Went yesterday and saw the New Cooper. I don't care for the interior and it doesn't seem as easy to get into the dash and stuff as the R53. I like being able to do my own work and the R56 doesn't seem easy to access behind the dash. Just my opinion.

 

335 is on par with current M3 with the M3 being a tad faster.. but 335 is indeed VERY VERY impressive car..
Although they are great and all but it will be pretty amusing once the new v8 m3 comes out and squash the 335.. BMW..

 

I went to the DC Auto show on Saturday and was amazed to see so many people and the line to get in. I did get t sit in the new 07' Mini. I was surprised about how much more legroom it had. I particulay like that since I am 6'7". However, I did not like the new interior layout. BMW seemed to take away that nostalgic european small roadster look, that I now have in my 06' MCS Conv. Did anyone else feel the same?

Oh by the way, there will be an auto show in either Feb or Mar. at the Baltimore Convention Ctr, if no one made it to the DC Auto Show. I find that the Baltimore Auto Show is a little more laid back than DC's.

 

I looke on the Baltimore's Convention Ctr. site and the MotorTrend Auto show is from Feb. 7-11.

 

My son and I went to the DC Auto Show today... The place was packed... I'm surprised how few new cars are out for 2007... I was not pleased with the new interior layout of the MINI... They should have left it be...

The red Porsche GT3 caught my attention... $110,000??? What a machine but that's a lot of money... I wonder if Gina would let me sell 2 Porsches to buy one?? I think I'll leave that one alone...

 

A few years ago there was talk about a new numbering convention.
Based on whether it was a sedan or coupe was going to be odd or even.
So a 3 series and 4 series would be the same car except for the number of doors.

V6? I believe that would be an inline 6.
There will be hopefully a 1. We already have the 3, 5, 6, 7.
Due out is an X6.

 

Ahh, that makes sense... especially when looking at the 5-series and 6-series (and, by extension, M5 and M6).

OOPS... Yes of course, I meant I6.

I have to admit, I am eager to test drive a BMW 1... especially with the more powerful engine option. RWD in a small compact package... nice... although I still doubt I'll get rid of the MINI for ANYTHING.

 

Seeing the new MINI really solidified my love of SoulFire. I think we will pass on the 2007 and just buy a 2006 for Jay's (NOT that we are getting another one anytime soon)

 

Ok........ The '07 for me seems to have a "cheap" feel. The wheel arches are bigger, the speedo is bigger, the rear on the S has a black strip on the bumper going across from light to light, and it feels very plastic.

You now have to open the bonnet on the driver side and the battery is on the pasenger side in the engine compartment under a plastic cover. I have decided that I am going to call the boot and bonnet on the '07 a trunk and hood since I feel the British character is gone and has been replaced by generic American mass production and thinking.

I shall miss you "02-'06 MINI

 

My wife and I, along with what looked like at least 10,000 other motoring fanatics, went to the Washington Auto Show this weekend. The MINI continues to draw a crowd but we have to admit our reaction to the 2007 model was mixed. The exterior is great but the interior left us cold, especially the instrument panel. We couldn't put our finger on it except to say it almost had an "art deco" appearance.

Regardless it's still a MINI and the new models be arriving at the showrooms soon. I have no doubt the owners of the new MINI be as enthusiastic about their new ride as we all feel about our own buggies. With that in mind all I can say is welcome.

 

Actually it was more like 250,000 attendees overall.. more than 60,000 on Saturday and about 50,000 on Sunday. Bleech. Glad that show is done and the people are out of here. Next show of approximately 15,000 attendees doesn't seem so bad!

 

All this talk comparing the two models is too funny.
It reminds me when people did not like the BMW 2002 when they switched from round tail lights to square. Or an E36 M3 was not a real M3. Now it's the same thing, different car.

Sorry folks but some of you need to take off your rose colored glasses.
I haven't seen the new one which we will probably buy anyway.
The interior of the present MINI is cheap and plastic. Scratches easily. The light color headliner was a mistake. At least not to offer choices. We already have a hole in the p-brake lever. Still have intermittent rattles. The HVAC controls are very art deco looking.

A true British car would have the steering wheel on the right, no?
Why not put the hood release where the driver can access it?

We love it for how it handles and have overlooked it's shortcomings.

Flame away.

 

Before this thread dies of old age, I want to thank Krut once more for the tix.
I'm holding my opinion of the new MCS until I can test drive one. The issues and options related to that are more important to me than the billboard... oops I mean speedometer size.


Imagine how much a MINI would weigh without the plastic..

 

I went to the DC auto show on Saturday afternoon. It was packed! Very excited to see the new MINI Cooper S, complete with a Cooper Works Aero kit in Sparkling Silver. There are alot of changes done to the car, many things seem like responses to problem areas like the center console and the fit and finish. I liked the car though and like the fact that you can order one with as many or as few options as you like. Btw, for the 02-06 purists, MINI of Towson has more cars than anyone. I almost bought an 06 S, but I like the idea of the turbocharged S and I actually do like the new, larger center console. Now it's just a matter of deciding what color I want...

BTW, anyone want to buy a nicely maintained 2002 Yellow Cooper with Panasport wheels, coil-over suspension, lots of other stuff, and low mileage? It's a nice little car!
Mike

 

I HATE going to the dc autoshow on weekends. Way too crowded. I had to stick around until 5:30 just to take some decent pictures. I didn't realize that the orange car near the exit in the chevy area was a 'vette because I couldn't get close to it. I couldn't get anywhere near the saturn SKY's at 3pm. Bah.

That said, I really did like the SKY redline when I finally got to see it. I took a few pictures and sat in the driver's seat briefly. If I was in the market for a sedan, the AURA is nice, too. Still, nothing compares to the first generation S-series, RIP.

The '07 MCS was OK. I started taking pictures of the scoop and a guy next to me said "Ah, the 'non-functional scoop' eh?" I said "yeah, I wonder if we can pop the hood". I had looked all over the passenger side for the release. I opened the 'secret compartment' a couple of times trying to elicit comments from nearby strangers, but had no takers. I would have had to wait 30 minutes to sit in the driver side. Meanwhile, miniglenn shows up and I guess I had been talking to his friend. Miniglenn persuaded the person in the driver seat to pop the hood (bonnet? hood? popcorn intake?). I took a couple of pictures and miniglenn snapped a few too. Every time I came back to MINI I saw that the hood was closed. I wonder if someone didn't appreciate all the under-hood peeking.

The camaro mock-up looks more refined this year than last year. I'm not sure if I like it, though.

I was intrigued by the T-rex bike. Maybe having an MCS in my 30's would indicate that a T-rex will be my 'mid-life crisis car'.

There sure were a lot of girlies posing for pictures there yesterday. Maybe I'm used to going on weekdays because I don't recall there being so many in previous years.

 

no need. you still have yours. I still have mine. The new MINI was interesting. definately interesting to look under the bonnet or should i say hood now....

you can see the top of the motor now instead of staring into the intercooler for S/JCW folk. interior wasn't too amazing to me. They did soften the touch of the switches and so forth. I thought the toggles up above the mirror was cool. Gave it more of a cockpit feel. Other than that, not really impressed. I will have to drive one and see how it is in that aspect. Other than that, i'm keeping mine definately.

I like the Lotus Exige that was sitting in the urban restyling section. Then there was the "new" T-Rex which has the Kawasaki zx-14 motor in it now instead of the Suzuki Hayabusa 1300cc motor in it.

Also the 599GTB from Ferrari was drop dead gorgeous. All the "M" cars. The new lambo 612LP.

I had fun at the show. and it was really packed. i kinda laughed to notice that the Hall with GM and Ford wasn't as packed as the other hall, kinda made me laugh. hehe

 

So true bluminiboy - I noticed that as well. Aside from the concept Malibu and Camaro there wasn't much going on in that part of the show.

Gotta admit - there was one Cadillac performance vehicle that caught my eye. My wife was a little concerned and asked whether she needed to call our kids and stage an intervention Happily no intervention was needed and I came back to my senses.