[DoubleA]

Guys,
I'm looking for a comparison on Mini One Convertible to the Mini Cooper. I have been driving a 1.8 Golf GL 1996, and looking for the upgrade to Mini convertible yet I was suprised on how powerful and quick the mini one was (A friend of mine has one...you could of say it was a race, but it was tight!).

Is the price difference worth the jump?
What is the main differences between the two?
What extras are basically 'needs' for the convertible?
And also does the HK sound system make you heard (is the output loud and clear)?!

Thanks guys.

[Mooyer]

For me the one definately is the better car, the ride is just too harsh with the sports suspension imo.
Just the usual spec, Pepper defo on a one, MFSW, the bullets look v cool, ohh and heated seats are a must for winter, just a matter of personal preference really. Most ppl prefer the half leather 'cos of the heat thing.

On the h/k thing, its great, but if a budgets tight i'd go aftermarket. I've got it in my One convo and the sound is very good, but I haven't even ordered boost in my soon to be delivered MCS cos im going to go the aftermarket route this time. Hope this helps

[DoubleA]

Thanks for the advice...

Also what is the big difference between the Mini Cooper convertible and the S version. I know the S is a powerhouse, but isn't it over kill for the convertible. Thing is...this may sound strange, but I have had to different quotes from companies, the one supplying the Cooper convertible is less per month, than the One! And also the Cooper S is only £25 more per month.
Strange...
But what would you go for...?
I'm looking to keep this for a couple of years, and I'm so afraid of being over shadowed by the up and coming next MINI convertible to arrive!

Thanks.

[L13 Cooper]

The cooper is better imo, better options on the car, better look and better performance! also better power upgrade options!

[DoubleA]

But what about in comparison to the S...does the S blow the Cooper out the water?!

[Paul]

In Convertible spec the One has firmer suspension anyway, the One and Cooper have the same, and there's optional sports suspension. Not the same as the hard top.

Best thing to drive them all if you can, personally I found the One Convertible sluggish, the Cooper Convertible a cruiser (better) and the S real fun to throw around.

[martyn413]

Hi there,

I have just checked your profile and found that you're younger than me. I'm 21 this month.
My insurance for a normal Mini One is 1200. The Mini One conv is group 6, the cooper conv is group 9 and i think the cooper s is 16. Have lots of money if you go for the cooper s!!!

Cheers

[rentagas]

Quote: Originally Posted by DoubleA

But what about in comparison to the S...does the S blow the Cooper out the water?!

er -yes!

sorry to the MCC drivers but the S is just so much quicker. If you even considering this question you want the S. Many people are entirely happy with the MCC's performance however.

[minicabrio]

I have a Cooper, and have added a K&N Intake and a AMD One-Click ECU Remap and its now plenty quick enough!!

[Gr8Dain]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

Best thing to drive them all if you can, personally I found the One Convertible sluggish, the Cooper Convertible a cruiser (better) and the S real fun to throw around.

Way to sum it up Paul. While I have not driven a One, I would agree on the other two.

I test drove the Copper and the S when we were looking. I knew it was going to belong to the Mrs., so I knew it had to be the S. I just wanted to see if there was a difference. The seat of the pants feel is much quicker in the S, not that we get much chance to use it like it was intended. But we make the most of it

Dain

[aquabubble]

Quote: Originally Posted by DoubleA

Thanks for the advice...

Also what is the big difference between the Mini Cooper convertible and the S version. I know the S is a powerhouse, but isn't it over kill for the convertible. Thing is...this may sound strange, but I have had to different quotes from companies, the one supplying the Cooper convertible is less per month, than the One! And also the Cooper S is only £25 more per month.
Strange...
But what would you go for...?
I'm looking to keep this for a couple of years, and I'm so afraid of being over shadowed by the up and coming next MINI convertible to arrive!

Thanks.

It may be £25 in pure repayments, but petrol, insurance, tryres and tax will all be more expensive as well. Also a straight comparison in monthly figures should not be used in isolation to compare deals - there will be other factors under the surface like GFVs (which don't reflect the real final value) etc.

The S is fantastic fun yes, but for me it worked out about 25% more expensive over the three years I'm having my car (or £2,500), which I can't really justify at the moment given the excellent performance of the Cooper and the fact I've recently bought a house which I'm doing up. At the end of the day though, you can't rely solely on hard facts - your heart has to come into it too.

Have fun deciding!

[DoubleA]

Some good info there...

I understand fully about the S costing more. Is it really that much of a fuel eater??

Also I understand the white wheels are no extra charge, with astro black are the white wheels a good look? I haven't seen an astro black convertible with white wheels, any pictures??

White wheels with chrono wing mirrors certainly shouldnt go together should they?

[REHW]

In my view your talking about very different cars. It should be remembered that the convertible is quite heavy ans as such needs some extra GG's to haul it around. I find 170 of them is ideal in the cooper S to make it a fun lively car.

If its down to £25 per month there is no contest although I have to agree with other comments on here that there are many other costs to consider. On fuel its heavier around town than my wifes 525i Estate, on tyres, well if I do track days in it! and on insurance, well its an arm and a leg but well worth every penny.

If you enjoy a sporting drive you will not be dissapointed with the S. If you go for the cooper will allways be wondering what you're missing out on and the answer will be a lot!

[REHW]

Oh and as for the extras, the key is to go for as few as possible. Its very easy to add several thousand to the price which is rediculous. Its only a mini at the end of hte day!

have the HK. Yes its clear and loud and does the job very well, but a convertible is not the best environment for listening to music. I think in future I'd choose to listen to the supercharger whine which costs you nothing extra.

[Rakey]

drive them both, you will prefer the MCS

I drive both on a regular basis, well ok a Cooper (the Girlfriends MCC) and my MCS (Ok a JCW MCS), both are great fun, but really you can't beat the grin from driving a MCS, its the sound the pull, the effortless drive

Oh and as for options get what you want, make the car yours, if you can't afford all you want from day one, get those that can't be retro fitted that easy such as MFSW, Air con, then things like aero kits and wheels can always be upgraded later on

[DoubleA]

Thanks for the comments...
I'm still undecided about the Cooper S or Cooper. Running my own business, I will probably using this car alot for travelling around town locally in a quite built-up area (Bromley, Greater London). So I really need to consider insurance and petrol costs. Also...If the Cooper convertible and One convertible were to have a straight line race, same extras etc, would the cooper tear it apart? Or is the difference in performance only noticable with the cooper S?

[jonnyyellow]

Quote: Originally Posted by DoubleA

Thanks for the advice...

Also what is the big difference between the Mini Cooper convertible and the S version. I know the S is a powerhouse, but isn't it over kill for the convertible. Thing is...this may sound strange, but I have had to different quotes from companies, the one supplying the Cooper convertible is less per month, than the One! And also the Cooper S is only £25 more per month.
Strange...
But what would you go for...?
I'm looking to keep this for a couple of years, and I'm so afraid of being over shadowed by the up and coming next MINI convertible to arrive!

Thanks.

wow.. overkill for a conv.. umm.. no way..... (hahah.. waht is he tihnking).. a mini engin is so small already... and you call it a over kill... the s is so much better than a cooper.. the cooper has like no acceleration

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by jonnyyellow

the s is so much better than a cooper.. the cooper has like no acceleration

I think you will find that the Cooper has got pretty decent acceleration! Well, depends on the driver

[MINI-Morgan]

Cooper! Out the box its that bit extra fun. Or just get the One remapped...

But from my factory visit the other day id prefer to be in a convertible in an accident so either one is a safe choice.

[paulworthing]

Well I got a One as I could not wait for the MCC due to getting on the waiting list too late (and I could not wait for the MCC as I was being made redundant and was loosing the company car) but I love my One and can't see what difference the extra 25bhp makes.

If you need to get up to aroung the 125bhp mark then add the AMD one click for a fraction of the difference between the MCC and MOC.

As for options - do your own thing but I would agree on the need for the heated seats (although I would not bother with leather as when the sun is out and the roof is down it would be way too hot and possible remove the skin from the back of your legs if your wearing shorts.)

Wind break is good too if you do a lot of high speed roof down driving when its not that hot, and a nice set of alloys as the MOC ony comes with steel wheels and wheel trims as standard.

IMHO the chome is too 'bling' and sticking with the black bits on the MOC make it a far more tastful machine too - take a look at Tango and you'll see what I mean.

Hope this helps.