my 5-speed Cooper does pretty will in the mountains of Vermont (which top out around 4000'). If you're talking about the Rockies, and elevations around 10,000' that might be a concern.

Yes, an S would be faster. Yes, you have to shift a Cooper a lot. Yes, it's a lot of fun.

If you're willing to grab second gear at 40mph, everything's fine for spirited driving. If you're trying to hold 4th gear at 40mph, you'll have problems.

[zhigadum]

THANK YOU for all of the advice.... Yesterday I got a beautiful new red Cooper and I have had a blast today tearing up and down every mountain that I can find..... yeah life is good!!!!!!!!! Day 2 and I've already been stopped by strangers at gas stations and traffic lights asking about my car YEAH!