Mini Cooper S

[Jackal]

I keep reading about the Mini Cooper S in all 7 car magazines that I subscribe to. There's three of them around the Northeastern area, and I fell in love with them instantly (despite the "fast" yellow color of one of them). They have excellent handling, and do 0-60 in 7 seconds flat. The MSRP for a fully loaded one falls at about $22k. Right now though they cost a fuckload over that because they only made 20,000 for this year and demand is really high, so I'd have to wait until next next year.
Whatcha think?

[cinnamongirl]

I test drove it over a month ago, got out of the car and just shrugged my shoulders. Sure, it's fun to look at and fun to drive for a little while...but it would get tiring. I was kinda disappointed in that car considering that they wanted like, $24k for it. The inside was too plasticky and bubbly; the outside was pretty cool, though. Honestly, Dave...if you wanted to spend that kinda money, there are plenty other cars out there that would be worth every penny. I say, if you're gonna get a Mini...get an older one. And...quite frankly Dave--don't take this the wrong way--I'd be more supportive of you getting a Miata than that car; it just...doesn't suit you.

[Yakbo]

I went with my dad, when he looked at a Cooper S...(he had a deposit on it for 8 months before the regular Cooper was offered for sale)..it's quite a small car inside..the back seat passanger sits where the rear axle would be, if it were a RWD car...it's got a very stiff suspension, and if you push it hard, it's fast. Overall, it's a neat car..but I wouldn't want it as a daily driver.


btw: my dad decided not to get one...he doesn't drive that much, and couldn't see owning 2 cars (he's too attached to his BMW 535 to give it up)

[Delhux]

I'm sorry, but isn't the Cooper that tiny little thing that looks simmilar to what Mr. Bean drives? And they want 24K for that? For a car like that I might conisder Yugo prices around 6K, but for 24K I'd expect to see a Cheerleader-chauffeur wearing nothing but driving gloves and a smile.

[Jackal]

It looks similiar, but it's much bigger than the original. Still, it's the smallest car in America. It does 0-60 in 6.9 seconds, has incredible handling with a stiff BMW 3-series suspensions, a 6 speed manual, a great interior, the same warranty as BMWs (they pay for all the oil changes, tire rotations, etc for the first 3 years), and has the hugest sunroof of any car (save for convertibles). It has unique styling, and the size of it makes it easy to manuever. Name me any car that does that in the $19-23k range.

[Jackal]

I test drove it today. OH. MY. GOD.
The car is faster than my Mustang. That's sorta easy since it's in the 7.5 - 8.0 second range. Keep in mind that Jackal cannot drive a standard though, and this car with a 6 speed was still faster than my Mustang! The shifter is SO forgiving, because I know I wasn't shifting too well but it still did what I wanted it to. Technology is fucking amazing.
Now, the speed wasn't what impressed me so much. It was the handling. Do you play video games? Picture playing Gran Turismo and how hard it is to play a perfect lap. Then picture the easy and tight control of an arcade-type game like Mario Kart. Driving a Mini was like having a Mario Kart car in a Gran Turismo environment - I was able to do whatever I wanted and the car stuck like glue!
I was taking turns talking to the dealer guy and was like "yeah my Mustang could do this going 60, maybe 70" as I effortlessly take the turn without the car showing ANY body roll. Then I look at the speedometer, and I'm going 65! The turn was like nothing!

Even if you guys have no interest in ever purchasing a Mini, do yourself a favor and go to a dealership and test drive one for the handling experience. It was INCREDIBLE.

[JScullin]

If you want your Mustang to handle like that then spend $1,200 and buy a front & rear strut bar, lower it w/a spring/strut kit and get yourself some front & rear stablizers.

I have a $90 front OMP strut bar & a $100 European Ford rear strut tower brace and I can take most exits around 60-70. Had I put actual racing tires on my car (instead of all seasons) I could take it a tad faster. But I'm not keen on folding my tires

Honestly man, you sound like you just want another car (MTX) real bad, and your grabing at whatever hits your price range. I'd invest in your current car & mod it, make it something different on the road- a sleeper (that's hard to do since we're talking about a Mustang tho). For around $2,000 you can send your car (or just the tranny) to Level-10 in NJ. They'll make your ATX shift faster & more efficient than a good MTX driver. Plus the thing will be able to handle more HP than you'll ever throw in it. If you wanna shift the car, they can make it into a Tectronic (I think that's it) tranny, the one where you shift it side to side to change gears. Or look for a junk yard & drop a GT motor & it's tranny in there.

Whatever you do you'll spend less than buying a new car & starting over. And to add, a MTX Cougar lightly modded can do 0-60 in 7 seconds ($8k used). Imagine what you can pull out of your Mustang.

[Jackal]

No thanks, it's time for something completely different. I don't want to mod up this Mustang - I want a different car. I want a car that doesn't look like everything else, I want a standard, I want the car to be faster, and I want a convertible/huge sunroof. Not to mention the fact that I want leather seats plus a better interior, AND better gas mileage. It is possible to do all the modifications (save for the gas mileage) but it wouldn't be worth the time, money and energy to me.

[NyteSlayer]

I think the Mini looks good. I was going to test drive one when i was in Maine but they don't have them there. If it handles like my 318i though it is probably sweet, not rolling at all in corners. If you like the car I say get it but I don't know if your going to want to drive it everyday, like when we get snow. On the other hand it's FWD so it might be ok.