http://www.motoringfile.com/2010/06/...sche-the-race/

A plain stock MCS with web spoke (172ps) vs 2009+ 997 Carrera S (385ps), only lost by 2 seconds!

Track layout:

 

Too bad Mini didn't put up a JCW w/ JCW suspension. I bet that would have closed the gap!!

 

"Ask any racer, any real racer. It doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile; winning's winning."

 

 

in racing 2 seconds is an eternity

 

Ummmm, duh?

Don't be naive. It was a foregone conclusion that Porsche would win. I'm questioning why MINI chose to fight a 911 Carrera S, versus just a 911 Carrera. But even then, it would have lost.

 

Honestly, I do not know what MINI was trying to do here. You are comparing a fun econo/sports car against a true high performance sports car. Don't get me wrong I love my MINI and enjoy every minute in it but it is not a Porsche. Watch the Video, MINI handcrafted the track for themselves to play to all of the cars strengths and still got spanked. The Porsche is just way too much car for the MINI. Put these cars on a normal racing track and the results would have been much worse. I just am not sure what MINI was trying to prove.......

 

I don't think MINI was trying to prove anything as much as just launch an ad campaign. This was simply a marketing stunt. One that has gone over-board, IMO. As much as I love my MINI, the fanboi's coming out of the woodwork on this one have me a little nonplussed.

One thing MINI has gotten from this is LOADS of publicity. So I'd say Mission Accomplished.

 

I believe that the reasoning behind this is a matter of word semantics...

MINI Cooper S v. Porsche Carrera S

Perhaps to the average consumer it adds a level of equality, as they will make the association based on the "S" designation.

Just a guess though.

I think MINI should have used a JCW to level the playing field somewhat...

 

Yeah it got publicity, I just don't think it was good publicity. IMHO... Kinda like calling out the neighborhood bully and getting your A** kicked.

 

odd bit of editing. Check out the motoringfile video at 00:03:57
That's a factory JCW w/ the factory aero-kit, spliced into the action.

 

Having attended the event, I can say that MINIUSA does put on a great show.

Where else can one drive without cost, on the Road Atlanta track at speed. Although it was lead/follow. Eat BBQ, watch a fun match, and see all your friends. On Facebook, under the Lets Motor video of the race... thats me chasing the Porsche out of the turn. I was on his bumper before the turn, after he turned he was gone. A few hundred HP makes a difference!.
A lot of FUN. Nice track. Sorry you missed it.

 

I personally would have great respect for anyone who called out a bully and was willing to get their *** kicked, especially compared to someone who wouldn't stand up for what they believe in (and, keeping with the simile, usually cowering in a corner, maybe even talking a great deal, but never acting).

I just don't think life has to be about winning or losing. Amazing people lose every day--that doesn't make them any less meaningful or important than those who win. For me, the fact that someone tried and was willing to lose tells me there's some quality character there, so long as the loser doesn't get snarky about it. That's character. And in the world of PR, that sort of losing can still be positive PR.

Though I still wish the MINI would've won.

 

It's called any press is good press. This is only going to boost MINI awareness and sales. That was the real point of MINI USA doing this.

 

I don't think many non MINI people saw this advertising. The only press on other sites is about how MINI called out Porsche, created their own track, bought their own Porsche and still lost.... Dont get me wrong, I am a die hard MINI fan, I just think this was a badly thought out publicity stunt. Oh well, glad everybody that attended had fun.

 

Hyundai will make mini look stupid

 

It's idiots like this that make you wonder some time.

 

Care to qualify your brilliant statement with some examples.....

 

Some people realize that on a full course, the Porsche would dominate or that 2 seconds is a significant amount of time if you're a serious racer.

The point, though, is that 99.9% of car buyers do not race at a level where a couple seconds makes any significant difference. If people were able to ride in the Porsche around that course and then the MINI, how many would be able to tell that the Porsche won? Or feel the 2-second difference? Almost nobody.

So, both would be relatively similar in fun-factor, and the MINI is priced where normal people can actually buy one.

THAT is what normal people are going to take away from this, not the intricacies of the 2-second differential or what might have happened on the full course. Sure, there will be some wannabe racers that say they will never buy a MINI now because it was "misleading" or because "2 seconds is huge in real racing which I never actually do", but they never would have considered a MINI in the first place probably.

On the other hand, the vast majority of the population will see this as evidence that the MINI can be incredibly fun for a cost they can actually afford.

MINI Marketing: 1
Wannabe Experts: 0

 

MINI said it all in their race video.... Porshe won by 2 seconds...@$38,000 per second! Is it worth it at $38,000 for each second?

 

I think he's referring to Hyundai's challenge to MINI, which MINI has chosen to ignore. It's hilarious since MINI is being even more snobby to Hyundai than Porsche was to MINI from my point of view.

But a Genesis coupe vs MCS is a good challenge, I'd like to see it.

2 seconds on a tight course like this is a reaaallll long time btw.

 

This was put on for a just have fun for the Porsche people as well as us Mini people day at the racetrack. It was not a serious championship title event.

So the Mini lost by two seconds. I don't think they were meant to win or the Mini USA would have used a JCW with sport suspension and some good tires.

It was for a fun day at the track and that is why we along with the Porsche guys own cars like this.

I wish I could have gone but I already commited to take my brother to get a catarac removed from his eye. I definetly would have drove up with my friend Jack (Porshe 911 turbo owner) in my JCW to just have a nice day of fun.

When I go to the grocery store or haul four people I take my Mini. It holds a lot more then a Porsche 911. It is just as much (or more ) fun to drive & it is way more comfortable. It is just not as fast as Jacks Porsche. Both cars are great machines. Niether is really better then the other when it comes to "The Fun Factor"

 

Had MINI gone with a biggest badest MINI, Porsche (the people that ended up representing Porsche) would have had to up to their best...and that could/would have been ugly.

 

How about the Mini-E vs. the Porsche GT3 Hybrid

... and yes, it is funny that Mini ignores Hyundai, the Genesis coupe with the v6 & track package is a beast for the money. Both the Porsche and the Hyundai fail the practicality test, the Mini has no problem with trips to Costco.

 

hyundai is just really excited about rwd!
mini should take em on. the car companies should compete more. much cheaper than proper racing and fun.