An interesting read (well, I thought it was interesting) on MINI2 for the Cooper-lovers out there. A link to a Cooper test-drive report and a Q&A w/ Paul himself. Good stuff!

 

A sport suspention with a more comfortable ride AND THAT handles better than the outgoing car!?! A more reined engine with more poer on tap!?! Gosh... it almost seems like Paul likes the Cooper, too!

 

interesting ...
http://motoringfile.com/2006/11/07/c...he-r56-cooper/

who to believe?

 

Neither.

Both.

Same thing we went though with the fist couple of the R56S: Believe what you want and dismiss the rest.

One thing is for certain, an article will eventually come along that fits our individual pre-concieved notions of what the car is/should be.

Me, I grabbed onto the quote "Keen drivers now really need to save up and pay extra for the substantially more entertaining Cooper S"... but that's just a reflection of where my interests lay.

 

Yes, but e-v-e-r-y car magazine has consistently overlooked the Cooper and placed the MCS in their top picks. No, not even that...sometimes only the JCW has made the grade!!! Thing is, most of these mags love the go-fast stuff and therefore probably don't get the Cooper...even though lots of motorers do (literally). Remember how it went? First they were all agog over the New MINI (Cooper). Then the MCS came out and they were all over that and forgot the Cooper. Then the JCW came out and you seldom saw the MCS get a second glance!!! So.....I CRY FOUL!!!!!

The press just got a big splashy launch over the R56 MCS. So now anything "below that" is trash? I really feel sorry for the One and OneD owners. C'mon folks (not you NAMers...those "other" folks), not all MINIs have to be freakin' rockets!!!!! Get....an.....ever-loving......grip!!!!!

I hope I'm bitterly disappointed, but I expect more bland, wishy-washy, la-di-dah, milktoast, mealy-mouthed, lackluster, crest-fallen, and/or underwhelming reviews of the Cooper if we see any at all. But for my money (again, literally) I'm definitely going with MINI2 on their evaluation (now and future)....or anyone else that generally agrees with me!

 

I own an 03 MC and it definetelly rocks. Numerous times on runs, some of which I led, I've been asked "what the heck do you have in that thing?"

Its a CVT, which I can drive like a bat out of hell in Manual mode ... and just a CAI + Exhaust ... but it can hang with the MCS' no problem

 

That is so cool!!!!

 

Here is another short subjective but positive AutoExpress Review:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/mo...3597/mini.html


The gearbox and steering comments are so different and just show how un-useful these kind of reviews are. There should be a rule that requires objective numbers before subjective opinions. Accelleration results, slalom speeds, lap times, noise levels, etc. before "verve", "slothful" and "feel". It's strange car companies seem to promote these opinion reviews with their joyride events, but I guess that's what works for most buyers?

 

this word ... REFINED ... is certainly becoming part of the vocabulary of all the reviewers.
normally it's an excellent word when reviewing a car ... but it should not be for the MINI

 

These articles are fun to read, but there is no opinion more important than my own once I am able to see it and drive it.

I don't do, because others say they do.......are they here yet?

 

Just weld or cut one coil in the springs, go bit slower around the corners, avoid 6th gear, spill 2 gallons of gas everytime you fill up and the R56 MC will mimic the current unrefined MINI Cooper just fine as long as you also close your eyes to avoid the better materials, fit and finish. Just kidding!

Think of refined as meaning to sharpen the desired characteristics and lessen the undesired ones. It's how racing and all good cars are developed. It is never bad unless the developers desired characterics are not similar to your own.

 

Well, if "refinement" means better quality interior materials and better general fit and finish, then why wouldn't "refinement" apply to a MINI? Sheesh. :impatient

 

that's fine and dandy, but they are talking about the driving experience when using it, not about fit / finish and quality of materials.

 

Still, your assertion that the word "refined" should not apply to the MINI is downright odd. What makes it the exception, in your humble opinion? And although "they" aren't specifically adressing interior materials and fit and finish, most other initial reviews have.

That is the goal of all automakers, to "refine" what they already have, to always improve their product. I see nothing wrong with BMW "refining" the old Rover engineered MINI into something even better.

 

It is probably true that few would ever apply the term "refined" to any classic Mini (none that I've driven anyway), so in that sense it's not "a Mini thing" per se. However, when reviewers refer to R56 as being "more planted" I do think of that as "a refinement" in overall MINI handling. It's capability has been improved. So R56 still may not be "refined" by most automotive stantards, but it has "been refined." Therefore, R56 is now better at not being refined???:impatient

 

i think some people are afraid that refine means detatched. that it wont be the drivers car anymore. that it will be a sound proof bump proof smooth luxury car which is not the MINI we fell in love with. although I see little basis for this opinion i can somewhat understand it. Most reviewers have said it is even more fun to drive, fun is not usually a word used by reviewers when writing on aforementioned detatched luxury cars

 

I think you've got it!!! If anything, based on what I read, it's more like MINI has tuned or optimized the car.

 

"optimized." perfect!