Topic: Test Drive: 2014 Mini Cooper S

[Autos_Editor]

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[tpl]

Looks wise the Mini has gone backwards since the Mk 1  'new mini'.  (   imho as a brick pilot in a 1960-ish Mk1. )  Just another expensive small car now, especially with all the even uglier variants like the coupe.


As for the 189 bhp. Indeed, my cooking Q5 admits to 220 bhp from a 2.0T  although it feels like a bit more.

[JohnnyMac]

I was very impressed with the regular 2014 Cooper.  I thought the performance out of that turbo 3 cylinder was very good and really speaks to the character of Mini.  So I can only imagine just how good this S is.  That being said I think Mini improved the Cooper more with that new engine than they did with the S.  The only other comment I have is the fuel economy.  I would have assumed you could have gotten somewhere in the 6's L/100kms considering the same engine (tune to produce 50+ more horse power) in a heavier vehicle 228i got real world fuel economy of 7.4L/100km.  Am I wrong to expect at least .5 L/100km better? 

[jamesautos]

down on power, so so economy, history of bad reliability... except for some reason, they still have rock solid resale value

[Winterpeg]

I really like this "matured" version. A test drive is almost a gimme here.....stay tuned folks. 

[OliverD]

I didn't realize that the S engine had grown to 2.0 litres. Interesting.

The look of the '14 is growing on me, and I really like the interior even though it has lost some of the character that the previous model has. I might be biased but I still think that the R56 offers the best combination of style, performance, and size amongst the modern Coopers. No question that the new one is a much better value though.

[Silverjesus]

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That's one bug eyed mug only a mother could love

[bluelines]

I drove both the regular Cooper and the Cooper S a couple of months ago. I really preferred the regular Cooper -- the engine has a lot more character and makes a better noise, it feels less refined (in a good way), and it's decently quick. Both models have an exponentially better ride than older versions. The interior is much better quality than the last generation, but feels very gimmicky and distracting.

[Brendan McAleer]

I drove both the regular Cooper and the Cooper S a couple of months ago. I really preferred the regular Cooper -- the engine has a lot more character and makes a better noise, it feels less refined (in a good way), and it's decently quick. Both models have an exponentially better ride than older versions. The interior is much better quality than the last generation, but feels very gimmicky and distracting.

Just got done with the Cooper. I hugely preferred it (though not as-optioned).

[SaskSpecV]

Just got done with the Cooper. I hugely preferred it (though not as-optioned).

Can you elaborate Brendan?  Or do we have to wait for a full review?
I'm assuming a little lighter, more nimble, get to work the powerband more on the 1.5L?

[nlm]

Did the base Cooper S always start in the mid-20s?

Too bad that centre screen isn't fully round itself. That would be different but I bet there isn't a screen manufacturer in the world that makes round screens anymore?

The first thing I thought of when I see the pics in this article is Bumblebee. Yes, this is what the rebooted Transformers Bumblebee should've been instead of the Camaro, which never fit that character. Speaking of which that's the next concept Camaro?!?  They made the Malibu more like the Camaro and the Camaro more like the Malibu.

Too bad GM's meddling screwed up the character cars. There are so many sports cars in the world and two characters are a Corvette? And what's with the japenese samurai that is a Bugatti Sport Vitesse; there will never be a better character to be a GT-R. The Bugatti isn't even a GM and they chose that car for him?!?

Sorry for the TF4 rant. Is there another thread somewhere that I can troll on? If you haven't seen the movie don't. It stinks. Even as a die-hard TF fans that still buys the toys b/c I like the cars it is unbelievably horrible. Seeing that concept Camaro and a Bugatti for the one japanese character will make you...angry. 

[lebowski]

Sorry for the TF4 rant. Is there another thread somewhere that I can troll on? If you haven't seen the movie don't. It stinks. Even as a die-hard TF fans that still buys the toys b/c I like the cars it is unbelievably horrible. Seeing that concept Camaro and a Bugatti for the one japanese character will make you...angry. 

Nope, this is definitely *the* place to discuss TF4 - to my knowledge, there is no other forum on the Internet where people rant about science fiction movies. I'll look forward to your thoughts on other Michael Bay films.

Back on-topic, that base model Cooper seems like a great buy - especially like that revamped the interior.

[OliverD]

Did the base Cooper S always start in the mid-20s?

Nope, the '07 was $30,600.

[Brendan McAleer]

Just got done with the Cooper. I hugely preferred it (though not as-optioned).

Can you elaborate Brendan?  Or do we have to wait for a full review?
I'm assuming a little lighter, more nimble, get to work the powerband more on the 1.5L?

Just emailed the review in this morning - that three-banger feels more Mini-ish than the Cooper S. As a total package, the limits are lower, but in the manner of a Miata or FR-S. Fun little car, with relatively low limits, yet still did the highway thing just fine.

[ChaosphereIX]

wayyyy down on power for a 2.0L. Although I assume reliability and heat considerations for the turbo are at play here. That was the killer for the R56, you could not get much more than 220hp without overheating that tiny engine pay - cooling was a nightmare. And that was a 1.6L turbo. Ironically, the hot supercharger in the R53 was much cooler running and had much more headroom [got mine to 230hp and that was with relatively mild standard mods]. R53 was much more of a drivers car, and the engine had much more character. Reliability and fuel economy be damned.

If heat could be tamed, I assume there is monster headroom in this engine. Almost doesn't need a turbo to make 190hp in a 2.0L these days...

Wait..those looks ruin it for me. The R53 had a nice cute/micro butch thing going on. This has no masculinity at all, no matter the angle. It is all cartoons and cutseyness.

No thanks, and I used to be a MINI fanatic.

[Ace]

Who in their right mind would buy a Cooper S when they could have a much superior Golf GTI for the same $$

[OliverD]

Who in their right mind would buy a Cooper S when they could have a much superior Golf GTI for the same $$

Not sure if these even warrants a response, but that's a ridiculous statement. Obviously the Mini has a much different character than the GTI. It's also a lot more compact, can be had in more than one actual colour, etc. People have different priorities and I wouldn't question anyone for choosing the GTI over the Cooper S or vice versa.

[dirtyjeffer]

i love the GTi as much as the next guy, but the 5 door with the DSG and the 2 packages to make it loaded is $36k...sure, it's faster and nicer than my Rio5, but it's also $15k more expensive...that's almost enough of a difference to buy another Rio5 as a spare (LX+ trim).

[pcsp]

Give me a "base" Mini Cooper, manual, panoramic sunroof and I'll dispense with my intention to get a Fiat 500C.

[vasyapirh]

The interior is much better quality than the last generation, but feels very gimmicky and distracting.

That's the one of the main points of getting a MINI!
VW GTI exists for "less distracting" (i.e. boring) interior