Mini Cooper S...

[DR]

... took one for a spin... really nice cars, kinda weird to drive....


... Been offered one with the 'works' option done to the engine - 200bhp.

[DR]

.. shame about the 20k price tag...

[kaillum]

shame really.. if they'd have called it the BMW 1 instead of b@st@rdising the Mini name then i'd prolly go for a test drive in one.. but while its bearing the name 'Mini' I woudnt go near one.. an a bit pricey at 20k.. you could get a proper BMW for that money!!!

[Barakka]

I saw the Mini Adventure at the Motorshow last year and it really changed my mind about the new BMW version. I know, to the purists it is a dreadful creation and an abuse of the name as it's not even small when you compare it to the likes of the Fiat Seicento, but I suppose it is small for a BMW LOL !

One of the things I like about the new Mini is that it is a new car, every bit has been designed from scratch unlike so many cars these days which share loads of parts from their predecessors. Think it would have been better though if they hadn't tried so hard to put in the design elements from the original mini - but I suppose then it really would have been just a small Beemer

The only one I would consider though is the Cooper S, the rest are a bit weedy in comparison, and it's had the BMW Motorsport treatment, doing things like moving the battery to the boot to help get closer to 50:50 weight distribution etc.

[Howard]

I don't like BMW cars at all tbph. I used to, but they're far too common and WAY too pricey.

That said, I do like the new Mini. It looks really nice and is well made. Shame about the steep price though. Could get "more car" for your money elsewhere I guess.

I think it's far better than the old Mini as well, I dunno why everybody likes them they're badly engineered and not too reliable aparently. And I'd have a hard time trying to get into one!! Lol

But IMO the new Mini is a really smart car. Those very low profile tires and alloy wheels they have look stunning as well!

[Zak33]

160 bhp in standard trim should do most people

200 bhp might be a bit excessive for daily use. It is, after all, for pulling birds, not pulling a caravan

[sdp]

The problem with spending 20k on a bini is you could get a proper cooper s for far less money or if performance is your thing a mini with a type-r engine or something.

You can get 200bhp a lot cheaper than the JCW conversion I think.

[steve threlfall]

Originally posted by Zak33
160 bhp in standard trim should do most people

200 bhp might be a bit excessive for daily use. It is, after all, for pulling birds, not pulling a caravan

indeed

theres another company claiming that there 'modifications' increase power to 220 bhp. unfortunately they seem to bes insisting on removing the wonderful cooper s alloys and fitting some hideous h00ge MAX POWAAAA!!! ones

Anyway 160 bhp is more than enough, its a car for looking good in and getting admiring glances- from whoever that may be Ive yet to see some one doing more than 30 in one

I would love one of these beautys

[steve threlfall]

Originally posted by Howard
I don't like BMW cars at all tbph. I used to, but they're far too common and WAY too pricey.

That said, I do like the new Mini. It looks really nice and is well made. Shame about the steep price though. Could get "more car" for your money elsewhere I guess.

I think it's far better than the old Mini as well, I dunno why everybody likes them they're badly engineered and not too reliable aparently. And I'd have a hard time trying to get into one!! Lol

But IMO the new Mini is a really smart car. Those very low profile tires and alloy wheels they have look stunning as well!

Howard everyone likes the old mini because it won EVERY rally going until they invented some new 'rules' to ban the mini teams from competitions

[Tumble]

Anyone actually driven one? We've got 6 here at work as company cars, and I sometimes take one out when the other guys need me van. I have to say - even the Mini-One is pretty nippy, very well balanced and corners beautiful - remember, fun is not in a straight line (unless you got HOOGE tyres and a nitrous breathing fire-monster). na.. corners are the way to go, and it'll leave a lot of things standing when you get to the twisty stuff. There's a suprising amount of room in the back seats, because it is really quite a little motor. The oddest thing about it tbh is the windscreen, and you don't notice that until you turn the wipers on... kinda looks like the back window of a Megane from the inside, even tho it is reaked back a bit... Nice and efficient on fuel too. I like em tbh.

[Shad]

Over priced, over rated, under spec'd. Much better cars out there for the price range...

[RocketmanX]

an a bit pricey at 20k.. you could get a proper BMW for that money!!!

WOW

A Mini is about 20k her too but a real BMW starts at 40k+
20k is in the econmy class price range over here. Most Hondas cost more than that. A Ford Focus costs that much here.

Would love to have a BMW but a tad pricey here. Guess it's the price of importing

[DR]

Yes but we are talking in £ not in $

[Rave]

Originally posted by RocketmanX
A Mini is about 20k her too but a real BMW starts at 40k+
20k is in the econmy class price range over here. Most Hondas cost more than that. A Ford Focus costs that much here.

Yeah? Last time I checked (which admittedly was probably a couple of years ago) a Camaro Z28 was about $20000. No longer the case?

Rich :¬)

[RocketmanX]

I know but I was just making a comparison- A Beamer here starts at twice as much as a Mini Cooper S.
If you can get a BMW for close to 20k and a Mini for 20k in pounds that doesn't compare to the 20k for a Mini and 40+ for a BMW here.

[Howard]

Originally posted by steve threlfall
Howard everyone likes the old mini because it won EVERY rally going until they invented some new 'rules' to ban the mini teams from competitions

How long ago was this?

I'm asking cos I don't know, not to doubt you or anything..