Cooper => Fiat 500

Cooper S => VW GTI

JCW => VW R32

 

You've personally driven and owned all of those cars?

 

They are closest to the MINI in price and performance points, IMHO.

I've test driven all those cars. I'm always interested in how the MINI stacks up against the competition.

When I find a car I like driving more than my JCW I may consider buying it.

For now, I have my sights on the new MINI roadster due out early next year.

 

Ferrari, thats a very good question, and tough to answer because its almost like chocolate and vanilla, everyone is different. I used off-the-rack pads from Advance, they were the top-of-the-line ceramos for them, so far I like them very much. They arent grabby like the old ones, the dust is so much better, they modulate well and they still seem to have ultimate stopping power thats very similar, but definitely do require a little more shove on the pedal for a full-anchor stop. Which is fine, that ties back into the modulation factor, I thought the Bimmer pads went full-anchor way too early.
I have a 265 HP heavy sedan (4 wheel discs) with EBC Greens on it and it works very much the same way, so they are good too, I would say maybe try them. Akebonos seem to be well regarded too, but they are a bit pricy, all personal choice I guess. I havent tracked the Cooper yet, but do rallye it pretty hard with the C3M maniacs < group smile > that go busting around in PA, MD and VA. They handle that very well, coupled with the cross-drilled and slotted frt rotors.
I had a 83 Camaro that I did track, I used EBCs on that too and that was a much much heavier car that handled well (when I was done building it) that could abuse its brakes pretty well.

 

I hate that people hate some really dumb things.....

 

Seriously!

 

Girlfriends celica has them in the center, every old Jag I've ever driven has them in the center, all MINI's have them in the center... plenty of cars have them in the center.

Now if the radio controls were on the door....THEN we'd have a problem.

 

My 2005 GTO has them in the center. I just got used to it. Not a thing.

 

My '95 Land Rover Discovery has them in the center...on the console next to the handbrake. My coworker's '04 Jeep Liberty has them in a similar location as well. My '81 Mercedes 300D has the switches just below the shifter. I had a '95 VW Jetta that had the window controls on the center stack below the A/C controls.

The centrally located switches actually don't bother me. If anything, I'm starting to prefer them in that location - it keeps the door wiring a bit simpler and you end up having less switches in the car.

 

I've driven cars with center switches for 15 years. I just had to adjust to them being up front instead of between the seats.

 

I don't like how difficult it is to grab the seat belt because it lays flat against the paneling. And it's annoying how the passenger seatbelt flops against the paneling while the windows are down - makes all sorts of annoying racket while driving. I also don't like how the seams on the center armrest are so sharp - it's scraped the skin off my hand a couple times. I don't like how the front sun visor has a large hole against the a-pillar - doesn't block the sun very well. I don't like how short the side visor is - it doesn't extend far enough rearward for tall people. I hate how my speedo says I'm going 70mph, but I'm actually going about 7+ mph slower than that. At 80, I'm going about 72-73 actual (according to GPS). I don't like how the paddle shifters won't actually maintain the selected gear under full-throttle - silly, maybe. But would be beneficial for dyno runs. Also, when I floor it to pass someone or accelerate in traffic, it will downshift then maintain the lower gear so I have to force it back to a higher gear to let the revs drop back down. What's the "red light" looking thing on top of my tach? I think it's a shift light (I have an automatic), but I can't see it because the top of the steering wheel blocks it! I don't like the lack of temp and other gauges. My brake wear indicator light came on - which brakes need to be replaced? The front, or rear? How do you know? Does the dealer have to tell you? I'm assuming the fronts are triggering it, but it would be nice if the digital display would be more elaborate.

Oh, I absolutely love my mini...

 

I'm pretty sure the red light thing on the tach is the blinking light for when your alarm is armed (if you have an alarm).

 

 

The speedometer issue is not an issue at all. I'm not sure if it's car companies cooperating with government or what...but I will guarantee almost ALL new cars are just a bit slower than what their speedometers say. They are intentionally programmed that way. I bet if you put your GPS in any new car, pretty much all of them will read faster on the speedometer than what they are actually doing.

And that red light on top of your tach is absolutely not a shift light. I'm not 100% sure right now as to what it is. but I am absolutely certain it's not a shift light. I believe it has something to do with the alarm system. whether you have it installed or not

 

Both of our cars show about 3 mph slow at 65. I just adjust accordingly.

But my GTO's speedometer is dead nuts on.

I also find that the computer in the Mini over estimates the fuel economy by a significant amount. Like 3 to 5 mph greater than what the car actually gets. And this is the same for both of our cars as well.

Not sure why they just can't be accurate from the factory.

 

Because most people have no idea. I think it's a secret way to keep people going the speed limit In this case, you could think you are going 5mph over the speed limit, and you're really going 2 under.

My Corolla is 5 slower, sisters BMW is 7 slower, our MINIvan is 5 slower.

Come to think of it though....maybe the GPS is just faster? hmmm

 

It has everything to do with the Alarm, when the alarm is on the Red Light above the Tach will cycle off and on...like the Cylon's Face Shield (circa Late 1970's)!!

 

Exactly. Both of our cars have the factory alarm. And when set it lets those bad buys know that the bulldog is looking at them.

 

That's what I figured. I don't believe most of the MINI's I have been in contact with have had the factory alarm installed. So it was simply decorative. But I ordered mine with the alarm, so mine will serve purpose! haha

 

I've been waiting for my Mini for too long... Well it's been a week, but it feels like it's much longer! It's in the shop right now because I hit a pothole on my way to school. Mini withdrawal. D:

 

I had the same problem - craning to see stop lights because the mirror and the roof line hide them. Bought a fix from http://lightinsight.com. It's a 7"x1 1/2" plastic lens that you apply to the top of the windshield. It allows you to see the stop lights while remaining comfortably back in your seat.

 

"Hate" is a very strong word, but I do hate run flat tires. This isn't unique to MINI, though. I just sold my 335i when I ordered my Mini (I don't even have the Mini yet so there's nothing to "hate"), but about six months ago the 335 needed new tires and I got non-run flat performance tires. I can tell you it was like driving a completely different and much, much better car. The noise and very rough ride of the run flats drove me crazy. After I changed them out the noise disappeared and the car seemed to glide over the road, but I didn't lose any road feel or performance. I HIGHLY recommend ditching the run flats. I'm leasing my new Mini and I intend to change the tires to non-run flats immediately and store the run flats to give back to them when I turn the car in in three years. I'm going to have to get tires anyway so I might as well get them up front and enjoy the quiet, smooth ride and give them back the same crummy tires they gave me.

 

I can't really say I hate it, but it does bother me that I can't manually turn on my heated mirrors.
In the winter and early spring they always seemed to be on when I needed them, but the past few mornings I found the side mirrors fogged up and can't figure what combination of controls turns on the heated mirrors :( I thought maybe either front/rear defrost would do it but doesn't seem to, at least yesterday it didn't. Does anyone happen to know?

 

Funny I don't find the ability to see stop lights an issue. After driving my '36 Chevy Coupe for 20+ years which has a windshield half the height of a MINI, I find the visibility in my MCS to be quite good. Guess it's a matter of perspective, maybe if I had been driving a big truck or a convertible all these years I would also think the visibility in a MINI sucks.

 

5. Only three speeds for the wipers. Why can't they just use a basic 6-speed stalk like on the last two I owned?

I was told the "delay" was in direct correlation to the speed my car was traveling...well my car must never move because the speed of the delay intervals never increases or decreases!

The NAV system was not worth the investment.

The "worthless" phone buttons on the steering wheel!