Why not a COOPER S?
- Thread starter Pierre Racine
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chrunck
Well-Known Member
On our 2019 Clubman it remembers your setting, so it's not super annoying (unlike the sport button).
Biggest annoyances are stop signs, or if you pull into a turn lane and have to stop momentarily, or if you pull into the garage but need to creep forward another couple feet. If I can anticipate it, I'll hit the button or slide the shifter over to SD, which disables it, but there are still lots of times it shuts off when I don't want it to.
Biggest annoyances are stop signs, or if you pull into a turn lane and have to stop momentarily, or if you pull into the garage but need to creep forward another couple feet. If I can anticipate it, I'll hit the button or slide the shifter over to SD, which disables it, but there are still lots of times it shuts off when I don't want it to.
fasttr
Member
So I was thinking about the original question in this thread… Driving a
Cooper S (I’ve had 2 and a current Audi TT 225R) brings out a thrill like riding the old wooden roller coasters. The thrill of the exhaust sounds, the interaction of shifting, the neck snaps at every gear change, etc. The SE is like riding the modern steel tube roller coasters, blinding acceleration, so quiet it seems unreal, the quiet with that stuck to the road feeling is just different. I don’t know if it is for everyone, but as my original post stated, I am trying to save the world for my grandkids. And people have to start somewhere. It’s a blast to drive and I feel good about it! That’s it.
Cooper S (I’ve had 2 and a current Audi TT 225R) brings out a thrill like riding the old wooden roller coasters. The thrill of the exhaust sounds, the interaction of shifting, the neck snaps at every gear change, etc. The SE is like riding the modern steel tube roller coasters, blinding acceleration, so quiet it seems unreal, the quiet with that stuck to the road feeling is just different. I don’t know if it is for everyone, but as my original post stated, I am trying to save the world for my grandkids. And people have to start somewhere. It’s a blast to drive and I feel good about it! That’s it.
GvilleGuy
Well-Known Member
After 5,000 miles I still love my 2022 SE. No regrets. And I've reached the point where I'm starting to not even notice the EV aspects of it - it's just normal now. (quiet acceleration) I picked up my dad the other day and turned out of his neighborhood. He asked, "showing off the acceleration?" I looked down and I was only using about 30% power. I replied, "No, that was nothing. That was conservative acceleration for this car!" He thought I had floored it.
Carsten Haase
Well-Known Member
It's pretty crazy how fast the acceleration became normal! I wonder if the same thing would happen with a Plaid Tesla
I still marvel at my SE's quiet acceleration every time I drive it. I trust you floored the accelerator for a second immediately after your Dad's naive comment.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
I've lately found myself slowing down to try and activate the pedestrian warning noise when I'm around pedestrians, just to turn heads. Means nothing to me to slow down because of the regenerative braking and quick acceleration to get back to normal speed.
GvilleGuy
Well-Known Member
Nah - he's 85. Don't want to shake him around too much!
Teddydogno1
Active Member
I gave my Mom a ride in my 96 Corvette when I got it. Was just around the neighborhood and I wasn't really hitting it hard. Freaked her pretty good.
Rob
Rob
My late father was 93 when he got his one ride in my SE. When I was growing up he always drove sports cars and took my brother and I to sports car shows, so I couldn't wait to punch it for him--and he appreciated it. Last year, before the vaccine, when I couldn't visit him in person, I'd show stuff to him through his assisted-living apartment window. Here I am showing him one of the MINI Loop Spoke wheels I bought on eBay (the staff was amused and came out to take photos).
Luis Hoffer
Member
This thread this quite long but for anyone cross shopping between an ICE S and SE I finally have some experience with the ICE version. While my active grill shutters where being fixed at the dealer I was given a loaner Cooper S 4 Door. Here are my quick observations driving both cars back to back.
1. The ICE car is noisier at highway speeds. More road noise comes into the cabin. My only guess is that the MINI SE has more sound insulation in the bottom of the car than the ICE car. The transmission and exhaust tunnel for one is definitely an area with less sound insulation in the ICE version.
2. FELT SLOW: The ICE car was equipped with a DCT, it still felt painfully slow compared to the SE's instant power delivery. This is a well known advantage for Electric powertrains, but going back to a propulsion system that only offers torque in a limited rev range seems really archaic after owning the SE for 3 months.
3. The lower center of gravity makes a difference at 8/10ths. I took the ICE car on my morning commute which includes a sharp left turn that tests the limits of tire adhesion at about 30mph. The ICE car took the turn beautifully but I sensed that the weight transfer and body took more time to settle after straightening out the car. I'm no race car driver but the lower center of gravity instills more confidence when driving at the limit. The car settles quicker after loading and unloading the suspension. All these elements really come together beautifully in the SE and the outcome is a great street car.
I would love to drive a BMW I3s back to back. I test drove one 2 years ago and my vague memory recalls a wonderful car. As EV's continue to evolve and low range EV values plummet I would pick one of those up for the RWD layout and same punchy acceleration.
1. The ICE car is noisier at highway speeds. More road noise comes into the cabin. My only guess is that the MINI SE has more sound insulation in the bottom of the car than the ICE car. The transmission and exhaust tunnel for one is definitely an area with less sound insulation in the ICE version.
2. FELT SLOW: The ICE car was equipped with a DCT, it still felt painfully slow compared to the SE's instant power delivery. This is a well known advantage for Electric powertrains, but going back to a propulsion system that only offers torque in a limited rev range seems really archaic after owning the SE for 3 months.
3. The lower center of gravity makes a difference at 8/10ths. I took the ICE car on my morning commute which includes a sharp left turn that tests the limits of tire adhesion at about 30mph. The ICE car took the turn beautifully but I sensed that the weight transfer and body took more time to settle after straightening out the car. I'm no race car driver but the lower center of gravity instills more confidence when driving at the limit. The car settles quicker after loading and unloading the suspension. All these elements really come together beautifully in the SE and the outcome is a great street car.
I would love to drive a BMW I3s back to back. I test drove one 2 years ago and my vague memory recalls a wonderful car. As EV's continue to evolve and low range EV values plummet I would pick one of those up for the RWD layout and same punchy acceleration.
chrunck
Well-Known Member
Maybe some cars, but our ICE Mini doesn't have this problem.
kicksology
Member
Great observations Luis! I can't wait to take possession of my SE—hopefully in a few weeks!—so that I can finally experience it first-hand.
Regarding the BMW i3, I test-drove one a few years back as well and recall enjoying it more than I had expected to. The one thing that turned me off, though, was that the combination of the i3's highly raked windshield, long dash and short bonnet meant that, from my preferred seating position (as low as possible), I had no sight of the bonnet while driving.
Given the i3's short front-end, I wasn't worried about judging distance to cars ahead of me—it was more a matter of not being able to see the front corners of the i3 itself which, to me, diminished the driving experience. I suppose I'd probably get used to it, but it was a big factor in my decision to choose a different car.
In case you're interested, here are a couple of i3 vs Mini Cooper SE comparison videos...
Silly, but fun "drag race" between a BMW i3 and Mini Cooper SE (last year's model)
In-depth comparison between a 2021 BMW i3 and current model Mini Cooper SE
I've seen a few i3 vs SE comparisons, and I think it speaks well to the quality of the i3 that people who own it still seem to love it. And, as you noted, once the prices for used i3's come back down to earth, it would be a nifty car to own. As a gearhead, I very much appreciate the engineering that went into it—particularly its supercar-like carbon fiber body.
SpeedyRS
Well-Known Member
We took delivery of a new i3 about two months ago for my wife’s car and we both absolutely love it. We tried a number of EVs including the VW ID3, ID4 and Skoda Enyaq and the i3 was by far the best driving experience. Slightly smaller than the others, but not by much, and slightly less range but it’s worth it for the drive and the tech. It looks a bit odd and like it might be slow and unwieldy, but it’s neither. It’s a little nervous and twitchy on motorways due to those skinny tyres, but it just feels so agile everywhere else. I’m disappointed that BMW are stopping production because there are so many innovative ideas. It’s designed so well and it outclasses those brand new VW models in materials quality etc as well as the drive. I agonised over whether to get an i3S or the Mini Electric and the Mini won out due to the driving feel and equipment level. The i3S felt a bit more harsh due to the 20” wheels and sport suspension and the Mini felt more planted than the i3 and while I always prefer RWD, I can live with FWD in the Mini. The only thing I dislike in the i3 is the lack of touchscreen for CarPlay, but I know that the screen is set too far back to comfortably reach it, so you have to use the iDrive system. I can’t wait to pick up the Mini in a few weeks to see how living with it stacks up against living with the i3.
I predict the higher-tech but less fun i3 will be relegated to trips where you'll be ferrying adults in the rear seat. Our larger Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid hates our MINI Cooper SE because my wife decided she likes the MINI better, too.
SpeedyRS
Well-Known Member
I suspect you might be right based on the Mini test drive we both had, though she does prefer the slightly higher seating position of the i3.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
I've mentioned this before, but I really think the SE is the successor to the i3. Considering the success of the SE it makes sense BMW doesn't want to make the i3 anymore. It really doesn't fit in well with the rest of the BMW brand, which is now well into electrification.
polyphonic
Well-Known Member
I have an i3 in addition to the SE. Both are amazing cars, and quite different despite their shared lineage.
The SE is a little race car. It has a lot of distinct advantages including price, normal tires, stability from 70-95 mph, and standard equipment like CarPlay, adaptive cornering LEDs, and the i3S drivetrain. The i3 is something from another planet. It glides along like a Scandinavian space pod. There's nothing like it.
The SE is a little race car. It has a lot of distinct advantages including price, normal tires, stability from 70-95 mph, and standard equipment like CarPlay, adaptive cornering LEDs, and the i3S drivetrain. The i3 is something from another planet. It glides along like a Scandinavian space pod. There's nothing like it.
ghost
Well-Known Member
Has anyone mention gas prices, yet?
We pay $0.09/kWh for electricity from 12:00-6:00 AM. I use about 12 kWh/day for my work commute. Not bad to pay around $1/day for "fuel". In addition, it's so convenient to be able to recharge at home and not have to make a separate trip to the gas station (and wait in line).
We pay $0.09/kWh for electricity from 12:00-6:00 AM. I use about 12 kWh/day for my work commute. Not bad to pay around $1/day for "fuel". In addition, it's so convenient to be able to recharge at home and not have to make a separate trip to the gas station (and wait in line).