POLL: is the Mini Cooper (non S or S) a "chick" car??

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Tiny ass underpowered FWD car that everyone thinks is cute?

Sounds like a chick car to me.

Viper GTS

Underpowered? I think people need to start rethinking the meaning of underpowered.
Underpowered means "Not enough power." As in you can't safely merge in traffic. You can't make it up steep hills.

Underpowered does not mean "Can't do a 10-second 1/4 mile" or "I don't like this car."
It's not a high-performance racecar, it's a high-end econobox!

BTW, I posted this. Forum glitch.

 

[PatboyX]

femmy vehicle.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: PatboyX
femmy vehicle.

What do you drive?

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: PatboyX
femmy vehicle.

What do you drive?

He drives a RAV4...

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: PatboyX
femmy vehicle.

What do you drive?

He drives a RAV4...

LOL, like he's one to talk

 

[StageLeft]

I see more men driving Miatas and Coopers S's than I do women.

So, it's still commonly seen as a girly car. Must we make another poll?

 

[Viper GTS]

Some of you are seriously over estimating this car's HP & underestimating it's weight.

The facts according to Edmunds:

2004 MINI Cooper
2524 lbs (curb)
115 hp
110 ft-lbs

2004 MINI Cooper S
2678 lbs (curb)
163 hp
155 ft-lbs

Yes, the JC version is better @ 200 hp, but especially in non S trim it's not going to be very quick.

Just for comparison:

2004 V6 Mustang Coupe

3290 lbs
190 HP
220 ft-lbs

2004 V8 Mustang Coupe

3347 lbs
260 HP
302 ft-lbs

HP/weight ratios (*100):

V8 Mustang = 7.768
Mini Cooper S = 6.087
V6 Mustang = 5.775
Mini Cooper = 4.556

Torque/weight ratios (*100):

V8 Mustang = 9.023
V6 Mustang = 6.687
Mini Cooper S = 5.788
Mini Cooper = 4.358

Even in S trim it fares only ever so slightly better than a V6 Mustang in hp/weight, and significantly worse than the V6 'Stang in torque/weight. Also remember when you add a driver + passengers the impact on those ratios is going to be much more severe on the Cooper.

The V6 Mustang is the quintessential chick car, what does that make the Mini Cooper?

A quick Google search yields 200 hp / 177 ft-lbs for the Works version, anybody happen to know what it weighs?

Viper GTS

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Some of you are seriously over estimating this car's HP & underestimating it's weight.

The facts according to Edmunds:

2004 MINI Cooper
2524 lbs (curb)
115 hp
110 ft-lbs

2004 MINI Cooper S
2678 lbs (curb)
163 hp
155 ft-lbs

Yes, the JC version is better @ 200 hp, but especially in non S trim it's not going to be very quick.

Just for comparison:

2004 V6 Mustang Coupe

3290 lbs
190 HP
220 ft-lbs

2004 V8 Mustang Coupe

3347 lbs
260 HP
302 ft-lbs

HP/weight ratios (*100):

V8 Mustang = 7.768
Mini Cooper S = 6.087
V6 Mustang = 5.775
Mini Cooper = 4.556

Torque/weight ratios (*100):

V8 Mustang = 9.023
V6 Mustang = 6.687
Mini Cooper S = 5.788
Mini Cooper = 4.358

Even in S trim it fares only ever so slightly better than a V6 Mustang in hp/weight, and significantly worse than the V6 'Stang in torque/weight.

The V6 Mustang is the quintessential chick car, what does that make the Mini Cooper?

A quick Google search yields 200 hp / 177 ft-lbs for the Works version, anybody happen to know what it weighs?

Viper GTS

You can throw out all the numbers you want, but that really does NOTHING to prove your point. Regardless, a Mini Cooper S would seriously own a V6 stang on all fronts.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: NFS4You can throw out all the numbers you want, but that really does NOTHING to prove your point. Regardless, a Mini Cooper would seriously own a V6 stang on all fronts.

How do you figure?

With a driver the V6 Mustang will essentially have an equal (or better) HP/weight ratio than the Cooper S, a significantly better torque/weight ratio than the Cooper S, AND it's RWD.

The only thing the Cooper MIGHT have an advantage on is autocross, which is a VERY small piece of performance. The non S Cooper isn't even a competitor, in S trim it would be lagging at the V6 Stang's heels, and even the apparently godlike Works version would be left in the dust by the GT at roughly the same cost.

They might be neat little cars, but high performance they're not.

Viper GTS

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: NFS4You can throw out all the numbers you want, but that really does NOTHING to prove your point. Regardless, a Mini Cooper would seriously own a V6 stang on all fronts.

How do you figure?

With a driver the V6 Mustang will essentially have an equal (or better) HP/weight ratio than the Cooper S, a significantly better torque/weight ratio than the Cooper S, AND it's RWD.

The only thing the Cooper MIGHT have an advantage on is autocross, which is a VERY small piece of performance. The non S Cooper isn't even a competitor, in S trim it would be lagging at the V6 Stang's heels, and even the apparently godlike Works version would be left in the dust by the GT at roughly the same cost.

They might be neat little cars, but high performance they're not.

Viper GTS

Who said anything about them being high performance? You're trying to classify it as such when it is little more than a hot hatch.

Your claim that the Cooper S is underpowered is what everyone is taking issue with when in fact, it's far from being so. Would you call a Mazda 3s or a Civic Si or a Nissan Sentra SE-R underpowered?

 

[phantom309]

I don't know that it's a chick car, but it pretty much screams "I AM A METROSEXUAL".

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
They might be neat little cars, but high performance they're not.

I'll give you that, but "underpowered" doesn't make sense. They aren't meant to be high performance. As I said before under the nomme de plume dmcowen674, they are high-end econoboxes.

They certainly have enough power to merge in traffic and get up hills.

How else do you define underpowered?

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: NFS4You can throw out all the numbers you want, but that really does NOTHING to prove your point. Regardless, a Mini Cooper would seriously own a V6 stang on all fronts.

How do you figure?

With a driver the V6 Mustang will essentially have an equal (or better) HP/weight ratio than the Cooper S, a significantly better torque/weight ratio than the Cooper S, AND it's RWD.

The only thing the Cooper MIGHT have an advantage on is autocross, which is a VERY small piece of performance. The non S Cooper isn't even a competitor, in S trim it would be lagging at the V6 Stang's heels, and even the apparently godlike Works version would be left in the dust by the GT at roughly the same cost.

They might be neat little cars, but high performance they're not.

Viper GTS

Who said anything about them being high performance? You're trying to classify it as such when it is little more than a hot hatch.

Your claim that the Cooper S is underpowered is what everyone is taking issue with when in fact, it's far from being so. Would you call a Mazda 3s or a Civic Si or a Nissan Sentra SE-R underpowered?

You yourself said:

...a Mini Cooper would seriously own a V6 stang on all fronts.

Perhaps high performance wasn't the best way to say it... Performance value maybe? Even remotely quick? However you try to spin it, a Cooper S is at BEST the performance equivalent of a V6 Mustang (and even that would be a stretch).

Basically it comes down to this:

- They aren't that fast
- They aren't that cheap
- Yes, they're cute and fun

Viper GTS

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: NFS4You can throw out all the numbers you want, but that really does NOTHING to prove your point. Regardless, a Mini Cooper would seriously own a V6 stang on all fronts.

How do you figure?

With a driver the V6 Mustang will essentially have an equal (or better) HP/weight ratio than the Cooper S, a significantly better torque/weight ratio than the Cooper S, AND it's RWD.

The only thing the Cooper MIGHT have an advantage on is autocross, which is a VERY small piece of performance. The non S Cooper isn't even a competitor, in S trim it would be lagging at the V6 Stang's heels, and even the apparently godlike Works version would be left in the dust by the GT at roughly the same cost.

They might be neat little cars, but high performance they're not.

Viper GTS

Who said anything about them being high performance? You're trying to classify it as such when it is little more than a hot hatch.

Your claim that the Cooper S is underpowered is what everyone is taking issue with when in fact, it's far from being so. Would you call a Mazda 3s or a Civic Si or a Nissan Sentra SE-R underpowered?

You yourself said:

...a Mini Cooper would seriously own a V6 stang on all fronts.

Perhaps high performance wasn't the best way to say it... Performance value maybe? Even remotely quick? However you try to spin it, a Cooper S is at BEST the performance equivalent of a V6 Mustang (and even that would be a stretch).

Basically it comes down to this:

- They aren't that fast
- They aren't that cheap
- Yes, they're cute and fun

Viper GTS

A Cooper S would out accelerate, out brake, out handle, out slalom and just about own in on the autocross. The Mustang V6 is little more than a 25 year old fox platform clinging on for deal life.

 

[BillGates]

Put it this way: if you're male and have concerns that a car MAY be a chick car, then you probably shouldn't be considering it. It's just like those people you see at the mall that make you think to yourself "hmmm, I wonder if that person is male or female" - basically if you have to think about it, it's a bad thing.

 

[Ilmater]

Why do you people ask these questions? CLEARLY if you have to ask, the answer's yes. It's not as clear-cut as the Miata, but unless you're British, it's a car for girls.

 

[BigSmooth]

I for one never said they were all that fast. Neither engine is particularly torquey and the new Mini is downright porky compared to the "classic" Mini. However, I agree with Jzero, they're not really about pure speed - more like the go-kart handling. If we start comparing them numbers-wise to pony cars of course they will lose. However, I still maintain that it's an enthusiast's car and in my mind it's not "girly".

I will add that both the S is getting a bump in hp & torque in July, which should make them (slightly) quicker. Mini estimates just over 7 seconds to 60 - still not what most people call "fast".

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Text
Enjoy

- M4H

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Text
Enjoy

- M4H

No stealing Jokersmoker's post format! :|

 

[beatle]

I voted no.

And a chastising pox on all you Miata haters!

 

[iamwiz82]

The standard MINI has enough power to get up and go, and thats all you really need. I can toss mine around a 90 degree at 50mph and not have it go careening off into the ditch, which is what I want.

If you enjoy going here: http://www.tailofthedragon.com/maps/RADAR_MAP.gif get the MINI

If you enjoy going here: http://www.aros.net/~mstahnky/humor/Newly%20Added%20Pictures/Drag%20Race%20Bus.jpg Then a Mustang is for you

And remember, Let?s not use the size of our car to compensate for our other shortcomings.

 

[MazerRackham]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
The standard MINI has enough power to get up and go, and thats all you really need. I can toss mine around a 90 degree at 50mph and not have it go careening off into the ditch, which is what I want.

If you enjoy going here: http://www.tailofthedragon.com/maps/RADAR_MAP.gif get the MINI

If you enjoy going here: http://www.aros.net/~mstahnky/humor/Newly%20Added%20Pictures/Drag%20Race%20Bus.jpg Then a Mustang is for you

And remember, Let?s not use the size of our car to compensate for our other shortcomings.

LOL at those pics!!!

Yeah, I can understand everyone's arguments on this. I actually never thought of the Cooper S as a chick car until I told my friends that I wanted to get one, and they immediately told me that I'd look like an idiot driving one.

I don't think it's a chick car, I just thought it would be fun to see what y'alls thought about it...

 

[Lico]

My dad has a mini cooper s, I have a mustang gt. They're about the same speed, but the mini is a helluva lot more fun. lots more. sooo much more it's ridiculous how much more fun the mini is to drive than the mustang. And I've never heard anything about them being girl cars until 5 minutes ago when I started reading this thread.

 

[conjur]

Mini Cooper S would ROCK to own. I considered getting one but I need more room so I got a Mazda 6.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
- They aren't that cheap

They're not that cheap to buy, but they're exceedingly cheap to own. Edmund's bought a long-term Cooper S at MSRP in 2002 and sold it on Autotrader about a year later for only $700 less than the purchase price - and that was with 23K miles on it and a replaced tranny and clutch! Most cars depreciate way more than that the minute you drive them off the lot. While demand has cooled since then, their depreciation is still ridiculously low.

Plus they come with 3 years/36K miles free maintenance IIRC.