MINI Cooper S

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Discussion

jimmy156

Original Poster:

3,681 posts

186 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
A few weeks ago i was idly considering replacing my Alfa 156 and was mostly looking at 7-10 year old CLK's and generally 6 cylinder German stuff.

Anyway i popped into a MINI dealership just to have a nose around, and they had a Cooper S in a lovely spec. I took it out for a quick test drive and i was pretty much sold on it, despite having to double my budget (both man-maths and real maths were used to justify this hehe )

After a few weeks and some back and forth the deal was done, i then went on my honeymoon the next day, which gave me something to look forward to on my return. I picked it up yesterday.

So its a 2011 Cooper S manual in Eclipse Grey.


IMG_3046 by jimmyb156, on Flickr


IMG_3049 by jimmyb156, on Flickr


IMG_3050 by jimmyb156, on Flickr


IMG_3026 by jimmyb156, on Flickr


The spec is pretty much exactly how i would have specced it myself, the important/nice bits being Xenons, Sat Nav / Media pack, Chilli Pack, Cream Lounge Leather (this is lovely and really sets of the interior, making it feel like a lovely place to be), 17" Conical spoke wheels with non-runflats and being a 2011 car it has the later, less troublesome 184bhp engine

Its the little details that make these cars feel a little special to me, the chrome filler cap, little toggle switches in the interior, the nicely integrated nav/media system.


IMG_3040 by jimmyb156, on Flickr


IMG_3037 by jimmyb156, on Flickr


IMG_3035 by jimmyb156, on Flickr


IMG_3030 by jimmyb156, on Flickr


IMG_3027 by jimmyb156, on Flickr

First impressions are that it feels pretty fast, if not ballistically fast. In short bursts of acceleration between bends it feels really rapid. Prolonged acceleration highlights the turbo'd nature of the engine and without the rush towards the redline that you get with a N/A engine it feels fast without feeling very fast. To be honest i would say its ideal for fast road driving as you can use the performance, although putting the hammer down in second and third sees you very quickly getting to 90mph. It hides its speed very well for a small car.

Ride and handling are great, it feels so planted in the corners and changed direction really nicely. Despite being on 17's the ride seems pretty good to me, despite what the internet would have you believe. Maybe the non-runflats are helping here.

The engine sounds a bit humdrum on tick over and isn't the loudest whilst pressing on, although it does make a nice gruff noise. Maybe i need to do something with the induction... With the sport button pressed the pops and bangs on the over-run are pretty hilarious. But this has encouraged me to drive around in 1st gear in built up areas to hear the echos of the walls hehe

And whilst finding this all out i have averaged 38mpg, not too bad!

I love the car and am really pleased with it. Only problem is that both me and my wife have MINI's now, and im pretty sure thats not very cool hehe



Edited by jimmy156 on Tuesday 12th August 13:02

sagarich

1,210 posts

148 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
Great write up Jimmy.

Can't wait to see it in the metal.

biggrin

TheBALDpuma

5,842 posts

167 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
Looks smart mate! Looking forward to taking it on the track!

95 fiesta si

1,600 posts

151 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
like the sat-nav in the speedo dial. I Like the unique interior styling and design.

jimmy156

Original Poster:

3,681 posts

186 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
sagarich said:
Great write up Jimmy.

Can't wait to see it in the metal.

biggrin
Thanks! Yup looking forward to our spirited drive!

TheBALDpuma said:
Looks smart mate! Looking forward to taking it on the track!
hehe we'll see about that...

See the ducts on the front bumper, they are functional and direct air to the brakes. So we shouldn't have the brakes peeing out smoke like they did on the ST220 hehe


95 fiesta si said:
like the sat-nav in the speedo dial. I Like the unique interior styling and design.
Yeah i like that too, looks miles better then some systems where they look bolted on (im looking at you, Mercedes Benz)

Edited by jimmy156 on Tuesday 12th August 15:52

TheBALDpuma

5,842 posts

167 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
jimmy156 said:
hehe we'll see about that...

See the ducts on the front bumper, they are functional and direct air to the brakes. So we shouldn't have the brakes peeing out smoke like they did on the ST220 hehe
It's also not a 230bhp, 1600kg estate car with the same brakes as the 2.0l ghia!

mwstewart

7,554 posts

187 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
Lovely colour combination.

harry kular

2,770 posts

225 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
That looks fantastic, great colours and spec.

Think it's an itch I'm going to have to scratch soon...

jimmy156

Original Poster:

3,681 posts

186 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
TheBALDpuma said:
It's also not a 230bhp, 1600kg estate car with the same brakes as the 2.0l ghia!
I didn't realise the brakes weren't uprated, that would explain a lot!

Thanks for the nice comments, really pleased with the spec. I much prefer the cleaner look without the body kit (Aero/JCW kit?) that a lot of them have.

va1o

16,029 posts

206 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
Looks awesome very nice spec

0llie

3,006 posts

195 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
quotequote all
Not many around with the grey satellite leather, very nice smile And no chrome interior/exterior thumbup

JamesD1

821 posts

126 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
quotequote all
Very nice indeed. I have a soft spot for these, although anyone I know who has owned a mini has result in financial ruin and therefore puts me off a bit (didn't want to sound to jovial).

sagarich

1,210 posts

148 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
quotequote all
JamesD1 said:
Very nice indeed. I have a soft spot for these, although anyone I know who has owned a mini has result in financial ruin and therefore puts me off a bit (didn't want to sound to jovial).
I think Jimmy will be ok with a full BMW approved used warranty...

My wife on the other hand has spent a fortune keeping her 03 Mini Cooper on the road.

jimmy156

Original Poster:

3,681 posts

186 months

Sunday 17th August 2014
quotequote all
JamesD1 said:
Very nice indeed. I have a soft spot for these, although anyone I know who has owned a mini has result in financial ruin and therefore puts me off a bit (didn't want to sound to jovial).
My wifes car (MINI one) has been nearly faultless in the 2 years she has owned it, it has only needed 1 service and and air-con regas in its 23,000 miles. Still got plenty of tread left on the original tyres too's!

Went for a drive with sagarich the other day, a few snaps below. PH brownie points for guessing the location, near a place of PH interest.


IMG_3064 by jimmyb156, on Flickr


IMG_3068 by jimmyb156, on Flickr


IMG_3080 by jimmyb156, on Flickr

Further thoughts on the car, it really is a hoot to drive. It feels very planted during change of direction and under braking. It is still feeling pretty quick to me and i am enjoying the torque from about 2500rpm it pulls pretty nicely.

The looks of the car, both inside and out, have really got me hooked. It really does feel like a nice place to be i keep glancing back at it once i have parked, which is surely a good sign.

I am loving having xenon's too, my alfa had candles for headlights so driving at knight is a whole new experience!

I am averaging to 40 to the galloon with mixed driving which seems pretty good to me. Having played about with the MINI connected software i have found that you can get an engine temp gauge up on the infotainment screen, along with a power and torque output, which is gimmicky but i quite like it.

You can also download 'apps' that give you badges for certain achievement in the car. One is for managing the 0-60 sprint in a certain amount of time! It does keep telling me that my braking and cornering is dangerous though, and my acceleration CRAZY! hehe

pmessling

2,284 posts

202 months

Sunday 17th August 2014
quotequote all
Even with a later car still keep an eye on the oil level. more so then you would with a normal car.

Put a JCW exhaust and it sounds a lot better. I have an 08 cooper S, does torque steer and they are a fun little car. mines my sensible daily economic car and my cerbera my mad weekend, summer toy or when i'm bored of 175bhp


jimmy156

Original Poster:

3,681 posts

186 months

Sunday 17th August 2014
quotequote all
pmessling said:
Even with a later car still keep an eye on the oil level. more so then you would with a normal car.

Put a JCW exhaust and it sounds a lot better. I have an 08 cooper S, does torque steer and they are a fun little car. mines my sensible daily economic car and my cerbera my mad weekend, summer toy or when i'm bored of 175bhp
As the owner of a car with an alfa twin spark engine for the last 4 or 5 years i am well used to weekly oil checks, a good habit to be into! That car would use a litre every 650-700 miles or so, hopefully this will be better then that! I checked the oil today and it was pretty mucky which does point to it being consumed a bit, plenty in there though smile

Wish i had a Cerb for the weekend. One of my favourite cars and fav TVR. I did work experience at Fernhurst TVR when i were a lad, i have been hooked ever since. The MINI is my commuter, fun car, ikea car (hah!) and hopefully track car!

Faxo

448 posts

137 months

Sunday 17th August 2014
quotequote all
My GF has had 6 MINIs, 2 SC Cooper S' and one Turbo S, the turbo S caused problems towards the end with carbon build up and also had a rattly DMF. BMW can walnut blast them to overcome the carbon build up, however I just used SeaFoam every few K to clear it out

She now has a 2013 JCW, and if you think the S exhaust pops, have a go in one of these, at times it can literally be like shotgun fire!

I love it, it has most of your spec bar Lounge leather (hers has carbon punch), but her old S had the Redwood Lounge (I think) which was lovely, so good choice

Max M4X WW

4,789 posts

181 months

Sunday 17th August 2014
quotequote all
jimmy156 said:
PH brownie points for guessing the location, near a place of PH interest.
Top of Goodwood where the ice cream van parks smile

jimmy156

Original Poster:

3,681 posts

186 months

Sunday 17th August 2014
quotequote all
Faxo said:
My GF has had 6 MINIs, 2 SC Cooper S' and one Turbo S, the turbo S caused problems towards the end with carbon build up and also had a rattly DMF. BMW can walnut blast them to overcome the carbon build up, however I just used SeaFoam every few K to clear it out

She now has a 2013 JCW, and if you think the S exhaust pops, have a go in one of these, at times it can literally be like shotgun fire!

I love it, it has most of your spec bar Lounge leather (hers has carbon punch), but her old S had the Redwood Lounge (I think) which was lovely, so good choice
She must know here MINI's then!

Do you find the JCW is appreciably faster / better drive then the standard S? To be honest the JCW didn't really enter my mind when i was buying mine, i just didn't see any in the MINI dealer network when i was looking.

I am still finding it hard not to roll the windows down when i have buildings either side hehe i can imagine i would have a real problem in the JCW.

Max - Brownie points to you, well done! I looked at your profile thinking you must be local, i grew up in Haslemere, i will keep an eye out for your M135i!

sagarich

1,210 posts

148 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
jimmy156 said:
JamesD1 said:
Very nice indeed. I have a soft spot for these, although anyone I know who has owned a mini has result in financial ruin and therefore puts me off a bit (didn't want to sound to jovial).
My wifes car (MINI one) has been nearly faultless in the 2 years she has owned it, it has only needed 1 service and and air-con regas in its 23,000 miles. Still got plenty of tread left on the original tyres too's!

Went for a drive with sagarich the other day, a few snaps below. PH brownie points for guessing the location, near a place of PH interest.


IMG_3064 by jimmyb156, on Flickr


IMG_3068 by jimmyb156, on Flickr


IMG_3080 by jimmyb156, on Flickr

Further thoughts on the car, it really is a hoot to drive. It feels very planted during change of direction and under braking. It is still feeling pretty quick to me and i am enjoying the torque from about 2500rpm it pulls pretty nicely.

The looks of the car, both inside and out, have really got me hooked. It really does feel like a nice place to be i keep glancing back at it once i have parked, which is surely a good sign.

I am loving having xenon's too, my alfa had candles for headlights so driving at knight is a whole new experience!

I am averaging to 40 to the galloon with mixed driving which seems pretty good to me. Having played about with the MINI connected software i have found that you can get an engine temp gauge up on the infotainment screen, along with a power and torque output, which is gimmicky but i quite like it.

You can also download 'apps' that give you badges for certain achievement in the car. One is for managing the 0-60 sprint in a certain amount of time! It does keep telling me that my braking and cornering is dangerous though, and my acceleration CRAZY! hehe
Great snaps!

I was super impressed with the little mini.

Following you on the twisties around Goodwood the car looked so stable and agile. Plus I was really surprised how strong your engine pulls, pretty much matching me in a straight line.

Great little car!