[lavs]

Just thought i'd start i general discussion....

Ever since i got my Mini Cooper, and don't get me wrong it's an amazing car but, i can't help but want to upgrade to the Cooper S. Is this generally the way everyone thinks; once you purchase a Cooper the next move is the Cooper S?

I've had my car for 7 months now and i'm wondering would anyone have any advice on how long i should hold it for, so as to get the best value out of my car?

Thanks

[dansmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by lavs00

Just thought i'd start i general discussion....

Ever since i got my Mini Cooper, and don't get me wrong it's an amazing car but, i can't help but want to upgrade to the Cooper S. Is this generally the way everyone thinks; once you purchase a Cooper the next move is the Cooper S?

I've had my car for 7 months now and i'm wondering would anyone have any advice on how long i should hold it for, so as to get the best value out of my car?

Thanks

I think that it is only natural to wonder about the S, especially if you have never test driven one. I test drove an S for the first time recently after about 9 months of driving my Cooper. I told the wife that if I was blown away by it I would order one on the spot, and so I knew that I could order one that day if I wanted. It was very nice to be sure, but I didn't feel like it was THAT much quicker or THAT much better than my Cooper that I had to have one right then and there. When I consider that my Cooper is a daily driver and I do not have anywhere to autocross nearby, I can't justify getting an S and getting rid of my problem free Cooper. Then considering the fuel consumption and insurance differences, it makes it that much tougher to get rid of the Cooper. I really like driving the Cooper. It's fun keeping the revs up and cruising through corners. You can get in plenty of trouble in the Cooper! Right now, my wife just got done with college and got her first "real" job, so down the road if we just have enough money that I can't be bothered by such things as fuel costs and I can throw caution to the wind, I will get an S. For now, my Cooper is great fun and I don't regret not getting an S.

[cct1]

I spent an afternoon test driving both, and going into the test drive, I was fairly sure I wanted the S (even with that mail slot on the hood). But after driving both, much to my surprise, I liked the base model better. It rides slightly better on 16 wheels, and the manual is much easier to shift smoothly--not to mention the clutch is more forgiving (I was going to get an automatic S before I test drove--looking back, I don't know what I was thinking, as the base manual is so easy and fun to drive--no way I'll go automatic now). The base is plenty quick, and I actually like the sound of the engine better on the base than the S (The S has just a little too much growl, the base is perfect for my taste. Maybe I'm just getting old). I can fully understand why someone would chose the S over the base, but for me I preferred driving the base by a significant margin. Now I won't have to deal with the looks of the air intake on the base, which for some irrational reason drives me nuts. But I do like the look of the S bumpers better than the stock base look, as well as the chrome gas cap, so when I buy, many mods to come...

To each their own, but you really do have to test drive them one right after the other, on the same road, to get a full appreciation of the differences between the two--I'm so happy I did.

[lavs]

That's a nice Cooper you've got.

This past while I've been thinking about the change but as you say the insurance is a killer, and the way i drive these wee beasts the fuel consumption would be terrible, haha!

I've done a couple of wee things to the Cooper this past while, like fitting the aerokit, just to polish off the looks of the car. Everything you say is true and just reading through your reply makes me think i should settle my wee head.... who knows, maybe down the line i'll get the chance to order the S.

Thanks for the reply

[dansmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by lavs00

That's a nice Cooper you've got.

This past while I've been thinking about the change but as you say the insurance is a killer, and the way i drive these wee beasts the fuel consumption would be terrible, haha!

I've done a couple of wee things to the Cooper this past while, like fitting the aerokit, just to polish off the looks of the car. Everything you say is true and just reading through your reply makes me think i should settle my wee head.... who knows, maybe down the line i'll get the chance to order the S.

Thanks for the reply

Yeah, my plan is to keep the Cooper for a good while, at least a couple of years. Then who knows what I'll want, what will come out or what I'll be able to afford? The Cooper is great because I can drive it in a very "spirited" fashion and still get 30mpg+ out of it. And it's easy to think about getting an S, but it's not so (for me at least) easy to think about getting rid of the Cooper. I can't imagine my car with a 'For Sale" sign on it. Not for a good while, anyway.

[~Marcus~]

Been thinking about this myself...am having so much fun in my MC been thinking how much fun an MCS might be, especially as my big brother has been going on about the tuned 210bhp MCS beast he is buying!

Then I realise that I trundle around in London traffic at 15mph most of the time and pass about 10 speed cameras on my way to work! And the MCS fuel and insurance costs are too much as I do about 500 miles a week.

The best bit about the MINI is its handling and you don't need 170bhp to appreciate that, just a bend or roundabout & a bit of aggressive steering!

[RobHardyUK]

hmm minteresting read!!!!!

[dansmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by MaxxUK

The best bit about the MINI is its handling and you don't need 170bhp to appreciate that, just a bend or roundabout & a bit of aggressive steering!

That sums it all up nicely, I think!

[Paul]

I went from a Cooper to an S, and I think it's worth every penny. For me. My regular drives are on 60mph country lanes and 70/60 mph stretches of single/dual roads in Milton Keynes. So I get to use the power a lot, and it's great fun..... However, the Cooper was also smashing, and if I was ever in the financial position to only afford a Cooper come replacement time, I wouldn't be heart broken. The S can also cost a lot more to run. Insurance, petrol, tyres(!)...

[dansmini]

Here is a calculation I did, just another thing to think about. I use my MINI as a daily driver, so I figure to put 15,000 miles a year on the car, give or take. My Cooper averages about 32 MPG. That is with zero highway miles. That means I stand to use 468.75 gallons of gas in a year. Currently, my friendly neighborhood gas station charges $1.96 for premium. That means my annual gas costs will be $918.75 in my Cooper. Now if I had an S, let's say I get 24 mpg on average. I would use 625 gallons of gas over those same 15,000 miles. This would cost $1225.00. A difference of $306.25, or a little over one monthly payment on my Cooper!!! I get one payment a month made for me just for driving a Cooper over an S! This would be even more so for you fine folks across the pond! Not S bashing, just sharing my findings. The 55 extra horses do come at a price.

[Paul]

On average I got about 32 mpg from the Cooper, I get about 28 from the S (with BBR 220 Conversion) (overall averages). Not that much of a difference.

[lavs]

Thank you all for the interesting response, it's made for some top quality reading.

I attended a mini event yesterday afternoon and i've got a few more ideas for further modifications to make to my Coop. I think i'm going to stick with her for a while as it's really starting to look the part, and as a few people have said the fuel comsumption is good for the way I horse the dung out of it. I would tell you to check out some photos but i'm quite new to this website and haven't figured out how to do that yet, haha!

I think the main thing that is putting me off the Cooper S at this stage is the insurance. I'm 24 and it's quite alot of money. I would say in a couple of years time or so i'll move on to the Cooper S. You've given me alot to think about

Cheers.

Lavs

[aphix]

Lavs,

About a year ago i was after my first car, i had a mad craving for the S, i didnt want to settle for the Cooper, i made the mistake of driving the S first, i was hooked.

About 3 months ago i drove a Cooper, and just in that afternoon i had gone from 9 months of only wanting the S to thinking i would much prefer the Cooper, i went to test drive an S to try to sway me back to an S.. didnt work

I have now got my self a little Cooper, in Blue, white roof and white wheels with the Aero Kit. And i couldnt be more happy. I dont crave the S at all..and dont feel i have made the wrong choice. I dont even aim to have one any time soon.

I feel it could do with a little more oomph and a deeper tone from the exhaust... maybe a JCW conversion with other upgrades, or the Mini Sport SE kit... but thats an after christmas job...

But the handling is spot on, it doesnt feel any differnt than the S, it still puts a smile on my face.

I dont think an S would get me any more trouble than the coop will, but there is no way i am going to pay the premium for insurance for the S over the Cooper, not when there is a Speedcamera or traffic jam around every other corner.

I think its natuarl to want the S, its the next evolution. But you could never use its top speed without risking your licence anyway, its only really the acceleration that makes me want one over the Cooper, see what i can achive with a Tuning kit.

I also prefer the looks of the Cooper at the front anyway, espeically with the Aero Kit, but like the centre exit exhausts of the S.

Rob

[robfenn]

Cool thread

I would like to keep moving up the performance ladder but i wouldn't get an S simply because they are too similar.

-Rob

[~Marcus~]

So the answer is: If you live somewhere where there are lots of empty twisty roads where you can drive at the S' limits and few speed cameras you may well enjoy an S more. If however you live somewhere with chronic congestion & lots of speed cameras you will probably be more than satisfied with a Cooper and pay less to run it. For me, an S won't get me round the M25 any faster at 5pm....

[aphix]

Spot on Maxx,

But i think you would be more than satisfied with a Cooper what ever back yard you had, its such a fun little car. If a little fat.

[Nameless]

If there's one thing that bug's the hell out of me, it's our friends saying " when are you getting your 'S' ", as though its a natural progression for us. A lady friend of ours asked this recently at a MINI2 meal, as though we have a second rate car, and I had to bite my tongue.

With the Sunroof, CD, Air-Con, Half-leather Sport Seats and all the other add-ons to the cooper, we could have afforded a basic 'S', - but honestly don't want one!.

We want a MINI, we're not that bothered about outright power but wanted the handling of the cooper, and I absolutely hate low-profile tyres on our local badly surfaced roads, and I'm no fan of the 'S''s ludicrous fuel consumption.

So for us the cooper's fan-blooming-tastic, and the 'S' wouldn't be. Simple. If our needs were different we would have bought a basic 'S'.

( There's only one other MINI2 car I'm jealous of, and that's one of our friend's recent PW cooper with leather! ).

So for god's sake stop asking me when I'm getting my 'S'............

( Why do I think I've left myself wide open for the next poster )

[pspsps]

Now having driven several different S's, from stock to around 230hp, I would still go with the Cooper. My latest mileage "best" for only in-town driving is 37.8mpg, I went 500 miles on one tank. Of 89 octane. Shifted at 2000rpm until the last 5 miles, drove 50mph in the 45mph zones, and drag raced an S for about 5 miles (the last 5 miles). OBC said my range was 0 miles when I stopped at the gas station.

The best S mileage I have heard of is 28mpg. I would not give 10mpg for the difference between the two cars. Even driving normally, I get 35mpg.

I was annoyed by the wheelspin I got when going around corners with the S, that inside tire picks up and really starts to smoke. This would be sort of cool if the car was not FWD.

Also, when I raced the S, it didn't really pull on me like I thought it would, and it had a CAI, exhaust, water injection, etc etc. He's getting a 19% pulley and I'm sure he'll make me look like a total idiot then.

So, to me, the S is not worth the extra 5 grand to begin with (for a comparably equipped S that is) and fuel costs and BMW M3-like ride quality don't make the picture any prettier.

[dansmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by Monkeyhanger

If there's one thing that bug's the hell out of me, it's our friends saying " when are you getting your 'S' ", as though its a natural progression for us. A lady friend of ours asked this recently at a MINI2 meal, as though we have a second rate car, and I had to bite my tongue.

With the Sunroof, CD, Air-Con, Half-leather Sport Seats and all the other add-ons to the cooper, we could have afforded a basic 'S', - but honestly don't want one!.

We want a MINI, we're not that bothered about outright power but wanted the handling of the cooper, and I absolutely hate low-profile tyres on our local badly surfaced roads, and I'm no fan of the 'S''s ludicrous fuel consumption.

So for us the cooper's fan-blooming-tastic, and the 'S' wouldn't be. Simple. If our needs were different we would have bought a basic 'S'.

( There's only one other MINI2 car I'm jealous of, and that's one of our friend's recent PW cooper with leather! ).

So for god's sake stop asking me when I'm getting my 'S'............

( Why do I think I've left myself wide open for the next poster )

My response to this would be "Whenever you buy it and pay for the insurance for me."

[RobHardyUK]

My view is:

Test drove the cooper on 3rd july, ordered one there and then.

Test drove the MCS on 24th july, cancelled the cooper for the MCS and ordered MCS instead.

However, i was still impressed with the cooper, just im a speed freak (only just turned 20), so im worried i will be disheartened by the cooper, tho it def wasn't bad!! Felt same to drive otherwise, just less low down pickup. Basically, i coulda had cooper in september, but chose to wait till neext march to have my MCS instead. but i do reckon many people would rather not wait!! Its DEF a personal opinion thing! I just found the MCS quite substantially faster. But ive also heard its terrible on fuel!! never mind eh