[Surfy]

Hi All,

Well, after much deliberation and soul searching... was it too small, could I live with the shape? I decided I would just book a test drive and let the car persuade me!

I arrived at the dealership on Saturday morning to be greeted by a dark grey MCS with the chilli pack and blacked out rear windows, every option I would chose, except the windows. First impressions, the car was bigger inside than I expected, not sure how practical the back is as my seat was on the last catch, being 6 foot 3, but there was plenty of head room, and the all round view was good. In fact, there seemed to be more room than in my mates TT. I liked the diving position and instrumentation, especially the new 3 bar steering wheel and digital speedo in the rev counter.

So I stepped in, adjusted my seat and started off on the test route. It was a perfect blend of dual carriageways and fast country roads, a route I’d used before in part to get to a friends house, so I was keen to see how the MCS would handle it.

The first issue was the suspension, or rather the lack of suspension. At present I find myself dodging sunken manholes and tram lining on the terrible roads around Nottingham in my Toyota Celica, but this seemed worse, even cats eyes were shaking the car quite violently. It seemed harder than everything I’d tried to this point (Civic Type-R, 325Ci Sport)

Progress was brisk thanks to the very precise 6 speed box, but I found the foot well quite small and kept catching the clutch when moving my foot to the rest (size 10 feet). Pulling off the dual carriageway and crawling through an urban section, the engine still felt strong at low speed, I loved the whine of the supercharger, but the overall noise level was low in the car, in fact I would rather of heard more from the exhaust.

Flicking into a country lane I let the engine run to the red line in 2rd and 3rd, overtaking a Fiesta as a brisk pace was being set. The road had many undulations and the camber at the edge of the road rolled off into the verge, there was no discernable roll, but the ride was very choppy, it was like the suspension had given up. I found it hard to push on as all my effort was being focused on keeping the car in a straight line. On the plus side the steering was pin sharp and gave that true Go-Kart feel.

Several more country lanes were dismissed, but it was a similar story, each time I found myself backing off rather than putting the hammer down. Then it came back to the dual carriage way home and a couple of stop/start roundabouts to try going through the gears. It was at this point that I felt the car didn’t seem that fast, I was trying to keep pace with a 1.8T Audi A4, but never felt I was gaining even through I was using all the rev range.

So the true outcome was the complete reverse of that I initially expected; I liked the styling of the car, the 17" wheels make it look quite aggressive and the interior had some great touches. But the driving experience was let down, with what seemed like an overly stiff suspension and a rather tight engine that spoilt the performance.

Now, I suspect that part of the problem was down to the car only having 600miles on the clock, so I'm thinking I should seek another test drive with a slightly older car before I write this idea off?

What were other people’s first impressions like?

Cheers,
Peter

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by Surfy

Now, I suspect that part of the problem was down to the car only having 600miles on the clock, so I'm thinking I should seek another test drive with a slightly older car before I write this idea off?

Yes, and try it with 16" wheels.

[NEMINI]

If you are expecting a soft ride forget it, it will never happen, not with SS+ and 17" runflats. The MCS is not made to cushion your bottom, it's made to be stiff and have no give when you whip around the twisties.
As you said the steering is Go-Kart like, well, so is the suspension

16" non-runflat aftermarket tyres would certainly soften the ride up some, but from what you describe I doubt even that'd be enough for you. The MINI, especially the MCS, isn't for everyone.

[Shamster]

if you think the suspension was too hard bear in mind that it is actually a softer setup than before.

[Darren S]

My S never felt like it had completely loosened up until after a few thousand miles. It has now done close to 17,000, and feels so much quicker than the demo I drove before ordering my car.
With regards to the suspension, the ride is harsh - no two ways about it. I have the 17" alloys and am currently in the process of changing the runflats for normal tyres, as it is these(combined with the big wheels)that give the car such a harsh ride due to the extra rigidity of the sidewalls. I've driven Mini's with standard 16" wheels and the ride and handling feels much better, although it's still very firm(no bad thing as far as I'm concerned though). The big difference is that it's not so crashy. Gotta have those S spokes though, they look so goooood!
So really I'd say the best thing you could do would be to go for another drive in a Cooper S with more miles on the clock(like you suggested yourself), and make sure it's got the standard 16" wheels on to get a true impression of the ride and handling.
Hope that helps!

[Parc77]

16" wheels do help.... as for not keeping up with an audi a4 1.8T -maybe there was a racing driver at the wheel these are usually easily desposed of, i'm 6ft3 and have no probs fitting in and driving in some comfort - if you go from a larger car to a mini -your bound to loose some of the ride quality especially with tthe suspension setup of the Cooper S. Anyway sorry to hear you werent impressed, i'm still impressed even though ive had 20 faults on my car (partly due to tthe fact that I'm getting a brand spanking new replacement)

[BuckeyeMCS]

Quote: Originally Posted by Surfy

Hi All,

Well, after much deliberation and soul searching... was it too small, could I live with the shape? I decided I would just book a test drive and let the car persuade me!

I arrived at the dealership on Saturday morning to be greeted by a dark grey MCS with the chilli pack and blacked out rear windows, every option I would chose, except the windows. First impressions, the car was bigger inside than I expected, not sure how practical the back is as my seat was on the last catch, being 6 foot 3, but there was plenty of head room, and the all round view was good. In fact, there seemed to be more room than in my mates TT. I liked the diving position and instrumentation, especially the new 3 bar steering wheel and digital speedo in the rev counter.

So I stepped in, adjusted my seat and started off on the test route. It was a perfect blend of dual carriageways and fast country roads, a route I’d used before in part to get to a friends house, so I was keen to see how the MCS would handle it.

The first issue was the suspension, or rather the lack of suspension. At present I find myself dodging sunken manholes and tram lining on the terrible roads around Nottingham in my Toyota Celica, but this seemed worse, even cats eyes were shaking the car quite violently. It seemed harder than everything I’d tried to this point (Civic Type-R, 325Ci Sport)

Progress was brisk thanks to the very precise 6 speed box, but I found the foot well quite small and kept catching the clutch when moving my foot to the rest (size 10 feet). Pulling off the dual carriageway and crawling through an urban section, the engine still felt strong at low speed, I loved the whine of the supercharger, but the overall noise level was low in the car, in fact I would rather of heard more from the exhaust.

Flicking into a country lane I let the engine run to the red line in 2rd and 3rd, overtaking a Fiesta as a brisk pace was being set. The road had many undulations and the camber at the edge of the road rolled off into the verge, there was no discernable roll, but the ride was very choppy, it was like the suspension had given up. I found it hard to push on as all my effort was being focused on keeping the car in a straight line. On the plus side the steering was pin sharp and gave that true Go-Kart feel.

Several more country lanes were dismissed, but it was a similar story, each time I found myself backing off rather than putting the hammer down. Then it came back to the dual carriage way home and a couple of stop/start roundabouts to try going through the gears. It was at this point that I felt the car didn’t seem that fast, I was trying to keep pace with a 1.8T Audi A4, but never felt I was gaining even through I was using all the rev range.

So the true outcome was the complete reverse of that I initially expected; I liked the styling of the car, the 17" wheels make it look quite aggressive and the interior had some great touches. But the driving experience was let down, with what seemed like an overly stiff suspension and a rather tight engine that spoilt the performance.

Now, I suspect that part of the problem was down to the car only having 600miles on the clock, so I'm thinking I should seek another test drive with a slightly older car before I write this idea off?

What were other people’s first impressions like?

Cheers,
Peter

You took a Mini with 600 miles on it to red line?

[wot99frc]

Peter,
It sounds to me like the S is not your kind of car. I personaly like to feel connected to the road. I have two cars that are notorious for hard, loud, teeth breaking rides and I love them (MCS & C5). Now when I drive cars with softer suspensions I feel like my sense of road feel is numb. We have only had our MCS for about a month and the more I push the car the more that car answers, keep going. If I have to keep going to the dentist to repair my chipped teeth, so be it. To me the firm suspension is part of the car's presonality.

[Johan2]

Quote: Originally Posted by Parc77

16" wheels do help.... as for not keeping up with an audi a4 1.8T -maybe there was a racing driver at the wheel these are usually easily desposed of, i'm 6ft3 and have no probs fitting in and driving in some comfort -)

Actually how fast does the mini cooper s go from 0-100 in real (so not what the factory says)??

gr. Johan

[ncdave]

The MCS with 17" runflats, MCS with 16" runflats and MC with 16" runflats all feel tremendously different. Try each and then make up your mind. I personally felt that the MC with the 16" runflat upgrade was the best all-around combination but if you can't go without without the extra power, the 16"'s on the MCS will make a world of difference.

I can safely say however, that the size of the car is one area which I've never regreted and I routinely pack people and stuff into it.

[Surfy]

Quote: Originally Posted by BuckeyeMCS

You took a Mini with 600 miles on it to red line?

In away it's to be expected, the dealer will never run in a car because they will want to sell it after 6months or however long with the minimum miles possible.

It's always been a criticism of mine that demonstrators are so new and tight you never really get a true feeling of how they perform, especially with high revving performance engines.

I was fortunate enough to try a Civic Type R with 5k on the clock which was an absolute peach, it would be my first choice were it not for the depreciation and the insurance.

Peter

[Surfy]

Quote: Originally Posted by wot99frc

Peter,
It sounds to me like the S is not your kind of car. I personaly like to feel connected to the road. I have two cars that are notorious for hard, loud, teeth breaking rides and I love them (MCS & C5). Now when I drive cars with softer suspensions I feel like my sense of road feel is numb. We have only had our MCS for about a month and the more I push the car the more that car answers, keep going. If I have to keep going to the dentist to repair my chipped teeth, so be it. To me the firm suspension is part of the car's presonality.

I'm just looking for something that is easy to drive during the week, but can turn into something special at the weekends or encourages you to take the long way home on a Friday. Outright performance is not a high priority, but good dynamics are.

Peter

[Surfy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Johan2

Actually how fast does the mini cooper s go from 0-100 in real (so not what the factory says)??

gr. Johan

EVO magazine quote 21.3sec in there own tests. For comparision:

Impreza WRX - 15.7sec
Civic Type R - 16.9sec
Toyota Celica T-Sport - 18.7sec

[R1]

Quote: Originally Posted by Surfy

I'm just looking for something that is easy to drive during the week, but can turn into something special at the weekends or encourages you to take the long way home on a Friday. Outright performance is not a high priority, but good dynamics are.

Peter

Which is why I bought my Cooper.

I'd always go on first impressions myself. I loved the MINI when I test drove one for the first time and I haven't regreted it since.

One day, when I'm in the market for a replacement, there may be another make of car out there that I will think "Wow" on the test drive. Then the MINI will go.

Sounds like MINI may not be for you.

Mind you, try one with more miles on it. They do loosen up a lot, and that goes for the suspension as well....................in a good sort of way mind!

Better still, try a Works "S". It's what the stock Cooper "S" should have been in the first place out of the factory!

[kyriian]

everyone has already pointed out the mini isn't for everyone.. its a harsh car... and even tho you didn't complain about the noise, my ma every time she sits in it complains!

as for the ride... the cooper has more complainant ride... if you are willing to give up the supercharger for it... i never found it to be bad, except when i hv food(especially anything with soup in it) then in which case i just put it in the back and no more worries!

[kapps]

Yea, the MINI definitely has problems with very rough roads. Who cares. It's not meant to handle potholes perfectly. I even prefer the suspension of my 2002 to the new, softer one's. It makes it feel like you are in a real sports car. The suspension needs to be stiff to reduce body roll and increase responsiveness. The MINI is definitely not a car for everybody. I like the fact that it's performance first and comfort second when it comes to suspension. It can get harsh but it's a great ride.

[OregonCooper]

Try the MC with 15" wheels and no SS+. The ride is much better and you don't need runflats in a car with a spare tire.

[badboyzbadboyz]

Quote: Originally Posted by Surfy

EVO magazine quote 21.3sec in there own tests. For comparision:

Impreza WRX - 15.7sec
Civic Type R - 16.9sec
Toyota Celica T-Sport - 18.7sec

More recently EVO magazine quoted 19.9 secs 0-100mph for a Standard Cooper S. This was in the review when they compared many different upgrade packages.

[GeoffMM]

thats not too bad took a new mini cooper s with 32 miles on it to the red line till it hit the limiter. good job it was a demo car. they don't really loosen up thouggh till bout 1000 miles +

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by GeoffMM

thats not too bad took a new mini cooper s with 32 miles on it to the red line till it hit the limiter. good job it was a demo car. they don't really loosen up thouggh till bout 1000 miles +

It may have been a demo car but someone (even a fellow MINI2 member) will give that car a home and may not get the best out of it in the long run.

I'm not flaming you personally because I know sales people tell people to go for it in the hope of getting a sale.