kazi

H-A.Net Car of the Week: 2003 MINI Cooper S
Category: Premium Compact Sport

Editorial: Because the mods won't let me do a full size truck for this week's COTW ( :fawk: ) I present to you the car that my wife has continuously been talking about all week on how much she wants one.

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Reviews

Car and Driver
Road and Track
MotorTrend
Edmund's First Drive
Edmund's Long-Term Road Test
CanucksDriver Preview
CanucksDriver Test Drive
Detroit News

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Specifications

General Information
- Base Price: $19,975
- Miles Per Gallon: 24/33
- Curb Weight: 2678 lbs
- Layout: FWD
- Transmission: 6-speed Getrag manual transmission with overdrive
- Suspension layout: struts (front)/multilink (rear)

Engine
- Type: I-4 SOHC SMPI 16 valve intercooled supercharger engine
- Displacement: 1.6L
- Horsepower: 163hp
- Torque: 155lbs
- Valve Gear: SOHC

Performance
0-60mph: 6.9sec (est)
More coming soon

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Competition

Acura RSX

160hp 2.0L - $20,450
200hp 2.0L - $23,670 (Type-S)

Dodge Neon SRT-4

215hp 2.4L - $19,995

Ford Focus SVT

170hp 2.0L - $17,995

Honda Civic Si

160hp 2.0L - $19,460

Hyundai Tiburon GTV6

170hp 2.7L V6 - $18,494

Mazda Mazdaspeed Protege Turbo

170hp 2.0L - $20,500

Mercury Cougar V6

170hp 2.5L V6- $17,495

Mitsubishi Eclipse

147hp 2.4L - $19,592
200hp 3.0L V6 - $21,782

Nissan Sentra Spec-V

175hp 2.5L - $17,739

Toyota Celica

140hp 1.8L - $17,790
180hp 1.8L - $22,455 (GT-S)

VW Beetle 1.8t

150hp 1.8L - $20,430
180hp 1.8L - $24,115 (Turbo S)

VW GTI

180hp 1.8L - $19,640
200hp 2.8L V6 - $22,570 (VR6)

kazi

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Gallery











Optional Navi (Speedo is moved on the steering wheel column next to the tach)


Old-school MINIs









Wallpaper

cheezthis

I have to admit, I see a lot of them here in Chicago...and they fit into tight parking spaces very nicely. However, I find myself liking the RSX-S more personally...just me though.

fastball

Hey, I didn't vote yet, but the dang thing told me I did. Oh, well..... I would like to vote for the RSX, if I could. Hands down. RSX-S has 'em all beat.

fastball

Okey dokey...... now it tells me I did vote. Good, I'm the only one to vote so far. Wait a minute: did you create this voting pole in Miami-Dade Florida?

mc_intergra

I voted for the Nissan Sentra SE-R. They look sharp, and I raced one in my GSR (with i/h/e) and it hung with me amazingly well. After two runs whith it I only could get about 2/3's a car length ahead. Those things are sweet. I would've voted for the RSX, but had to go with something besides honda.

yianni64

A)Before I vote, would I be voting for the RSX or the RSX Type S?
B) Why cant I vote for the Mini?

98CoupeV6

I went with the RSX....the only car that comes close to it is the MINI. The SE-R is waaaay too unrefined, the interior is HORRIBLE, the engine is very low-tech, and it's bland. I do love the torque and the LSD though. The Si is weaksauce, the Celica is ugly and gutless, SRT-4 is ugly, horriffic interior (worst of the bunch), and the engine is raucous. The Tib is a beautiful car but its suspension and engine setup absolutely SUCK. A very unimpressive car.

The RSX trails the MINI in looks, torque, handling, and cool crap...but I just cannot get over the MINI's horrible interior. It sucks. A center mounted speedo? weirdo steering column tach? C'mon, BMW. I love how you can accessorize it tho. I saw them at NYIAS and was very impressed with all the optional equipment and their looks. It is a tiny car but looks very good. retro yet modern.

Great job Kaz, very impressive :thumbup:

jaje

i'd have to tip my hat for the ms protege...my pr5 has excellent handling and weighs only 100lbs more than the fatty mini s (how does such a car the size of the beloved crx weigh ~2,700lbs?)...170hp/factory LSD w/ 2500lbs in the mazdaspeed protege sedan should easily beat the mini s in almost all track comparisons

as for refinement...the rsx coupes are so well made in fit and finish...and the engine is to die for...but its hard to negotiate 23k pricetag drives me towards the ms protege

now that i've seen several spec v and se-rs on the road...they look kinda funny with the oversized wheels...like rice...i'm glad i didn't give the sentra a 2nd thought

yianni64

Even thought its the size of a CRX, its frame and chassis are bigger/heavier and the thing itself was built with saftey in mind. It's also (like BMW's) for the lack of a better word, very sturdy. Not to mention I head BMW weights the car with a full tank of gas an a 180lbs driver.

On the the Mini is oozing and the Mazda is lacking is overall interior quality. The Mazda and the Sentra both scream rice boi when I look at their interiors.

In that 23k, take into account resale value. Even though I might be wrong, I have a feeling the RSX-S will have a higher resale.

And I do have to agree about the Spec-V, it just seems pre-riced to me...