[badboyzbadboyz]

Quote: Originally Posted by MCjunkie

I don't understand why people would be cheap enough to settle for just a Mini Cooper and not the Mini Cooper S. Sure it's about $3,000 cheaper, but seriously, when it comes to performance, options, and style, getting the S is a no brainer. No offense to anyone who has the Cooper (non S), but why, why? I'm sure everyone has their stories for getting just the cooper, but it's just something to ponder.

Are you for real lol. Something to ponder ? You must think you are something else in your car! You obviously prefer the Cooper S but that doesn't mean everyone will. How shallow is that. I have driven both and I can honestly say that I prefer the Cooper. Sure the Cooper S is a bit quicker but a Honda Civic TypeR is quicker than your car so why on earth did you buy it ? But an M3 is quicker than a Honda Civic typeR so what would you have been thinking of if you bought a Civic. You can see where I'm going
If you have driven both properly and know how to test cars from being different (and I'm not just talking about driving them as fast as they go) then you would have realised that a Cooper S isn't a better version of a Cooper, its just a different car. Part of that difference is that it is quicker in a straight line but not everyone prefers that. Less can sometimes be more. Another difference is the gearbox, suspension etc...
There are alot of people here who can afford a Cooper S but chose to drive a Cooper. Everyone is different. When people say "each to their own" at the end of posts they aren't saying - I want your Cooper S but can't afford it, they mean they prefer their own for their own reasons.

I have been with my girlfriend for nearly 4 years but for the life of me I can't figure out why all my friends and family don't fancy her ? I'm not being bad to anyone who has another girlfriend but why, why? I'm sure everone has their reasons I suppose, but seriously my girlfriend is better. Just something to ponder.

[Sejanus]

Quote: Originally Posted by razor

I chose the Cooper over the 'S' for several reasons:

5. The red interior is not an option on the 'S'

Good point! I'd forgotten about that one.

[ncdave]

Although the decision to choose a Cooper over a "S" was admittedly difficult, it came down to looks (though the "S" is certainly sharp and more aggressive); the suspension (a hair more livable without really sacrificing handling in everyday situations); a gearbox that more closely matched my driving style. Also, I found after repeated test drives that the Cooper was actually more fun as you needed to hustle it at speed far more than the "S." Off the line, the "S" wins hands down as it should; but once up to speed, the Cooper defends its honour quite well in the corners. The fun really starts over 4K revs. I do admit that with the A/C on, movement off the line is somewhat less than exciting. I can't wait for fall.

Both cars are terrific but I felt that in day-to-day driving, the Cooper was going to be more practical and I haven't regretted that decision for a second.

[NEMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by MCjunkie

You're all British.

I don't think so.
Why do you deride someone for overstating something through the use of EVERYONE and then make the same exact mistake yourself through the use of ALL?

[jasemini]

I recently had a stock standard Cooper CVT as a loaner while my S was in for some work. The Cooper CVT was a shocker, YUK, YUK, YUK. A manual Cooper with sprts seats and sports suspension with 16" wheels would be OK. But that's just my opinion. If it's a MINI it's good!!! usually.

[tmgrobyn]

I bought the Cooper because I like the classic look. I don't buy cars so I can brag that it's the fastest on the road (if that were the case the classic would have to been bought!). I buy cars because they look good. The Cooper has it IMHO!

[Dustikins]

I can think of tons of reasons why one might choose a Cooper over an S. Personally, I don't really need anything more than the Cooper. The real attraction for me was the MINI's handling, which doesn't really get any better in the S (in fact, in the test drive, I think the Cooper actually handled a little better for us ). If I was wanting a fast car, there's plenty out there that are faster than even the S. I liked the ride in the Cooper much better than the S. Plus, I prefer the classy look of the Cooper over the more sporty car look of the S. (not to mention that the Cooper was available in Pepper White while the S wasn't when we ordered, although that's a moot point now)

As far as the S "only" being $3000 more, that's quite a bit, especially when I specifically didn't want the "extras" that come with the Cooper, plus, if I had gotten the S I couldn't have afforded the sunroof which was simply a must have!

I think the S is an incredible car, just not the car for me, but that's why there are so many different models of cars, everyone's different and that's awesome.

[randap]

I was speaking to my dealer about this only yesterday. I have both a ZX9R Kawasaki (175mph, 140bhp) and a 50cc Benelli scooter (65mph, 5-6bhp - has had some mods). Whilst I like riding the ZX, sometimes the scooter is just more fun. It's all about conservation of momentum, so you enter corners as fast as you dare in order to carry the speed - with traffic around it's quite good fun. The ZX is an effortless speed machine, so to get the same thrills as the scooter you have to find long open roads and travel at ridiculous speeds (sometimes).

I like both, but in urban situations, the scooter is easily more fun than the ZX. I guess the same is true when comparing the MC and the MCS.

[R1]

Quote: Originally Posted by randap

I was speaking to my dealer about this only yesterday. I have both a ZX9R Kawasaki (175mph, 140bhp) and a 50cc Benelli scooter (65mph, 5-6bhp - has had some mods). Whilst I like riding the ZX, sometimes the scooter is just more fun. It's all about conservation of momentum, so you enter corners as fast as you dare in order to carry the speed - with traffic around it's quite good fun. The ZX is an effortless speed machine, so to get the same thrills as the scooter you have to find long open roads and travel at ridiculous speeds (sometimes).

I like both, but in urban situations, the scooter is easily more fun than the ZX. I guess the same is true when comparing the MC and the MCS.

Snap! I get the same! I have my Yamaha R1 and 50cc Aprillia scooter (de-restricted )

I do like the Coopers styling over the "S". I have a JCW Cooper demo on my drive at the moment and although not as quick as an "S", it sure gives the Cooper more "drivability", so the "S" upgrade can wait for a few years yet! ('cause I probably will end up getting one one day!)

Another day to go with the JCW Cooper, but my credit cards getting itchy!! JCW= to expensive for what gains you get really, but what the hell!!

[BartMack]

R1, I am extremely curoius about the JCW Cooper.
What is the cost there in the UK?

[mia]

i don't drive stick and would not want to in the area i live in. the cvt is great and i have no problem with squirt's performance.

[MINImeat]

While we were test driving MINI's, my wife wondered out loud why they would make the Cooper when the S was so good and I tried to explain to her that not everyone wanted the high-performance version of a car.
I ended up giving her several examples.
There's a Boxster and a Boxster S.
There's a Civic and a Civic SI (Spec R too for some lucky people).
There's an RSX and an RSX Type S.
There's a Golf and a GTI.
There's a Focus and a Focus SVT.
There's an Impreza and a WRX (STI too).
etc.
etc.
etc.
You drive the cars and you buy the one you wanna drive and live with everyday.
I used to own a base-model Civic hatchback and I loved the honesty of that car. My plan was to upgrade the wheels and tires until a guy in a Cadillac wiped it out. My wife had a Toyota Starlet when we got married that was the same way...an honest car that got incredible gas mileage while still being a ball to drive.
I'm sure some Cooper owners see my fancy S and don't wave because they think I'm stuck on myself and looking down my nose at their car. Couldn't be further from the truth.
A MINI's a MINI and they're all amazing...

[GooF]

Actualy I'd love to own a MCS, and believe me for $3000 extra I would order one right now.
In the Netherlands the difference between basic cooper and cooper S is 7000 Euros though (about $7500).

[Warrick]

Why would anyone buy a Cooper S? A couple of people have said it already - for the money you would be better getting a Civic type R or even second hand rocket like 4 year old Subaru WRX. Both of those would eat most MCS... SO, you bought a MCS for buying into brand, image, etc; same as those that buy one, D, etc. Fair dinkum to all Mini owners.

[ZAMIRZ]

Warrick, japanese cars don't hold a candle to european cars when it comes to quality and overall lifespan. My 1983 Porsche 911 wasn't the fastest thing out there when my father purchased it new, but I've yet to see a car from the same year in as good a condition as mine. I take care of my cars and change the oil regularly, I wax the 911 about twice a year and its covered just over 100,000 miles now. The car is still tight and the compression numbers while not perfect are still even all across the board. I have a friend that's in a Datsun club and his club members worship my car because theirs have been completely stripped, acid-dipped and redone from the ground up because of rust and the general age of the car. While I respect their cars, I would never own one because after 20 years what do you have to show for your car? Just receipts totalling more than the original purchase price of the vehicle from things you had to do to keep it roadworthy. Furthermore, I expect my Cooper S to easily last me the remainder of college and be my daily transport for the next 7-10 years depending on how life pans out. The internals of the engine are forged which should make the motor good for many hundreds of thousands of miles. I could go out and buy a brand new WRX for the price of my Mini and have the WRX in my garage tonight if I wanted to, but I'll wait 2 months for the quality european machinery because I won't have to throw it away so soon.

[RedUn]

Quote: Originally Posted by MCjunkie

I don't understand why people would be cheap enough to settle for just a Mini Cooper and not the Mini Cooper S. Sure it's about $3,000 cheaper, but seriously, when it comes to performance, options, and style, getting the S is a no brainer. No offense to anyone who has the Cooper (non S), but why, why? I'm sure everyone has their stories for getting just the cooper, but it's just something to ponder.

I don't know if your from the US($'s) but over there insurance doesn't seem such a problem. Back here in the UK insurance is very expensive especialy if you don't have full no claims aged 40 and live in a prefect area

Basically insurance is a limiting factor!!!

I couldn't even insure a Cooper never mind an S is that a good enough reason

A second thing is also fuel economy the S isn't exactly well known for great mpg so if people live quite a distance away from work that could work out quite a bit more expensive.

Apart from that it's down to personal prefrence

[Warrick]

Interesting comments ZAMIRZ, but a bit dated? Who on earth would own a Datsun nowadays? ;-) If you had asked me ten years ago I would agree with all your statements - in fact I guess I still do; as I've gone and brought a Mini after all! However, new Jap cars are a long sight from what they were even 5 years ago. The engines are tight, and strong, and the body work is pretty robust (okay, although maybe not the WRX - it is a bit crappy inside trim-wise). I've owned three Porsche - 924 turbo, 928 S4, and 911 turbo, as well as a host of Brit cars, and a couple of old Jap cars. In all these cars it was only really the age that showed up the faults - esp' the Brit ones! (Triumph Stag, Herald, Vitesse, Dolomite Sprint!) but age was just as much the killer in the Porsches' as anything else - real difference was I spent money on maintaining the Porsche, but just drove the Jap workhorses into the ground without care...

Guess my real point is that you cannot apply old values to new cars. Wold you say the say about the new TVR's? They used to be Porsche eaters at the local club track days... IF they made it around the first corner without breaking down! Now though they are seriously tight pieces of kit.

[madferrit]

Not All Of Us Can Afford An "s"it All Depends On How Much You Can Afford At The Time Sure I Could Have Bought An "s" But I Would Not Have Anywhere To Live As Would Not Be Able To Pay My Morgage I Took A Test Drive In An " S" Just To See What It Was All About And I Don't Think It Was As Good As People Think At The End Of The Day For A Few Quid More You Could Go Out And Buy A Type R Which Is Much Quicker And A Whole New Ballgame !!!!

[RedUn]

Quote: Originally Posted by Warrick

Interesting comments ZAMIRZ, but a bit dated? Who on earth would own a Datsun nowadays? ;-) If you had asked me ten years ago I would agree with all your statements - in fact I guess I still do; as I've gone and brought a Mini after all! However, new Jap cars are a long sight from what they were even 5 years ago. The engines are tight, and strong, and the body work is pretty robust (okay, although maybe not the WRX - it is a bit crappy inside trim-wise). I've owned three Porsche - 924 turbo, 928 S4, and 911 turbo, as well as a host of Brit cars, and a couple of old Jap cars. In all these cars it was only really the age that showed up the faults - esp' the Brit ones! (Triumph Stag, Herald, Vitesse, Dolomite Sprint!) but age was just as much the killer in the Porsches' as anything else - real difference was I spent money on maintaining the Porsche, but just drove the Jap workhorses into the ground without care...

Guess my real point is that you cannot apply old values to new cars. Wold you say the say about the new TVR's? They used to be Porsche eaters at the local club track days... IF they made it around the first corner without breaking down! Now though they are seriously tight pieces of kit.

Just thinking about that now.....I don't think I've ever seen a broken down or rusty old Jap car.

Just look at the early MX-5's have you ever seen a rusty one and they must be getting on for 10yrs old now, then go take a lok at a 10yr old Fiesta, yep you got it bit of rust here and there just starting to get going.

just a thought

[Paul]

Here's why I think, could be one or any combinations of these reasons...

The retail price.
Availability.
Insurance cost.
Looks.
Not needing the 'S' performance.
The choice of CVT.
Er....
Looks?

Could probably think of more given time.