Test drove an 06 MINI S Today.

jc21 · 07-14-2006, 04:05 AM

When i was shopping for a mini i told a BMW dealership to gimme a call if they got a used one in. Sure enough they gave me a call months after I talked to them (awesome dealership). I told them I had just bought a civic but still wanted to take it for a spin. They told me no problem and threw me the keys.

All I can say is this will definatly be my next car. The handling of the cooper was was just plain stupid. I didn't get too crazy with it but i took some corners pretty fast and I dunno how you could lose control in that thing. The gas/clutch took a little while to get used to because the gas pedal is so firm. The acceleration is amazing and it's so nimble when you combine acceration + corners. The backseat looks really odd but is actually quite roomy (i sat in the back when I got back to the dealership to see how it felt). Overall for being a tiny car it was very roomy. The cockpit is a bit of a cluster f*ck though. It's really not ergonomically designed but then again this it's supposed to give off a race car feel. Which is does. All the little metal switches for stuff makes you feel like your in some airplane cockpit. Same with the gauges. All in all I loved the test drive. Even down the road if I couldn't afford an S I'd still get a base model. Oh and the moonroof has these awesome windscreens which is quite cool.

8thgenuser · 07-14-2006, 04:25 AM

My friend has a Cooper S. It's so tossable, it's like you said...stupid! Even the regular Cooper in automatic is super fun!

JeShUa · 07-14-2006, 05:22 AM

Ha.. I saw this car that was type S and it was for sale... now I suppose he has a newer one, because it looks very similar but its blue now.. so idk... lol.. pleased customer I suppose

! I hope he got a S again though haha

mmm def · 07-14-2006, 01:24 PM

Does the Cooper S handle better than the SI?

***fuller083*** · 07-14-2006, 01:46 PM

My girl is gettin a Cooper S Works Edition... She is trading in her '06 EX for it too. She thinks they handle better than any car she's ever driven and her dad has a friggin Boxster S that she drives a lot. I'm sure this little monster DOES handle better than the Si, but there's no way I'd ever trade mine in for one.

jc21 · 07-14-2006, 01:46 PM

I'm gonna say yes. I've never driven an SI but i'm assuming that it will beat it in the auto x.

***Izzy*** · 07-14-2006, 02:08 PM

Smaller Car + Less Weight + Less Wheelbase + SMALLER CAR = Better Handling

I'd say, yes, it'd bumfuck an Si.

Mini's are sweet. They look fun to drive, and the styling is good. It was one of the other cars I was shopping for.

LugNutX · 07-14-2006, 02:39 PM

The Cooper S was initially the top vehicle on my list during my new car search. I had test driven one prior to the Si and it truely is a blast to drive. Straight-line speed is virtually the same as the Si, but like the Honda, most people are not buying it for the drag strip. The biggest detractors from the Cooper S for me:

1. Interior - True to the original, but never cared much for it
2. Cost - Roughly $21k just for a base, which didn't include the multi-function steering wheel, premium sound, trip computer, moonroof, etc.
3. Reliability - MINI has never had a good track record with being reliable, and this new model has not even been out 5 years yet...hardly long enough to gauge long-term reliability

The first time I test drove the Si, I was blown away. Not only by the performance, but by the value you receive for $20k. Considering a MINI with comparable options would actually be closer to $24k, the Si has a big advantage in this category and ended up being the deciding factor. Not to mention, I am not an autocrosser...and the Si is invariably the better "road racing" car to take through the mountains on a summer afternoon.

The MINI really is a great car, and I would definitely consider it again when the next time rolls around. It would be hard to top it in a true handling sense, but the Si makes a close attempt and that's good enough for me, given the rest of the package.

BTW, here's a quote I grabbed from an Edmunds review which seems to share the same sentiments:

Quote:

Regardless, the Honda Civic Si made two Mini-devoted editors second-guess their pick if given the choice between the Cooper S and the Si. Senior Content Editor Erin Riches admitted, "This is the first car I've driven that makes me question my affection for the Mini Cooper S. Mainly, it's the drivetrain. The Civic feels much quicker around town and, with its 8,000-rpm redline, the fun lasts longer when you're playing around with it out on back roads."

Although diehard Mini fans could get a Coop for about the same price as the Si if they gave up a lot of frills like speed, Production Editor Caroline Pardilla considered how much more economical the Si would be to maintain over the Mini. "With that Honda reputation for reliability, it just seems like you get so much for your money. It's really making me think twice about that Mini, you know, if god forbid, I want to be practical with my money but still have sporty fun."

I say that it's hard (performance-wise) to go wrong with either car.

***Cybergypsy*** · 07-14-2006, 03:30 PM

you should have got the one with navi to test drive....i would end up wrapped around a tree, the navi is crazy in that car and hard to use!!!!
Overall love the mini and the back seat is big!!(drove my sons S)

gbae007 · 07-14-2006, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzy

Smaller Car + Less Weight + Less Wheelbase + SMALLER CAR = Better Handling

I'd say, yes, it'd bumfuck an Si.

Mini's are sweet. They look fun to drive, and the styling is good. It was one of the other cars I was shopping for.

Weight is 2,700 on the Cooper S which is on par with the Si.

Handling on the slalom at 66mph is slower on the Mini S than the 68-69mph on the Si. Plus the Si has an LSD.

Read here:

http://www.motortrend.com/features/p...fications.html

jeffer7330 · 07-16-2006, 03:28 PM

We test drove a 2003 Mini Cooper S and it was the schnitz so far as cornering and holding the road. Amazing. The clutch pedal took some getting used to and the ride was pretty rough on less than smooth roads. Great car indeed. The Si has more creature comforts, not much worse handling (IMO), and I would guess is more reliable and is servicable at any Honda shop for parts that probably cost less.

In our geography the S models make up a vast majority of the Minis in the pre-owned market. I am guessing it is because of the stiffer ride over the base model Mini because there are a ton of the base models driving around.

07-14-2006, 04:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
jc21 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Chicago/Lincoln Park Age: 23 Posts: 1,211 I Like Cheese iTrader: 2 / 100%	Test drove an 06 MINI S Today. When i was shopping for a mini i told a BMW dealership to gimme a call if they got a used one in. Sure enough they gave me a call months after I talked to them (awesome dealership). I told them I had just bought a civic but still wanted to take it for a spin. They told me no problem and threw me the keys. All I can say is this will definatly be my next car. The handling of the cooper was was just plain stupid. I didn't get too crazy with it but i took some corners pretty fast and I dunno how you could lose control in that thing. The gas/clutch took a little while to get used to because the gas pedal is so firm. The acceleration is amazing and it's so nimble when you combine acceration + corners. The backseat looks really odd but is actually quite roomy (i sat in the back when I got back to the dealership to see how it felt). Overall for being a tiny car it was very roomy. The cockpit is a bit of a cluster f*ck though. It's really not ergonomically designed but then again this it's supposed to give off a race car feel. Which is does. All the little metal switches for stuff makes you feel like your in some airplane cockpit. Same with the gauges. All in all I loved the test drive. Even down the road if I couldn't afford an S I'd still get a base model. Oh and the moonroof has these awesome windscreens which is quite cool.

07-14-2006, 02:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
*Izzy* Supreme Pizza! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Azusa, CA Age: 25 Posts: 11,936 iTrader: 5 / 100%	Smaller Car + Less Weight + Less Wheelbase + SMALLER CAR = Better Handling I'd say, yes, it'd bumfuck an Si. Mini's are sweet. They look fun to drive, and the styling is good. It was one of the other cars I was shopping for. __________________

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07-14-2006, 04:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
8thgenuser Webby's Minion Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 7,065 Nikon Squad Member #8 iTrader: 1 / 100%	My friend has a Cooper S. It's so tossable, it's like you said...stupid! Even the regular Cooper in automatic is super fun!

07-14-2006, 05:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
JeShUa Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 12,727 add camber and stir iTrader: 12 / 100%	Ha.. I saw this car that was type S and it was for sale... now I suppose he has a newer one, because it looks very similar but its blue now.. so idk... lol.. pleased customer I suppose ! I hope he got a S again though haha

07-14-2006, 01:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
mmm def Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NJ Age: 27 Posts: 640 iTrader: 1 / 100%	Does the Cooper S handle better than the SI?

07-14-2006, 01:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
*fuller083* VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Valdosta, Ga Age: 25 Posts: 454 Mike iTrader: 0 / 0%	My girl is gettin a Cooper S Works Edition... She is trading in her '06 EX for it too. She thinks they handle better than any car she's ever driven and her dad has a friggin Boxster S that she drives a lot. I'm sure this little monster DOES handle better than the Si, but there's no way I'd ever trade mine in for one.

07-14-2006, 01:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
jc21 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Chicago/Lincoln Park Age: 23 Posts: 1,211 I Like Cheese iTrader: 2 / 100%	I'm gonna say yes. I've never driven an SI but i'm assuming that it will beat it in the auto x.

07-14-2006, 03:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
*Cybergypsy* Mini Me! Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 48 Posts: 7,756 iTrader: 3 / 100%	you should have got the one with navi to test drive....i would end up wrapped around a tree, the navi is crazy in that car and hard to use!!!! Overall love the mini and the back seat is big!!(drove my sons S)

07-16-2006, 03:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
jeffer7330 Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 82 iTrader: 1 / 100%	We test drove a 2003 Mini Cooper S and it was the schnitz so far as cornering and holding the road. Amazing. The clutch pedal took some getting used to and the ride was pretty rough on less than smooth roads. Great car indeed. The Si has more creature comforts, not much worse handling (IMO), and I would guess is more reliable and is servicable at any Honda shop for parts that probably cost less. In our geography the S models make up a vast majority of the Minis in the pre-owned market. I am guessing it is because of the stiffer ride over the base model Mini because there are a ton of the base models driving around.