Andy-pay

anyone swapped their STi for a Mini Cooper S?

thinking about this at the mo, for a number of reasons.

05 STi PPP by the way

kylejennings05

DNT DO IT!!!! THEY ARE FAST THO... BUT MORE OF A GIRLS CAR

Darc174

iTrader: (13)

Cooper S FAST lol no Chance

Fiat 500 Abarth on target to be quicker LOL!

magicgreg

I am positive that there are much better options in the same price bracket as a Cooper S mate.

Civic Type R, Clio 182, Leon Cupra R the list of much better cars is endless!

G

scoobyhep

My mate had a cooper S. It was fun and nippy and also held its value very well in fact he sold it for £1k more than what he paid

He owned it for 6 months then got bored and swapped for a 1.9TDi golf

I'd have one though

madisonmonkey

iTrader: (4)

Cooper S is a great car! Might not match your sti in a straight line but you'd struggle to make up any ground A to B. Anyone who tells you otherwise hasn't driven one or seen one driven properly
They also don't lose money like a subaru....
However the one I drive belongs to my girlfriend and I tend to agree it's a bit of a girly car.

Nigel H

Not strictly.

We have an 01WRX and new Cooper.

First question I'd ask new Cooper S or old one. The new ones are the better bet, more refined, better mpg, but not quite as good looking, maybe?

As far as driving goes I'd say the Cooper is faster round the twisties than the WRX. In the dry. I like the driving position and steering feel. The car's not slow, and around town you don't get caught off boost. Much nippier.

The boots aren't big, but they are a hatch, so can be more practical at times.

If we didn't have children then I'd say we'd probably have got rid of the Scoob and bought an 'S'

GazTheHat

If you get the mini, you just gotta get the paint job to match:

Andy-pay

would be a new one, with the turbo, not supercharged.

is 35mpg realistic in one of these? just swapped jobs and travelling more, so could do with something a bit more economical, but dont want a total sell out!

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

The new Turbo engine is French!!!

Jza

No...

One car is a ****ty girls car.... the others a BMW

GazTheHat

How about a mapped Fabia vRS. Still returns 50+ MPG and has around 300lb torque. Great for a commute.

Nigel H

I think 35 should be possible on the new shape, will depend on your drive and style, but we get an easy 43-44 out of the Cooper.

The Mini2 forum is worth a look around, and look here's a thread on the very subject

The dreaded MPG question - Sorry! - MINI2 - MINI Forum

Mal K

I am fortunate enough to have a 54 Sti PPP and a new Cooper S with a few Works goodies on.
I would definately recommend one, take one for a test drive, the dealer should give you it for the day, I did and it was an absolute blast.
You will be surprised at just how quick it is, in real driving terms it will not disgrace itself with the Sti on dry roads. You also get the exhaust note together with the odd pop.
We get an average of 37mpg most of the time and its always driven hard.
Yes it can be looked upon as a girls car but put the right kit on it and it looks aggressive.
Evo have one on long term test and they absolutely love it.

Mal K

Asolute Tosh..........IMHO

madisonmonkey

iTrader: (4)

^ I agree

Andy-pay

sounds good then - I sort of suspected it wouldnt be disgraced!
it also seems to beat Clios and stuff when on road tests etc. as well as holding its value okay.

might test drive soon then!

nik52wrx

One thing for sure, the mini will hold its value better than the Impreza!

dpb

Id be very wary of anything that holds its value so well - just check the clientele

magicgreg

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion I guess, if you take away the fact that they are over priced for what they are then I guess they are an ok motor but I've yet to see a hot hatch test where the Cooper S ranks higher than any of the 3 cars that I suggested above.

Also I am quite shocked at how many people in this thread are claiming that a Cooper S can cope with the likes of an Sti and in some instances an Sti PPP, I'd love said individuals to expand on their previous anecdotes of where this was the case - either some people need to learn how to drive their Scoobies correctly or Lewis Hamilton was driving the Cooper S when you had a 'go' with one.

G

Mikkel

The cooper S, especially the GP, is a great little car but those that claim it can stay with an STi in any conditions are simply dreaming. Some of you claim to own or have driven both, so I am frankly shocked at the ignorance in even making the comparison between the two cars.

The mini is a fun little car, don't get me wrong, but it is not comparable performance wise with an Impreza STi. We are simply talking different league here.

magicgreg

Finally, thank you Mikkel!!!

Mikkel

No problem. I should clarify I have driven both on the road and at Croft, so it is not just my opinion I am stating here but my experience too.

P.S. The GP, despite being a 2 seater would be my choice, as it is definitely not girly.

bob r

iTrader: (46)

The wife has a Cooper(not S) and I admit I really enjoy driving it as it's very involving and I feel like I can handle it.
As for speed/acceleration well there isn't any but it's fun all the same. Whereas my STI is Premiership the Mini is Sunday league.

magicgreg

Finally people with some common sense are posting up!

The comparison between the Cooper S and an Impreza STi before is like me saying that I stuck with a Zonda F!

I'm sure the Cooper S is a good car and a true idea of what they are capable of is identified by bob r when he says "As for speed/acceleration well there isn't any but it's fun all the same".

Its a fun little car which you can have a laugh in but its not a serious performance motor, to compare it to an STi mistified me. Rant over.

G

Mal K

Sorry fellas, was only recommending what I beleve to be a worthy alternative performance car to a fellow Scoobynetter.
I have owned Impreza turbo's/WRX's/Stis, for the last 12 years and am totally loyal to the brand however there are many cars that are as much fun to drive and as quick in the right conditions.
Greg, get yourself down the road to Preston Hall, and take their Cooper S Works out for a spin, just make sure its a dry day.

wolfie28

Before my STI I had a WRX (standard) and the wife had a 54 plate Copper S and in a straight line I wasn't pulling away till approx 80mph (private road). She has sold it so I can't compare directly to my STI but it wouldn't have stayed with it that long.

The car is very girly but great to drive. The car handles like a go-kart and is a totally different driving experience to the Impreza. The Mini handles very well whereas the Impreza grips very well. The communication from the road you get through the steering wheel is excellent in a Mini, you know exactly what the front wheels are doing. Whereas with the Impreza you know your going fast around the corner but you just don't have the precise steering feel to back it up. The brakes were excellent and if you can afford it the Harman Kardon stereo upgrade is fantastic.

On a dry very twisty B road being driven buy a good driver it definately would not be embarrssed by a STI driven by an average driver. A car is only as good as the drivers ability but then again all Impreza drivers are driving gods.

I was sad to see the Cooper S go it brought many of these and many of these to other drivers who thought it was nothing special in terms of on the road performance.

A test drive and all will become clear but try not to compare it to your STI PPP in terms of total driving performance because you will be disappointed.

Wolfie.

magicgreg

Mak K - I have had a go in a Cooper S but not the Works, might go and see if the extras that the Works lot have done make a significant difference sometime.

I'm not disputing that the car is poor or a decent lesser alternative to a Scooby, I just didn't understand why it was being compared to an STi or STi with PPP.

As a hot hatch though I would still take other alternatives over the Cooper S, no budget has been mentioned so I'd still have a Civic Type R (EP3), S3 or Golf GTi over the S. If everyone chose the same motors I guess it would be a boring world though, if the gent considering the Cooper S in this thread does get one then he will have a nice little car, just not a rival for an STi.

G

madisonmonkey

iTrader: (4)

Just to clarify my position for Mikkel and magicgreg.

My original statement was that A to B (i.e. on the road) there would be very little in it. Yes the sti is quicker in a straight line and will comfortably leave the s above 70mph but that holds little relevance in every day driving.
I will admit I am talking about the previous generation
(supercharged = no lag ) car but this is what I have experience of and Andy had not made it clear he was talking about a brand new car.

I also stand by my statement that the mini is a better option than a
Civic type R (thrash it to have any fun)
Clio 182 (great with the cup packs but no build quality and would you really want live with one?)
Leon Cupra R (just so old fashioned)

magicgreg obviously doesn't read many reviews if he's never seen a cooper S beat any of these suggestions
The case becomes even more definate if we move to current generation cars where the mini beats both the under powered clio and civic.

GazTheHat

I say this losely, as i've not driven one, but i doubt the mini would stay with an STi, both drivers equal.

What are the in gear times?

Have they both been round the Top gear track? That's the only equal comparison i can think of.