R50/53 Auto Buff Magazines: Cooper S "The Champion"
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1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: San Diego
According to early auto buff magazines, the Cooper S is King of the Hill in comparison with other best handling/performing cars.
Perhaps the most compelling is the June, 02 issue of Evo [a great UK car mag] that did a comparision test to determine Britan's BEST DRIVER'S CAR. It included entry level Alfa, Audi. and BMW's, as well as a Honda S2000, the great handling Lotus Elise, Suburu Imprezza [much like our US WRX version], Mitsubishi's hot Evo VII RS Sprint [due here next year]. their sporting Ford Focus called the ST170 [faster than US version], and others, mostly not available in the US. Evo said, "the Cooper S wins, out-gunning much faster, more exotic and more expensive opposition with a sensational combination of gusty performance, inspirational handling, voguish image and an indomitable sense of fun. The Establishment is in tatters."
The July, 02 issue of Top Gear [another great UK car mag], gave the Cooper S top honors in its comparison with the same Focus ST170, the VWGTI 1.8T, AND the Honda Civic Type R [MUCH quicker than our Civic Si]. Top Gear asserted it is "just plain more fun to drive" than its competitiors.
In September, 02, Evo returned to do a test of the Cooper S with the incredibly fast Honda Civic Type-R [rumored to come to the US in 2004] and the 210 HP SEAT Leon Cupra R -- once again the Mini blew them into the weeds. Evo called the MCS, "one of the truly great hot hatches."
The November, 02 issue of Sports Car International provided the first US road test comparison [Consumer Reports, etc. not included as a "serious" car-buff mag]. The comparison was with the Civic Si, Focus SVT, and VW Golf GTI 1.8T, and once again . . . surprise, the Mini Cooper S ended on top. SCI reported, "Best of all, the Cooper S redefines what an autombobile of this type is capable of . . . the bar has been raised."
I am still waiting for comparison reports from US buff mags. Car and Driver and Road and Track, as well as the UK mag, CAR. I called Road and Track editorial offices and they tell me a report is coming in the December issue, and the other can't be far behind. If you know of other comparison road tests, let me know.
Barry
Perhaps the most compelling is the June, 02 issue of Evo [a great UK car mag] that did a comparision test to determine Britan's BEST DRIVER'S CAR. It included entry level Alfa, Audi. and BMW's, as well as a Honda S2000, the great handling Lotus Elise, Suburu Imprezza [much like our US WRX version], Mitsubishi's hot Evo VII RS Sprint [due here next year]. their sporting Ford Focus called the ST170 [faster than US version], and others, mostly not available in the US. Evo said, "the Cooper S wins, out-gunning much faster, more exotic and more expensive opposition with a sensational combination of gusty performance, inspirational handling, voguish image and an indomitable sense of fun. The Establishment is in tatters."
The July, 02 issue of Top Gear [another great UK car mag], gave the Cooper S top honors in its comparison with the same Focus ST170, the VWGTI 1.8T, AND the Honda Civic Type R [MUCH quicker than our Civic Si]. Top Gear asserted it is "just plain more fun to drive" than its competitiors.
In September, 02, Evo returned to do a test of the Cooper S with the incredibly fast Honda Civic Type-R [rumored to come to the US in 2004] and the 210 HP SEAT Leon Cupra R -- once again the Mini blew them into the weeds. Evo called the MCS, "one of the truly great hot hatches."
The November, 02 issue of Sports Car International provided the first US road test comparison [Consumer Reports, etc. not included as a "serious" car-buff mag]. The comparison was with the Civic Si, Focus SVT, and VW Golf GTI 1.8T, and once again . . . surprise, the Mini Cooper S ended on top. SCI reported, "Best of all, the Cooper S redefines what an autombobile of this type is capable of . . . the bar has been raised."
I am still waiting for comparison reports from US buff mags. Car and Driver and Road and Track, as well as the UK mag, CAR. I called Road and Track editorial offices and they tell me a report is coming in the December issue, and the other can't be far behind. If you know of other comparison road tests, let me know.
Barry
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