[Ronster]

I am due to order our new car first week in January for collection from the first week in April. The Mini Cooper S has recently(November) had a reduction in power from 192bhp to 178bhp due to WLTP. If i do a search for new in stock at dealership Cooper S 192bhp version would it be possible to reserve this vehicle for collection April. Also, does anyone know if mini charge extra for paint(like it states in the mini motability brochure). Current car BMW wasn’t any extra for paint. Thanks in advance.

Topic

[Tharg]

Have had a 3-door Cooper S for 10 months now. It is a 192bhp model, never paid extra for “metallic” paint. I wouldn’t worry too much about the bhp. The performance figures hardly change at all and, IMHO, 192bhp is a silly figure for a car of this size and weight. You’ll rarely get to use anything like full power and 178 is more than adequate. I sometimes think if I were ordering again, I’d choose the non-S Cooper with smaller, lighter, 3-pot engine: in practical terms, performance is nearly as good and I understand the ride is better than the rigid 2.0L.

[DBtruth]

On the motability site it says [178] in nearly all of the Cooper S listings in the hatchback so I think you’d have to get that model and not the previous one.

However when I got near the bottom of the list there was a 5dr Cooper S which didn’t have [178] in the title. I clicked into it and it had the power listed as 189bhp which would be the 192ps or whatever.

The AP for that one was 499 and I think that’s a lot of car for the money. I’d imagine you’ll only be able to order it from stock now but I couldn’t say for sure.

I didn’t check the clubman or countryman as I assumed it was the hatchback you were after.

I think it would be a good idea to check with mini and see what they say

[DBtruth]

I would also add that I agree with Tharg in that I can’t see a power decrease of 11bhp being noticeable in the real world. 178bhp is easily enough power for a car of that size

[Ronster]

Thanks guys. I know it’s not much of a reduction in horse power so shouldn’t really bother me(but it does). I’ll wait to see q1 prices then contact mini, that’s if nothing else comes on the scheme that takes my fancy.

[genlocks]

I saw that question pop up on a few MINI forums since this year, if you go on the MINI website configurator for the hatch, you’ll see it has been changed back to 192 BHP. It did say on the MINI site 178 BHP for a while, so I can understand why the Motability listings would have that figure quoted, but the power output has not changed. The only drivetrain/mechanical changes since the LCI (the Union Jack tailights facelift) has been to the exhaust, it has been tuned to comply with emissions so it doesn’t pop or bang on the overrun or when downshifting in sport mode.

[Ronster]

The Mini configurator seems all over the place. When you select a mini it gives power of 192ps, however after configured technical data says 178ps?‍♂️. Shouldn’t bother me as what’s 14ps, but would just feel short changed. Thanks for the info though. Maybe power hasn’t changed at all, just no pops and bangs which the kid in me would miss.?‍♂️?

[Tharg]

Well spotted, Genlocks – that explains why the performance figures appear not to have changed. Don’t worry about missing out on Boy-Racer noises, Ronster. They’ve been removed from the exhaust but BMW have put them back in from a sound generator playing through the stereo. It works on Mid and Sport settings and not on Eco. Haven’t been able to it do pop-and-bang on the overrun but there’s plenty of vroomy noises. Fun to begin with but then  just bloody annoying: can’t turn ’em off!

[solent60]

Tharg wrote:

Well spotted, Genlocks – that explains why the performance figures appear not to have changed. Don’t worry about missing out on Boy-Racer noises, Ronster. They’ve been removed from the exhaust but BMW have put them back in from a sound generator playing through the stereo. It works on Mid and Sport settings and not on Eco. Haven’t been able to it do pop-and-bang on the overrun but there’s plenty of vroomy noises. Fun to begin with but then just bloody annoying: can’t turn ’em off!

Same with the new Peugeot 208 and 2008. Put it into sport mode & a fake throaty ‘roar’ comes through the speakers. I rather like it!

As regards ‘real’ exhaust ‘pop & bang’ noises; EU Regulation No 540/2014 has put paid to those.

[Author]

Replies