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Comments
A Cooper is faster on the autocross because its lighter and because of the gearing. Depending on how you drive, you may or may not prefer an S. it has more power, especially passing power, so you won't need to downshift as much to pass at 60 or 70. Stop and go traffic is a call either way, the S will accelerate faster, but if you like shifting and running the engine up near redline, you'll probably enjoy a Cooper more.
Just get out and test drive the cars somewhere fun, its all about personal preference really.
The Cooper is faster on a tight autocross course because it is lighter, the gearing is shorter (2nd takes you to 64MPH vs. 68MPH in the S) and the Cooper has more torque and power very, very low down due to the 10.6:1 compression ratio compared to 8.3:1 until the boost really kicks in, plus you can get the lighter 15" wheels which aren't available on a stock S. Once the S gets above 2500RPMs it takes over but in a course where you are in 1st and 2nd gear most of the time the taller gearing and lower low-end torque hurts.
With the Cooper you MUST MUST MUST downshift into 3rd or even 2nd gear to pass people unless you are already going very fast (over 90MPH for passing in 4th). The Cooper has gobs of power from 4000-7000RPMs and a decent amount at 3000RPMs but not enough to pass so if you're doing 60MPH in 5th gear you can't just floor it to pass, you must double-downshift to 3rd -- just downshifting to 4th isn't enough. The S has a flat torque curve which gives you most of the power from 2500RPM upward so it doesn't need to scream to pass. I think this makes the Cooper fun to drive as you downshift and hear the engine roar as you fly past the other car but other owners like to just stomp the gas and go and they'll prefer an S.
To mpg5 - all I can say is get your butt to the dealer for a test drive. Regarding insurance, the premiums are really not that bad. After reading the recent positive safety reports, I can't imagine insurance premiums will be a problem for future MINI drivers either. Stryder has a good point about Cooper v. S, it depends on your driving style. I have the Cooper and like the gear ratios in it. It is solid at high RPMs and is great for hitting the back road twisties! I only drove the S once on a test drive and really can't remember enough about it to give you a good comparison. Perhaps I'll have to return for another test drive myself ...
MAN! That is a GOOD one! A Civic Si over a MINI??
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
I always love a good laugh late in the day!
www.mini2.com??
Go there and read about the numerous problems and repeated fixes being required by a lot of people. Apparent coolant tank design problems, spotty build quality with squeaks and rattles. many software updates to the engine management system. It seems like the current MINI owners are being used as a Beta test program by MINI/BMW.
Don't get me wrong, I love this car, and have a deposit down on a Cooper S for spring delivery, I just don't know if I want to be a guinea pig and drive myself crazy with constant visits to the FEW dealers around for repairs of nagging service items. I bounced this off my dealer and he (of course) said that MINI/BMW is committed to quality and the car, but when you read how some owners are being treated you start to doubt it.
The key with any car is it will have problems. MINI is very receptive to fixing them at the factory at least, and they're getting better. If you want a perfect car, buy a toyota. If you're willing to deal with the ocasional small hassle, just wait till the platform's been established a bit and you should be reasonably ok. Its pretty rare a car company comes out with a totally brand new platform, problems are to be expected.
Now, if Coopers continue to have problems year after year (like the Ford Focus) then I'd call it bad but for now I just call it new.
My earlier Cooper (Feb. 2002) is a great little car. It's had the gearbox linkage recall done and the driver's seat back plastic trim replaced, that's it.
If your Cooper S is still on order I wouldn't worry as they're putting the new coolant bottles, etc. in the current builds. You may still have a problem but almost certainly less than on the early MCS builds.
If I were to buy a Mini I'd wait a little more
But I would sure prefer a BMW engineered engine under the hood
Mike
The service rep agreed with me that there shouldn't be a charge for this and suggested that I speak to my sales rep, because he (the service rep) didn't have the "authority" to do it free of charge. Similarly (you guessed it), the sales rep agreed with me that there shouldn't be a charge for this, and suggested that I speak to the service rep because he (the sales rep) didn't have the "authority" to make them do it free of charge.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Am I alone here, or is this a festering problem at other MINI/BMW dealers? I'm going to give a call to the other dealer in my area (Tate/Annapolis) and see what they have to say. Like I said, this is not a lot of money, nor does it involve features that the car can't operate without. It's become a matter of principle for me.
I should say, however, that the rest of the service experience was not bad at all. They did the job in less than 2 hours and I was back on my way - albeit a little agitated. Got the opportunity to check out the new Z-4 also. Man, that is one UGLY car! Hear it performs well, but it looks like a Z-3 that has been living on a steady diet of burgers and fries for the last 5 years. Not good times.
I have a 2000 Saab 9-3 and spoke to my svc mgr today.
He said that as long as the car is in warranty any minor reprogramming of functions would be done as such and there would be no charge. Out of warranty would probably also be free or minimal at best since the changes are usually quick and require a minimal test afterwards. Essentially, MINI is trying to pull a fast one, which as I said above should not be the case since they are trying to attract customes to a new brand.
What IS MINI's fault is the lack of a loaner program, but this is also a case of BMW's not having loaners either. So you can take the car to any dealer for warranty stuff, but its up to them if they give you a loaner. (Many I've asked about it don't)
Have you had any experience with Prestige MINI in NJ? I've got a deposit down on an S there and was wondering what they were like to deal with. Seem pretty customer oriented so far. Thanks
The honeymoon isn't over yet. I am going to go back and talk to the service manager about it and see what they can do for me. If it's a brick wall, I will probably contact MINI-USA to let them know about the problem. I am sure they won't be too happy to know that some dealers are giving their product a bad name. I'll be back with an update when I hear something.
If you want dealer advice, MINI2 has a forum about dealer, as well as a 'best dealer/worst dealer' monthly nomination. I'd check in there since other people are more likely to have visited.
I called MINIUSA to comment about my dealer experience, they listened to me, but informed me that BMW didn't have a loaner, however they did offer to repay the cost of a rental if I faxed my receipt to them. I thought it was nice, but ended up bumming a ride. I commented about how the service advisor never seemed to have a clue what was happening, and they said try someone higher in the dealer, but they (MINI) were pretty limited. Oddly, I dono if they forwarded my comments, the advisor actually knows my name, but I've been back several times recently to fix problems that crept up after they diagnosed the A/C blower as faulty. Service paid for a rental car (I think they were out of loaners) for me to fix a problem they had caused when replacing the motor, so I've been slightly happier, but I hear other people getting stellar service from dealers, so I'm not at the top of the heap. I'd just like Service to be as nice as Sales was, and its not the case yet, makes me wonder if they know no dealer is close so they're not competeting at all.
If the built-in unit is as good as my portable garmin one, i think i'd make the jump (plus: then i wouldn't have to worry about the garmin flying off the dash when cornering!)
thanks for any insight.
Unless you ready need it and live in a warmer climate, I would say avoid it for the time being. I think this $1,600 is way overpriced because it seems unreliable in cold weather and second still uses CD's for the maps instead of DVD's like most other car based NAV systems do.
Besides, one of the nicest charms about the MINI is to have the speedo in the middle of the dashboard.
Another problem about getting the NAV system is that the speedo moves right next to the tach on top of the steering wheel column and due to the wheel's size, both instruments tend to get covered by the steering wheel outer rim.
To me the NAV is a very expensive toy/gadget with limited use for other than anyone that spends their leisure/working hours behind the wheel.
If you need directions, there is always Mapquest.com cheap and reliable. Or you can even get one of those Magellan protable LCD GPS devices that retail at Radio Shack for $199.
$1600 can be invested/saved in better things than the MINI's NAV system.
Just an opinion.
What makes it stand out is its TOY sized dimensions. It looks like one of those "Power Wheels" battery operated cars for kids.
I have also seen a few in local MINI Meets. It is a cute and rare looking car in the US but now I understand why the govt banned their import in 1968.
While I like what the classic Mini represents, the new one is a very welcomed change. the old car was produced virtually unchanged from 1959-2000 by Rover in England.
The classic Mini has a following among enthusiasts of the old car, but it will never have caught up with the US buying public. The new one has been a hit.
Even on sheer ice I've never had to turn off the traction control. I've heard that it can refuse to move in 0% traction environments but with real snow/ice tires that hasn't happened to me even on 3" of pure ice.
I take unused farm roads for fun in winter and I always take the backroads for my commute as I can drive at a decent speed while on the main roads everyone on all-season crap tires wants to putt along slowly and try to rear end me because they try to stop really late so I feel much safer out on fresh snow in my MINI.
Is this available? Have other people gotten it. The space that should be occupied by that system has the battery in it. There is a tire change kit which has some limited value for rotation or carrying a spare in the back. Can the standard automotive part store provide the same stuff, something to seal the tire and then, the instant air kits? Or will "only Mini authorized paarts be necessary?