I have had this coupe "S" (loaner) for five days now and had a chance to really give it a test drive. At first the visibility seemed limited, but I think that was because I was use to the hatch. After a couple of days I adjusted and all was fine. The car is fun to drive, handles differently then the hatch, has tighter suspension, seems to hug the turns very well and is smooth on the freeway. I really think it handles better then the hatch (to me anyway) and I like it. I don't see a need for any major mods. Cabin heats up faster (smaller I guess), interior lay out is nice and the trunk is large. I also like the moving spoiler (just me). Playing on the MINI site, I have found that a JCW, black body and red roof is a combo I can live with. Sooooooooo, down the road, the next MINI will be a coupe without a doubt. That is provided they don't screw it all up before I am ready to buy one.
Yes Nathan the saddle fits fine. I could only get five chickens in the boot, because Hazel wanted to drive and would not stay back there.
Nice hearing your thoughts on the coupe Jim. I've seen a black with red roof coupe & to my old eyes it looked pretty darned good.
Better hurry up and order one, I'm thinking they have a short shelf life in the grand scheme of all things MINI and will be discontinued soon...
Jim I don't think you would be sorry. I had an 06 R53 for six years before I bought a 2012 R58 JCW (clone of Mark's!). It took a short while to get used to it but I like it more than the R53 that I loved dearly.
Oh dear! I hope this doesn't foretell to demise of Foggie. Foggie's graphics alone are worthy of preservation.
Not anytime soon Friskie. Just planning for down the road. I was taught that you should always have a plan...even if it is a bad one.
I had a Justa as a courtesy car a few weeks ago for a couple of days and I concur with your observations. The handling is definitely different than the hatch. A different balance, maybe. The spoiler is kind of cool watching go up and down.
It definitely carries its weight differently. The center of gravity differs from the hatch. And the stiffer ride saves you money on a sway bar. You really don't need one with the Coupe. You can get an all-black Coupe, if you want. There are quite a few of them around. Sure, they aren't for everybody. The press loves to say they're ugly. In the real world scenario, though, I've found that not to be quite the case. At least once every 48 hours someone comments on it, asks questions at red lights and in parking lots. I've even had visitors to my building at work hunt me down to ask about it and leave notes on it to tell me they think it's cool. It only annoys me when someone takes a picture of it. Sometimes I just want to get in the car and go and not be delayed by a pic and a chat. I think we'll stop seeing production at the end of the '14 cycle. And they appear to be holding value quite well. Mine is worth about $1K less than I paid for it more than 18 months ago. Not that the value much matters to me. I kinda like him and I think I'll keep him.
....add a 25mm competition rear sway bar and you'll go out of your mind if you currently like the stock one. It makes the Coupe a different car!
I have a dilemma.... I really enjoy my Coupe and like JenLane said above, it constantly receives compliments, thumbs up, etc But it will not get my wife and I and a couple dogs Xcountry next summer for. MTTS 2014 She strongly suggests trading it in for a CMan S AWD which would be a great winter mini, as I try to garage the Coupe as much as possible I don't want to part with it even though she hates it! What to do, Dear Abby? pac
Trade the coupe in PAC you still have the R53 which the best MINI to have. Plus keeping your wife happy will cost less than taking her to King of Prussia mall.
If you get a CMAN JCW to replace the Coupe, you will not have any regrets. I suggest the sport suspension with the 19s and summer tires. Esp. for MTTS, we are going to have a blast in Colorado. Don