I agree about the silence of late. Those of us in possession of our JCW CPs (or possibly possessed by our cars) are too busy driving. We have had off and on weather in E-town, that coupled with work travel have left me out of the car more than I wanted. A good stretch of nice fall weather and I will take some new pictures.
I have been very nice and let a few friends drive the car. All three of them have owned various performance oriented vehicles. All of them were KNOCKED OUT by this little car's pull. For me, I am going ot be in trouble soon as I am driving an arrest me red, endless powered car sans cruise control. As law abiding as I am, I find myself doing 20 km over the limit all the time. I don't think, "it's the cars fault" will work after getting pulled over by Edmonton's finest.
Likes
Even without the cruise and stereo controls, I wouldn't give up the alcantara wheel. It has grown on me just like the tailor made shift knob. The power and look of the car are also massive likes for me. I wish I could park it inside my house just so I can stare at it.
Dislikes
The often discussed "back-fire" noise. Both my wife and I are coming to grips with MINI's "normal" exhaust burble. To us, the inconistency of it occuring and the actual noise are the problem. It doesn't sound like performance it is more of a mechanical undercarriage clunk which to us = bad...even though it isn't. We also didn't expect the goldfish bowl attention this car draws from surrounding traffic and pedestrians. I new it was an eye catcher but didn't think this many people would confront us with questions and/or gawk.
Take it easy guys... and get that C4S sold Abulia.
Good things come to those that wait. I have an appointment to take my car in tomorrow to have the cracked windshield replaced. My sales rep said, "Why not bring it in today and drive your new one home?" Works4me. (Pardon the pun). So, I picked my son up from school and armed with a couple of cameras we set off for the dealer. To be honest, there was an emotional moment as I got out of my car for the last time; she was very good to me. After completing the obligatory paperwork, I drove The Works out to the parking lot so that we could take some before and after pictures.
Then it was time for some first impressions. She is eager, like a thoroughbred racehorse begging to be given her lead, straining at the bridle, determined to show that she is made of stern stuff. And surefooted; stable, stiff and comforting, so nimble around the bends. Even at low revs there is a throaty growl that only hints at the pleasures to come. I had occasion to make a left turn across two lanes of rush hour traffic. Seizing an opening, yet mindful of the rev limitation of 4500 rpm, I pulled away quickly and was completely blown away by the shriek of the supercharger in second and third gears. I put more than 76,000 kms. on my previous Cooper 'S' and never had I heard anything like it. Awesome, awe-inspiring, the stuff that legends are made of. The dealer rep told me to keep the revs below 4500 rpm and not take her above 140km/h. No problem I thought. Until I got onto the highway and glanced at the speedometer and noticed 140kmh without even trying. It should be illegal to sell this car without cruise control. Perhaps we should lobby the gobvernment to raise highway speed limits or keep all the old punters off the roads when we are out and about.
Worth waiting for? Oh yes, and then some! Pure pleasure in a pack of performance! Oh, and by the way, she has a name. I am going to call her Banshee.
Congrats, Stickman! That is fantastic news, and I'm glad Banshee was worth waiting for!!!! I take it that the power over the regular 'S' is quite noticeable, then?
I'm continuing to be frustrated in my attempts to get into my CP car. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that soon I too will have a delivery story!
The difference between the two cars is palpable, even while limiting the revs to break-in limits. She is solid, from the thunk of the closing doors to the sure footed feeling of confidence that she delivers going into the corners. It is a completely different animal. And the supercharger whine literally caught me completely by surprise. I read Paul Mullet's review of the new MINI today and will eventually test drive one but I think I am going to get addicted to that supercharger sound and may end up as one of the people that prefer the former to the latter. This car reminds me more of the insane characteristics of my 1969 mini cooper 'S' than the 2003 version did. And they have added a side shade for the driver and a handle to assist the handicapped in extricating themselves from the passenger seat. There may be other neat improvemnets that I have not discovered yet but for now I am completely content with that whine. Reminds me of my ex-wife.
Just as a change of subject ... has anyone seen "Hard Candy"? It is a really gruesome thriller about a pedophile. Guess what awesome car he is driving? (Awesome is what the girl in the movie calls it.)
Yup, same as all of us ... MINI ... sick eh ........
Driving is Everything ... Anything else is just waiting around ...
Man, a friend of mine told me to watch "One Hour Lab" to see what a phycho photolab operator is like, then you come along and say "Hey what about this pedophile photographer movie?" (for those who don't know, I am currently working in a photolab and am also a phtographer)
I was just about to ask 'what's a Holys hit?' and then I figured it out.
If you put the * in, you can still spell creatively and the bad word detector doesn't pick up on it, like so; Holy Sh*t!! or Holy S*it!!
Hey, my car goes faster than that Stickman: It goes all the way past fast, faster, hits ludicrous speed and finally settles on "plaid"
I was lucky enough to sniff the exhaust of a competition car today. It smells ok, but sounds amazing! Two more people called about the C4s, so I'm keeping my fingers doubly crossed.
I don't know how much smoke will actually be blown in Tobias' face... I know that once I get into my driver's seat, I still have quite a weight disadvantage to overcome. Maybe I should let my wife drive
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