MINI2 - MINI Forum - View Single Post

Triffid · May 13th, 2007, 09:19 PM

Ive enjoyed my Dooper for 12 days now and these are my observations..

Like others have said the Sport button IS worth it. It has the effect of making it easier to drive around town due to you only having to feather the accelerator. Also it makes it more enjoyable to drive on tight twisting rather than just economise on a long Motorway or A road without. It enables you to extract the max performance from the car more easily (also due to sharper steering and a somehow sharper gearbox). But it won't really make the car any faster as you can't gain power from a button and I reckon it uses more diesel..

For a few days I thought that I'd completely wasted the money on the armrest, as it is just too low. You end up resting your hand on your leg, unless your arm is moved so far back your elbow is behind your seat!. BUT, I have found a use: when you are in a traffic jam and/or slow moving traffic it allows you to rest your arm while you have the hand on the gearstick ready to change up.

I haven't got the sport suspension. I have 16 inch bridge alloys. The ride is pretty firm and I have to say I wouldn't want it any firmer as you can already hear the road beneath you and I can just about put up with it..

The HI-FI option is OK. I think it all depends on the sound system in your old car. I find that there is a lack of bottom end from the rear half of the car meaning that the sounds perhaps lacks depth?. Even with the slight disappointment with it, it does seem to be improving with it getting a good workout on most trips. I have found that with MP3 discs you need to keep the bass and treble settings neutral as there is too much distortion otherwise.
But compared to most standard sound systems in most cars it is a lot better.

I have standard lights and am intending to just upgrade the standard bulbs as you can get a fairly good improvement. Not up to Xenon standard obviously, but if you go for those 50% brighter bulbs you will notice an improvement over standard. But standard lights aren't any better or worse than any other car with standard bulbs I reckon.

Definitely worth having the MFSW option as there are a lot of small buttons on the central console and you have to take your eyes off the road to find the volume, forward/fast forward track buttons. Buy it for your safety especially if you have Cd's with 100 mp3s on!.

I don't rate the Auto Aircon much as it is quite low powered. Hardly notice if its on or not and its not even proper summer yet.. But it does improve the central console.

Just read that..quite serious.. Overall though I love the car...after a few days you learn to love its agility and its MPG...62.1 but so far but im economising this tankfull!

May 13th, 2007, 09:19 PM	#11
Triffid MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cambs Local Time: 08:21 AM Posts: 69 Offline	Ive enjoyed my Dooper for 12 days now and these are my observations.. Like others have said the Sport button IS worth it. It has the effect of making it easier to drive around town due to you only having to feather the accelerator. Also it makes it more enjoyable to drive on tight twisting rather than just economise on a long Motorway or A road without. It enables you to extract the max performance from the car more easily (also due to sharper steering and a somehow sharper gearbox). But it won't really make the car any faster as you can't gain power from a button and I reckon it uses more diesel.. For a few days I thought that I'd completely wasted the money on the armrest, as it is just too low. You end up resting your hand on your leg, unless your arm is moved so far back your elbow is behind your seat!. BUT, I have found a use: when you are in a traffic jam and/or slow moving traffic it allows you to rest your arm while you have the hand on the gearstick ready to change up. I haven't got the sport suspension. I have 16 inch bridge alloys. The ride is pretty firm and I have to say I wouldn't want it any firmer as you can already hear the road beneath you and I can just about put up with it.. The HI-FI option is OK. I think it all depends on the sound system in your old car. I find that there is a lack of bottom end from the rear half of the car meaning that the sounds perhaps lacks depth?. Even with the slight disappointment with it, it does seem to be improving with it getting a good workout on most trips. I have found that with MP3 discs you need to keep the bass and treble settings neutral as there is too much distortion otherwise. But compared to most standard sound systems in most cars it is a lot better. I have standard lights and am intending to just upgrade the standard bulbs as you can get a fairly good improvement. Not up to Xenon standard obviously, but if you go for those 50% brighter bulbs you will notice an improvement over standard. But standard lights aren't any better or worse than any other car with standard bulbs I reckon. Definitely worth having the MFSW option as there are a lot of small buttons on the central console and you have to take your eyes off the road to find the volume, forward/fast forward track buttons. Buy it for your safety especially if you have Cd's with 100 mp3s on!. I don't rate the Auto Aircon much as it is quite low powered. Hardly notice if its on or not and its not even proper summer yet.. But it does improve the central console. Just read that..quite serious.. Overall though I love the car...after a few days you learn to love its agility and its MPG...62.1 but so far but im economising this tankfull!