Cooper S vs. GT

[amazingarthur]

Friend of mine just got a Cooper S. He loves telling me how much faster it is than my Cruiser.

I drove it and it seems pretty quick, but it doesn't put you back in the seat like the GT. Maybe it's just perception, but I think I could take him.

Any first hand knowledge gentleman(and ladies)?

[Mike-in-Orange]

According to Car & Driver Magazine a Mini Cooper S will run 0-60 in 7sec and the 1/4 in 15.5 @ 90mph. Road & Track says 0-60 in 7.7sec and the 1/4 in 15.9 @ 89.3mph. I've seen C&D and R&T publish 0-60 times for a PTGT in the 7.2 - 7.5sec range, and S1 should get you there in just a tad under 7. And of course folks here are running the 1/4 in the mid to high 14's @ 92-95mph with S1.

He's making 163HP and 155lb-ft of torque in a much lighter package, but with S1 we're pulling 235-240HP and 260lb-ft of torque. You'll be real tight through 60 but then the PT will start pulling away and you'll kill him after that.
[8)]

Don't have S1? Should be a close race! You'll probably still beat him in the 1/4 though, but not by much. Either way, just make sure you have better reaction times!Heck, you're a magician - twist his Mini into a balloon turtle and it's all over!

[PianT]

When you are done beating him in the 1/4, ask him how the rear passengers feel after they unfold themselves from that Mini.

Then ask him about the trailer he'll buy so he can get more than one shoe and an empty paper bag in the "boot".

Maybe he should sell it to Jimbo, he could use it in his act.

[PTGT_Boy]

Stock v. Stock

The manual 5 speed GT's shouldn't have much of a problem vs. Cooper S.

The auto GT's may have a more difficult time, but proper use of the autostick should bring you a hairpin win.

If you do win the race, and someone gives you the excuse their car handles better...... Tell them, "Welcome to America, where the 1/4 mile is king and handling is second." [] (I'm not advocating street racing, just annoys me when people say their car handles better.)

[jramosGT]

Sorry, but I disagree that 1/4 mile is king, nor do I accept left turns only. Driving takes left and right turns, not just straights. The Cooper S will take an S1 GT in the curvies if not too many straight stretches (of course, given equally competent drivers).

Having said that, R&T does say that the GT will will stay with the Cooper S by making up any shortcomings in handling on the straights.

[PTGT_Boy]

I'll clarify my point more in depth. Here in America, it's a love affair for the 1/4 mile. WRX,EVO, SRT-4, Hondas, <add your sports car here> forums will have a wealth of posts in regards of the 1/4 mile. Street racers race for the 1/4 mile straights (or more), not auto-xing around the streets. There are posts in regards of auto-x, but doesn't generate as much posts or threads in regards of the 1/4 mile. When step on the streets, you bring the 1/4 mile car. When you step on the track, you bring your track car (with mad handles).

Because of economic reasons and interests, its more common to see 1/4 mile races on drag strips and on the streets (illegal).

Reason why I state 1/4 mile is king, is because it's the American culture to place more value on a 1/4 mile win than racing on twisty roads/tracks. I'm not stating a car that can win 1/4 miles wins all races, but the fact that there is more interests to win the 1/4 mile in America.

[ElectricBlueGT]

PTGT Boy,

If you quarter mile the car or *ahem* stoplight drag, keep the AutoStick in Drive. It has been repeated many times that the car is faster in Drive than in AutoStick mode.

Scott

[PTGT_Boy]

Hmmmm I thought leaving it on autostick and letting it shift by itself netted better times, but than again, I drive a 5 speed [] sooo... do what works the best for you [^].

[MichaelDay]

quote:Originally posted by ElectricBlueGT

PTGT Boy,

If you quarter mile the car or *ahem* stoplight drag, keep the AutoStick in Drive. It has been repeated many times that the car is faster in Drive than in AutoStick mode.

Scott

You are better off using AutoStick rather than Drive, IF you let the transmission shift itself (it will upshift at redline) rather than trying to shift it yourself. If you try to shift it yourself you will shoot yourself in the foot. If you let the computer do the upshifting in A/S mode, it WILL be faster than in "D".

[dgszweda1]

quote:Originally posted by jramosGT

Sorry, but I disagree that 1/4 mile is king, nor do I accept left turns only. Driving takes left and right turns, not just straights. The Cooper S will take an S1 GT in the curvies if not too many straight stretches (of course, given equally competent drivers).

Having said that, R&T does say that the GT will will stay with the Cooper S by making up any shortcomings in handling on the straights.

A skilled driver can probably leave the GT in the dust around a racetrack. There was a shootout at Willow Springs a few weeks ago that was the result of a bet where two people had money and could pull some strings. It was against a modded Mini Cooper S (mods were some improvements to the handling and brake kit, stock motor though) and a Subaru WRX STi (mods were power improvements to 400hp). The Mini Cooper S, lost by 0.2 seconds around the course. At the last minute before the race the tires gave out and no replacements could be found for the size rim he was running, so he ran on all season runflat tires. The race will probably appear in a magazine at some point. The driver of the S was pretty skilled, and the WRX driver had a medium skill level. For all intents and purposes most people would have bet on the STi, but the Mini is extremely fast in the curves, it held the all time slalom record for Road and Track only recently being dethroned by the Enzo Ferrari. With the power fairly close between the Mini and the GT the straightaways probably would not be enough. IT wasn't enough for the STi who could trounce a Mini or a GT in straightaways.