For those of you who are anything like me and have the MINI's handling and Performance at Heart, here is a link to a complex test done in USA in 2007.

http://image.motortrend.com/f/features/9489324+pheader/112_0706_01l+americas_best_handling+group_shot_sti ll_turn_9.jpg

This is the most complex, accurate test I've found yet! Not just talk, but real detailed tests!

Elimination Rounds:
America's Best Handling Car - Selection Process - Feature - Motor Trend (http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/tuners/112_0706_americas_best_handling_car_selection/index.html)

MINI in the Final 10 with some very big names! :nice:

This is the Final 10:
America's Best Handling Car - The Field - Motor Trend (http://www.motortrend.com/features/112_0706_americas_best_handling_car/the_field.html)

10th: Civic Si
9th: Corvette ZO6
8th: Mazdaspeed3
7th: Honda S2000
6th: BMW 3 Series
5th: MINI Cooper S JCW
4th: Mitsubishi EVO
3rd: Lotus Exige S
2nd: Porsche Cayman S
1st: Porsche 911 GT3

Top 5 - I had no doubt but still Pretty Impressive! :nice:

UK Driver Power Survey 2011
"Our survey crowns Britain's best handling car, rated for steering feel and chassis balance."

Category: Handling
One of the most prestigious categories in Driver Power has to be the handling chart. The way a car can tackle a twisty road, navigate a sharp corner or even deal with an emergency lane change at motorway speeds is assessed and rated here. The key to a good score is a well-engineered chassis, accurately set up suspension and the correct wheel and tyre choice. The model at the top of this chart places its dynamic abilities at the very top of its priority list.

1 MAZDA MX-5/RC MKIII 96.39%

2 MAZDA RX-8 95.32%

3 MINI ONE/COOPER/COOPER S NEW 94.70%

4 SKODA YETI 93.52%

5 JAGUAR XF 93.16%

6 VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO 93.14%

7 AUDI TT/ROADSTER NEW 92.53%

8 MINI ONE/COOPER/COOPER S OLD 91.69%

9 BMW 3-SERIES MKIV 91.68%

10 SEAT LEON MKII 89.94%

Read more: Best for handling | Driver Power | Car Reviews | Auto Express (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/driver_power/265585/best_for_handling.html#ixzz1KQm5iANl)

So an MX5 is better handling than say a 4 wheel drive scooby?
I find Auto express reviews a little lame at best

So an MX5 is better handling than say a 4 wheel drive scooby?
I find Auto express reviews a little lame at best

"Every year tens of thousands of Britain’s motorists fill in a comprehensive questionnaire about every aspect of the cars they drive, and tell us what they think of motoring in 2011. Each car is rated only on the scores awarded by you- the people who take the wheel, pay the bills and put up with the drawbacks. There's no clearer judgement on offer."


Why doesn’t my car feature?
Not all models can be included, due to the sheer number of cars on UK roads. Plus, to ensure our results are reliable, we need a robust sample size of drivers of each vehicle.

Read more: Driver Power 2011 | Driver Power | Car Reviews | Auto Express (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/driver_power/#ixzz1KSYUDv9n)

Review of Subaru Impreza.........
The new Impreza doesn’t succeed, and risks losing its traditional customer base.
Read more: Subaru Impreza | New Reviews | Car Reviews | Auto Express (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/newreviews/211018/subaru_impreza.html#ixzz1KSakhXOZ)

My statement still stands.
A scooby is still a better handling car than an MX5.

Yes the new Scooby is a poor to its predictor, but it still out handles most cars on the road.

These "peoples" surveys are all fine and dandy, but I could say my Focus is the best car ever and give it top marks on everything and I could slate my mini.

So I take surveys with a pinch of salt, except on reliability and dealers.

:)

If you read the full Motor Trend report, which is the most complex and detailed report I could find yet and a result of ample testing, you will learn that the Subaru Impreza has not impressed. And this is not a Peoples Survey but actual testing by professionals.

The Evo gave much better results. Personally I still lean more towards Subaru anyway ;)

The point remains, The MINI is one Great Handling Phenomena! As has been the case for the Classic Mini, the Legend lives on.

i find that my 04 cooper needs to be stiffened up it has too much body roll on the corners for my liking. some more items added to the wish list lol

My statement still stands.
A scooby is still a better handling car than an MX5.

I think the water is muddied with the definition of handling. The MX-5 is fairly pure in terms of handling and relies on a perfectly balanced chassis to get it round corners and the feedback it gives to the driver is excellent. The Scooby can corner faster, but mainly due to its limpet like grip with big sticky tyres and trick diffs but it lacks the feel and feedback of the MX-5. Likewise the Evo which also adds some clever electronics.


These "peoples" surveys are all fine and dandy, but I could say my Focus is the best car ever and give it top marks on everything and I could slate my mini.

Couldn't agree with you more. How can you trust a survey where you ask Joe Bloggs to say how good his car is and his only frame of reference is his Nissan Micra? He's going to give it 5*'s for everything whereas the guy who sold his Porsche and got a Scooby is going to be far harder on the Scooby. This might explain why the Skoda Yeti is listed 4th lol

Chris