6 replies to this topic

[lewisvelzian1]

I'm looking at buying a Rover Mini Cooper and have decided to get a carb model, but I was wondering if there is any performance or significant differences between the Cooper SE, RSP and Mainstream?

[Wise Old Elf]

http://www.rsp-coope...uyers_guide.htm

Here's the buyer's guide for a RSP. Which is better? Well I am bias.

[JollyMole]

The RSP 'S' was the most powerful carb'd mini (aside from ERA turbo) ever produced I believe. The RSP's engines are de-turbo'd metro turbo engines and so are built to rev, so driving an RSP, to me at least, feels as rev-happy as a 998 mini over a 1275. I own an RSP and I LOVE it, so I too, like the elf there, am biased.


Drove a good number of 1275 mini's in my day and nothing pulls like an rsp in my opinion, not in standard form at least.

[eatbrains]

Do the spi coopers still have the MG camshaft?

[mini-luke]

Do the spi coopers still have the MG camshaft?

No they have a standard 1275 non injection cam vs the even more tame one found in normal SPI's

[Mrpeanut]

Theoretically there is no difference in engine or performance between an RSP and a Mainstream Cooper. The RSP came first and was based on the MG Metro engine with its legendary camshaft. There is a question as to whether Rover could maintain the supply of the MG cams so Mainstreams may be more variable. Cooperman knows more.

Spot on. I have a 1991 mainstream cooper. There is not an mg metro cam in there, it's a milder cam which is evident from the way it drives and the dyno results.