If you want to point out the "drawbacks" of the MINI - you might want to find another forum.

I have a Cooper (NOT an S) and I have tracked it, autoX'd it, used it as a daily driver, tuned it, returned it to stock and garaged it just to drive on weekends.

I beat kit cobras and vettes at my first and only autoX and got smoked by a Mazda wagon thing and a vintage Baretta rust and all.

I get OVER 30 mpg on highway, can carry my wife and two kids and am still trying to figure out how to STOP getting speeding tickets.

I have over 60K on it and never spent a dime on maintenance (ok I paid for one oil change). KOW And people still stare at it.

I really have a hard time finding much fault with the thing.

 

uh, yeah. post counts are important to me.
and if you had truly taken notice you would have seen that i chimed in on this at post #14. but you're right, i don't have to read this thread. and neither do you. i don't have to beat another horse into the ground, but i have chosen to. so there

 

It's amazing - you could tell I'm fat over the internet - or did you see me at one of the pulley parties here in the Bay Area?

Technically you are not a dwarf as you are over 4' 10". If you were, I would mind my political correctness and refer to you as petite or subcompact.........

I'm 6'0 and didn't fit in there sideways. My wife is 5' even and likened it to being stuffed in a bucket - *** first. My 5 year old son even thought it was a tad cramped.

I'm bitter in general - not necessarily at the Mini - mainly at the fact that I'm fat, bitter, the price of bronto burgers keeps going up and I don't fit into small cars.

6th hear here I come!

 

Hey, I don't know if post counts are important to you or not, I was just sayin'; an earlier post in the thread wouldn't eradicate that possibility. Sorry if it bothered you but some people that contribute the simple emoticon posts with popcorn eating smilies or the like do indeed do it to add posts. Maybe if I keep replying I can get past 3k in this thread alone

Off to find some internet bronto burger vendors that ship free, that sounds good about now (When I was a kid I wanted one of those oversized drumsticks or steaks on the Flintstones )

 

eval.. im just razzing you as much as you were razzin me.
lets not be so quick to judge everything people write on here as defensive

NAM is filled w/ these threads that go on forever and are misread from the beginning...

im just f-ing w/ ya. :pats eval on the back:

now, did ya read what i posted? and did ya reread chows first post from a different pov for the hell of it?

 

For the first item, I believe you are incorrect.

2003
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...rks/index.html

MCS 7.2

2004
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ecs_price.html
MCS 7.1

2005
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ecs_price.html
2005 MCSC 0 - 62 9.8

See the Edmunds reference above ... 7.7

MINIUSA SITE ... 6.8 - 7.3 (auto)

I can find no motortrend reference to a 6.4 second time for a 2005. If you can, please provide the URL and I will stand corrected because its always best to have the correct data

As to the rest, I never looked back to 2003. With the advances in auto technology, 4 year old car is ancient history. Perhaps it held the R&T record in 2003. It does not now. Just see
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=80382

2006 JCW is buried way down the pack and this is nowhere near all cars tested. Maybe the 2006 JCW is WORSE? handling than 2003?

Another thing to consider is that different car mags test a bit differently. C&D has always been on the abuse side. Dump the clutch at high RPMs ... get the best numbers. Not like a normal owner would drive. R&T tends to be more humane in their testing with MT in the middle (from what I can see).

 

Can't we all just agree that the only reason we're here is because we love these lil' cars, and that this guy's a tool? It's not like "proving" that the car will actually go from 0-60 a few seconds faster than someone else claimed will change almost anyone's opinion.

 

Chows, I wish I had the free time you seem to have in your hands to start internet "debates".

 

Not to mention 0-60 times aren't everything anyway... If I just wanted to go fast I could have bought a Camaro SS and grown a mullet.

 

HA!!! Your blanat ignorance about magazine racing makes me want to hurl

 

Magazine racing? Is that a race to see which magazine gets through the shredder first?

 

Ha ha, now you might be onto something big here. A whole new sport...

 

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...on_brakes.html

"The last time we tested a Cooper S, it ran to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. This time, we were shocked when the computer recorded just 6.4 yee-haw seconds. "

Boy you are stubborn. For the Mini Cooper S to ever have the world record in the slalom is impressive. It beat a car that is 5 or 6 times more expensive. My point was to say that it is a great handling car. And I gave you 3 different magazines demonstrating it's speed and handling.

Also I am not going to look it up, but perhaps the JCW car had the heavy JCW 18 inch wheels.

How is a 4 yr old car ancient history if that car is nearly identical today? Nothing has changed except an LSD, different gearing, and a few more HP which can only help its numbers.

 

TRUE!

I was wondering when the defender of all things in MINI land would appear

BTW, I read all kinds of automotive stuff ... to get educated.

Thanks... interesting how the later year numbers are less.

How is 4 years old ancient history. You explained it well ... "nothing has changed" ...

Meanwhile look at the new R&T numbers of the post I linked. Looks like many others cars have improved quite a bit while the MCS has "nothing changed"

Isn't that sad?

NM ... this is now pointless

I agree with ImagoX ... its one author's opinion that just doesn't happen to agree with many enthusiasts. While I defend part of his discussion (like tacky dash). I actually don't agree with all he wrote.

 

Repeat after me Chows:

(1) The Mini is the best car ever invented.

(2) The Mini is the most reliable car in the world.

(3) The Mini will outperform a Lamborghini.

(4) Driving a Mini raises your IQ an average of 15 points.

(5) I will never question the abilities of the all-mighty Mini.

(6) Anyone who criticizes the Mini is my enemy and I will eat his wife and babies.

(7) God drives a Mini.

(8) Magazine articles that praise the Mini are gospel and should be quoted at all opportunities. Magazine articles that dare criticize the Mini are written by Communist hacks.

Cheers!

 

Actually, its no different in any other car forum so I do not think a MINI forum is different. I read the same thing all the time at Elisetalk. Anything not glowing about Elises is quickly trashed. Don't own a M3 and think it walks on water ... don't go to the M3 forum, etc.

BTW, wasnt there a thread lately on someone blowing away a Lambo I really think there was.

I do not blame any MINI enthusiast for loving their car. WE LOVED OURS. I spent well over $10K in mods. I WOULD buy another one, despite their faults, if they get their reliability act together and a turbo convertable.

For now, I can smoke them all at stop lights in a SUV

BTW, for anyone who says 0 - 60 don't count.

I give you Mr. Ferrari ...

"Aerodynamics are for those you don't know how to build engines"
E. Ferrari

Even in the Porsche forums, 0 - 60 is discussed many times. You would think if you got car capable of 180 - 200 mph that they would not care but the fact is ... Americans do care. Its been imbred into the American car culture since the Muscle Car days and I have read quibbling over tenths of a second on $100K cars because ... its all about "bragging rights" People are people the world over ...

I've read quibbling over a few seconds on RING times, and your talking 8+ minutes lap times, with factory drivers. People read the RING times and think THEY can drive like Walter Rohr or Hans Stuck:impatient

 

Yes, we will brainwash you into joining our cult! All praise the MINI...

BTW Chows, I hope you weren't referring to my earlier comment about 0-60 times and assumed that I was saying they don't matter. They do, but it isn't the only thing. And I think your quote from Mr. E. Ferrari seems like it may be taken somewhat out of context for this particular discussion And as far as 0-60 times, yes, they matter to a lot of serious car people but I am secure with not having the fastest car in the World. Its like that VW commercial where everyone is driving around with a Megaphone and the guy in the sportscar is saying "because I'm compensating for my shortcomings." I personally don't need to have the fastest car out there, and I didn't buy a Cooper so I could go ***** out fast. If anything my MINI keeps me from getting in too much trouble with the Pigs (I've gotten in enough trouble already...). As I said in my previous post, if I wanted a really fast 0-60 time there were a number of cars that would have been a much better choice than a MINI Cooper. My reasons for the MINI were: fun to drive, free maintenance, relatively good quality, unique styling, etc. You may disagree with some of my assessments of the MINI but the truth is for under $20k there really isn't anything better IMO.

 

You almost made it - almost. All that positive reconciliation and karma in that post wasted by mentioning the fact that a hopped up JCW can't beat a RAV4 off the line. Now you're gonna drag eVal back into this...........



Skippy's Bold Prediction of the Day:

"Mini owners will all of a sudden care about 0-60 times when they make a Mini that can beat a Toyota Avalon from a dig."

 

Nah, it was just a generic comment from the overall tone of the thread. No fingers, your cool

The Ferrari quote does have context in that he was making fun at the car designer trying to get the best CD when he thought it was all about HP from the engine. I was trying to relate it to 0 - 60 times not being important when I believe it one of the first numbers most "enthusiasts" look at (and 1/4 mile).

BTW, I do not disagree with your assessment and have repeatedly said that for a 25K car, you can't beat it. It IS a ball to drive. I've said that many times. And as to the "fuzz", if I drove the JCW everyday, I told my wife I would NOT because if I did, I would not have a license ... lets just say when I was your age, I had a few tickets in other sports cars ... enuff to make the insurance go up. You get older, and you learn when it hits the pocketbook!

Awe Cmon ... you saw the .

You do not know how close to the truth that is (or maybe you do) but according to C&D test review, the Avalon was the only car in the Toyota lineup quicker

Now your just going to get C4 all upset about toyotas

 

I'm going to have to call bull**** on you here. I may only be 5'9", but even at that diminutive stature, I have more than enough space in my MINI. My wife, who is 5'2", also fits just fine. My father and friend, both over 6'0, love drive my car.
The MINI may feel small to you, but most people fit just fine. Maybe it just isn't the car for you. That's fine, there are plenty of Expiditions that need good homes.

 

[quote=chows4us;1185600]Yea when I first bought my Cooper I was disappointed that I couldn't get an MCS but after my troubles in Nebraska (documented in the "Rant on Penndot" thread) at the wheel of a turbo-charged Volvo I'm glad I have a car that isn't as easy to get going too fast.

That being said I still hope to buy a faster car in the next couple of years as long as I get involved in doing some track days so I can get my need for speed out of my system legally and safely. I'm wise enough to know that it's a good thing to keep your driving record clean and I've been lucky that it has remarkably remained completely clear despite being pulled over at least a half a dozen times.

 

What is with you clowns calling BS on everyone? Grow up.

Seriously, you need to pull your head out of your badunkadunk and figure out that not everyone is going to be comfortable cramming themselves into the back seat of a very small car.

BTW: We were talking about the backseat. To take a page out of your book I call BS on you if you can look me straight in the eye and tell me a 6' tall person can fit in the backseat with ANY degree of comfort - or a person of non-dwarf or child height can cram into the rear seat with two normally sized adults up front................

I "love drive" my Mini also - before I sold it. I also don't like Expidition. I like long walks on the beach, tropical drinks served in hollowed out pineapples and recreational dentistry.

 

However, in defense of the backseat (oh no, I'm going to defend it ... when we went on a test drive, I sat in the back at 5 11" and although contorted to get in there, I was mildly surpised at the room ... albeit the MA DID move his seat all the way forward as otherwise there was no room for your feet.

That said, the only other time I tried getting in the back, I contorted myself to get in their to apply some sticky CHECKERED ... yes checkered, clingies in the rear interior windows and all it did was ended up hurting my back. Never again I guess that wasn't much of a defense

 

I call BS on you. My 6'8" tall 2 year old daughter can get into the backseat without any contortion whatsoever. We can also fit our pet unicorn back there without folding down the seats.

BTW: Checkered "clingies"?!?!?

You pervert - did you get those at Victoria's Secret?

 

Sigh ... it was during my volatile and enthusiastic stage of blinginess. Had Minipirate make up some custom, heavy duty checkered clingies for the rear windows. Unfortunately, you could barely see them with the tinted windows.

Also, unfortunately, I could never get all the bubbles out (They were thick and hard to get applied perfectly to the interior windows ... not just a static clingie but more of harder plastic with tackiness.

I chalked it up as a learning experience and starting my fall into despair

See below ... subtle