I Traded a Subaru WRX for a Mini Cooper S Because I Make Odd Decisions

Kinja'd!!! "Andrew Fails" (fails)
08/03/2015 at 23:13 • Filed to: Mini, Cooper, Cooper S, Subaru, Impreza, WRX, review, comparison, versus

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Is it better for a car to be fast, or be fun?

My last car, a Subaru Impreza WRX was unbelievably capable. The rate at which it could devour broken back roads was simply mind-boggling. But with the immense abilities of the car came an unexpected downside: boredom. The car required you to push it SO HARD to get any excitement out of it. On dry pavement, I simply was not going to exceed the limits of the car without doing something fairly stupid.

That seems like a good thing, right? Capable, predictable, and quick? What more could you want? Easy. Amusement. What is the most exciting part of a drive? When you’re right on that limit of control. That’s why everyone likes burnouts and drifting: that feeling that if it works, it’s because YOU made it happen. That heart-in-the-throat sensation of hoping you pull it off.

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The Mini Cooper S has that in spades. Yes, the car is still very capable, but it requires a bit more work. The combination of a short wheelbase, stiff suspension, and narrow tires mean that the car is incredibly nimble. Not to be a cliche, but it really does feel like a go kart. It has a directness to the steering that makes any shortcomings just meaningless. If you catch a bump mid-corner, the Mini will try to hop to the side. So if you’re going to drive quickly, you had better have your head on straight.

For a little bit of comparison, a Prius on 17” wheels has wider tires than the Cooper S. A Prius is packing wider rubber under it, just process that. My Mini is on 205 section tires, whereas a Toyota Prius of the same year is on 215s. Why not go wider? Simple choice, right? Wider tire equals more lateral grip, which means higher cornering speeds, better traction for acceleration, and better traction for braking. But it would also make it less “darty”. It is incredibly easy to drive the Mini right on the limit of its abilities, without having to resort to triple digit speeds. Just a slight modulation of the throttle will drastically alter your line in a corner. As my father once passed down to me, “ Think about lifting your right toe.” That fraction of a difference in pressure will cause the Cooper S’s nose to tuck in, and will pull you smooth through the bend, taming the understeer. Of course, you can sharply lift your foot off the gas to provoke big slides. Which is hilarious, but not necessarily fast. But that just proves my point. The difference between sliding wide, keeping a tidy line, or hanging the tail out in a raucous skid is just a matter of throttle pressure.

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Speaking of throttle, we do have to discuss the pachyderm in the hallway: power. The Cooper S has a 1.6L engine. That’s 1600 cubic centimeters. I’ve ridden motorcycles with larger engines. Granted, there is a small turbo to help it along. But still, the question: is it fast? Well...it’s peppy. Or zippy. Or energetic. Or eager. Or any other euphemism that means quick, but not particularly fast. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. That just means that on a back road, you can go full-throttle almost the entire time. The Mini is a “momentum” car. It doesn’t have a ton of torque, so it forces you to drive harder. Can you take a tighter line through that chicane to save en extra few miles per hour? Can you perfect your heel-toe downshifts to make sure you’re high enough in the powerband to pull out of the hairpin?

At the end of the day, there is no “perfect” car. The best one is the one that meets your needs, and keeps a smile on your face. The Mini Cooper S makes me laugh on a regular basis, whether it be from carving up rural highways, or pulling three gear long rolling burnouts in the rain. It’s a car that allows you to drive like a total loon, without making your neighbors hate you. That, plus it hauls my camera gear, and will take me and the family to the amusement park. Can’t beat that.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Fails is a freelance photographer who sometimes pretends to be literate. You can see his portfolio at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . He is talking in third person because it makes him feel mysterious.


DISCUSSION (50)


Kinja'd!!! Levitas > Andrew Fails
08/03/2015 at 23:24

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As someone who recently had to sell a MINI, I approve this message.

And your pictures are wonderful.


Kinja'd!!! sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Andrew Fails
08/03/2015 at 23:27

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I’ve always liked the Mini (in original 3-door form only). I find it too bad that they have a high price point for purchase and parts, because I find them the right blend between cool and stylish. And they’re a hoot to drive. And they’re one of the few compact hatches that can be had with a legitimately luxurious interior. Also, that’s one of the best, most badass looking Minis I’ve ever seen.


Kinja'd!!! Andrew Fails > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2015 at 23:29

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The parts and the rate it consumes them hurts the pocketbook, and the soul.


Kinja'd!!! Andrew Fails > Levitas
08/03/2015 at 23:29

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Thank you! I use my own car to practice new methods, or to test new locations.


Kinja'd!!! Itsmemupos > Andrew Fails
08/03/2015 at 23:54

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I’m in a similar boat as you. I’ve had 2 G8 GT’s over the last 7 years and just got a used Cooper S. While at times I miss the power, I get more overall enjoyment driving the mini.

Also a different dealer right next to my work snagged my recently traded in G8 at auction (they powder coated the stock wheels gloss black and they looked like crap), so I swung by and went for a test ride it in. It put a grin on my face, but I was happy when I drove off in the mini afterwards.


Kinja'd!!! E92M3 > Andrew Fails
08/04/2015 at 00:00

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Yup, Audi’s suffer the same problem. They are capable, but no fun. The Mini has to be the most fun you can have in a FWD car. Well except for maybe the Fiesta ST, but I haven’t driven one of those yet.


Kinja'd!!! Berang > Andrew Fails
08/04/2015 at 02:53

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Why not get an older, funner car then?


Kinja'd!!! Vagina High Priestess > Andrew Fails
08/04/2015 at 05:13

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I love my 09 cooper S. It's the only car I've owned that I haven't gotten bored of driving it.


Kinja'd!!! Andrew Fails > E92M3
08/04/2015 at 08:59

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Oddly enough, I wrote a piece on the Audi S6 recently.

And yes, I badly need to try out one of the Fiesta STs.


Kinja'd!!! wiffleballtony > Andrew Fails
08/04/2015 at 10:17

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I do like the Mini but the price and reliability always prevent me from recommending one.


Kinja'd!!! Andrew Fails > wiffleballtony
08/04/2015 at 11:01

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It’s probably the least reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned. But one of the most fun.


Kinja'd!!! wiffleballtony > Andrew Fails
08/04/2015 at 11:22

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Seems those traits are closely related.


Kinja'd!!! Levitas > Andrew Fails
08/04/2015 at 19:58

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I actually bought a Fiesta ST when I traded in my MINI. Two very different vehicles, but both hilariously fun.

My quick OPPO review would be the MINI has better steering feel and dynamic response, the FiST is just a little too quick to turn in and get a little out of shape. The torque in the FiST is nice, especially on on-ramps. But, revving the FiST out to 6000 just isnt nearly as emotionally exciting as in the MINI.

And the FiST is harder to see out of because of the more slanted windshield, and I personally think the MINI headlights are better. Since I work at Ford I’ve been trying desperately to get a hold of a Euro-spec set of projector housings, but alas no luck.

#nitpick


Kinja'd!!! PetyrBaelish > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/05/2015 at 00:10

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only?

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Kinja'd!!! Mini-Bitty-S > Andrew Fails
08/19/2015 at 15:18

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I always said, “People who don’t like Mini Coopers have never driven one.”

I have a love/hate relationship with my 09, but it makes me smile everyday as well.


Kinja'd!!! Andrew Fails > Mini-Bitty-S
08/19/2015 at 15:22

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I’ve spent probably $2,400 in repairs this year, which makes it the least reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned.

That being said, it may be my favorite car I’ve ever owned. I don’t regret the trade at all, but I do wish they’d sourced a different engine.


Kinja'd!!! EtrnL_Frost > wiffleballtony
08/19/2015 at 18:52

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Well, after you see how MINI makes you treat those bushings...


Kinja'd!!! EtrnL_Frost > Andrew Fails
08/19/2015 at 18:52

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dear lord what did you break


Kinja'd!!! Andrew Fails > EtrnL_Frost
08/19/2015 at 19:00

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In the span of a couple months the thermostat housing broke, the AC condenser got a hole in it, and one of the supports for the timing chain snapped.


Kinja'd!!! blacktruck18 > Andrew Fails
08/19/2015 at 19:46

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Fully agree, I test drove a Mini before I bought my truck and I loved it. It is the only FWD car I have driven that I would want to own. They are an absolute blast.


Kinja'd!!! EtrnL_Frost > Andrew Fails
08/19/2015 at 22:00

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Ouch, that last one :(


Kinja'd!!! Andrew Fails > EtrnL_Frost
08/19/2015 at 22:31

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That alone was $1,600. Timing chain got slack, causing the cam to skip a tooth. When the mechanic pulls the head off and there is broken metal inside...that’s bad.


Kinja'd!!! mtdrift > Andrew Fails
08/20/2015 at 06:03

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For all its faults (some of which are brought on, honestly, by my own modifications, e.g., the teeth-rattling ride exacerbated by the Koni Sports I installed), my ‘04 Cooper S (R53) has been one of my alltime favorite cars. I don’t forsee selling it, even if I get a new ride - I’ll probably just turn it into a dedicated track/hillclimb car. Even after almost 120,000 miles, it still puts a smile on my face every time I get behind the wheel. And, it’s been pretty reliable - the only real failure has been the power steering, a common problem, and which was replaced under warranty.

I’m currently replacing the clutch myself (a slow process for one guy), and I’ve found it pretty easy to wrench on for a modern car (I’m used to aircooled VWs and Jeeps).

Complaints? The dash is full of squeaks now, the seats are pretty uncomfortable for long sints, those narrow tires you mention tend to wear out pretty quickly under heavy autocross and trackday use (open diff, adequate of power in a FWD car). Kinda noisy on the highway.

I’ve made only three major modifications to mine - R56 front brake updgrade (very easy, with salvage yard parts), larger rear sway bar (Alta), and 15% underdrive pulley.


Kinja'd!!! Mini-Bitty-S > Andrew Fails
08/21/2015 at 12:27

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I had to replace my AC condenser as well. $86.00 from Rock Auto and put it in myself. Luckily the high pressure fuel pump was under warranty so they replaced that for free. My one piece of advice would be to use the Mini recommended parts. I had a Mini mechanic tell that that my car was missing because I didn’t use the right brand plug when I changed them. I switched the brand new plugs, and it cured the problem. Nuts. They are very temperamental.


Kinja'd!!! Andrew Fails > Mini-Bitty-S
08/21/2015 at 13:58

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I think my condenser was around $150 from Pelican Parts, and I installed it myself. It’s not a genuine Mini part, but I think it was one of the OEM suppliers.


Kinja'd!!! Skamanda > Andrew Fails
09/02/2015 at 10:15

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Soooo.....have you not driven your R56 hard yet? :) Everything you said about power is odd to me, and this is coming from an R55 owner. You’ve got less weight (over 100lbs) on mine, and in mine there’s enough punch to be at unreasonable (read- illegal on any US highway) speeds, with 2 gears still to go. Just how fast are you expecting to drive on public roads? When it’s on overboost (which if you’re driving like you sound like you are), it’s only got 65 horsepower less than a WRX and it’s around 700lbs lighter (comparing 2011 R56 to the 2011 WRX, since I don’t know which years you had/have)...

If you must have more horsepower, check this thing out. It should take you at least to JCW levels of horsepower.

First thing you should do though, is upgrade the tires and rear sway bar. The improvement in the steering from the sway bar is mind blowing (more direct, not more “composed”). Also, dont’ worry about the upgrade to 215s. You’re not going to lose the darty, razors edge driving feel. I’ve been running 215/45R17 on mine (if you’re not going as insane as the Direzzas, the Conti ExtremeContact DW is the tire of choice among MINI owners), and swap back to 195 snows in the winter, and it drives about the same on either in the ways you’re worried about (as long as the snows aren’t at the limits of their grip, but that’s a given at any size).

EDIT: OH! And lest I forget...Get a catch can, if it doesn’t have one already! Your intake valves will thank you!


Kinja'd!!! Skamanda > Levitas
09/02/2015 at 10:19

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You sold your MINI for a FiST? It was the employee pricing, wasn’t it?

I can’t imagine swapping my R55 for any ford but a FoRS, and on price and availability I doubt I’m gonna go that route. I’d rather keep my MINI and turn it into my track car.


Kinja'd!!! Skamanda > Andrew Fails
09/02/2015 at 10:22

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Is yours pre-2011? The n14 had nasty issues with the timing chain tensioner. The n18 in the 2011 and later models completely fixed the issue. I’m at almost 100k on my 2011 R55, and it’s pretty much been maintenance and upgrades only...

The timing chain tensioner is the biggest thing to watch out for when buying a used MINI...


Kinja'd!!! Skamanda > wiffleballtony
09/02/2015 at 10:24

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If you get a later year R53 that’s been well maintained, or an R56 from 2011 or later, the reliability is actually pretty decent. The early R53s suffered from being a completely new everything, and the n14 engine in the pre-2011 2nd gens suffered from some pretty nasty issues with the timing chain tensioner failing (which was fixed when they switched to the n18 engine in 2011).


Kinja'd!!! Andrew Fails > Skamanda
09/02/2015 at 10:33

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I’m all stock for the moment, except from switching to Continental DWS tires. As for the speed, my sense of acceleration is skewed because my other vehicle does 0-60 in sub 4 seconds, and I regularly drive 500-600hp cars for work. I’ll certainly look into a catch can and sway bar, once I pay off the last mechanic bill.


Kinja'd!!! Andrew Fails > Skamanda
09/02/2015 at 10:35

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Yep, a support strut for the timing chain snapped, and cost me $1,600. I love the chassis, but kind of hate that engine.


Kinja'd!!! Skamanda > Andrew Fails
09/02/2015 at 10:47

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The DWS is a good compromise for all seasons. I used them on my last Impreza, since I wasn’t planning on spending enough on it to have a set of dedicated snows. If you live in an area that gets snow, but most of the time the roads are dry and salty, check out the Dunlop SP Winter Sports. They’re winter compound and great on snow (I drove several hundred miles in 100+ mile stints during blizzards this past winter on them without issue), and they’ve got probably the best dry pavement traction of any snow tire out there. You’ll want a second set of rims for them, but that’s what I use my factory wheels for. My summers sit on bigger, much lighter wheels.

When you get a catch can, plan some way to drain it. I tried pulling mine out last time, and just got watery goop everywhere. That was fun to clean up! Some sort of small hand pump or a heavy duty syringe with some hose attached would have been a way better idea...


Kinja'd!!! Skamanda > Andrew Fails
09/02/2015 at 10:48

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Well, in theory you could swap enough stuff to put an n18 in it!

yeah...that’d be kinda spendy. Probably near what the Subaru kids pay for WRX swaps...


Kinja'd!!! King_squid > Skamanda
09/02/2015 at 12:25

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And a Detroit speed oil line kit for when the stock one craps out!


Kinja'd!!! Skamanda > King_squid
09/02/2015 at 13:33

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That’d be Detroit Tuned , but absolutely! The factory oil line is little, and fragile. The DT one is definitely a worthwhile investment in helping with the longevity of your turbo. You will want to wait until you’ve got some reason to tear the front end off though, if yours isn’t showing signs of age. It’s kind of in a spot that you can’t get to without seriously pulling most of the front of the car off...

But absolutely do check out DT. They’re the place to go to have a MINI worked on in North America! People come from all over the place to have their cars worked on and upgraded. Their Big Brake Kit is quite nice, from what I hear...


Kinja'd!!! fletchenhoffer > Andrew Fails
09/02/2015 at 14:56

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I came here to make a joke:)

I assume you got divorced :) slower car. Lost half or your money and your reason for 4 doors.


Kinja'd!!! Andrew Fails > fletchenhoffer
09/02/2015 at 15:57

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Hah, nope. Just wanted something that was fun at legal speeds. The WRX was going to get me arrested.


Kinja'd!!! Levitas > Skamanda
09/02/2015 at 18:08

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I did, and it was partially because of the pricing. It was mostly because I had an r50, and the transmission was on its way out again, after only 23k miles. So I really needed something functional, that I could depend on for the 30+ mile commute each day in heavy traffic at 80+mph.

My plan is to find a nice r53 once I take a full time job, and most likely dump the FiST for the FoRS. Have a daily, but a nice car I can basically depend on all year


Kinja'd!!! elightbo > mtdrift
09/16/2015 at 09:05

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Thanks for your post! I just picked up an ‘06 R53 about three weeks ago and absolutely love it. The upgrades you have done are pretty much exactly what I have planned so far. The only problem I have is that if I do the R56 / JCW brake upgrade, I’ll also need to upgrade my wheels and tires because my 16s just barely clear the larger calipers. I’m concerned I’ll lose some of the nimbleness with the slightly wider tire. How have you liked yours so far? Love the fact that I can throw on remanufactured JCW calipers from rock auto on it or so cheap. The previous owner also put on low rollling resistance tires, so it will also get a nice tire upgrade at that time.

It’s awesome to hear that after all those miles it’s still pulling hard. I had that concern since I came from driving almost all Japanese cars, whose reliability are typically much better.

My dash is also full of squeaks, and I blame almost all of it on the radio pillar things. I’m going to have to come up with a way to pad those.

Did you have to add extra cooling (bigger intercooler / meth) with the reduction pulley?

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Kinja'd!!! mtdrift > elightbo
09/16/2015 at 11:13

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Nice! I always liked the BRG/White color scheme. Oddly enough, back in 2003 when the new Minis hit the market I ordered one straight from the dealer in this very combination, with the same wheels. But, I had to cancel the order when I was offered a new job in a large city, and I didn’t need the car. It took me 10 years to finally get my Mini - I bought my ‘04 used off of a friend of mine.

So, I run three sets of wheels - my winters are 16” steelies with Blizzaks, my track setup are 16s (TR Motorsports C1s - priced very reasonably, and quite light) with 205/45 Toyo R1Rs, and my summer wheels are the stock Minilite-style 17s with 215 section Cooper RS3-S’s. I’m not sure if it’s the wheel design, or what, but I don’t have any clearance issues with the R56 brakes and my 16” wheels. It’s definitely tight in there, though. As for a reduction in steering feel, I notice more the significant unsprung weight increase in the stock rims over the C1s, rather than the footprint. I really like those Coopers, by the way. I bought them on a whim because they were on sale, but they’re a great everyday warm weather tire.

The brakes are a godsend - my local track has long straights with very, very slow-speed turns at the end of each, and the stock brakes just couldn’t keep up. I added Hawk HP+ pads, steel lines, and Motul 600 fluid to the setup and never looked back. I run EBC greenstuff as my street pad.

I’ve never had a cooling issue with the underdrive pulley (Cravenspeed), but I also live in Montana. The power bump is really nice - very useable torque curve and more “breath” at the top end. Make sure you change to the “cooler” JCW-spec spark plugs. It was a PITA to install, though.

When you go to change your pulley, let me know, I’ll sell you my pulley puller cheap!

My Mini, doin’ work:

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Kinja'd!!! elightbo > mtdrift
09/16/2015 at 15:39

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Thanks for the reply; there’s some great info here! I copied this all down to my running list of MINI notes. My x-lite wheels aren’t on MINI’s list of approved wheels for the brake upgrade, and getting wheel weights to work with the tight clearance is tough if you don’t put the weights on the outside of the rim.

I’ll be keeping my eyes open for used wheels on northamericanmotoring.com this winter while it sits in the garage. I think that I’ll buy a nice set of tires for the new (to me) wheels that are fine for autocrossing / tracking, but probably lean more on the side of street use. So far the Pilot Super Sports are on my wish list. Maybe in a year or so I can get a set of dedicated track wheels; who knows. I’ll also make sure to keep the new wheels as light as the x-lites and hope for the best.

Thanks for all the info, and the MINI looks right at home. I’ll definitely hit you up when I do the pulley upgrade.


Kinja'd!!! elightbo > mtdrift
09/16/2015 at 15:42

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Also, I think it’s so cool you wound up getting your MINI 10 years after you initially were going to get it. Way to be patient man.


Kinja'd!!! Desu-San-Desu > Andrew Fails
09/18/2015 at 06:29

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I have an ‘06 Cooper S and everything so say is absolutely true, with the caveat that mine is supercharged instead of turbo’d. I love my Cooper to the point that it’s hard for me to imagine myself driving anything else.

Except maybe a new Miata. I wanna try one of those, haha.


Kinja'd!!! Andrew Fails > Desu-San-Desu
09/18/2015 at 11:24

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I kind of wish I had the older supercharged one. The motor in my R56 is not the most reliable thing.


Kinja'd!!! Desu-San-Desu > Andrew Fails
09/21/2015 at 17:52

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The older ones had their issues, but most of them were accessory-related, not internal engine failures. Even so, the majority of the existing issues were ironed out by the ‘05 and ‘06 years. For that reason, along with revised gearing, is why those two years are considered the best years for used Cooper S’.


Kinja'd!!! Grumble with the pugs > elightbo
09/26/2015 at 15:30

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FACT: those wheels WILL clear the JCW/R56 calipers. Its tight but doable, because I did that. If I can find an image of mine to post I will.

EDIT: photo link.

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Kinja'd!!! Jamal > Andrew Fails
08/09/2016 at 21:09

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Glad I read this, I really needed the input because I’m finding myself in this exact scenario, sort of. Your words about the Subie’s performance and having to push it really hard struck a chord with me. I had a 15' Cooper S for about 3 months before it got totalled (engine mounts snapped.. and well you know). Afterwards I got a 16' WRX Limited and while it is significantly faster, especially with the performance mods I’ve given it, one really must push it before it starts to truly get busy. It drives much differently compared to the MINI and it’s not exactly better in that regard. My mom has a Coupe model and I’ve been driving it will my rim is being repaired. Response and handling just gave me so much nostalgia from the short time I had my S and really the only thing it’s lacking in is power. Thinking about trading up the WRX for a 16 S again. I like the AWD for the Jersey winters but I had an easier time in the MINI due to it’s size so that’s not a huge takeaway. Thanks for the insight, I think I’m positive in the direction I want to go. The Subie is amazing, I’m just not that into it though. But damn will I sure miss the power..


Kinja'd!!! Andrew Fails > Jamal
08/09/2016 at 21:31

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Glad I was able to help! I honestly don’t miss the power that much, but I do miss the suspension compliance sometimes. Also, snow/ice storms are a little less fun, but a good handbrake pull helps get the Mini turned.


Kinja'd!!! KLaufs > Andrew Fails
04/02/2019 at 15:13

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Not sure if you still check comments on this blog, but hoping you do. When switching from the WRX to Cooper, did you experience more jerkiness when up and downshifting? I have been in a Subaru for 20 years and recently test drove a 2014 Cooper S. The car jerked so much more when I was shifting. I am trying to decide if it is just a learning curve or something else. I also drove a ‘15 Cooper S automatic and it was so smooth that for the first time ever I am considering an automatic. I almost feel dirty - or maybe this is a sign that I am getting older.

Would love your opinion! 


Kinja'd!!! Andrew Fails > KLaufs
04/02/2019 at 22:51

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Hmm...I haven’t put much seat time in the new Coopers. Mine is the previous generation. I do know that the clutch in mine was SUPER light compared to the WRX’s, so maybe that’s part of it. Or it may just be a case of everything in the Mini is so much tighter that it really exaggerates any misstep. It took me a while to get used to how much the steering wheel would move on hitting bumps mid-corner. I always felt like the whole car must be jumping sideways.

I think that Minis are best with a manual, if your situation (traffic, etc) doesn’t prevent it. So I’d recommend driving another stick shift one, just to see if it was a fluke.

Good luck!