Thinking about Mini Cooper S as a commuter -opinions welcome!
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3
Thinking about Mini Cooper S as a commuter -opinions welcome!
Hi All,
I'm a car enthusiast who has grown up with the 1996 Acura Integra and more recently the 2003 VW GTI. Last year, I traded in the VW for a more practical Toyota Prius Touring, which since has undergone the addition of several chassis braces to bring the clunky stock handling into the range of average.
Well, kind of like trying to turn Oprah Winfrey into a supermodel, modifying any further the Prius seems to be a losing battle. The next step would be to add larger/wider wheels and lower profile tires, but doing so would cut down the car's primary strength -fuel efficiency -into the high 30's.
That's Mini MPG territory, and Minis don't need extensive modification to be lively performers! So -I've been thinking of turning in the Prius and picking up either a new or used Cooper S hatchback. The car would be my primary commuter, so it would have to carry the groceries, usually one but sometimes two friends, and bikes with a roof rack. Questions I have for the Mini faithful are:
1. Does the Mini have at least enough space to pick up a friend and his/her luggage from the airport? Do full-sized adults (e.g. less than six feet tall) fit reasonably into the back for half-hour long trips? Can two snowboards and two people fit inside the car at the same time??
2. Does the Mini live up to the official MPG numbers, i.e. combined 32 for the Cooper and 29 for the S?
3. Do the paddle shifters of the automatic satisfy the driving enthusiasts out there?
4. Is the JCW version worth the added $$, or is the aftermarket a better bang-for-the-buck??
I'd normally go for the six-speed manual transmission, but rush hour traffic is bumper to bumper where I live. Plus, I currently have a second car (with a six-speed transmission) for weekend romps around town.
Thanks much for the replies!! Looking forward to posting here a lot more!
I'm a car enthusiast who has grown up with the 1996 Acura Integra and more recently the 2003 VW GTI. Last year, I traded in the VW for a more practical Toyota Prius Touring, which since has undergone the addition of several chassis braces to bring the clunky stock handling into the range of average.
Well, kind of like trying to turn Oprah Winfrey into a supermodel, modifying any further the Prius seems to be a losing battle. The next step would be to add larger/wider wheels and lower profile tires, but doing so would cut down the car's primary strength -fuel efficiency -into the high 30's.
That's Mini MPG territory, and Minis don't need extensive modification to be lively performers! So -I've been thinking of turning in the Prius and picking up either a new or used Cooper S hatchback. The car would be my primary commuter, so it would have to carry the groceries, usually one but sometimes two friends, and bikes with a roof rack. Questions I have for the Mini faithful are:
1. Does the Mini have at least enough space to pick up a friend and his/her luggage from the airport? Do full-sized adults (e.g. less than six feet tall) fit reasonably into the back for half-hour long trips? Can two snowboards and two people fit inside the car at the same time??
2. Does the Mini live up to the official MPG numbers, i.e. combined 32 for the Cooper and 29 for the S?
3. Do the paddle shifters of the automatic satisfy the driving enthusiasts out there?
4. Is the JCW version worth the added $$, or is the aftermarket a better bang-for-the-buck??
I'd normally go for the six-speed manual transmission, but rush hour traffic is bumper to bumper where I live. Plus, I currently have a second car (with a six-speed transmission) for weekend romps around town.
Thanks much for the replies!! Looking forward to posting here a lot more!
Super Moderator
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,306
RE: Thinking about Mini Cooper S as a commuter -opinions welcome!
ORIGINAL: awai08
1. Does the Mini have at least enough space to pick up a friend and his/her luggage from the airport? Do full-sized adults (e.g. less than six feet tall) fit reasonably into the back for half-hour long trips? Can two snowboards and two people fit inside the car at the same time??
2. Does the Mini live up to the official MPG numbers, i.e. combined 32 for the Cooper and 29 for the S?
3. Do the paddle shifters of the automatic satisfy the driving enthusiasts out there?
4. Is the JCW version worth the added $$, or is the aftermarket a better bang-for-the-buck??
I'd normally go for the six-speed manual transmission, but rush hour traffic is bumper to bumper where I live. Plus, I currently have a second car (with a six-speed transmission) for weekend romps around town.
Thanks much for the replies!! Looking forward to posting here a lot more!
1. Does the Mini have at least enough space to pick up a friend and his/her luggage from the airport? Do full-sized adults (e.g. less than six feet tall) fit reasonably into the back for half-hour long trips? Can two snowboards and two people fit inside the car at the same time??
2. Does the Mini live up to the official MPG numbers, i.e. combined 32 for the Cooper and 29 for the S?
3. Do the paddle shifters of the automatic satisfy the driving enthusiasts out there?
4. Is the JCW version worth the added $$, or is the aftermarket a better bang-for-the-buck??
I'd normally go for the six-speed manual transmission, but rush hour traffic is bumper to bumper where I live. Plus, I currently have a second car (with a six-speed transmission) for weekend romps around town.
Thanks much for the replies!! Looking forward to posting here a lot more!
2)I've had my S average 37 MPG on long highway runs , mixed driving I'm around 30/32
3) I test drove one but opted for the 6 speed, paddles weren't the best for me ...
4)JCW is great for the warranty, you can build one of aftermarket parts but the cost and warranty voiding makes it more expensive
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 18
From:
RE: Thinking about Mini Cooper S as a commuter -opinions welcome!
ORIGINAL: awai08
Hi All,
I'm a car enthusiast who has grown up with the 1996 Acura Integra and more recently the 2003 VW GTI. Last year, I traded in the VW for a more practical Toyota Prius Touring, which since has undergone the addition of several chassis braces to bring the clunky stock handling into the range of average.
Well, kind of like trying to turn Oprah Winfrey into a supermodel, modifying any further the Prius seems to be a losing battle. The next step would be to add larger/wider wheels and lower profile tires, but doing so would cut down the car's primary strength -fuel efficiency -into the high 30's.
That's Mini MPG territory, and Minis don't need extensive modification to be lively performers! So -I've been thinking of turning in the Prius and picking up either a new or used Cooper S hatchback. The car would be my primary commuter, so it would have to carry the groceries, usually one but sometimes two friends, and bikes with a roof rack. Questions I have for the Mini faithful are:
1. Does the Mini have at least enough space to pick up a friend and his/her luggage from the airport? Do full-sized adults (e.g. less than six feet tall) fit reasonably into the back for half-hour long trips? Can two snowboards and two people fit inside the car at the same time??
2. Does the Mini live up to the official MPG numbers, i.e. combined 32 for the Cooper and 29 for the S?
3. Do the paddle shifters of the automatic satisfy the driving enthusiasts out there?
4. Is the JCW version worth the added $$, or is the aftermarket a better bang-for-the-buck??
I'd normally go for the six-speed manual transmission, but rush hour traffic is bumper to bumper where I live. Plus, I currently have a second car (with a six-speed transmission) for weekend romps around town.
Thanks much for the replies!! Looking forward to posting here a lot more!
Hi All,
I'm a car enthusiast who has grown up with the 1996 Acura Integra and more recently the 2003 VW GTI. Last year, I traded in the VW for a more practical Toyota Prius Touring, which since has undergone the addition of several chassis braces to bring the clunky stock handling into the range of average.
Well, kind of like trying to turn Oprah Winfrey into a supermodel, modifying any further the Prius seems to be a losing battle. The next step would be to add larger/wider wheels and lower profile tires, but doing so would cut down the car's primary strength -fuel efficiency -into the high 30's.
That's Mini MPG territory, and Minis don't need extensive modification to be lively performers! So -I've been thinking of turning in the Prius and picking up either a new or used Cooper S hatchback. The car would be my primary commuter, so it would have to carry the groceries, usually one but sometimes two friends, and bikes with a roof rack. Questions I have for the Mini faithful are:
1. Does the Mini have at least enough space to pick up a friend and his/her luggage from the airport? Do full-sized adults (e.g. less than six feet tall) fit reasonably into the back for half-hour long trips? Can two snowboards and two people fit inside the car at the same time??
2. Does the Mini live up to the official MPG numbers, i.e. combined 32 for the Cooper and 29 for the S?
3. Do the paddle shifters of the automatic satisfy the driving enthusiasts out there?
4. Is the JCW version worth the added $$, or is the aftermarket a better bang-for-the-buck??
I'd normally go for the six-speed manual transmission, but rush hour traffic is bumper to bumper where I live. Plus, I currently have a second car (with a six-speed transmission) for weekend romps around town.
Thanks much for the replies!! Looking forward to posting here a lot more!
2. I drive mostly highway, about 130 miles every day. I'm getting 37mpg on the highway driving. About 1/3rd of my highway drive is on a county road, no stoplights, but it's very hilly, giving the cruise control a work out. On straight highway driving, like driving Interstate-70 across the country, 40mpg should be no problem at 65mph.
3. Paddle shifters are fun for about seven minutes... then, what's the point. Just drive it hard. Paddle shifters are for folks who can't drive a clutch, imo.Idrive a 6-speed and love it. But, I'm not in bumper-to-bumper every day. I don't think there is much difference in MPG with an auto verses manual. Auto is supposed to be faster in a quarter mile too... it can shift faster than a human can. Automatic makes it much easier to use a cell phone or drink a coke while you're driving too....
4. I'd like to have a JCW.... but it's about $4k option. I'd like to have the vented brakes and the tower strut.... but you can get those options for a lot less than $4k. If you're worried about mpg in question one, then don't bother with the JCW package. The cooper S has plenty of get up and go in it.
D
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3
RE: Thinking about Mini Cooper S as a commuter -opinions welcome!
Thanks for the replies.
The clubman has more room, but I'm a bigger fan of the regular Mini. As for the paddle shift vs. manual, I'll have to test-drive the two transmissions soon!
The clubman has more room, but I'm a bigger fan of the regular Mini. As for the paddle shift vs. manual, I'll have to test-drive the two transmissions soon!
Super Moderator
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,306
RE: Thinking about Mini Cooper S as a commuter -opinions welcome!
I test drove a clubmen S JCW edition and have to say that that will probably be my next purchase ... The extra room is really not that much noticeable driving ... the $36K is a little hard to swallow though
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