|
|
|
Comment |
Sorted by
Date Written |
Mini Cooper responsiveness (Reply to this comment)
by climberx
Review noted "lacks sharp responses", particularly when just starting out. This characteristic is a reflection of the fact that the MiniCooper has max.torque at a relatively high 4000rpm. Also note the max.horsepower is up around 6,000rpm. These figures are high relative to most cars. However,if you compare to two highly respected sports cars, the Miata and the Honda S2000, you will find that to get impressive performance you must keep the revs even higher than the Mini, and substantially above where the average driver might normally feel comfortable.
|
Feb 11 '04
1:53 pm PST
|
|
More than styling and a badge (Reply to this comment)
by tintinredux
Thanks for the LJK Setright (Colin Chapman & Alec Issigonis) viewpoint--rarely encountered these days. I was considering buying a new MINI and appreciate your reminding me why not. Most of my friends (those aged between 22 to 59) want one. That was not the case years ago when I owned a souped-up Austin Mini Cooper S (which was as agile as it looked on those 10" Dunlop SPs). But the car has changed a lot--in every way to please more buyers. With the exception of the way it "feels" to the driver I suspect the new car is, overall, far superior to its predecessor (what product reliant on technology is not?) and BMW has tweaked it in all the right ways. However, as your article hints, its styling and badge recall MINI more than the car itself. So just as Toyota might have produced the best Porsche 914 (with its current mid-engine sportster) I suspect someone will yet introduce the true successor (sans badge) to the old Mini (highly efficient, easy to fix, and big fun). Best wishes.
|
May 24 '03
7:48 pm PDT
|
|
Re: Sport Suspension (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh,  in Cars & Motorsports
Thank you for clearing this up.
|
Apr 24 '03
5:16 am PDT
|
|
Sport Suspension (Reply to this comment)
by erazo
The Sport Suspension PLUS has heavier springs and stiffer anti-sway bars than the regular Sport Suspension. The SS-PLUS is standard on the Cooper S while the SS is standard on the Cooper. As a result, the Cooper S is reported to have a stiffer ride but less body roll than the Cooper, though I have not made my own comparison.
|
Apr 23 '03
2:41 pm PDT
|
|
Re: My mistake... (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh, in Cars & Motorsports
Nope, I'm still confused. As your "may" implies, the website could be clearer. The US sport package says nothing about changes to the suspension, while "sport suspension" is listed as standard on both models. Is "sport plus" the same as the S's suspension? Or do both cars have the same standard suspension settings, and the "plus" is stiffer than the S suspension? Yep, I'm still confused.
|
Sep 09 '02
12:56 pm PDT
|
|
Re: Most Helpful (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh, in Cars & Motorsports
I'm going to drive the Z4 ASAP, but already suspect I won't like it. I like the Z3 because it sticks to the basics. The Z4 is designed to be a trendier, more sophisticated, more substantial car, and for me I suspect this will kill much of the fun.
|
Sep 08 '02
6:28 pm PDT
|
|
Most Helpful (Reply to this comment)
by vara
Easily one of your finer reviews, Michael. I can see you put a lot of time and energy into this one. Very well done.
-Daniel
P.S. And who knows? Perhaps the upcoming Z4 will allow you to switch that airbag off?
|
Sep 08 '02
12:08 pm PDT
|
|
Re: Re: Re: Cooper vs. Cooper S (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh, in Cars & Motorsports
I still cannot find anywhere that makes the suspension differences clear, but I've changed the review to assume that the S comes standard with the same suspension optional on the Cooper.
I just took another look at the Car & Driver review, in the July issue. Now that I've driven and reviewed the car myself, I can read between the lines and see they had many of the same criticisms. They even called it "slow-witted." They also say the regular Cooper feels even less responsive, but I still plan to check this out for myself.
For those mostly interested in handling, I've got to stick with my recommendation to seriously consider a Focus SVT, or perhaps a Civic Si (haven't driven one, find the looks wanting, but sat in one and those seats are AMAZING) instead.
|
Sep 03 '02
8:14 pm PDT
|
|
Re: Cooper vs. Cooper S (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh, in Cars & Motorsports
It might be a matter of my expectations, as I tried to make clear. I was expecting something in line with the Focus SVT, just with even sharper responses. The Cooper S is a nimble handler, it just feels more smooth than sharp to me.
I definitely wouldn't describe the throws of the six-speed shifter as short. Very much mechanical, though. It felt different than any other shifter in my memory.
I'm a bit confused on the sport suspension bit. In some places both models are shown with a "sport suspension" standard. And the one optional on the Cooper is called "sport plus," implying that it's a level beyond "sport." Is this the one standard on the Cooper S?
The roads where I tested the car were in Virginia, so the only rough spot I found involved railroad tracks. Some people have complained that the car didn't ride well. I thought it rode very well, but this might be a matter of the roads I drove it on. In general I recommend driving a car with and without sport suspension/lowest profile tires to see which has the best ride/handling balance for you. That Civic Si I drove back in 1985 had very little in the way of tires on it, which increased the fun of driving it, as you didn't have to go very fast to have some fun. Could very well be the same with the Cooper.
As for the Cooper vs. the S engine, again I strongly suggest driving both. A turbocharger or supercharger totally changes the character of an engine, and not always for the better. I hope to drive the regular Cooper soon to see what I think of that model.
|
Sep 02 '02
11:58 am PDT
|
|
Re: Superb, Michael - (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh, in Cars & Motorsports
Good catch. The column, of course. I guess this is what I get for pointing out that sentence where you claimed the car got 178 MPG.
Of course, now both of our reviews are better for it. Thanks for the comments.
|
Sep 02 '02
6:52 am PDT
|
|
Superb, Michael - (Reply to this comment)
by scmrak, in Cars & Motorsports
as I would expect. One little question: is the speedo/tach pod on the steering wheel? or on the steering column?
Somebody in my office complex had one of the little guys in navy blue; there was a sign in the back window that said "first $25,000 takes it." I'll bet it wasn't a loaded "S," either!
Cheers, laddie.
Rex
|
Aug 30 '02
2:05 pm PDT
|
|
Beautiful (Reply to this comment)
by shoplmart,  in Cars & Motorsports
If any car review is worthy of a MH, this one is. Excellent review Michael.
Liz
|
Aug 30 '02
1:36 pm PDT
|
|
|
|
