[Sc00bster]

First day and I have tested the Cooper S on several different roads..

Power
It is very fast, the power does clearly put the MR2 to shame. Whatever it says on paper this is clearly faster than the spyder whichever gear you are in.

Almost doesnt matter what the gear all the car wants to do is go fast, all the way through the gears it keeps pulling. The MR2 kinda struggles at those "high" speeds.. Well this thing pulled through to the fastest I had gone in the MR2 without raising an eyebrow. Most impressive....

On the highway it would smoke the MR2, I say this knowing it might annoy my friends who still have their 2's but... well it would.... but then the MR2 isnt a straight line car...

6th gear is lovely, seems to pull more than the spyders 5th but also drops the revs low, I think it will be good on the fuel.

Control
You cant put your foot down heavily from a low speed and shove it into a corner like you can the MR2. well... you can, and I will but you lose a bit of traction, especially on a bumpy road. The orange lights starts flashing "indicating that tyre integrity has been compromised. When one wheel begins to turn more quickly than the others, it is a signal that the tyre is losing pressure." my ****! thats cos my wheels are having fun. Anyway I expect to see that orange light lots. therefore the MR2 wins on those floor it round a junction from a low speed moments, however thats what the MR2 is all about.

The Cooper is great on the twisties, it brakes very well and I feel it is (almost or) just as good as the MR2 on those twisties.. has greater pulling power on the way out and as good / almost as good on the nose down moment as you are slowing down. I say they are very close would be interesting to see them nose to tail on a twisty country lane.

Driving position
Being quite tall I sit back on the rails. Gearstick is in an ok position, as is the steering wheel, however from where Im sitting "leaning forward" to change the volume is a little annoying, I think I will investigate their multi functional steering wheel. switches for the electic windows etc are also a little out of reach.

Features
Switching on the Xenons is nice. Watching them level themselves is very cool and they are most impressively clear (very noticable in my driveway compared to the spyder). Sunroof, even with the little wind reflectors is noisy at speed, though I guess they always are, just never had one before. All of the other gadgets / cd autochanger etc rock. Great sound quality etc. comfy seats but not as grippy as the MR2.

Confort
Sports suspension with 17inch alloys and low profile tyres..... yup its a bumpier ride than the 2.

So who wins...
MR2 is better for overall driving position
Cooper S is better for accelleration and sheer power
MR2 is better for rubber gripping action
Cooper S can certainly hold its own on the twisties.. the zing of the supercharger is nice
MR2 is rawer, more of a sports car where the Cooper doesnt quite have that feeling... However fast it goes the Cooper does feel a little like it is taking you for a ride, rather than you taking it..

Who wins? I dunno?

Cooper meets my needs better, it has storage space, has the mod cons and has not let me down on performance. it is a very exciting car to drive, even with that slight feeling of milk floatyness. Don't flame me but compared to the MR2 it does....

It has turned more heads today than the spyder ever did and... I still have a smile on my face.
I love the style of it, love the noise (though not as loud) and love the power...
Im happy with my upgrade, I hope to really love this car like I did my ragtop...

I think I will

[Paul]

What spec was the 'S' you used for comparison, and what spec was the MR2? The 'S' dressed in different ways can feel very different.

[Shamster]

Sc00bster - I test drove the new (well it was then!) MR2 a few years back and was very impressed with the handling. (I had already owned T-bar versions of the Mk1 and Mk2). Managed to test it a fair bit a around some B roads in Bracknell plus some of the roundabouts there and would agree with you. The overall power is probably not enough but it's still a fun car. But overall the S is still a more complete car.

[Sc00bster]

The MR2 was my 2002 1.8 VVTi Roadster (not smt 03 model), which I had been driving for 12 months. 138bhp@6400, 125lb-ft@4400. Traded this in for a September 2002 S with chilli pack and some other bits and bobs on Friday. Both cars unmodified performance wise.

Personally I felt more in control of the 2, there were no clever computer gadgets, if the tail got happy it got happy, was down to me to control it.. when the orange light starts flashing on the S it's more like, let the car sort this problem out cos I cannot... With the 2 I would just power through. maybe this comes with experience driving the S?

Give me a few months with the S and things might feel different. I do like it a lot though!

Remember.. I am comparing a mid mounted with a front mounted car, a rear wheel drive with a front wheel drive, a 2 seater with a 4 seater, a high rever with a high torquer, a lighter car with a heavier car, a longer car with a shorter car (maybe?), a lower car with a taller car, lighter steering with heavier steering.... the differences are endless and it probably isnt fair on either of them me trying to compare.. two completely different cars!

I do love the S though and have not been disappointed with my purchase..

[Paul]

If you enjoy the twisties as I do (and your post suggest you do), I would advise that you get a set of light 16" alloys on your car and switch off the DSC/ASC+T. The 17's are NOT good for "chuckability" and feeling 'at one' with the car.

[Sc00bster]

Quote: Originally Posted by shamster

Sc00bster - I test drove the new (well it was then!) MR2 a few years back and was very impressed with the handling. (I had already owned T-bar versions of the Mk1 and Mk2). Managed to test it a fair bit a around some B roads in Bracknell plus some of the roundabouts there and would agree with you. The overall power is probably not enough but it's still a fun car. But overall the S is still a more complete car.

Agreed, I think the 2 is underpowered, there are a lot of guys throwing $5k at turbos for it and many have done engine swaps.. $$ bills add up though. Toyota are planning to retire it, you shouldnt expect to be able to buy a new one in a few years time, My Toyota dealer (only last weeks) suggested that there could be a celica convertable coming out which may act as a replacement, and of course their is the new VERY expensive Supra in the pipeline. In the US they are still very rare and over in the UK they have never been as popular as the other <£25k roadsters.

Elise is hitting the US shores with the 190bhp Celica engine, agreed at $40k it will not competition for the 2 but I would imagine future MR2 drivers will cough up a few more dollars and opt for a used Elise.

Doesnt look like we will be having the same Elise as them, ironically our new Exige will be sharing the same engine as their Elise.

The 2 is a great car, I would love to see it with more grunt...

[Sc00bster]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

If you enjoy the twisties as I do (and your post suggest you do), I would advise that you get a set of light 16" alloys on your car and switch off the DSC/ASC+T. The 17's are NOT good for "chuckability" and feeling 'at one' with the car.

yes.. I would like to experience some light 16's. Guess that why the 15's on the 2 held their own. with regards to this ASC switch, I will certainly be switching it off, just getting to grip with the car with it on and then it will be flicked.

Need to learn more about what this ASC is actually doing, cos i havent read up much about it yet

[Shamster]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

If you enjoy the twisties as I do (and your post suggest you do), I would advise that you get a set of light 16" alloys on your car and switch off the DSC/ASC+T. The 17's are NOT good for "chuckability" and feeling 'at one' with the car.

Hmm - this is getting interesting. Have you always had the DSC off on the runs then Paul? I have always had it on

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by shamster

Hmm - this is getting interesting. Have you always had the DSC off on the runs then Paul? I have always had it on

I usually do yes, as it interferes around the twisties a little too much for my liking, slows me down quite a bit.

[LuckyRVA]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

I usually do yes, as it interferes around the twisties a little too much for my liking, slows me down quite a bit.

This should be the first thing every MINI owner does before going for a spirited drive...turn the DSC off!

As a side note...if the MR-S had come with the Celica GT-S engine I may have opted for it instead of my MINI


-Jason

[petsounds]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

If you enjoy the twisties as I do (and your post suggest you do), I would advise that you get a set of light 16" alloys on your car and switch off the DSC/ASC+T. The 17's are NOT good for "chuckability" and feeling 'at one' with the car.

Now I'm getting worried that I made the wrong choice by getting the 17"s with the sport package. If I understand it correctly (from what I've read), you can "throw" the car around the roads with the 16"s more, however they tend to be a little more dodgy in the rain, while with the 17"s the opposite is true?

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by petsounds

Now I'm getting worried that I made the wrong choice by getting the 17"s with the sport package. If I understand it correctly (from what I've read), you can "throw" the car around the roads with the 16"s more, however they tend to be a little more dodgy in the rain, while with the 17"s the opposite is true?

Depends on the tyres, my 17's with Pirellis are poor in the wet compared to others I've driven on Dunlops (16 & 17).

I'm going to add my 2 pence worth regarding the Mr2 and the MCS, I have bought my misses a new Mr2, the revised one with 6 speed box. They've changed the suspension a bit and added a 6 speed gearbox and slight styling changes as well.

Perforamance between the 2, well Claires cars new and my Mcs has about 8K on it but I would say they appear pretty well matched but the MCS does have a slight advantage. Both engines need plenty of revs to get any go out of them (only tried the high revs in the Demo car )

Handling wise in the dry at least the Mr2 is better but I would imagine that in the wet it may be a different matter - time will tell. The mid mounted engine may make for interesting oversteer

Brakes - well this is one area that the Mr2 walks up to the MCs and biatch slaps it in the face. Theres no comparison in my mind the Mr2 wins hands down.

Driving position, you can't really comare the 2 but neither are bad and both have pretty comfy supportive seats.

Pracitcality - Hmmm neither are what you would called practical but you can get a surprising amount in the bins behined the seats in the Mr2 but the MCS is a hatchback and you can get a surprising amount in the back especially if you fold the seats down.

Which one is better? On a hot summers day the Mr2, on a wet winters morning the MCS. Which would I choose? I don't have to as I have the choice - especially as I leave for work 2 hours before claire I can which ever takes my fancy

And Claire if your reading this of course I will always ask first - especially when your asleep - 1 grunt for yes 2 grunts for no

J.

[Sc00bster]

hehe.. the 2 in the wet can be a lot of "fun".. in the snow, with the stock yoko's... dont even bother. Even starting in second it just sits still and then starts to move sideways.. manage to slide it up onto the kerb and then get out and walk ;-)

As for look and feel, the Electric blue has been renamed Porn Star blue by the guys at work.. I kinda like that.
Lot's of compliments in the carpark, never got that wih the MR2.

[MINImeat]

I had an X1/9, I worked for a Toyota dealer for awhile, and I have a friend who's had two MR2's. Handling in snow or ice with any mid-engine car is "interesting".
It'll be sad to see the MR2 go (again). The world needs an inexpensive mid-engine sportscar.

[JG.26]

Hi,

I had an MR2 Roadstar back in 2001 and to be honest I don't think you can compare it to the MCS, they are different cars altogether. From what I remember of the MR2 I was so dissapointed with it overall as I kept comparing it to the Mk 1 MR2 T bar I once had. I still think the original MR2 was the best overall drivers car I have owned to date. It had great handling, great build and just the right amount of power for the size of car.I will reserve judgement on the MCS as I have only had it 2 months. I guess it depends on what you are looking for in a car. The MR2 Roadstar felt more nimble to me on its toes compared to my current MCS and the same goes for performance. But on the flipside the MCS is a quality car, solid and well built with attention to detail. The MR2 felt flimsy and tinny and I definitely felt short changed from the 21k it cost me compared to 17k on the MCS. I still hanker after an original Mk 1 MR2!!!!

Hmmm you think the MCS is a well built product? Chr!st am I ever in trouble if the Mr2's worse!!!!! I get the feeling someone just chucked my MCS together, it's got more squeaks than I care to mention, the quality of the plastics used on the interior also leave a lot to be desired...

J.

[RickB]

I really wanted a MR2, back when I was waiting for the MINI to get to market. I sat in one at a car show, and really loved the driving position. It's so light, and seemed to be just what I wanted. Then, I went back to the rear, and opened the "trunk", only to find myself looking straight through to the ground. Hmmmm; trunk must be up in the front. Opened the hatch, and found a large expanse of vinyl. There's no trunk! No place for even a bag of groceries, except in the cockpit. List price $24,000, sticker price $30,000. No thanks. It would have to be a third car, and I can't afford that many cars.

Fortunatley for me the biggest thing Claire carry's around in her car is me

[Shamster]

while i sit in limbo waitng for the facelifted S to appear I can't decide on a replacement, although another MR2 is quite high up on the list of possibilities.