[wow]

Hi guys and Gals,

Has anyone changed from a MCS to a MCS convertible?

Is there a major drop in power?

Does the sound better with the roof down?

How do you feel about the change?

What do you miss about the Hard Top?

Thanks a million as I am might trade my 05 Cooper S in for a 06 Cooper S Convertible.

[Griffer]

I have had, in order, a Cooper hardtop, a Cooper convertible, a Cooper S hardtop (only had it 3 days and got my convertible back) and finally a Cooper S convertible. Great sounds with the roof up or down. Get one!!

[Wesmonster]

We traded in our '03 MC hardtop (w/sport suspension) for an '06 S convertible. For a convertible the wind noise is surprisingly low at highway speed compared to other ragtops I've owned (Miata & Spitfire, to name a few). As far as noise goes, the ragtop MINI does seem to have a few more squeaks and rattles than our tintop, but that may also be due to the S' 17" tires. I was actually surprised that the '06 on 17" runflats rode as smoothly as the '03 with 15" non-runflats, which I think is due to the suspension rework between the two model years. The cabrio seems just a little heavier in sharp left-right-left transitions (like slaloms) but that was due more to the 25 lb S lites vs our old car's 12 lb 'holey' wheels. Since then I upgraded to 15" OZ Ultralegerras (12 lbs each) with Yoko tires and it handles better than the old tintop ever could. Chassis flex? no problem. Extra weight? don't notice it. I think the biggest difference is in the back seats. The cabrio back seats are smaller than the hardtop and most adults just don't fit comfortably. Useable storage room with the rear seats down is half what it was in the hardtop. I've fitted 4 17" S-lites in the back of a MIN hardtop but in the cabrio I'd be hard pressed to fit more than one or two. When the rear seats are folded down, there's only about an 18" high space to pass between the passenger compartment and the trunk.

[Shamster]

I've had 3 MCS's and gone to a loaded JCW MCSC. I sorted out the chassis flexing by fitting a JCW strutbrace. It's obviously still not as rigid as the hardtop but it has helped plus the car has other benefits such as being able to have the roof down .

Get it with HK and you have the option of listening to two different kinds of music - one is with the stereo switched off.

Go for it.

[Griffer]

Quote: Originally Posted by shamster (original)

I've had 3 MCS's and gone to a loaded JCW MCSC. I sorted out the chassis flexing by fitting a JCW strutbrace. It's obviously still not as rigid as the hardtop but it has helped plus the car has other benefits such as being able to have the roof down .

Get it with HK and you have the option of listening to two different kinds of music - one is with the stereo switched off.

Go for it.

I am thinking of getting a JCW strut brace for my MCSC, how much does it improve the handling?

[wow]

Well i am off to test drive the MCS cab now and i will report back in 4 hours.

[Shorty]

Quote: Originally Posted by Griffer (original)

I am thinking of getting a JCW strut brace for my MCSC, how much does it improve the handling?

Not that much, I had one fitted to mine till recently & it doesn't improve thing much really

The GTT one however, does provde a massive difference to the softop. I had the JCW
one fitted from day one of owning the car so couldn't really tell how effective it was till i took
it off. Once I did the difference was minimal, but the GTT one really does tighten the front end up.

Get one, you won't be dissapointed

[ItHurts]

Quote: Originally Posted by wow (original)

Well i am off to test drive the MCS cab now and i will report back in 4 hours.

Will be intrigued by your thoughts!

Like Wesmonster, we went from a MC to an MCS (albeit with JCW). What suprised me the most was I expected the car to be a lot more jittery, and it wasn't at all. There will always be a few more squeeks and rattles on a convertible, but it's a small price to pay - trust me!

[erickvonzipper]

I drove a Cooper convertible before I bought my Cooper. I was not impressed by the level of the convertible's interior noise. The hardtop has a much more solid feel and sound, imho.

Zip

[Dawn]

Not a moments regret here
Im still loving it, problems an all

[wow]

As soon as I left the dealers premises I could feel the extra weight put on the car. The car did not pull off as eagerly as the lighter hardtop and had to be revved harder to get going. Taking the cab on the back roads really tested the handling of the car an I was very impressed by how well the car handled the bumps and potholes. But I did not feel as safe and confident in the car as I do in Hardtop. It was not as sure footed.

Then the best part of the drive began when I dropped the roof and headed off down the ling road. Suddenly the sound of the exhaust popping and super charger whine made up for the sluggish performance.

My conclusion is that this car is more of a boulevard cruiser than a hot hatch dasher thus appealing to a different audience. Even though the price is amazing I would rather spend my money on the New MINI Cooper S.

If I did go the Convertible route I would opt for a MINI COOPER S Convertible with JCW!

[fl0r15t]

Quote: Originally Posted by wow (original)

the sluggish performance.

Blumming cheek. An extra .2 of a second to 62 does not warrant the words sluggish performance!

I'd take my "Boulevard cruiser" MCSc over the MCS any time. In fact, I'd take the MCc or a MOc!

[Dawn]

Quote: Originally Posted by fl0r15t (original)

Blumming cheek. An extra .2 of a second to 62 does not warrant the words sluggish performance!

I'd take my "Boulevard cruiser" MCSc over the MCS any time. In fact, I'd take the MCc or a MOc!

I totaly agree with you! And what with this "sluggish behaviour?", my MCSC is hardly any different to drive than my old Tin Top, i think one test drive dosent resultin you being able to pass proper judgement
I think the MCSC is an "all rounder", it depends what your after? my opinion inly, im more than happy with mine, stll turns as many heads, and still makes me smile when i drive her

[Serby]

I went from a MINI Cooper to a MINI One Convertible, and didn't half feel a drop in performance! When the roof is down though it just doesn't matter to me, its a totally different feeling being topless

[REHW]

Quote: Originally Posted by wow (original)

As soon as I left the dealers premises I could feel the extra weight put on the car. The car did not pull off as eagerly as the lighter hardtop and had to be revved harder to get going. Taking the cab on the back roads really tested the handling of the car an I was very impressed by how well the car handled the bumps and potholes. But I did not feel as safe and confident in the car as I do in Hardtop. It was not as sure footed.

Then the best part of the drive began when I dropped the roof and headed off down the ling road. Suddenly the sound of the exhaust popping and super charger whine made up for the sluggish performance.

My conclusion is that this car is more of a boulevard cruiser than a hot hatch dasher thus appealing to a different audience. Even though the price is amazing I would rather spend my money on the New MINI Cooper S.

If I did go the Convertible route I would opt for a MINI COOPER S Convertible with JCW!

I'm affraid that you clearly don't know what your talking about. the MCSC is NOT Sluggish. THe difference in performance is minimal. Yes there is a differecne but not so much as you would be able to tell on a test drive and call it sluggish!!! You should check the mileage of the cars because a brand new one with delivery miles will feel sluggish compared with a well run in version.

I have a done a number of track days in my MCSC and there is no way the car is sluggish. Despite the fact that my car is standard with exception of brakes, it is not embarressed even by guys in GTT cars and Works Hardtops.

Yes I agree its not quite as crisp, yes its not quite as fast, but the difference is very small.


ps. I personally find it very noisy at motorway speeds and find it difficult to hold a conversation on my in car phone kit which is a reason I am thinking of going for a hard topped car next time whatever it might be! Otherwise great car.

[wow]

Yes there was a noticeable difference. After owning 3 MINIs i have a good idea about each Model.

To me it felt sluggish and that is because before i got in the convertible i was driving the hardtop S. Obviously one man's impression of sluggish is another's of pace. That is why RHEW i think the MCS Convertible for me will be one with the JCW kit.

The blind spots did bother me a lot but as soon as the roof was down i had not one complaint about the car.

I booked to have the MCS convertible for a whole day on Friday the 1st of Dec and will test it again.

[Dawn]

Quote: Originally Posted by wow (original)

Yes there was a noticeable difference. After owning 3 MINIs i have a good idea about each Model.

To me it felt sluggish and that is because before i got in the convertible i was driving the hardtop S. Obviously one man's impression of sluggish is another's of pace. That is why RHEW i think the MCS Convertible for me will be one with the JCW kit.

The blind spots did bother me a lot but as soon as the roof was down i had not one complaint about the car.

I booked to have the MCS convertible for a whole day on Friday the 1st of Dec and will test it again.

I still think your talking toosh, i had a hard top MCS before i got my convertible. The only one person ive ever let drive my car apart from my husband is also a MCS owner and he had no complaints whatsoever .
Different courses for different horses

[Den W]

I'm with Dawn on this one, I had a tintop MCS-great car,but my MCSc is much more responsive from pullaway, maybe because the cab's an auto but in my experience I definitely do not feel short changed with the performance, then when you factor in the roof down on a nice day it's wicked and the car is a definite head turner,as you can tell I love it.
If finances allow when the new one comes out in a couple of years 'it shall be mine!!'

P.S do agree with the phone kit problems tho on the convertible, mind you it is the OE MINI bluetooth kit which I have to say is crap, thinking about changing to a Parrott kit which I had in the MCS which was great.

Cheers

Den

[REHW]

Quote: Originally Posted by Den W (original)

I'm with Dawn on this one, I had a tintop MCS-great car,but my MCSc is much more responsive from pullaway, maybe because the cab's an auto but in my experience I definitely do not feel short changed with the performance, then when you factor in the roof down on a nice day it's wicked and the car is a definite head turner,as you can tell I love it.
If finances allow when the new one comes out in a couple of years 'it shall be mine!!'

P.S do agree with the phone kit problems tho on the convertible, mind you it is the OE MINI bluetooth kit which I have to say is crap, thinking about changing to a Parrott kit which I had in the MCS which was great.

Cheers

Den

Please to hear your support and there is no way the performance is blunted more than a minute amount between the MCS and MCSC. Its not even down to opinion on this one as the facts speak for themselves.

On the phone front I have the Nokia CK-7W Bluetooth kit and have now hard wired it and it is much better but I still find myself leaning forward towards the microphone so peolple can hear me. I have spoken to an expert in htis field and he advised that for my sort of use bluetoothe just isn't goodenough and hard wiring is the only way.

[Griffer]

Read my reveiw of the R56 in the second generation Cooper S forum. Everything is improved with the MK2 EXCEPT the noise. The supercharged engine in the convertible S might be thirsty and dirty but by God it doesn't half sound good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!