[WoodenDummy]

Hi guys this is my first post and I wanted to ask a few questions.

Has anyone moved to a MCS from a Elise/VX220? I maybe could do with a little more room and ease of use for my main car. I don't really have room for 2 cars so if I go for the MCS the VX will have to go.

My main push for swapping came over the weekend at 2am when a kid threw a brick into the road and I drove over it and caught my rear left alloy. This left me at the side of the road in a less than nice area, 50 miles from home with no spare wheel. Now bad things will always happen but not having a spare wheel really didn't help.

While I am thinking I could do with some ease of use I don't want to just grow old in the space of a few days and buy my dads Volvo so the MSC seems like the best choice. A little more room, and still with a little bit of spark about it.

So I'm just wondering if anyone has made a swap like this? I'm not 100% that I really do need more room/ease of use so I don't want to make a mistake, I need to get a MCS test drive but wanted to know how others felt who owned the car already. I think I'll fall in love with the little 1.6 SC if I just jump right in with a test drive right away...

Thanks.

[Jaygo]

Hi

I kind of went the other way - from MCS to Clio Cup to Elise.

Then I killed the Elise and nearly killed myself and I've now got a Racing Puma that I am selling to get a an MCS again.

I think the MCS would be a good move - I've though long and hard about the alternatives and to me the MCS in standard form lacks a little something but there are that many tuning options now that you can have a practical, high quality fun everyday car.

The only other options really are CTR, imprezas, evos etc. unless you could stretch to an astra vxr or new golf gti.

I don't think you'd be disappointed provided you're prepared to tweak it a bit

Or you could always buy a Racing Puma - I know where ther is a nice one for sale...

[ImageKing]

Nearly three years & 42,000 miles ago I swaped my 22 month old Boxster S for a MCS.
I still think the MINI is a better car and really ought to buy another ....with the factory fitted S_works package.

I will say the compared to the Porsche the MINI brakes are pants.

[Mini_Blake]

Quote: Originally Posted by ImageKing

I will say the compared to the Porsche the MINI brakes are pants.

Give Roland a call at GTT and he'll have that sorted out for you real quick

[shinyandy]

Hello WD

Why not have both ? Looked at a 02 S today with every option under the sun.. great 2nd car

[WoodenDummy]

HEY Shinyandy!

You're keeping the VX? Well the problem is that the apartment I live in has a underground carpark with only one space for me. I already cheat and get my GF's car in there as well and I think I'd be pushing it with another lol!

I have to admit I'm kinda taken back the all the toys I can get fitted, next to the VX220!

[shinyandy]

Keeping the VXT for a bit.. maybe Had an auto Cooper before and although slow it was great fun (although only seemed to manage mpg in the teens when I drove it) and given the choice I'd always choose to drive it over the VX. It's obviously not as quick or handles anywhere near as well but it kind of entertains you in other ways

Plenty of MCS out there at the moment to choose from though so just a matter of deciding what bits are important

[lusomini]

WoodenDummy, I'm actually considering exactly the opposite! Absolutely love my MCS but my (yet to be fulfilled) dream is to have a pure sports car and the VX220 (Opel Speedster overhere) fits the bill perfectly.

If I were a rich guy I would keep my MCS forever but choices must be made unfortunately Anyway, I don't have the financial security right now, let alone having the missus convinced so for now I'm sticking with my S.

About your question, the VX/Elise (as you obviously know) are one of the purest driving machines around so , IMHO, swaping from the VX to a MCS would be a downgrade, no matter what these maniacs over here tell you! However if you have to add some practicality into the mix than it's an entirely different matter.

Besides every car has it's own unique character so the Mini will always entertain in ways a VX220 or a Boxter can't. You can certainly be more of a hooligan with it and not be afraid of spinning into the stratosphere as you would on the VX. Since you already broke your lightweight, RWD sports car cherry maybe it's a good move.

The Mini (JCW preferably) is then a strong contendor together with the new Golf GTI and a bunch of other hatches. Just go and buy an issue of EVO magazine do some test drives and decide!

[REHW]

I think it depends on your use. If you do track days as I do then the mini is really quite soft compared to the elise/vx220. I drove them back to back last week on a track day. In terms of performance the mini will stick to the elise all day long. Its the 0-60 time that lets it down but once on the move its every bit as quick as the elise. This surprises a lot of people who expect it to be slower and by some margin. As a track day car the brakes are pants and need some work. Probably the first upgrade over power etc

I think if you chugging up and down motorways its not very comfortable, but I forgive it. If its the odd trip here and there and nipping around town then its great. The other thing to factor in is the fuel consumption which is dreadful when used hard. Expect low 20's around town and that really is quite common. A second hand 330ci could be a better buy although I'm not sure of your budget. Personally I wouldn't go from a vx220 to a mini I think you'll find it too much of a compromise interms of driver edge with limited inprovement in practicality. I'd probably look to BMW (see above) or perhaps golf which gives you something entirely different.

[shinyandy]

Quote: Originally Posted by REHW

In terms of performance the mini will stick to the elise all day long.

LOL !

It's a great car and all that but I'm afraid the person in "the elise" must've been out on a sunday afternoon drive !

[REHW]

Quote: Originally Posted by shinyandy

LOL !

It's a great car and all that but I'm afraid the person in "the elise" must've been out on a sunday afternoon drive !

No he was not out for a sunday afternoon drive. He was a friend who is of very similar ability to my self. Its the torque and power of the cooper S that keeps it up there.

I fully respect the Elise and given a choice for a track day I'd go for the elise every time. I have now done two track days in an elise this year in fact. That doesn't deny the fact that the cooper S is in deed a very nimble track day car itself.

[lusomini]

Quote: Originally Posted by REHW

No he was not out for a sunday afternoon drive. He was a friend who is of very similar ability to my self. Its the torque and power of the cooper S that keeps it up there.

I fully respect the Elise and given a choice for a track day I'd go for the elise every time. I have now done two track days in an elise this year in fact. That doesn't deny the fact that the cooper S is in deed a very nimble track day car itself.

Wich Elise are we talking about? The 111R with the Toyota engine? If so, I don't think the Mini would be able to keep up on track. Here, more thant on the road, you rev hard and drive hard so the torque advantage isn't an issue. Anyway I think it's all to do with driving enjoyment and that isn't directly linked to lap times, bhp or other measures... I would like to have both on my garage!

[shinyandy]

Even a lowly K series standard Elise would wipe the floor with a MCS when running all day, the MCS brakes and tyres just wouldn't take the strain. There's also no way a MINI could hold it's own through the corners or brake as well/late as the Elise (unless the owner really doesn't know how to drive it). Also torque isn't an issue on track, you need decent power-to-weight.. revs will never be low enough to worry about needing torque. Have you ever driven a turbo diesel on track, when you have you'll realise that its not what you want !

This isn't knocking the MCS at all, which is a more than capable road car but when on track I'm sorry but to liken it to an Elise is absurd !

[REHW]

Thank you for your further comment. No the car was not an S2 111R as I agree there is no way on the planet that I would stand a chance.

The car was an S1 with approx 135 BHP. It is upgraded from stock with cat removed and different throttle bodies. Otherwise standard car.

As for keeping up with it, yes the mini does. That is on the twisty Ty Croes Circuit on Anglesey as seen on 5th Gear and features in Evo Magazine Car of the year features etc.

The mini is really a very able little motor I wouldn't leave it out on the circuit for long and generally give it 10 to 12 minutes at a max. I have upgraded the discs and pads and fluid on my mini which help in providing better stopping ability. i am a real fan of the light weight rear drivers but you must give the mini credit where it is due, and yes it can keep up although not going to pretend it will get past one! .

[Tonyt3]

Quote: Originally Posted by shinyandy

Even a lowly K series standard Elise would wipe the floor with a MCS when running all day, the MCS brakes and tyres just wouldn't take the strain. There's also no way a MINI could hold it's own through the corners or brake as well/late as the Elise (unless the owner really doesn't know how to drive it). Also torque isn't an issue on track, you need decent power-to-weight.. revs will never be low enough to worry about needing torque. Have you ever driven a turbo diesel on track, when you have you'll realise that its not what you want !

This isn't knocking the MCS at all, which is a more than capable road car but when on track I'm sorry but to liken it to an Elise is absurd !

It dep[ends on the curcuit. The eleise is slow in top end terms, so pu it on a curcuit with some long starigths and an MCS will walk away from it on the straights and it'll catch up on the corners. A very twisty curcuit where top end is not used the Elise would dominate.

Talking about a standard Eliese, with 120bhp. Obviouslyy the newer more powerful cars are a different thing altogether.

[shinyandy]

All I would say then is that your mate really needs to learn how to drive the Elise as there is no way on earth that a MCS could stay with an Elise around Anglesey

[REHW]

Quote: Originally Posted by shinyandy

All I would say then is that your mate really needs to learn how to drive the Elise as there is no way on earth that a MCS could stay with an Elise around Anglesey

OH............. I'll tell him that next time I see him............... He'll love that!!!

I have to say I disagree and we'll have to differ on this.