So was doing a little early morning reading (Currently in Europe). IS THE MINI COOPER S THE PERFECT DAILY DRIVER? I can say MINI's are all over the place in Italy. Ton's of them. I'm currently driving a fiat wagon.. wish I had a Mini especially with some of the parking around here. I of course would say a JCW or an S that is tuned. Based on @c0op3r post.. the JCW isn't just a ECU re-map but has different pistons. Assuming that is correct.. will have to go with JCW for more tuning options. C0oprs Post: 2016 MINI Cooper S with JCW Tuning Kit on the Dyno
@Sully when you, the MA overlord, post a link that does not work, I feel there is no hope! But you are correct on the JCW’s. The Gen ones had several add on, the Gen twos with the N14 had a bigger turbo, pistons and the block is beefed up at the mains, I believe. I am not sure what was done to the N18’s or those trashy GP2. Oh I don’t mean your trashy GP2 I am sure it’s a nice car
My R56 MCS has been my daily driver for about five years, this month. It get's great fuel economy, is easy to park anywhere... and it is fun! For me, yeah, it is the perfect daily driver. CD
Interesting.. wonder what happened there.. I was on vacation so I guess my brain was off drinking wine..
I have a daily driver R53, but with our winters here, it really only is perfect in spring, summer and fall. Over the last 3 months, I have been driving my daughter's Subaru Outback (2011 3.6L H6 engine), for about 5000 miles now, 4000 of which were a road trip to California and back. I love the big car for utility. It isn't a car to have fun in, no fun at all. It is transportation, and it gets that job done loaded up with gear and bikes and other junk, ski, etc. Anything beyond a grocery run, it will do better than my Mini, and it gets the same MPG with regular gas, so it's actually more economical. I used it to buy an air compressor recently. No way that would have fit in the back of my rear-seat delete Mini. But I don't think I'll sell my Mini to get into the world of head gasket and CVT failures or whatever else is not right in the world of Subarus.
I just test drove an F56 and it is a much better daily driver "car" but it is not a mini IMO I used to commute 50 miles in our r56 but I couldnt take it anymore, now I do it once every week or two in our r53 jcw.
Was curious so I looked up the size differences.. FYI here are the hatch model lengths: 1st Gen = 143.9 2nf Gen = 145.6 - 146.8 3rd Gen = 150.4
So if you ask any woman 6.9 extra inches does make a difference and not always in a positive way just like a MINI.
it's a rough stiff ride, the f56 I drove is very very softly sprung/valved in comparison, the body roll was no joke it was boat like but that translates into a more comfortable ride when the roads are shitty like they are around here
I have driven a few F56’s and they feel like a small Camry not really a MINI. The GM at my local MINI agrees and still has his R53. Every MINI is a great daily driver, as long as you work at the dealership.