R56 R56 has 340hp?!
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
I was being sarcastic about the MINI being American.
Don't get me wrong, I did like the Charger, it just wasn't for me. It felt too big and heavy, and aside from straight line acceleration, it really wasn't that fun to drive in my humble opinion.
Plus I really didn't need the room. 99% of the time it was just me in the car with no bags. So the the sapce really was wasted. When it's time for the wife and I to have kids, will I miss the Charger? Maybe...but then there's always the Clubman.
Don't get me wrong, I did like the Charger, it just wasn't for me. It felt too big and heavy, and aside from straight line acceleration, it really wasn't that fun to drive in my humble opinion.
Plus I really didn't need the room. 99% of the time it was just me in the car with no bags. So the the sapce really was wasted. When it's time for the wife and I to have kids, will I miss the Charger? Maybe...but then there's always the Clubman.
I've been wanting to do a suspension upgrade for a while now. Now that I've gotten used to the car I want a little more from it (I came from a '92 Park Avenue
) I'm probably gonna go with Pedders (any of you guys ever hear of them?) they make fantastic stuff, but pricey. So that mod is gonna have to wait.[quote=dfreire80;2209126]
... I'm not really sure how you can say the MINI is more American than the Charger. I mean the MINI has an engine from France (right?) final assembly in the UK, I can't remember where the transmission is from, and is German designed (BMW). ...
quote]
1.6L Prince engine components produced by PSA at their facility in Dourvin, Frrance. MINI engines then assembled at Hams Hall in Birmingham. Body panels stamped out at MINI facility in Swindon and final assembly in Cowley, Oxford. Getrag is German.
The new MINI was designed by American Frank Stephenson during his 11 year tenure at BMW. He works for the FIAT Group and is head of design for Alfa Romeo, but I believe he is stepping down. Stephenson is widely known as the father of the retro-hatch, having designed the MINI while at BMW before designing the Fiat 500, Alfa Mi.To and, it's speculated, the upcoming Lancia Ypsilon. Stephenson also had a hand in designing cars as diverse as the original BMW X5, Maserati MC12 and Quattroporte, and Ferrari F430 and 612 Scaglietti
Thanks for the lesson 
I come here you learn and you just filled my quota for the day.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,902
Likes: 2
From: SoCaL (Agoura Hills)
I have a HEMI Charger and the power to weight ratio of the two is very close.
The Magnum is the heaviest of the LX platform (Magnum, 300, Charger) so it's no surprise that you guys were even.
As far a the comment about the 5-speed. It got a bad rap in the beginning for two items.
1. The A/C drain tube would drip on the tranny fill tube (this transmission is very sensitive to water)
2. Simple 50 cent O-ring leak
Aside from those two things (which have all been eliminated as problems) the tranny is rock solid. There are guys out there who are putting out 700 WHP and pretty much everything but the tranny has busted.
When SWMBO gets her Chili Red MCS in she told be she'd visit a drag strip with me. I'll post up the results.
I love them both V8 stump puller and turbo 4 that can turn on a dime and give ya change!
The Magnum is the heaviest of the LX platform (Magnum, 300, Charger) so it's no surprise that you guys were even.
As far a the comment about the 5-speed. It got a bad rap in the beginning for two items.
1. The A/C drain tube would drip on the tranny fill tube (this transmission is very sensitive to water)
2. Simple 50 cent O-ring leak
Aside from those two things (which have all been eliminated as problems) the tranny is rock solid. There are guys out there who are putting out 700 WHP and pretty much everything but the tranny has busted.
When SWMBO gets her Chili Red MCS in she told be she'd visit a drag strip with me. I'll post up the results.
I love them both V8 stump puller and turbo 4 that can turn on a dime and give ya change!
They're drastically different cars, not really even close. The Charger/Magnum weighs almost 2k lbs more than the MINI. That's a BIG difference. Remember, power isn't everything. You can't beat the laws of physics. It's a lot easier to fling around 2600 lbs than 4300 lbs.
Last edited by Guest; May 5, 2008 at 05:36 PM.
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
It's not that close... I posted the weight/power ratios above, lol.
They're drastically different cars, not really even close. The Charger/Magnum weighs almost 2k lbs more than the MINI. That's a BIG difference. Remember, power isn't everything. You can't beat the laws of physics. It's a lot easier to fling around 2600 lbs than 4300 lbs.
They're drastically different cars, not really even close. The Charger/Magnum weighs almost 2k lbs more than the MINI. That's a BIG difference. Remember, power isn't everything. You can't beat the laws of physics. It's a lot easier to fling around 2600 lbs than 4300 lbs.
Believe I'm not here to beat my chest about owning a car that has an engine that has roughly 3.5 times the displacement of a MINI engine. I'm here because I LIKE MINI's and my SWMBO just ordered one.
The OP was talking about straight line acceleration, no mention of twisties was made. It's a no brainer that stock for stock a MINI would destroy a regular R/T in the twisties given the softer suspension and all season tires found on the R/T.
I think i might be bringing to much opinion to this tread but i haven't seen to many USDM cars that really take my breath away. The longer i spend on this forum the more i relies that most Usdm cars just plain suck. The us market calls for a new auto every 5 years, but if you buy a us in the first place its value is on the floor so the trade in is worthless. As far as power the cars are either over the top (and terrible gas mileage) or under powered (and they still only get 30freway at best). There is no middle ground. If someone takes a moment to relies how many world market cars will NEVER enter into the us it is startling and if by chance they do make it here they are de-tuned and re badged. And don't get me started on alternate fuel or diesel. The usdm auto manufactures are not cool = usdm cars suck.............(flame suit on)
the worst part about those cars... depreciation.
for every mile i drove, i lost a dollar on trade-in.
also, the SRT-8 charger weighs 4,250 lbs DRY. that's over 2 tons of metal that the thing has to haul around. it NEEDS a v8 to be not-annoying. the 3.5L HO engine is decent in the magnum, but the 2.7L v6 has to be downright miserable. the magnum weighs around 4,250 as well.
the worst part about those cars... depreciation.
for every mile i drove, i lost a dollar on trade-in.
also, the SRT-8 charger weighs 4,250 lbs DRY. that's over 2 tons of metal that the thing has to haul around. it NEEDS a v8 to be not-annoying. the 3.5L HO engine is decent in the magnum, but the 2.7L v6 has to be downright miserable. the magnum weighs around 4,250 as well.
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