I just got my new issue of M/T and they're comparing a variety of cars for this tiltle of "Best Handling Car in America". It covers FWD, RWD and AWD to be fair and everything is covered. All cars are current rides, well except one...THE MINI No offense to the MINI GP, the car they used, because I know its an impressive machine to say the least, but I would've liked to have seen how the R56 MCS would've faired in the comparison. The winner was the Porsche 911 GT3 (duh ) Maybe they'll do this next year and by then the JCW version will be out and hopefully they get their hands on this Stage 1 or even the Stage II we've heard about, that's going to be an impressive ride. I even see that car and the MS3 squaring off too but I wonder...what else is coming out to get into the ring with these "pocket rockets"

 

I'm guessing that the car was not available when they were tested and the GP has the highest rated bhp at 214? I have not read the entire article but I have seen the top ten cars and think the GP has NOTHING to be ashamed of.

1. GT3 - 37.8
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5 GP - 28.6
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10 Z06 - 23.5

It beat the Z06 easily and I have read the Z06 ppl are not very happy.

Coming in higher than the cars ahead would be a difficult road to go considering both the GT3 and Exige come OEM with R compound tires and discussing changing the OEM tires is meaningless since all the cars ranked above it can do the same thing. The moment you "mod" the car, all the rest can do the same from OEM and it becomes pointless since its probably targeted at the driver who will never make any performance modifications.

I think the GP ranked VERY well but would not necessarily presume an R56 would do better (I thought the suspension was softer?).

 

I'm fairly sure that the GP would outhandle the R56 showroom stock. Was this a track test? Can't find the article online...

 

The article will be online 1 May.

Apparantly its a very long, comprehensive test with testing at the track just one facet ... it would have to be - I do not believe the GP was in the lowest 6 track times (then again, I have not read the entire article yet).

 

I have to agree with you, stock vs stock, I think the R53(let alone the GP) is better handling than the R56(without the sport package). I own both, and they both have stock suspension, I have the say the R53 is better in the handling department, hence the brutal ride.

Not sure about the track tho~ Anyone with both R53 and R56 and with tracking experience wanna find out which is faster onthe track?

 

Stole this from another thread:

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/new...mini-cooper-s/

Looks like their current issue pits a stock R56 (just rims, tires, and custom alignment) with a prepped R53 - any subscribers wanna play spoiler for us?

 

Answered here

"*Okay this one required a teensy bending of our 2007 rule, as Works versions of the new Mini coupe are not yet available. Cooper S JCW convertibles are available in 2007, and the new Works GP coupe surely won't handle any worse than this one..."

Now that makes no sense to me because I though 2007 convertibles were the old generation but the statement is probably true. GP is not going to handle worse thatn an 07 JCW convertible.