Mini Cooper S Convertible - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

BuffaloBoxster · 05-15-2006, 10:22 AM

The tin-top Cooper S is the most fun I've had in a car not from Porsche.

But I personally would call the back seat a sick joke. I don't see how an adult could sit behind the driver's seat in its usual position.

JP-s-in st. louis · 05-15-2006, 01:22 PM

For the last few months my fiancé and I have debated on what kind of car to get her next. My choice was an S4 avant that she quickly shot down and said NO to ANY wagon no matter if it does have 400 HP. We have no human kids, just a 105lb lab retriever that goes everywhere with us. I wanted something fun and sporty and she did not care. Now I remind you before we bought the Boxster we looked at the Mini and have talked about how cool it was. Anyway so we will be getting one most likely in July. Here is the kicker she wants a 6speed, hardtop, with the JCW pkg, now usually I would ask her how she knew about the JCW pkg but on this occasion I just smiled and said yes honey.

Honestly I see myself driving it more then her and her getting my Grand Cherokee. Chick car my butt

Ohh and with the money I save from the Audi I may just end up with an older Miata for the track next year. Cross your fingers.
:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

alex911s · 05-15-2006, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP-s-in st. louis

For the last few months my fiancé and I have debated on what kind of car to get her next. My choice was an S4 avant that she quickly shot down and said NO to ANY wagon no matter if it does have 400 HP. We have no human kids, just a 105lb lab retriever that goes everywhere with us. I wanted something fun and sporty and she did not care. Now I remind you before we bought the Boxster we looked at the Mini and have talked about how cool it was. Anyway so we will be getting one most likely in July. Here is the kicker she wants a 6speed, hardtop, with the JCW pkg, now usually I would ask her how she knew about the JCW pkg but on this occasion I just smiled and said yes honey.

Honestly I see myself driving it more then her and her getting my Grand Cherokee. Chick car my butt

Ohh and with the money I save from the Audi I may just end up with an older Miata for the track next year. Cross your fingers.
:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

Awesome how things workout,,,LOL miniS with JCW definitely a fun car..good luck..

05-16-2006, 08:15 PM

I'm also looking at an MCS in the next month or so. I test drove an S convertible and I was surprised at how nice it was. The 6 speed shifted VERY nicely, it handled great and was every bit the fun my Box is, except the rear visibility is REALLY bad, even with the top down.

A friend of mine who bought a non-S MC for his wife calls it a "Box of No **************** Fun" even with the CVT tranny (wife can't drive a stick). He has an '05 and has had zero problems with it (he claims). His only complaint is that the brakes create more dust than he likes, but he lives in Dallas so I'm sure there is a lot of stop and go traffic causing that. I live in the country where rush hour is seeing maybe 2-3 other cars, so I'd be more "go" than "stop".

He is pushing for me to get one ASAP.

MNBoxster · 05-16-2006, 09:02 PM

Hi,

The thing I find ironic about the Mini is that Consumer Reports rates it higher than average in warranty claims while at the same time it gets greater than average Customer Satisfaction ratings.

Could it be that people are more enamored with the concept of the Mini than they are with the actual Car? Something similar to the somewhat cult-like loyalty to Apple computers by some.

Personally, I'd be much more inclined to buy a solid Original Mini-Cooper and do a Frame-Off to it than to buy the reincarnation. Something about having a Dodge Omni sourced engine dampens the BMW knock-off's appeal...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

BuffaloBoxster · 05-17-2006, 05:01 AM

There's a BMW-designed turbo four coming next year, I believe... Regardless, the current engine is a fine motor.

BTW< the engine in the Omni was a 2.2l pushrod four banger. This is a 1.6L DOHC superchared four. I don't see the resemblance?

MNBoxster · 05-17-2006, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuffaloBoxster

There's a BMW-designed turbo four coming next year, I believe... Regardless, the current engine is a fine motor.

BTW< the engine in the Omni was a 2.2l pushrod four banger. This is a 1.6L DOHC superchared four. I don't see the resemblance?

Hi,

Sorry I was mistaken, the engine was used in the Dodge Neon, not the Omni. The Omni originally used a 1.7L OHC 4 licensed from VW. See: http://www.autocar.co.uk/news_article.asp?na_id=211646.

An except from the article: "...The move to state-of-the-art supermini engines will greatly enhance the appeal of the second-generation Mini, which is expected in late 2006. The current car’s biggest weakness is its Brazilian-built and Chrysler-sourced Pentagon engine. Although the unit has been well polished by BMW engineers, it cannot completely disguise its budget origins..."

It appears that the Mini has achieved sufficient success in the marketplace to now warrant a new engine, something BMW was unwilling to shoulder on an unproven model...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

chows4us · 05-17-2006, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

The thing I find ironic about the Mini is that Consumer Reports rates it higher than average in warranty claims while at the same time it gets greater than average Customer Satisfaction ratings.

Could it be that people are more enamored with the concept of the Mini than they are with the actual Car?

NO. Since I own one, I know your way off base. The consuer reports stuff merely talks about problems. Now go look at both customer loyality and resale value. MINI has consistently been #1 for the last several years.

The fan base is extremely loyal, many 2 and 3 MINI homes now. Its all about the driving experience. It doesn't matter that there may be some first year warranty problems (as all cars have) since the fun factor way more than compensates for it. Take a test drive and you just might drive home with one ... actually you probably won't since virtually ALL MINIs are custom built to order because the factory can't keep up with demand.

MNBoxster · 05-17-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chows4us

NO. Since I own one, I know your way off base. The consuer reports stuff merely talks about problems. Now go look at both customer loyality and resale value. MINI has consistently been #1 for the last several years.

The fan base is extremely loyal, many 2 and 3 MINI homes now. Its all about the driving experience. It doesn't matter that there may be some first year warranty problems (as all cars have) since the fun factor way more than compensates for it. Take a test drive and you just might drive home with one ... actually you probably won't since virtually ALL MINIs are custom built to order because the factory can't keep up with demand.

Hi,

I respect your opinion and am pleased you like your Car. But, I have test driven them, even took one (an 'S') for 6 Laps around BIR and 2 Laps around an Auto-X course. I was not impressed. I didn't like the feel, the fit & finish, the Pedal arrangement, or the look of it.

Definitely not the Car for me, besides, you can't travel a mile without coming across at least a couple of them, which isn't impressive either since most people (not necessarily you) don't know ******************** about Cars. But, you certainly demonstrate the fierce loyalty many owners possess, which is good - everyone should Love their Car!...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99