ALLGBMINI

(also from RB; having driven both an MC and an MCS coast to coast only a few weeks apart, his comparisons are extremely valid!)

Having read, on Gabe’s MotoringFile, about how similar the MCS and COOPER were and since I covered nearly the same sort of elevation and terrain changes during these odyssey’s and I have a few notes on the MCS VS the COOPER.

The MCS was equipped with both Premium & Sport packs as well as heated leather Panther Black seats while the COOPER had the Premium pack not the Sports pack and had cloth, non heated seats.

The MCS wins the handling contest as the COOPER didn’t have the sports pack or low profile tires. The COOPER felt mushy in quick lane changes.

Acceleration and torque goes to the MCS, hands down! I had read on Gabe’s MF that the COOPER accelerated just as fast through 1st and 2nd but too my butt it’s nowhere near the MCS. As far a raw acceleration I really don’t see where COOPER owners get the feeling that they can accelerate as fast??? I could never get the COOPER over 110, where as the MCS easily did 135, my ’02 MCS never got over 125.

I was surprised that the fuel economy wasn’t that different between the two cars. Neither did over 35 mpg, my general speed in both cars was 85-90. But I would have to say the COOPER did a bit better in this area with the COOPER getting, at the high end, 35 and the MCS getting only 28 mpg.

In cab comfort and interior cab noise, I give that to the COOPER. The COOPER didn’t have low profile or run flat tires so it was markedly quieter and smoother. I also found the cloth seats much more comfortable.

With the COOPER’ 5 gears I found that at high speeds, 85-90, it seemed less calm than the 6 speed MCS. During major elevation changes I had to do a lot more down and up shifts that the MCS, but not as many as I had expected. Denver area gave the COOPER the most trouble and felt dead a lot of the time. No offense meant but I found Denver to be a little LA, UGH!

I had always kinda looked down my nose at the COOPER but I must say I was impressed with it and could see why many people choose this car over the MCS but for shear butt kinking fun I’ll stay with my MCS, thank you.

A note on my disdain for automatic transmissions. Ian’s 2005 MCS with the automatic showed me that if I ever get too old too shift or was from a country were I was used to shifting with the opposite hand that this set up would be quite nice. He, [Ian] made an acceleration run that impressed the hell outta me.

Further to the story I ran last week about friend & MINI sales advisor Keith Polischuk …
A web site has been set up by his family / friends: CareForKeith:

A Life Changed in an Instant
In an instant, the world changed for Keith Polischuk and his family. On the evening of June 12, 2005, Keith suffered a serious spinal cord injury after suffering a shattered cervical vertebrae – the result of a tragic diving accident. In that brief moment, Keith’s life was transformed and he awoke to a long and difficult road to recovery.
After surgery to stabilize his fractured vertebrae, Keith remains hospitalized at Beth Israel in Boston, MA, with little or no movement in his arms and legs. His spinal cord has endured a tremendous trauma with contusions and compression that have resulted in temporary or permanent paraylsis. At best, Keith faces a long and difficult journey to regain his mobility

I am very sad to read this, as there are suggestions now that recovery might at best be partial for Keith … in the weeks ahead I hope to organize a fund raising event with MINI owners that know Keith. In the meantime I can only continue to focus my thoughts on best wishes for him.

UPDATE:
Thank you Martin for inviting me – I visited MINI Peabody this morning and met Keiths brother, Ken. He came to the dealership to talk with all Keiths colleagues.

Ken described the accident (June 12) as a shallow dive into shallow water, Keith hitting a sand bar.
Keith completely shattered vertebra “C5”, and put a hairline fracture in “C7”. While the “C7” damage is negligible, smashing “C5” has put tremendous stress on Keiths spinal cord – it was not cut but is severly contused.

On Sunday evening / early Monday, Keith was conscious and able to move his arms.
Sadly pneumonia set in and he has been in a forced coma since then. A tracheotomy was needed to assist with his breathing – this means that the few times when sedation has been reduced, Keith was unable to speak even while he was able to move his arms and respond to his family.

Two surgeries have been performed to stabilise Keiths neck – one from the front & one from the rear. Basically his “C4” and “C6” vertebra have been wired together to stabilise his spine around the smashed “C5”; this in itself will limit Keiths neck movement in the future.

Currently Keith remains at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, with sedation likely for at least another week until his lungs recover sufficiently to allow him to breath un-assisted.

His medical insurer is objecting to plans to transfer Keith to the Shepherd Center, instead preferring to keep his treatment in Massachusetts – presumably cost issues are behind that preference.
Keiths doctors and of course his family wish for him to be transferred to what is recognized as the best spinal rehab in the country – an important motivation is the expertise at the Shepherd Center in assisting patients to regain their life, including the very important ability (for Keith) to enable him to continue to drive!