MINI have kindly provided us with a MINI Cooper S to live with for a week. 29th November: Day 7, It’s been fun….
Delivery Miles: 2483
Miles on collection: 2856
Miles covered Today: 13
Total miles covered: 373
Average MPG (according to trip computer): 29.5 mpg (imperial)
Average Speed (according to trip computer): 29.6 mph
Pictures: MINI2 Galleries
Forum discussion: Here
The last day of being with the Mellow Yellow S was sadly undermined by other MINI related activity, so on the day itself there’s very little to report. I say sadly, but don’t really mean that, because the “other MINI related activity” was the collection from Wollaston MINI of our new Laser Blue MINI Cooper S!
Continue reading MINI2 - At Home with the MINI Cooper S - Day 7
MINI have kindly provided us with a MINI Cooper S to live with for a week. 28th November: Day 5 & 6, getting familiar.
Delivery Miles: 2483
Miles today & yesterday: 108
Total miles covered: 360
Average MPG (according to trip computer): 29.5 mpg (imperial)
Average Speed (according to trip computer): 29.6 mph
Pictures: MINI2 Galleries
Forum discussion: Here
Due to a complete lack of activity on Monday, there was really nothing to report. But Tuesday was a day of driving and filming, covering many of my familiar roads in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire I spent most of my time filming the car from lots of different angles, hours worth, hopefully ending with enough footage to put a little sequence together for the website by the end of the week. It seemed someone was working against me today, as every road I went on, no matter how small and remote, somebody, be it in a car, walking their dock, or riding their push bike would come along and linger in shot while I waited for them to clear off! Never mind, I’m sure I’ve got something useable!
Continue reading MINI2 - At Home with the MINI Cooper S - Day 5 & 6
MINI have kindly provided us with a MINI Cooper S to live with for a week. 26th November: Day 4. Sunday, a day of rest.
Delivery Miles: 2483
Miles today: 42
Total miles covered: 252
Average MPG (according to trip computer): 30.1 mpg (imperial)
Average Speed (according to trip computer): 31.7 mph
Pictures: None today!
Forum discussion: Here
Not much to report from Sunday’s driving. We had a quiet day today really. I can add that the rear seat access is so much improved, I know I’ve already mentioned that, but taking our three year old’s car seat in and out of the back of the new MINI is so much easier than the old model, as is getting in to fasten his buckles and the like. And the wider rear seat bases make a difference too, making fitting in the seat even easier than before. Who says you cant have a MINI as a family car?
Continue reading MINI2 - At Home with the MINI Cooper S - Day 4
MINI have kindly provided us with a MINI Cooper S to live with for a week. 25th November: Day 3. Loving the lanes, or is it?
Delivery Miles: 2483
Miles today: 97
Total miles covered: 210
Average MPG (according to trip computer): 29.9 mpg (imperial)
Average Speed (according to trip computer): 30.9 mph
Pictures: Photos from the day
Forum discussion: Here
Some interesting developments occurred during day 3 of our MINI Cooper S experience. The weather was terrible, raining hard for half the day, and then overcast for much of the rest of the day, the sky’s only clearing just before sunset. So our plans for videos and photo shoots were pretty much scuppered from the outset. We did try and shoot some film, but it was a disaster, so that’s gone straight into the out take bin!
Continue reading MINI2 - At Home with the MINI Cooper S - Day 3
MINI have kindly provided us with a MINI Cooper S to live with for a week. 24th November: Day2, Getting Familiar
Delivery Miles: 2483
Miles today: 72
Total miles covered: 113
Average MPG (according to trip computer): 29.6 mpg (imperial)
Average Speed (according to trip computer): 29.8 mph
Pictures: Photos from the day
Forum discussion: Here
Day two of living with the new MINI Cooper S, and the advantages of having a car to live with in order to be able to offer a more valuable and considered opinion are starting to show. Living with the new MINI as our family car, compared to our current 2006 MINI Cooper S is already starting to be a little more revealing.
Continue reading MINI2 - At Home with the MINI Cooper S - Day 2
MINI have kindly provided us with a MINI Cooper S to live with for a week. 23rd November: Arrival Day.
Starting Miles: 2483
Miles today: 41
Average MPG (according to trip computer): 28.8 mpg (imperial)
Average Speed (according to trip computer): 29.2 mph
Pictures: Photos from the day
Forum discussion: Here
Today the MINI Cooper S arrived, in all it’s yellow and black spledour. The car pulled up about 10:30am, and as I spend most of the daylight hours looking after our 3 year old Son, he was also here to see the car when it arrived. Initial impressions from him were it’s better than my Chili Red 2006 MINI Cooper S. Why? Because it had yellow door handles!
Continue reading MINI2 - At Home with the MINI Cooper S - Day 1
The new, second generation MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S go on sale in MINIs home market.
The new MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S go on sale from November 18th 2006.
All 154 UK MINI dealerships are holding launch events to unveil the new car, but many customers will have to wait until the New Year to own one. The order books are almost full for 2006. Approximately 4000 orders have been taken for the new car, equaling the number achieved in the lead up to the launch of the first generation new MINI in July 2001.
With an all-new design and new engines, the MINI Cooper costs from £12,995 (on-the-road) and the MINI Cooper S is £15,995(otr). With the additional standard options, these prices have increased by a smidgen over two per cent over the first generation.
The unbeatable combination of grin-inducing driving dynamics, emotive design and solid engineering will lead sales of the new car. But the impressive cost of ownership adds strength to an enticing overall package…
Continue reading The New MINI Goes on Sale
The new MINI goes on sale in the UK and some parts of Europe on the 18th November…
And we’d like to know what you, and your local MINI dealer, are doing to mark the occasion. A discussion is already well underway on the MINI2 forums where people are sharing what their dealers plan to do. So if you have any plans, and would like to share in the excitement of the launch of the first “new generation” MINI since the rebirth of the MINI brand in 2001, please join in!
The 18th November 2006 also marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sir Alec Issigonis designer and “father” of the original 1959 “Mini”.
MINI Scoops Top German Award
MINI in Germany have proudly announced in a recent press release their victory at the Goldenes Lenkrad 2006 awards. The award, given out each year by publication Bild am Sonntag is highly sought after and regarded in German automotive circles.
An international, 25 person jury of automotive experts and prominent drivers test the vehicles for two days and rate them in 15 categories. Security, build, environmental impact as well as aesthetic and engine design are considered, alongside value for money. In its class MINI won outright with an overall points score of 1169.
The full list of winners this year are:
- MINI Cooper – Small Car
- Volvo C30 – Compact Estate
- Lexus IS – Luxury
- Volkswagen Eos – Convertible
- Mercedes CL – Coupe
- Hymer B-Class – Recreational Vehicle
What’s an R56? What’s a facelift MINI? We attempt to fill in the blanks for the uninitiated.
People new to MINI2 and the MINI in general, often appear to be a little unsure over what changes and versions of MINI have been offered since it’s 2001 introduction. Those familiar with the MINI often use phrases such as facelift, R56, second generation and so on, which can be a little bewildering for others.
This is a small, visual “spotters guide” to the main changes and updates for the MINI, including all major model updates. We have not included region specific options or limited editions to try and keep this guide as clear and concise as possible. We hope you find it useful.
Continue reading The New MINI - A Brief Pictorial History (The Blagger’s Guide to MINI)
Subcribe to MINI2 News by email