[justbob]

I'm curious if anyone else has had experience with comparing individual MINI Cooper S cars, and the way they feel when driven.

My wife and I bought two MCSs in June; she picked out a yellow and black S with every available option except leather seats; I picked out an MC40, because it had the options I wanted (pretty bare bones on the creature comforts, the right combo for performance), and it was one of the only MCSs left in the state. They both have the same tires, engines and transmissions, of course.

These two cars are much less alike then I would ever have imagined when driven. The wife's MCS is smooth shifting, has a great clutch, and that great go-kart feel to the steering wheel. My MC40 has a notchy shifter, much more vague steering, and a clutch that is either on or off. Don't get me wrong, I love driving it, but it has much less of the "go-kart" precision steering, and takes a lot more work to drive.

The main difference between the two cars is the weight--I figure the MC40 is maybe 250 lbs lighter than the loaded MCS. Could this account for the difference?

[speedynz]

Bob,
firstly, what a bummer, your woman's got a fitter car than you, the shame of it.

I've driven a few 'S's and all felt different, same genes but noticeable nuances of difference.

In my experience all makes of cars exhibit this trait of vague but noticeable differences, I define it as 'getting a good one' or 'getting a bad one'.

Sounds like you've got one of each.

The irony being that the 'good one' is the 'bad one' and vice versa.

I doubt the equipment overload is making the difference as loading a passenger in a Cooper S won't significantly alter it's driving characteristics, only minutely affect it's performance and reaction.

Wheels, tyres and suspension can have a huge effect though, how different are your set ups?

And does your woman blow you away?