Cooper S Fuel Economy & Ride

[jcelee]

I'm weighing up my options for a work commuting car - will be 20-25 miles a day and a fair bit of it urban but little other use and very rarely carry any passengers. I like the idea of a hot hatch of some sort and the Mini is certainly high up the short list. It would probably be a 2004 or 2005 slightly revised car.

However, my concerns about the Cooper S surround reports of a very very hard ride - combined with not the best seats and lousy fuel economy.

What fuel economy are you guys typically achieving? (30+ or less?!)
From a drivers perspective how comfortable / uncomfortable is it?
Are there now any decent aftermarket seats about?

Thanks!

Jon

[Marki]

Fuel economy poor ,, who told you that , kick them in the face right away

I comute 15km each way to work mostlty on motorway but the first 3-4 kms are urban and i get 8 lts per 100kms ,, sorry you got to work that out for your self but its about 35mpg or so

Yes they have a hard ride but when you get to some twistys you will be glad of that

[Raify]

Ride is a bit subjective, and will depend how big the wheels are and if the ruin-flats are still there.

I get about 24-28 in a Works S.

There are the John Cooper Works seats, which are fantastic IMHO.

[jcelee]

Those JCW sports seats look great but what price do they start at? Any ideas?

I'm looking for the most comfortable setup so would probably try to find a car on the standard 16" wheels and ultimately switch to non run-flats. Ultimately cornering speed is not important to me for a commuting car - I have a Caterham for that

[Raify]

jcelee said:

Those JCW sports seats look great but what price do they start at? Any ideas?

New, about £1250 IIRC.

[911JUS]

i got a cooper s works getting about 23-26mpg on average

J

[Bungleaio]

I've got an S convertible (heavier, more wind resistance) & I've fitted a GTT airfilter, I do a 10 mile motorway followed by about 25 mins of urban to get into work. I use the car for work on urban roads & My car averages 20-22 to the gallon. By far the worst economy I've ever had, but it's by far the best car i've ever had too.

I've got 17" wheels with runflats and sport suspension. the ride is firm but def no harsh.

The sport seats are very comfortable.

Sod the ecomomy get an S. To be honest the economy would be a lot better if the charger didn't sound so good. It's hard to resist making it whine!

[CooperS]

Echoing everyone else... use to get low 20's?

Now i've got the clio for the bit of fun, i drive as quick and as hard and manage mid to high 20's low 30's in that but its not as stylish or as go kart like as the S was .

The hard low ride is something i loved, mates didnt, and the clio feels far softer in that respect but tbh far more controlable at speed on bumpy roads but if your commuting i dont expect you'll worry about day to day???

Finallly the whine on the S is so hard not to get full use of you cant help not put your foot down, ah the memories you'll also have the burble that i miss now in the 182..

Makes me want to come back to the fold.....

[Naz 111]

Friend of mine has a cooper not s and the ride is very hard so expect a cooper s ride must be harder.I own a 911 and the ride is just as firm as his cooper.MPG is not that great on his cooper.