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MINI Cooper
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Comments
There are more awards than you can shake a stick at but it is fun when your car wins one anyways.
Hmm, you obviously have never heard about the Focus RS, have you?
There is a greater selection of "Hot hatches" in Europe. Unfortunately most of these will not make the trip accross the pond.
I would like to own a Peugeot 307 Hatchback, but no luck...Peugeot has delayed their tentative "2004" return to the US market.
But if MINI buys engines for the next generation Cooper from PSA-Peugeot...Ohhh La la!!!!
That will be the best thing in the world.
Woooohooooooo!!!!!!!!
If you just want equivalent power, other tuning shops are turning out 215HP MCS cars now (e.g. Hartage).
What kind of mileage are you getting? I find the stickers are not always very accurate. What is your maximum freeway mileage? Especially interested in the base Cooper 5 sp. and how about the CVT on 6th gear? Can the auto in 6th get better than the manual in 5th?
Thank you for the help.
I figure the only way to get the rated 37 in the 5sp is with cruise at 55 somewhere perfectly flat. As I don't drive that speed, nor travel anywhere that flat, I haven't come close to that.
I got about 1-2 mpg lower when I had a/c on doing the same thing. City driving milage is really low (in the low 20s when its all congested city av speed in the low 20s), but I personally don't keep track of milage all the much and happily like the engine/gearing being performance tuned instead of economy. In a mix of 45mph curvy roads in quasi-rural suburbia (av speed 30-40), I usually get high 20's mpg.
I have yet to take a long pure highway trip at a slow speed so I can't give you a great highway number; the car just wants to go... The Cooper still gets around 8.0L/100km (30 miles/USgallon) when driving fast (shouldn't specify) in pure highway driving and it would be a lot better if I kept to the speed limit.
Thanks. I sense a trend here.
If I order the Sport Package and get the 16" run-flats, will my Cooper still come with a spare? If not, is there a space in the car to add one? I might want to switch to non run-flat tires at some future point.
Has anyone ordered their cooper with the Anthracite interior instead of silver? How do you like it?
Thanks.
Revka
Host/Hatchbacks & Wagons
backseat drivers you are about to enter a
deadly curve at three times the posted safe
speed limit.
2. Bikers love the Mini, you will always have
"backup" if you get into a bar brawl.
3. See the surprised look on Porsche owners
faces as you ride their bumper through the
turns.
4. Hood mounted headlamps allow you to flash
morse code to UFO's at two o'clock in the
morning.
5. White roof allows news helicopters to spot
you easier in case you try to pull an "O.J."
6. You can drive from NY to California on about
$125 worth of cheap gas.
7. Your chance to drive a BMW without being
stigmatized as "Yuppie scum"
8. Pick up more chics than a Ferrari without
that pesky $200k price tag.
9. Small size of Mini reduces your chances of
being hit by stray gunfire from enraged
motorists on LA freeway.
10. Gigantic Mini car key can double as
sword or club to disable those pesky
carjackers.
I think I have too much free time on my hands...
The car of the year award is quite cool. Though it was announced like a week ago, I realize edmunds.com is based on the left coast, but seemes like a bit more then 3 hour delay. Of course non-car geeks keep telling me that it won over the last week, so hearing it again is good.
Revka
Hatchbacks & Wagons Host
1. You can play the radio/CD for 20 minutes or so even if the car is off and the key is out of the ignition. Then the computer turns it off. You can re-press the power button for more time if you want.
2. Rear glass wiper synchronizes to the windshield wipers. I noticed that the computer wipes the rear glass once for every three windshield wipes in intermittent mode.
3. Manually turning on the overhead dome light also activates the front footwell lights.
4. If you need to fold the rear seats down and use the back area to haul larger objects, the rear cargo cover perfectly fits behind the front seats. Fold the rear seats down. Place the top of the cover upright so that the carpeted(?) top faces the front, resting the arch of the cover over the center hump in the rear floor. Make sure the cover is stowed after the rear seats are folded, and the cover rests ever so nicely on the back of the folded rear headrests. Very nice.
5. Glove box is illuminated, air conditioned (you have to turn the valve, though) and has pencil, coin and glasses storage.
Got any more observations? Post 'em.
Mike
37 degree chime to remind you of freezing roads
The Fade of the lights on and off
Pressing the trip rest button when the car is off shows the odometer + the clock for a few seconds
The climate control is in the shape of the classic Mini logo
The Arrow in the middle of the gas tank icon to show which side
Pressing the defrost (on climate at least) automatically zaps the fan to high and turns on rear defrost.
I know there's lists elsewhere, but I can't remember any other neat things. I'm sure other people can.
Personally, the coin holders are nice, but annoying as they don't seem to fit much and always make the coins fly into the back of the glovebox is you close it too quickly. (One of those minor flaws)
On the same issue, if you have opted for the trip computer, you can get current info on how many miles you have left on the current tank of gas, as well as your MPG and average speed -- also catered to your driving style.
Does Mini or any aftermarket dealer sell small rear "mudflaps" to minimize the problem? A Google search yielded very little.
Thanks--
And you are not alone with the frosted rear window. It took until winter, but now I understand why the rear wiper is there.
I competed in the Snowy Safari Rally this Saturday night and at every rest stop I must have swept 20 lbs of snow off the rear, plus the 5 pounds at the front of each door even with the front flaps -- what a mess! Fun though, driving fast down crazy winter roads from 11pm to 7am. Lots of cars went off the road but not me and my MINI Cooper :-)
I think they were under $20 for the fronts, but I haven't gotten around to installing them.
Having driven neither, take this for what you paid for it.
- Mark
I've also driven the 15" 8-spoke wheels with the stock 175/65R15 size all-season tires (not runflat).
The 15's are lighter and they soak up the bumps a little bit better. The 16's have better grip and better cornering feel and stability. IMO, the MINI is all about grip and cornering so I suggest you get the 16's. That said, if you are on a budget the car still handles extremely well with the 15's. The difference is there but it isn't night and day.
As for looks, only you can decide. The 16's are my favorites but some love the 7-hole 15" wheels or think the 15" 8-spokes are an inexpensive, light alternative to the 17" S-spokes.
The car also looks in my opinon a bit more balanced with 16s because they're wider and the tires look less like truck tires due to the huge sidewall height of the 15's.
Unrelated Comments:
I just got around to reading the latest long term S review on here, and was a bit baffled at how you couldn't tell which end was which on the Fuel Gauge + Temp Gauge. Even in the daytime, there's a small red line at the botton line of fuel + top of temp. Also, by 'General Principles' the "bottom" would be low, (low fuel, low temp) and the top would be "high" (full fuel, overheating). I obviously haven't driven 1/1000th of the cars the editors have, but it seemed pretty aparent to me how they worked without reading the manual. Of course if you were to overheat or run out of fuel, the red line illuminates, making it rather obvious anyway.
Similarly, I hope the overheating warning gives you time to pull over before it boils right out. Thankfully my MINI Cooper's temp guage has yet to see the upper half of the range.
I suspect the JCW upgrade will be several thousand for what, 35hp, not exactly my ideal, considering the S gives you 50hp for $3K plus the better wheels + suspension. Also, most people on here seem to have coopers, so here its not entirely relevant.
Actually the 35HP would be considered a stage I upgrade. Stage II will be good for another 15 or so HP and would include things like a cold air intake and low restriction exhaust for probably another thousand. I'm sure we'll see stage III kits within a year that will take the little S into the upper 200's HP wise - which will probably cost $4k or so. Stage III will include things like relocating a larger intercooler, and a larger supercharger, bigger injectors etc. Generally when you go to a stage III you need to install a beefier clutch and a locking differential (Quafe) to get the power to the ground, With a close to 300 HP S you'd want to upgrade the brakes as well - there are already brake upgrades available for the MINI. So you are talking a total of several thousand dollars (probably $10k)for a stage III upgrade done right. I'd prabably spend a couple grand on suspension upgrades (coil overs, sway bars) on a stage III MINI. You would have a MINI that would embarrass sports cars costing several thousand more than your total investment.
I've been keeping a close eye on MINI S aftermarket tuning since they came out. I have an 02 turbo VW GTI 1.8t that I've done a fair amount of aftermarket tuning to. I have a total of around $3k in performance upgrades to my GTI and have 235 HP, 240 lb ft of torque, from an APR ECU upgrade (www.goapr.com) Neuspeed turbo inlet pipe (70% more flow in) downpipe (70% more flow out of turbo), Eurosport exhaust, low restriction intake, upgraded diverter valve (for the extra boost). This also includes suspension upgrades of Neuspeed racing springs, 25mm rear sway bar, upper front strut brace, Koni Yellow adjustable sport shocks/ struts and an Autotech lower front tie bar. Also installed an Audi TT shift linkage ($30) that significantly improved shift feel in the GTI.
I love stealthy little hatchbacks - my GTI is significantly faster than a 330 BMW and I can easily keep up with any stock Audi S4. Two friends of mine have M Coupes (99, 00) that I easily hang with performance and handling wise. I mainly use it for AutoX on the weekends but like to commute in it now and then. It is an absolute blast to drive, I especially like the slack jawed expressions on IS300 drivers that try to mess with my little VW hatchback :-)
I'm keeping tabs on MINI S performance upgrades - a modified S may just be the replacement for the GTI someday.
1. Our dealership is 75 miles away. Is this supercharged vehicle reliable enough so I only have to head into Milwaukee for its scheduled maintenance?
2. For those of you who have broken down, how reliable is the roadside assistance. Do they tow the car into the dealer over long distances?
3. I am new to this forum and too lazy to r4ead throught he 1,200+ messages. What is the biggest maintenance issue with the S? Any recalls?
Any suggestions for a Mini S wannabe?
I have never been stranded with my MINI, its actually quite rare, most strandings were due to the recalled 5sp shift linkage. In any event MINI roadside will tow you to the nearest dealer, and if you're over a certain distance (100 miles comes to mind) from home, they'll reimburse you for any expenses incurred.
There haven't been any 'offical' recalls on an S that I know of, the only Cooper one was that shifter linkage (that didn't affect S'). With that said, there have been numerous internal upgrades, new pedals, new seat mechanisms, new boot latch, new wiring harnesses etc. which all should actually improve reliability. If you order a car now, it'll arrive around a year after the first S' so you've moved nicely past the new model difficulties.
Be sure to check mini2 (my preference) or minicooperonline which have useful search features for anything specific on problems, but realize people do complain when its wrong, and the other 25K MINIs on the road don't post when they're working fine.
Yes, we live in Madison so the trip to Milwaukee is no biggie but with any New car the distance gives me pause. I asked the local BMW dealer here if they were going to caryy the line. Based upon their very curt answer [ No ] I don't think they were to happy with BMW.
Now here is another question for te group. How pliable are the dealerships as to price? The one we were dealing with didn't seem to care to whether we walked away or not. Probably knows that most people who say "wow" after the test drive (dumb, my fault) are going to buy anyhow.
In any case, as Hpulley said, price on an S is basically not negociable. International MINI seems to be one of the better dealers and thus sells at MSRP, but since the cars are still in high demand and the dealers are trying to recoup the cost of building new buildings etc, don't expect much. The best you can do is try and get free floor mats or some accessories, and be happy you can buy at MSRP, dealers on the west coast are still attempting to get higher with some success.
In any case the 'perk' of the 70 mi drive is that your car will be more unique, I was in Madison over July 4th and didn't see one MINI but got tons of stares + questions, (Though I also went to Milwaukee and got stares, so I guess my theory is a smidge flawed)
It seemed that everything was being offered at sticker. Again much like Saturn. They also seemed to have a collection of MCSs' in stock. Apparently the order time has been reduced to about 8 weeks.
Now that I am keen for looking for Minis I have certainly been spotting them around Madison. Saw at least 3 on a Saturday Looks like plenty of people are making the trip... Zimbrick BMW is probably fuming.
As far as Snow MINIs, mine handles fine, I drove cleveland to pittsburgh and back last sunday (MINI meet there) in about 6-8" of that winter storm, I was doing fine, but as I've mentioned (I'm not sure here) I have snow tires, and I was only on theoretically plowed roads (a few inches plus some salt on top). The consensus (I know Hpulley will agree as he has elsewhere) is over 5" of snow, you can't plow it, the ground clearance is too low, under that with snow tires, you're golden. I lack DSC + AST+C, but it makes it more fun anyway.