Mini Cooper? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

KRM · 23rd October 2001, 04:37

anyone interested in new Mini Coopers? I am seriously considering getting my hands on a Cooper S (a supercharged version of the regular cooper). It's no M5 or M3, but I've read positive things about the handling of the car. I really like the looks of it too. The thing is, I am on the waitlist for the M3 due in on Spring of '02, but I have become very interested in the Mini Cooper S as well but I can only afford to get one car. I am giving some preliminary thoughts to my car purchase decision and wondering if the knowledgeable people on this board can give me some good advice.

Some other thoughts:
This will be my first car that I will buy (driven parents' cars). So I would want a driver's car rather than just a means of transportation.

(=) I know, these cars are not comparable but they are both one of the best driver's car for their class.

(+) Getting a Mini Cooper will free up a lot of cash so that's definitely good for me.

(-) The Mini Coopers won't hit the US shores until the Spring so I won't have a chance to testdrive one yet.

(+) Performance of the M3 is something to desire for...

(-) ...price of M3 is not

(?) There will always be another generation of M3s, there might not be a future Mini as BMW has plans for another small car variant.

hmm...

thanks
-karman

Andy G · 23rd October 2001, 10:48

Karman
Cooper S should be a storm, but for that extra special Cooper, you could see what John Cooper Garages have to offer, (they produced/started the Cooper back in 62) they are producing a Cooper S type of their own, which will see an increase in power/spec etc, and they export worldwide.

http://www.johncooper.co.uk/jcw_intro.html

They still convert the original style, and with their works, the original warranty is still valid.
You could be the first to recieve.
AG

KRM · 23rd October 2001, 18:46

Andy, thanks for the reply.
Unfortunately, there is not yet a whole lot of info/specs in regards to the JCW Cooper models. I will check back regularly to that site. In the mean time, I am hanging out in the Mini forum (mini2.com) and there are some devoted members there who are well informed.

Quote:

Originally posted by Andy G
Karman
Cooper S should be a storm, but for that extra special Cooper, you could see what John Cooper Garages have to offer, (they produced/started the Cooper back in 62) they are producing a Cooper S type of their own, which will see an increase in power/spec etc, and they export worldwide.
AG

lucky girl · 9th January 2002, 03:10

I too have been thinking about the new Mini Cooper, right now I have a 1996 VW VR6 as my second car, 2000 M5 being my first.
I have read many good things about it. I think it would be a fun car to have and to use.

PhilSeastrand · 9th January 2002, 18:08

I'm on the waiting list for a Mini Cooper. I'm not going to get the S since I already have the M5.

Did you see that US pricing was just announced? Go to http://intercontent.com/mini/mini17....64633&pid=7199

BASE MSRP FOR MINI COOPER: $16,850
BASE MSRP FOR MINI COOPER S: $19,850

Not bad!

lucky girl · 9th January 2002, 18:29

Hey Phil,
thanks for the link, unfortunately it says at the moment they have no dealers in Texas. But thats okay, it gives me a reason to go for a nice drive in my M5, not that I need a reason. Every drive is nice.

de Witt · 10th January 2002, 05:07

Lucky,

So what happened to your Mini Cooper? Do you still have it?

lucky girl · 10th January 2002, 16:16

No, I don't have it anymore, but I wish I did. I moved around so much, country to country, that it would have been impossible to take with me. It was a great learning car though and I have many fond memories.

Andy G · 23rd January 2002, 11:53

KRM5
Have you decided anything on your decision wether to buy the MINI?
I have the specs of the new 'S' over here, and they are impressive, good performance, good level of options etc.
Are you still posting on MINI2.com?

KRM · 23rd January 2002, 19:41

Hi Andy,

I am now on the waitlist for a Cooper S. If the dealer is telling me the truth, I should get at the last quarter of this year. I expect to get it sometime early next year

Yes, you are right, it's an amazing car (especially for the money). Did you have the opportunity to test drive one in the UK?

I am posting and lurking around on the MINI2 board. They have some great info posted there. Hopefully I'll see you there.

Quote:

Originally posted by Andy G
KRM5
Have you decided anything on your decision wether to buy the MINI?
I have the specs of the new 'S' over here, and they are impressive, good performance, good level of options etc.
Are you still posting on MINI2.com?

Andy G · 24th January 2002, 09:46

I am there already, followed your lead on that one, look out for AER!.
The 'S' isn't available over here yet, they are expecting to start deliveries around the end of April. If I want one, then I may have to wait 6 months plus.
What colour have you opted for?

KRM · 24th January 2002, 14:45

Although nothing is confirmed yet, I am leaning towards the Dark Silver color. I am happy how much it resembles the special chrome shadow color in certain lighting. For the interior, I am likely to go for the blue-black two tone leather. Feel free to check out the pics at my hobbystage album. There are shots of an Cooper S with the exact color I am going for.

http://hobbystage.net/bmwm5/krms/

Quote:

Originally posted by Andy G
I am there already, followed your lead on that one, look out for AER!.
The 'S' isn't available over here yet, they are expecting to start deliveries around the end of April. If I want one, then I may have to wait 6 months plus.
What colour have you opted for?

Andy G · 24th January 2002, 14:55

Good choice, that would be my choice as well, however, I think I would like to have the whole car in one colour, as opposed to the white/black roof. Dk silver it should be. I think everybody else would be opting for the yellow or red/white, not for me though.
AG

MarkM5Lauderdale · 15th February 2002, 23:14

Well, I've got my order in for the Mini Cooper S in Yellow and White. I plan on turning it into a full blown racer though and thought the yellow would show graphics better. While I love the horsepower of the M5 on the track it's very easy to get into trouble very quickly with the M5. I wanted something with a lower horsepower rating that would involve more driver skill.
Should see the Mini by end of summer.