[Kiwi]

Just had a test drive of the the manual Copper and what a load of fun. If I buy a Copper it will be the manual.

The engine sound fantastic and brought a smile back I'll have to test drive a Copper S but if the sound of the engine is not as good as the Copper I'll stay with the Copper.

 

[andyross37]

Hi Kiwi,

Auckland is my home city, though I now live in London.

The Cooper sounds fantastic, and having seen a video clip on youtube, the acceleration looks great also.

Do take the Cooper S out though, it may sound different with the 4 cylinder engine, but I'm sure you'll notice the difference.

We get Motorway Patrol over here, so having seen how tough the laws are there, I'd say the Cooper might be the better option as with an S, you'd just want to put your foot down all the time!

 

[MiloMini]

Kia Ora both!

I had a go in both cars and the Cooper was by far my favourite, so much so I've ordered one!!!:nerd:

 

[andyross37]

Kia Ora MiloMini

When did you place your order and when is your expected delivery date?

I haven't driven the Cooper, but it does seem quick from what I've seen

 

[MiloMini]

placed my order on the 1st of May and not expecting it until end of July, early August but as it's so close to September I'll probably wait for the new reg. I've waited this long, what's another 3 weeks!!

 

[VolcF56]

I got to test drive both on the launch weekend and I'd say for pure acceleration and the exhaust pops/burps the Cooper S would be amazing to have, but it's just out my price range at the moment (especially with some options added on). So I went for the Cooper, but it's still going to be tonnes of fun!!

I ordered at the start of April and have been told it's delayed until end of July now I'm hoping I get a surprise like some of the people on here and it turns up a bit earlier! Fingers Crossed!

 

[andyross37]

Well, you have to go with what you can afford. There's no point in having a car if you can't afford to do anything with it, and you'll have a lot of fun with the Cooper.....when you eventually get it!

 

[Kiwi]

I had a long test drive of the manual CopperS yesterday and enjoyed most of the test drive until going up hill around a corner and the CopperS just keep going straight instead of around the corner. It's been years since I have driven a front well drive at speed through a corner and I was disappointed but may be not enough to not buy a copper as our second car.

I've driven the same corners in my 2012 BMW 116i and it just drives around the corner same speed. The Mini doesn't have the capability compered to a rear wheel drive BMW.

It's fun comparing the Mini against BMW and it's so called go-kart corner which it doesn't have.

Before you guys make comment have a drive of the BMW 1 series which you can buy a 2014 low milage for around the same price as the Copper S auto. The problem in New Zealand is BMW do not import manuals only on special order so I'm comparing the Mini with my 8 speed auto.

 

[lawrothegreat]

Front wheel drive cars will always tend towards understeer, but I've actually found the F56 MCS to be quite balanced on the limit. Were you increasing the throttle at the time / was it a greasy road?


I would expect an M135i to have higher cornering speeds, but not a standard 1-series so I'm quite surprised at that.

 

[Washy]

Have to say I have been impressed with the way the F56 gets down the road and my other car is an M135i

 

[palgt1]

My wife owns a 1 series BMW and there's no way I'd throw that into a corner like I would my MCS !

 

[andyross37]

Was the F56 you test drove equipped with Variable Damper Control?

 

[Kiwi]

G'day, Kia Ora

Only 4k speeding tolerance this Queens birthday Holiday weekend.

I've driven both the Copper and S manual and the Copper has the best sounding engine. Defiantly do not see paying $8k nz more for the S is worth it at all. The acceleration is a little better but the Copper engine sound is like being in my old BMW Z4 3L, just love it. I like the standard seats in the Copper as well as I cannot be bothered climbing out of the tight fitting sports seats. The standard radio is good I may add extra speakers but the trouble is you have to wait 3 months for special order.

I would like the convertible as I have done a lot of motorbike riding with the wife on the back but now she cannot ride so having a manual Copper soft-top would be the best of both worlds and I can ride my enduro bike once or twice a month over summer.

I'm driving my wife's 22 month old VW Polo as she doesn't like it due the dame terrible 7 speed auto. It's dangerous when trying to accelerate off from give ways as it just sits for a second then it decides to go, by then the gap in the traffic has almost gone. So she is driving my BMW 116i, well it was mine, but now hers. I'm pleased as I can get back into a manual.

 

[Bain]

I'll ask....

Hey Kiwi

Interested why you continue to refer to the Cooper as the "Copper"- intentional or unintentional? ( not a big deal, just interested if I've missed something)

I've driven the Cooper, a 116i and a Polo GTi (dsg).

You must have been driving the wheels of the Cooper to have a big understeer moment. The std wheels on a NZ spec Cooper are 16", and I found there was heaps of grip, and in general, the chassis very resistant to understeer.

I'm sure the 116i has a very fine RWD chassis, however I found it too underpowered to exploit it - love to try the M135i someday!

In terms of the DSG, I know they have a reputation for slow speed hesitancy, however the 2014 Polo GTi I drove recently didn't seem to suffer from this at all - perhaps new software?

 

[Kiwi]

I tend to type double letters back to front I should check my typing more. Cooper it will be!

My test drive was in a Cooper S with 50ks on the clock so maybe the 18" tires where not scrubbed in.

 

[Sootylove]

comparison

I have just ordered a Cooper - part of my reasoning why I went for that over a Cooper S, is that the new Cooper has more grunt than the last model Cooper S. So its not exactly slow. Plus so many cops around these days, Id only get in trouble in the S, and lets face it cornering is where its at. Hence a Mini. So few places you can ever use the straight line speed.

 

[johnan]

I have just ordered a Cooper - part of my reasoning why I went for that over a Cooper S, is that the new Cooper has more grunt than the last model Cooper S. So its not exactly slow. Plus so many cops around these days, Id only get in trouble in the S, and lets face it cornering is where its at. Hence a Mini. So few places you can ever use the straight line speed.

Good choice, now just make sure you choose the right colour!