To S or not to S that is the question?

[latent]

Thinking of buying a new MC. I took a test drive last saturday and I enjoyed it. But now I am wondering if it is worth me paying extra for the S variant.. I realise that I'll get the extra boost on performance, but not sure if I can justify the extra cost for the amount of use I will give it. I only do around 7k miles year. I have also be use to larger quite powerful cars, my last vehicle was a Lexus IS250. Whichever model I go for, I'll no doubt get the chilli pack as well. I am not a speed freak, but I don't want to be frustrated by lack lutre power...Any thoughts to help me with my decision?

[FergusM]

Take one and see if you like it.... though be prepared for loving it.


.... I personally think you will, the instant "get up and go" is brilliant in them.

[alski]

dooper?

[wiggis]

Quote: Originally Posted by latent (original)

Thinking of buying a new MC. I took a test drive last saturday and I enjoyed it. But now I am wondering if it is worth me paying extra for the S variant.. I realise that I'll get the extra boost on performance, but not sure if I can justify the extra cost for the amount of use I will give it. I only do around 7k miles year. I have also be use to larger quite powerful cars, my last vehicle was a Lexus IS250. Whichever model I go for, I'll no doubt get the chilli pack as well. I am not a speed freak, but I don't want to be frustrated by lack lutre power...Any thoughts to help me with my decision?

Get the Cooper S.

I came from an E39 BMW M5, and bought an R56 Cooper as a 2nd car for commuting and school run. I loved driving the Cooper so much so that the M5 ended up staying on the drive unused most of the time. Much as I loved the drive of the MINI, I missed the performance of the BMW.

So I traded the R56 Cooper for an R53 Cooper S JCW GP, and eventually sold the BMW. The JCW GP is plenty quick enough for most situations, and the drive is totally involving and addictive. The Cooper was good, but the JCW S is in a different league.

Performance of the R56 Cooper S is also pretty nice. If you are used to bigger more powerful cars (as I was), you will miss the performance if you only buy a Cooper.

Stretch out and buy the S. You will find many posts on mini2 about Cooper owners wishing they had bought a Cooper S, but you really won't find many who own an S who wish they'd bought the Cooper. Also, as someone else said, try a Cooper D (Dooper) - it's a different drive to either the petrol Cooper or the S, but you might find it to be a good compromise (very torquey engine) - and no doubt the residual values and fuel economy will be awesome.

[wimsaab]

I use MC r56 with the manual trany....I think it's enough for me to drive everyday, you will get fuel economy in MC, it's fun to drive if you choose the ss+, it's lighter than mcs, if you are not the serious fast driver, I think the MC is enough for u, save some money to fill up you gas tank...
I think the new engine n12 with the compression ration 11:1 is very easy to gain horse power, i think that modify to 150 hp on wheel can run like the r53 cooper s.....

But I think the R56 mcs is great, but there are some concern like, the turbo engine and Mini is new and it need a development, the fuel economy, the tourque steer, the weight of the clutch for every driving...

You has to ask yourself, what do you what, 1.Speed, 2.Fuel economic,3. everyday driving but so far as i know the mc and mcs both fun to drive...


From Thailand, New Mini Society