Anyone w/ a Mini Cooper S Around? - LotusTalk

BealeAss · 08-11-2009, 05:00 PM

So recently I've had a hankering to pickup a MCS for a good price and start dd'ing that instead of my Nissan Frontier. The Frontier is just getting to be a bit much around the city in Boston and I'm not using the pickup bed really all that much. Plus I'm looking to enjoy something a bit more day to day so I'm not feening to drive the Elise all the damn time.

Question is...is the MCS to much fun for a daily??

EliseAtLeast · 08-11-2009, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BealeAss

too much fun for a daily??

How can you have too much fun?

intofx · 08-11-2009, 05:12 PM

Wife just totaled my MCS daily driver. In addition to it being a GREAT daily driver it proved to be very safe. She was shaken from the crash but unharmed beyond a few scrapes and bruises. It is a fun car to drive and is very agile in traffic. You get a thumbs up from me.

Matt

fun4two · 08-11-2009, 05:29 PM

I also have to ask, how can you possibly have too much when driving, (other than speeding)? Not sure I understand that. My only intention when driving is to enjoy the car I'm in which in turn makes me enjoy the drive. I can't make any personal opinion about the MCS but from all the people that I have talked to at auto x events say nothing but great things about them. I am also looking to get myself one in the near future as my daily winter beater just because they are so much fun to drive.

dma550 · 08-11-2009, 06:10 PM

Fun to drive, AND they have a "club" in a sort of way that's socially enjoyable, much the way you get the thumbs up from a triumph or an MG while driving the lotus.

I've owned two, a 2004 Cooper S (#3 @ my dealer) and a 2005 JCW S. Loved them both. Girls will chase you around in them.

BealeAss · 08-11-2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fun4two

I also have to ask, how can you possibly have too much when driving, (other than speeding)? Not sure I understand that. My only intention when driving is to enjoy the car I'm in which in turn makes me enjoy the drive. I can't make any personal opinion about the MCS but from all the people that I have talked to at auto x events say nothing but great things about them. I am also looking to get myself one in the near future as my daily winter beater just because they are so much fun to drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dma550

Fun to drive, AND they have a "club" in a sort of way that's socially enjoyable, much the way you get the thumbs up from a triumph or an MG while driving the lotus.

I've owned two, a 2004 Cooper S (#3 @ my dealer) and a 2005 JCW S. Loved them both. Girls will chase you around in them.

Lol I guess I should explain the too much fun. I "think" what I meant was to ask if its possible that the MCS would be more fun than the Elise and basically spoil my time driving the Lotus. Such as the idea of having two cars that do nearly the same things.

lotusforsale · 08-11-2009, 07:17 PM

I owned an 06 Mini S. Loved the car.

Believe it or not, the steering is more sensitive than the Elise. Actually twitchy.

dma550 · 08-11-2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BealeAss

Lol I guess I should explain the too much fun. I "think" what I meant was to ask if its possible that the MCS would be more fun than the Elise and basically spoil my time driving the Lotus. Such as the idea of having two cars that do nearly the same things.

Nah, I had the mini as my DD and elise as fun car, they are two different beasts. Mini can carry stuff, I loaded mine with 2X4's from Home depot, carried 6 wheels with tires in it, carried people around, etc.

The elise is still way above the mini in driving excitement and fun, but the mini allows you and 3 friends to hit the town.

CosmosMpower · 08-11-2009, 08:05 PM

We have a 09 Cooper S 6MT and it's a blast. I can't vouch for the earlier models but the 07+ turbocharged direct injection cars are really torquey and we get about 35 mpg combined mileage. They also handle great and with just a simple set of Konis and tires makes a great autocross car. I will say the trunk space isn't great if you plan on carrying lots of stuff. You can fold the rear seats down but it's kind of a pain but all around a great daily.

Elise8206 · 08-11-2009, 08:22 PM

I owned an 09 Cooper S Auto. Its fun to drive around city..

Svetlankas Toy · 08-11-2009, 08:40 PM

Brilliant Daily Driver...!

Just picked up an 09 MCS.....handles nearly as well as my Exige S, but am having a bit of a learning curve with the torque steer! And gets 35+MPG on top of it....

If you need a bit of extra trunk space, (The MCS is lacking) I would look at the Clubman S, a bit more rear seating, and trunk space....

Very impressed so far.

Noisycow · 08-11-2009, 08:54 PM

I hate the Clubman styling, but love the Mini S in modded form, or at least a JCW. '07 or better preferred due to turbocharging.

texige · 08-12-2009, 04:49 AM

I prefer the styling of the Clubman S plus it has backseats that are usable for my 6 ft son and plenty of room to carry stuff. Check out the brown lounge club leather interior.

Hartz · 08-12-2009, 07:38 AM

I have an '06 MCS and it's a great daily driver. Relatively safe, sporty, holds a surprising amount of stuff with the rear seats down, gets decent MPG, etc.

I had the MINI before my Elise. The Elise ruined the MINI. I used to think the MINI was a lot of fun - and it still is, but... the Elise is just heads and shoulders above the MINI for driving experience.

Lotus-Position · 08-12-2009, 08:17 AM

I have an '06 MCS... all stock. I love driving it as a DD. And now I have two cars where the other owners regularly wave at each other on the road!

m_beale1 · 08-12-2009, 08:39 AM

I've also been toying with the idea of a mcs as a dd, but I want to be able to fit my mountain bike inside (not on a rack). Anyone with a mini know if a mountain bike will fit. Note that a mountain bike is usually a few inches longer than a road bike.

mikester · 08-12-2009, 10:22 AM

I have one, it's a very nice DD. IMO the owning / driving experience is not at all like the Elise, so it shouldn't spoil the Elise for you. It's a lot of fun (like the Elise), but in a very different way.

Elise is much more of a visceral thing, while the MCS is still sporty but more "civilised", it spoils you a bit more with creature comforts and power everything, and you're more upright and so on.

You should test drive one if you haven't already.

Chili Red · 08-12-2009, 11:19 AM

I have a 09 MCS MT and love it.. Great daily and it handles very well... It also makes a great backup track car as well.

Lotus-Position · 08-12-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m_beale1

I've also been toying with the idea of a mcs as a dd, but I want to be able to fit my mountain bike inside (not on a rack). Anyone with a mini know if a mountain bike will fit. Note that a mountain bike is usually a few inches longer than a road bike.

Haven't ever tried fitting my bike inside, but I doubt it will work. Maybe if you take both wheels off...

dma550 · 08-12-2009, 01:00 PM

I could put my Litespeed in, but had to remove the front wheel, far from neat. It also had to be propped up a bit. This was an 05, the later chassis may be better.

08-11-2009, 05:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
BealeAss Dark As Knight Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Boston,MA Posts: 239	Anyone w/ a Mini Cooper S Around? So recently I've had a hankering to pickup a MCS for a good price and start dd'ing that instead of my Nissan Frontier. The Frontier is just getting to be a bit much around the city in Boston and I'm not using the pickup bed really all that much. Plus I'm looking to enjoy something a bit more day to day so I'm not feening to drive the Elise all the damn time. Question is...is the MCS to much fun for a daily?? __________________ 05 Starlight Black on Black-Vader Package:Sport/Touring/Black LSS/Black Diffusor/Hardtop/Starshield/Extra Starshield/Leather Console/Tint/HID/Yellow Hi Beams/Micromirror/Carpet Buttons/Stan Shifter Mod/Trunk Bootie/Larini SE/Euro Grill/Fujita Intake/Azenis/ipod mod/4 JL Audio VR525-CXi/Starlight Black A/C Surround/Kemmler Seat Mod/Hardwired V1/Schroth Profi ii ASM/V-FORCE Harness Bar/S111 Harness Hardware/CRDMount/TitanQR/HNT Pad "Stuff sold by the gram is more fun than stuff sold by the pound"

08-11-2009, 05:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
intofx Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 906 Images: 14	Wife just totaled my MCS daily driver. In addition to it being a GREAT daily driver it proved to be very safe. She was shaken from the crash but unharmed beyond a few scrapes and bruises. It is a fun car to drive and is very agile in traffic. You get a thumbs up from me. Matt __________________ 2006 Phantom Black Exige 2004 Porsche C4S 2007 Black Hummer H2 SUT

08-11-2009, 05:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
fun4two I love the elise Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ct Posts: 51	I also have to ask, how can you possibly have too much when driving, (other than speeding)? Not sure I understand that. My only intention when driving is to enjoy the car I'm in which in turn makes me enjoy the drive. I can't make any personal opinion about the MCS but from all the people that I have talked to at auto x events say nothing but great things about them. I am also looking to get myself one in the near future as my daily winter beater just because they are so much fun to drive. __________________ Steve 2006 Graphite grey Elise You only get one time around on the ride of life, if your not enjoying what your doing, why do it at all? Enjoy every second like it was your last! Oh yeah and drive it like you stole it!

08-11-2009, 06:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
dma550 Yahoo! Got my Rotus! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: CT, Shoreline area Posts: 1,188	Fun to drive, AND they have a "club" in a sort of way that's socially enjoyable, much the way you get the thumbs up from a triumph or an MG while driving the lotus. I've owned two, a 2004 Cooper S (#3 @ my dealer) and a 2005 JCW S. Loved them both. Girls will chase you around in them. __________________ David Avery 05 Lotus Elise ~ Arctic Silver ~ BWR SC ~ Gray RACs ~ Larini SE 08 BMW 135i Stock visit Spyderclub.com

08-11-2009, 08:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
CosmosMpower Cone Magnet Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 2,029	We have a 09 Cooper S 6MT and it's a blast. I can't vouch for the earlier models but the 07+ turbocharged direct injection cars are really torquey and we get about 35 mpg combined mileage. They also handle great and with just a simple set of Konis and tires makes a great autocross car. I will say the trunk space isn't great if you plan on carrying lots of stuff. You can fold the rear seats down but it's kind of a pain but all around a great daily. __________________ 06 Canyon Red Elise LSS, Touring, SS, Stg 2, HID, BWR swaybar 09 Mini Cooper S 6MT 2000 Grand Prix White S2000

08-11-2009, 07:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
lotusforsale Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,220 Images: 8	I owned an 06 Mini S. Loved the car. Believe it or not, the steering is more sensitive than the Elise. Actually twitchy.

08-11-2009, 08:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
Elise8206 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 357	I owned an 09 Cooper S Auto. Its fun to drive around city.. __________________ '05 Lotus Elise Mag Blue/TR/SP/HT/SS/SII/K&N Filter '02 Toyota MR-2 Spyder '07 Nissan Armada Tech Library! http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Category:S2

08-11-2009, 08:40 PM	#11 (permalink)
Svetlankas Toy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 91	Brilliant Daily Driver...! Just picked up an 09 MCS.....handles nearly as well as my Exige S, but am having a bit of a learning curve with the torque steer! And gets 35+MPG on top of it.... If you need a bit of extra trunk space, (The MCS is lacking) I would look at the Clubman S, a bit more rear seating, and trunk space.... Very impressed so far. __________________ Fly Fast, Fly low, and keep the ECM turned up to 11!

08-11-2009, 08:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
Noisycow Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,466	I hate the Clubman styling, but love the Mini S in modded form, or at least a JCW. '07 or better preferred due to turbocharging. __________________ - - - - http://thecomingdepression.blogspot.com/ No longer the coming Depression, it is already here.

08-12-2009, 04:49 AM	#13 (permalink)
texige Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: austin texas Posts: 839	I prefer the styling of the Clubman S plus it has backseats that are usable for my 6 ft son and plenty of room to carry stuff. Check out the brown lounge club leather interior.

08-12-2009, 07:38 AM	#14 (permalink)
Hartz Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Plymouth, MI USA Posts: 46	I have an '06 MCS and it's a great daily driver. Relatively safe, sporty, holds a surprising amount of stuff with the rear seats down, gets decent MPG, etc. I had the MINI before my Elise. The Elise ruined the MINI. I used to think the MINI was a lot of fun - and it still is, but... the Elise is just heads and shoulders above the MINI for driving experience.

08-12-2009, 08:17 AM	#15 (permalink)
Lotus-Position Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 365	I have an '06 MCS... all stock. I love driving it as a DD. And now I have two cars where the other owners regularly wave at each other on the road!

08-12-2009, 08:39 AM	#16 (permalink)
m_beale1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 75	I've also been toying with the idea of a mcs as a dd, but I want to be able to fit my mountain bike inside (not on a rack). Anyone with a mini know if a mountain bike will fit. Note that a mountain bike is usually a few inches longer than a road bike. __________________ Mike 2005 Arctic Silver Elise San Diego, CA Last edited by m_beale1 : 08-12-2009 at 10:42 AM.

08-12-2009, 10:22 AM	#17 (permalink)
mikester Registered Shmoozer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: So Cal Posts: 4,597	I have one, it's a very nice DD. IMO the owning / driving experience is not at all like the Elise, so it shouldn't spoil the Elise for you. It's a lot of fun (like the Elise), but in a very different way. Elise is much more of a visceral thing, while the MCS is still sporty but more "civilised", it spoils you a bit more with creature comforts and power everything, and you're more upright and so on. You should test drive one if you haven't already. __________________ Covered in Brandy and Lard

08-12-2009, 11:19 AM	#18 (permalink)
Chili Red Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 2,204	I have a 09 MCS MT and love it.. Great daily and it handles very well... It also makes a great backup track car as well. __________________ 2007 Exige S - Chili Red 2009 Mini Cooper S - Chili Red Gotham 265, Nitron Sport Pro, Moroso oil pan, RTVBrace, Volk CE28N/R888, Cup Wheels/A048, 2Bular Ultra 4", Rapfix II w/ Sparco P300, S111 CF Splitter, Ultradiscs, Pagid RS42, V-Force Harness Bar, Schroth PROFI II, Fire Extinguisher, Folding Tow Hook, Odyssey PC680, re-ENFORCER, LLumar 30% tint, Traqmate, DashDAQ, Chasecam, Alpine IVA-D100 w/ Backup Camera.

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08-12-2009, 01:00 PM	#20 (permalink)
dma550 Yahoo! Got my Rotus! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: CT, Shoreline area Posts: 1,188	I could put my Litespeed in, but had to remove the front wheel, far from neat. It also had to be propped up a bit. This was an 05, the later chassis may be better. __________________ David Avery 05 Lotus Elise ~ Arctic Silver ~ BWR SC ~ Gray RACs ~ Larini SE 08 BMW 135i Stock visit Spyderclub.com