While the MINI was in our possession, MINI2 users where offered the chance to fire questions, which we would then endeavour to answer. The following is what we managed to get for you all.

Q: What’s the leg room in the back really like?
A: Not great, but not much worse than other small cars. The main problem is with passengers feet and the seats being so low.

Q: What options are on the car?
A: Too many to list, see A WEEK WITH MINI - Part One.

Q: What is the build quality like? Do the doors have a “solid” feel?
A: Build quality over all is superb, especially for a small car. The windows did feel a little ’saggy’ compared to other cars though.

Q: How comfortable are the seats? I like a car with good, supportive seats.
A: Very comfortable for me, but a taller, long legged person said the seats were not deep enough for him. Rear seats very good.

Q: Any chance you could really investigate this tall gearing issue that people have commented on for 3rd? What types of driving situations is it a problem? I have read that if you are going uphill in second and you shift to third that it bogs down, even if you are near redline in second.
A: The change from second to third for me was fine. If it helps it is very similar to a Peugeot 205 GTI, which I also own.

Q: Also, can you keep track of your driving type (city, motorway, etc.) and give us an idea of your real world gas consumption.
A: I am afraid I failed in this request, but MPG seemed average, certainly not over efficient, but it was no gas guzzler.

Q: Also identify how many miles are on the engine, it would be good to know if it has been “broken in”.
A: It had over 2,200 when delivered. Over 3,700 when returned.

Q: I’m not sure if you can find out, but I’d love to know how difficult it is going to be to fit my own radio (VDO Nav. system).
A: Again, I cannot answer this.

Q: Oh yeah, and tell us about how groundable you found the front of the car - I live in speed-ramp City!
A: We too have our fair share of speed humps, no problem at all despite the ground clearance for the rubber under the front spoiler being only 10.5 cm at the lowest point when the car was stood empty.

Q: Does the seat mechanism work?
A: Yes, perfectly. The seat mechanism is actually very good. Until someone gets it wrong. You have to push the leaver down and hold it down to pull the seats forward for rear entry, you must then slide the seat back into position, then lift the seat back into place. Pulling the same leaver upwards allows for seat back adjustment. BUT if you lift the seat back BEFORE sliding the seat back into place on its runners you then have to move the seat with the other adjuster under the font to set it at the correct distance. If you push the leaver down to adjust the seat back in error, it can jam and require resetting.

Q: Ohhhh… top speed test, huh?
A: I have heard that 130mph has been achieved, but the stated top speed is 125mph. The car feels very stable at higher speeds.

Q: Do you think you could take a picture with the driver’s side door open with someone sitting in the driver’s seat that is approximately in the 6 foot or above range?
A: Photo’s below of my father in the passenger seat and myself driving, we are both 6′. It was very difficult for even a person of less than 5′ tall to sit behind me in a comfortable driving position.

Q: I have just seen in the manual a reference to ‘car memory’, do you know what this is, and also can you confirm the auto closure of windows via the key fob?
A: Car memory - No idea. Windows and Sunroof can be opened and closed by using the key in the door.

Q: How hard do you have to hit the rear of another car to deploy the air bag…which of the six open first, and are they packed in all that messy powder?
A: Not entirely sure, maybe you could ask Jeremy Clarkson?

Q: I would like your impressions on the “feel” of the gas pedal, clutch, etc?
A: All felt very good, I had no problems with the drive by wire system, and the pedals felt nicely spaced.

Q: Also would appreciate any comments such as windshield glare, visibility, blind spots, etc?
A: Visibility from the front of the car was excellent, really very good indeed. Looking over your shoulder was not good, but the wing mirrors were so very good they more than compensated. No problems with windshield glare at all.

Q: Please take a gander under the bonnet and shine your torch in there (see, I’m turning English already!) to see how easy/difficult it is to do minor things, like oil and filter changes.
A: All looks pretty simple really for the easier little things.

Q : How difficult is it to service the “pollen filter” in front of the windshield?
A: I couldn’t get it out for fear of something breaking, and you’d need long fingers to get at it from below

Q: Lastly, and most importantly to all of us dirty old men, is it a “chick magnet?”
A: I’m too ugly to answer that. But it did turn heads.

Q: Can you find out the REAL weight of the car?
A: 1125kg’s with just over 1/4 tank of fuel, and myself in the car. That is with all the options fitted to.

Q: If it is equipped with the sunroof, can you see how noisy it is at high speeds. Also any photos you could take of the sunscreen and opening/closing mechanism would be fab!!
A: It was very noisy at high speeds. I didn’t get snaps of that, but it is just a plastic latch, nothing exciting.

Q: One last thing, it might be silly but do you think you can take a picture of the key fob so we can see what buttons are on there?
A: Failed again. But if you see a rover/Landrover key, that’s it. Two buttons, one to unlock, one to lock. Due to be changed I hear.

Q: Paul, any chance you could let one of the tyres down a little and let us know whether or not the tyre pressure warning tells you which tyre has actually gone down - or is it just a generic thing?
A: The light just comes on, it doesn’t tell you which tyre is the soft one.

Q: How easy it to change front or rear light bulbs as I don’t fancy an 800 mile round trip to change a bulb?
A: Fronts easy, back not so easy. The fronts just pop-out on the standard halogens, you have to remove a rubber cover first, the rear also just pop and twist out, but I couldn’t really get to them through the small service hatches.

Q: What is the bolt pattern for the wheels?
A:4 bolts. 7cm between each bolt, or 28cm diagonal between to bolts. Hope that’s some use.

Q: Also, what sort of accessories would best fit the car?
A: Oooh, the list is long. I’ll maybe post a wish list one day. Chrome for the mirrors was one thought I kept having.

Q: How does it handle in the corners?
A: Amazing, no question about that one.

Q: Can you tell me what the standard lights are like?
A: The standard halogen bulbs are very good actually, I would say at least as good as the Clio’s ‘double optic’ lights.

Q: I do a lot of motorway driving. I’d be interested to know what rpm the engine does at 70 mph and 85mph in 5th.
A: About 3,100 and about 3,900 approx.

Q: Paul - I’d like to know about the reaction from the public. I spoke to a guy today whose daughter has a cooper, loves it but is put off by people pawing all over it in supermarket car parks for example. Apparently she’s caught somebody with his head under the rear bumper, who looked up, muttered “nice car” and walked off. What’s it like in the real world - do you feel like a goldfish in a bowl ?
A: It’s fun, if you’re a bit of a poser at heart like me, at the moment the car certainly gets noticed. I’ve driven some cars that stand out from the crowd, but never had a reaction like in the new MINI.

Q: Also as you will have driven the car for a few million miles compared to us the great unwashed - how does the front withstand stonechips - is the paint durable or is it Mr Flaky?
A: When cleaning the car there was one, small paint chip I noticed. But the paint did have an extremely good finish, washing the bonnet you felt you could be cleaning any number of very expensive cars.

Q: How scratch resistant the silverline interior is ?
A: Seemed to be coated a little like my Sony mobile phone, no scratches on this model.

Q: Squeeks and rattles ??
A: Seat squeaked a fair bit, and the rear seat also on rough roads.

Q: Problems?
A: Giving it back at the end of the week.

Q: So Paul, is it fun? Does it have the FUN factor?
A: Oh yes, big cheesy grins all the way.

Q: I would like to know the max acceleration possible from each gear????? eg. 1st=30mph, 2nd=55mph, 3rd= 80mph, 4th=100mph, 5th=130mph would all be nice!!!!
A: I can only tell you second was nearly 70mph at just under 7,000 rpm, and the car is limited at around 125-130 mph.

Q: I’ve got a question about the lenses on the headlights - are they plastic or glass?
A: Plastic.

Q: Is it really a Mini? If it didn’t have the outward appearances of the original would you, by sitting in it and driving it, come to the conclusion it was a Mini? Or is it so totally new and different that the relationship is lost?
A: It’s the most mini-ish modern car I’ve driven so far as handling and the grin factor goes. Some would disagree, but I believe it is a fantastic interpretation of what the Mini meant to me and many others. Fun on four wheels.

Q: I read somewhere that the wheel arches are made of carbon fiber, but I would bet they are just plain old black plastic. Right?
A: Plastic as far as I can tell, very much like the Landrover arches actually.

Q: Can you toss a bicycle in the back? two?
A: No photographic evidence, but with the wheels of, yes, two. Go-peds do not really fit in sideways though.

Q: How fun is it compared to a Miata? (assuming that you’ve driven a Miata)
A: I’ve never driven a Miata, but I really have to re-emphasise that I had really good fun behind the wheels of the Cooper. I can’t wait to try out the Cooper S now!

Q: I’ve noticed and read about the toggle switches below the HVAC and stereo systems. I think 2 of them are for the power windows. What are the other switches used for?
A: Left to right. Passenger window, ASC+T,Central Locking, Rear Fog Lights, Front Fog Lights, Drivers Window.

Q: Could you describe what it feels like inside with the sunroof open/closed. Does it feel like a fishbowl. Also, any details on the sunshade mechanism would be great. Is it some sort of roller shade and is there anything that would prevent the shade from sagging over time?
A: I think the sunroof makes a huge difference, I much prefer being in the car with one than without. I kept the sunshade shut most times, but it still gave the car more of an airy feel. It is just a ‘net’ roller shade. I would guess the pull on it alone would help stop it from sagging.

I am sorry not all questions were answered, and not all in full, but I hope this proves useful none the less.