Ok, so I'm coming home from work today and I see this little Mini Cooper S zig-zagging through tarffic on rt 44. So I slowly follow him until we came to a red light. I pulled up next to him and as the light turns green he lights them up. Jeez, I didn't expect to race him... just wanted to pass him. Anyway he's a few car lengths ahead now speeding away so I floor it, spin first, spin second finally 3rd hooks and I whoosh past him.

I could tell he wanted more since he kept sitting on my butt, so I just pressed on the pedal (in 3rd) and drove away from him getting 5 cars (not car lenghts, cars) between us. Then I figured... hmm I never get to race, why not... and drove slowly until he's able to pass all the cars and catch up.

When he pulled up he was very nice and right away gave me props, but still wanted to run it... I guess he liked to see a fast BMW ;). So I let him go first (I'm rolling around 3k RPM in second) after he gets about 1-2 cars on me I floor it, catch up to him by the end of second and wave bye bye through third. I then stopped, we exchanged a few more words, thumbs up for both parties and we drove off in seperate directions.

Nice guy, wonder if he's on the forums here... it was a turquoise Mini Cooper S. He said he was from Torrington. I was really surprized how he was able to spin his tires through the gears too... is that normal for Mini's or was his modified?

I know I'll get shit for saying this is a kill, since it was no contest, but I'm just curious if that guy is on the forum and whether the Mini was modded.

Boris

a mini cooper is everything a civic wants to be. After mods the cooper can lay down 180hp, which is way too much power for that little car. Makes it easy to spin first...

all races should be like that...two enthusiast just racing no need for dickdeads

hmmm, you live in torrington? do you go to the volkswagen gtg's in canton?

all races should be like that...two enthusiast just racing no need for dickdeads

Agree! Nice advitar BTW M3Vader4dr

Well I know a new/stock Mini Cooper S can smoke the tires, but thats only with traction control turned off...otherwise it wont smoke them.

all races should be like that...two enthusiast just racing no need for dickdeads
+1
Hate people that think they are hot sh*t when they race...

Good clean run! Gotta love it when you can get a proper pacing on the freeway.

and the new civic si became something better than mini cooper..

i remember spinning tires in 2nd gear with asc off when i was stock.. so it's pretty normal.

all races should be like that...two enthusiast just racing no need for dickdeads

+1 No doubt!

Ok, so I'm coming home from work today and I see this little Mini Cooper S zig-zagging through tarffic on rt 44. So I slowly follow him until we came to a red light. I pulled up next to him and as the light turns green he lights them up. Jeez, I didn't expect to race him... just wanted to pass him. Anyway he's a few car lengths ahead now speeding away so I floor it, spin first, spin second finally 3rd hooks and I whoosh past him.

I could tell he wanted more since he kept sitting on my butt, so I just pressed on the pedal (in 3rd) and drove away from him getting 5 cars (not car lenghts, cars) between us. Then I figured... hmm I never get to race, why not... and drove slowly until he's able to pass all the cars and catch up.

When he pulled up he was very nice and right away gave me props, but still wanted to run it... I guess he liked to see a fast BMW ;). So I let him go first (I'm rolling around 3k RPM in second) after he gets about 1-2 cars on me I floor it, catch up to him by the end of second and wave bye bye through third. I then stopped, we exchanged a few more words, thumbs up for both parties and we drove off in seperate directions.

Nice guy, wonder if he's on the forums here... it was a turquoise Mini Cooper S. He said he was from Torrington. I was really surprized how he was able to spin his tires through the gears too... is that normal for Mini's or was his modified?

I know I'll get shit for saying this is a kill, since it was no contest, but I'm just curious if that guy is on the forum and whether the Mini was modded.

Boris


Jeez...

Talk about picking on the little guys...

:D

I remember when I had my MCS. I had 17% pulley, intake, and exhaust. It put out some pretty good power where I could suprise people with how fast it was. It handled like it was on rails.

Good run...

he would of had you in the twisties ...!!! j/k =)
nice run and glad to hear two enthusiasts having fun

No he won't :stickoutt

I thought the works version already made 200 HP or so.

Good story.

ehhhhh....beat my cousins stock MCS a few times...in the 325...however those MCS's with mods are dangerous

Sounds like a nice run. And yeah MSC's can spin the tires from the factory. I can't wait until I get a pulley on my car. :alright

I had a student last year in the advanced group at Barber. Some guy in a hot rod Minis S rode his bumper for two laps until I finally made my student give him the wave by...Needless to say the next two laps were intresting. Ont he straights the Mini would pull us by about 1/2, to 3/4 a car lenght on every straight. And a little on the corners. That sucker was ball ass fast! My student who is a fairly compentant driver was amazed at how swift it was..

One day I will have to have one, they look cool! Matching Blue like my M3 would be nice!:cool

Job well done, Sir!

-Eff

http://www.laautoshow.com/highlights_mini.asp

Mini Cooper S
The ‘S’ is the high-performance version of the modern Mini, with a supercharged version of the 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engine under the hood producing 163 horsepower, 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 136 mph. The S is visually distinguished by a functional hood scoop, body-colored bumpers, center-mounted dual exhaust and different wheels and tires.

Mini Cooper
Launched in March of 2002, the Mini Cooper is the modern interpretation of the Mini Classic -- Britain’s best-selling car ever -- which ceased production in 1967. The new Mini is built in the same factory in Oxford, England as the original and is powered by a 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engine that produces 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 126 mph.


http://www.albeedigital.com/supercoupe/articles/0-60times.html

Mini Cooper

2003 Mini Cooper, Manual 8.3 16.6 (C&D July 02)
2003 Mini Cooper S, Manual 7.0 15.5 (C&D July 02)
2005 Mini Cooper S, Convertible 6.6 15.2 (C&D June 05)


http://www.modernracer.com/features/factorytunedcars4.html

Mini Cooper S Works
Base Price : $25,000 (est.)
Engine : 4 cyl. suprchg, 200 hp, 177 lb-ft
0-60 mph : 6.5 sec.
0-¼ mile : 15.5 sec @ 94.0 mph
60-0 braking distance : 130 ft
200 ft skidpad : 0.91 g

Thanks for all the positive replies guys :buttrock

I take it that guy isn't on this forum... oh well.

Yeah, I got pretty surprized when he lit up his tires. I know it's a FWD, but I didn't expect that. Nice little car. Do they make good daily beaters? How is reliability compared to a Civic?

Thanks again,

Boris

EDIT: Just read the last post and that car seemed faster than the C&D results, strange

I like the MCS they're nice little cars. It would be a good DD IMHO. They handle like go karts too, always fun.

Hey guys I ran across this article while doing some research on the e36's M3's and thought I'd comment on it.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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Boris I'm not all that surprised that the Cooper lit up the tires (and I'm not talking about a 5k clutch dropping)! My dad has one as a second car to play with and the thing is an absolute blast to drive. His is a little more that your average Cooper as it has the JCW package (John Cooper Works) that bumps HP up to 210 by means of a large supercharger, intercooler, injector, plugs, full exhaust and performance heads. Hes since put a higher PSI pulley, cowl intake system and had it slightly tuned. He's probably putting down around 224 hp. So not only does it handle like a go-kart, but it has a little more "kick" as well. He is the "entusiast" type and doesn't rev it up behind every exotic car he sees, but he has had his share of "fun" with it! I've been with him a few time, one in particular where he blew past a Boxster S just past an onramp with the guy laughing his ass off! He was pushing his Porsche too!<o:p></o:p>
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I just can't wait to find "MY" M3 so him and I can hit the twisties in the NC mountains!<o:p></o:p>
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(I'd post pics of his Cooper but I don't have those permissions right now!)

I've suprised many people with the MCS I had.

It's an absolute terror in the twisties. On-ramps were its bread-n-butter.

It was a great daily driver, but alas, I had to get me one of those Japanese cars with the big a$$ ironing board on the trunk.

Now that I see all these high powered E36 M3's I may have to pick up another one and slap a turbo in it.

Boost is addictive!

http://www.****************.com/*****/IM000442.JPG


i crew for my boss.

he drives the cooper S. his son has the honda civic si.

right now he is first in points in the southeast division of SSC. going to kanasas in september for the runoffs, hopefully get a decent finish as one of the best drivers/teams in the nation.

I didn't know the MC(S) was FWD. That kinda sucks--why did they make it FWD? I mean, I still like the car, but I'm just wondering.

it's all about the heritage..
coopers dominated rallys with its FWD system since way back....
they are meant to be one of the greatest FWD car ever made.. honestly..

Way more fun stock (MCS) to stock vs. my WRX.

they drive like go-karts and are loads of fun to fling around.

I own a modded 04 MCS (about 195hp) which I just started running with the local BMW club for a few track events last year. On my 1st event I blew away everything in my group of novices apart from one 540i driver who also learned quick. This group included an E30 M3 and a couple E36 M3's, an E39 M5, a new RX7, a Porsche Carrera, a 400 hp mustang Cobra and one whacked out Supercharged Mercury Marauder.

By the last event of the year one of my buddies with an E36 M3 could take me but that was only because BIR has the longest straight anywhere...and his goal in life after our first event where I lapped him numerous times was to beat the MINI...

This has motivated me to trade my 5 series for an E36 M3 sedan though:)

Having driven a few of them on the track and ridden in a few more I love the E36 M3 but I honestly think that a decently modded MINI with good tires could give either the E36 or even the E46 M3 all that it an handle in the twisties. My BMW club instructors who have driven the car and compared it to their own 3's pretty much agree and have consistently praised the cars handling and feel.

The crew who works on my MINI (Orr Autosport) and won the GTS 4 class NASA series this year competing against 400lb lighter Porsches with their E36 M3, is out to prove the might of the MINI this year by building a car to run in Phil Wicks Mini Challenge Series, which I hope to run in a couple of years from now also...I think the confidence Chris and Co. at Orr have in the MINI platform says a lot.

While not quite as fun, FWD makes it easier (and safer) to learn how to go fast and allows you to go faster, faster...and the MINI is the King of FWD cars when it comes to fun factor and handling with virtually no torque steer and the ability to dial in oversteer with a simple upgrade to the rear anti roll bar. With a little trail braking I can four wheel drift the MINI through corners after three track events and still keep it out of the weeds, which is more than I can say for the kids that come up to the track with E36 M3's and leave their valances all over the run off areas:)

I think those of us who track our cars or autocross will start to see more MINI's at these events and those cars are very likely to surprise a lot of people. I think BMW deserves tremendous kudos for respecting the heritage of the MINI and creating what is arguably the best FWD platform out there.

IMHO the MINI is the perfect synthesis of the spirit of the original Mini and the original, performance focused spirit of the BMW brand. As BMW goes further upmarket with beast heavy monster powered cars for rich old white guys the MINI has become the entry level Bimmer for young people who want a cool fast car but can't afford a new 3 series...

T

a new RX7,
do you mean a 1993-1995 FD3S because thats the last year of rx-7. not really new...

sorry, I actually meant an RX-8, I'm just a child of the eighties and inadvertently called it a 7, nice catch...

T

Pretty sure the Cooper S makes 168hp, not 200...or did they up it?

You live in west hartford? i commute through there all the time. i'm frequently on rt.44.

i've also raced the same mini in my gti. light blue with the 16 inch wheels? did it have a white roof? was it a younger guy? i am positive we've raced before. he was def. trying to race me from every stop light, etc. cool guy for sure. he said he used to own a gti just like mine.

we raced going towards torrington right past the canton mcdonalds. we went up the mountain and, i'm your you're familiar with this straight, but there is a massive downhill where i hit 130. i would always pull him in the straight line, but whereas i had to brake (going 120+around the turns), i don't think he did more than let off a little. those cars handle well for sure.

good kill!

Pretty sure the Cooper S makes 168hp, not 200...or did they up it?

168, jcw:: 210, i think.. and a few bolt ons will put it around 190~ upward @ crank. not bad.

Pretty sure the Cooper S makes 168hp, not 200...or did they up it?

Correct, a stock R53 MCS makes 168 bhp but you won't find too many stock cars on the track because you get so much bang for the buck with upgrades. I added over 25 hp by upgrading the supercharger pulley, intake and exhaust, which was less than 2K installed by pros. I don't think that you could get a comparable hp increase on an M3 for that kind of money even if you were doing the installs yourself.

I'm shooting for 240 hp in the MINI because the concensus among the 'experts" I know is that any more than that would make the torque steer of the FWD problematic on the track.

The other reason is that when I get there I will have three performance cars with the same amount of Horsepower (240 crank). Interestingly, the Mini (2400lbs) will have the best power to weight ration of the three. The other two are a stock E36 M3 (3100lbs) and a stock Honda S2000 (2800lbs)...at which point I'll be doing some in depth comparisons of the three including comparing lap times etc...hopefully this year...stay tuned...

Correct, a stock R53 MCS makes 168 bhp but you won't find too many stock cars on the track because you get so much bang for the buck with upgrades. I added over 25 hp by upgrading the supercharger pulley, intake and exhaust, which was less than 2K installed by pros. I don't think that you could get a comparable hp increase on an M3 for that kind of money even if you were doing the installs yourself.

I'm shooting for 240 hp in the MINI because the concensus among the 'experts" I know is that any more than that would make the torque steer of the FWD problematic on the track.

The other reason is that when I get there I will have three performance cars with the same amount of Horsepower (240 crank). Interestingly, the Mini (2400lbs) will have the best power to weight ration of the three. The other two are a stock E36 M3 (3100lbs) and a stock Honda S2000 (2800lbs)...at which point I'll be doing some in depth comparisons of the three including comparing lap times etc...hopefully this year...stay tuned...

First off I want to say that I really like the mini cooper S and think it is deffinatly a very well handling car to say the least.

Although I have a few questions. First off when you say you added 25 hp for less than 2k is that to the crank or wheels?

If it is to the crank then you can add more then that to an M3 with like 1k, just get an M50 manifold and Software.

I didn't know the MC(S) was FWD. That kinda sucks--why did they make it FWD? I mean, I still like the car, but I'm just wondering.

It's cheaper.

:rolleyes And, it would probably have affected certain BMW sales. If it was RWD, priced a tad higher than it is now, I'm sure it would steal a bit of the enthusiast marked.

It's also packaging. When Alex Issigonis designed the first Mini, his idea was to maximize the internal space and minimize the external. The simplest way to do that was to eliminate the space-wasting drivetrain from a front motor to a rear drive axle. That is still a valid reason to have a FWD car, or RWD if the engine's mounted back there.

Would gladly take a Mini Cooper any day of the week. Slammed on dished out BBS's, tinted windows, Works package. Yum yum

All I can say is the MCS is a blast. When I can pry my wife out of it I am driving it and even prefer playing with it over my Z4 M when I am putting around town. When I do finally get myself into going to the track I intend to start with the MCS as that is why I bought it. Won't mod it to begin with until I know what I really need in it but I have been told they are easily and cheaply moddable.

Oh and the stock MCS easily burns rubber through 1st gear.

I have an 06 model and it feels much faster than ~6.9/60mph. I pulled all over a 3.0 liter 2001 Z3 in my MCS a few months ago and the other driver was simply amazed. I lost to a few MCS in my 2001 Z3 2.5i and that is when I decided it was time to man up and get a Z4 M. The MCS is a quick little car no doubt.

I didn't know the MC(S) was FWD. That kinda sucks--why did they make it FWD? I mean, I still like the car, but I'm just wondering.
That's why BMW has the 1-Series. Too bad they're not available over here in the US (yet).

A 3 door 135i (http://www.worldcarfans.com/rsslink.cfm/article/6060919.003/bmw/spy-photos-bmw-135ti-3-door-hatch) would rock, so would an all-out M version, but they couldn't call it an M1.

Those little mini's can be tuned to put down some serious stuff.

If the Mini was RWD it wouldn't have a useable rear seat or trunk. RWD and FWD aren't interchangeable, there are serious packaging advantages to a FWD platform, hence the enormous popularity of the original Mini and FWD in general.

Correct, a stock R53 MCS makes 168 bhp but you won't find too many stock

First off I want to say that I really like the mini cooper S and think it is deffinatly a very well handling car to say the least.

Although I have a few questions. First off when you say you added 25 hp for less than 2k is that to the crank or wheels?

If it is to the crank then you can add more then that to an M3 with like 1k, just get an M50 manifold and Software.

This is to the wheels...I am quickly learning that to some extent you are right, e.g. the E36 can have it's HP boosted at nearly the same cost as the MINI. Having said that the relative improvement is greater when starting with a lower HP car (e.g. 25hp feels very different when you are starting with 165 Vs. 240) and cost comparisons are more directly relevant with cars of a similar age because it will to some extent always be cheaper to mod an earlier generation than a new car, especially as cars become more complex. As far as my shop tells me, getting similar performance improvements out of any BMW, especially the E46 M3, is considerably more expensive than the MINI, and they should know, they only work on BMW and MINI and have been doing so for many years.

Now that I have both I will be able to provide an on going comparison of the two cars including cost vs. impact for performance improvements so I'll probably keep a web log...