[Bydgoszcz]

So I just opened up an email for this:

Quote:

Test the Next Generation MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S against the VW Rabbit, Mazda3 GS, VW GTI and Audi A3.

By driving these vehicles through the same controlled course, you will be able to judge for yourself which vehicles perform the best.

So who going and what times? I would hope that everyone gets an invite to this.


I'm set for Sunday April 22, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

[RS3TURN]

No invite, but sounds interesting.
I've switch jobs since I purchased my MINI. Willing to bet my email is incorrect.

[MINI Artist]

Yup we got one too. Vee is very excited!
T

[Coopertronics]

This looks like fun. I am in on Saturday at 1:00

[abuzavi]

Oh, I want one!

[RS3TURN]

I got an invite to the BMW one (Apr. 27 - 29th). Seems there is a BMW X-drive event as well. I'm planning to go to this one.

The cars available for comparison are:
BMW 528xi and 535xi as well as the BMW X5
3.0si and X5 4.8i. Compare them directly to the Audi Q7 3.6, the Audi A6 3.2, the
Mercedes-Benz ML500 and the Mercedes-Benz E350 4MATIC Sedan.

~1 week with my 325XiT and I'm really enjoying driving it. The AWD + DSC provides amazing traction.

[MRC2K6]

I'm in - Sunday 3:00 ... Looking forward to it.

Hope it isn't snowing!!!

[Ferroequine]

In at 10 on Sunday.

So is the attending crowd composed mainly of current MINI owners? Should we all show up with a fake nose & glasses and in clapped out Cavaliers?

[faster,Tobias!]

Anyone who isn't a current owner but would like to attend can give me a call, and I'll try and book you in - looks like it is filling quickly. .

[xtremepsionic]

Wahhhhhhhhh why am I working that day

Oh well, I got my MINI fix today by driving my own all day (yep still have it) and the dealer's 07 Cooper S demo for half an hour.

[heli_guy]

Well we will see you all there, I'm in for Sunday 10 am too.

[faster,Tobias!]

Quote: Originally Posted by xtremepsionic (original)

Wahhhhhhhhh why am I working that day

Oh well, I got my MINI fix today by driving my own all day (yep still have it) and the dealer's 07 Cooper S demo for half an hour.

And? What did you think to the 'S'?

[xtremepsionic]

Quote: Originally Posted by faster,Tobias! (original)

And? What did you think to the 'S'?

Oh very good! I thought the start button was useless, and the beeps that the car makes when you start it up is pretty funny, like those little gameboys I used to have. Driving dynamics wise, I quite like the exhaust note when you rev it from 3000-redline, the close ratio box just begs to be rowed. I loved going up and down the gears, blipping downshifts and doing heel and toe, great fun! However as for power, the torque curve of this engine is so flat that it just doesn't feel fast. It surely builds speeds quick enough to be entertaining, but none of that "push you in the seat" sort of fast. Maybe the 2.5L WRX turbo with the ecu reflashed just spoiled me.

Steering feel of the MINIs and BMWs continues to be my favorite part of the car. The steering is so communicative and precise. This is one area that is quite a LOT better than my WRX. You just can't help but feel very confident behind the wheel of a MINI, it's almost like it can read your thoughts about where you want to go, pure magic!

I'm not sure if the demo yellow S I drove has front LSD or not, but as I expected, with such a torquey motor and FWD, the traction control just kicked in all the time when I floor it out of wet corners. Made the ride kinda choppy if you're always going wide open throttle (which I do, all the time when I drive). Turn it off and the wheel spins really easy on take off, since it's a demo and not my own car I just left the DSC on.

I'm quite surprised that the noise/wind noise level seems to be more or less unchanged, and the steering feels quite heavy. Pressed the sports button after just a block and a half, the car feels sleepy without it on. And I'm not sure what the reviews are on about ride quality being so much better, crashed through a pothole that just shook me to bits just like before :P

The interior looks a little busy, lots more information displays and buttons to press. The HVAC dials are a little weird. But overall I think it's a fun layout, makes the car unique and special in its own way. Exterior wise, I can't say I love it. Especially the front end, it does look quite bloated in real life. To be honest the MINI has never been a pretty car, but it just looks so charming and fun because of its small size, so I still like the styling in general. I don't like the smaller door pockets or the glove box though.

Overall it's very much just like the MINI we loved so much before, stiff, agile, quick. I think the last S might actually be more "fun", if you like the supercharged sound as much as I do. It's not like the new S is that fast anyway. And driving the car around, it honestly just feels like pretty much the exact same car with a different engine and an interior redesign.





Couple pics I took hastily while on my 30 minute drive.

[faster,Tobias!]

Just hazarding a guess here, but the wheel spin just might have had something to do with the tyres. I just noticed that car has summer tyres on it! Eeek!

[xtremepsionic]

Quote: Originally Posted by faster,Tobias! (original)

I just noticed that car has summer tyres on it! Eeek!

You're right (of course! When have you been wrong!), it did have summer tires on it. With that new information, I was pushing the car a little harder than I would (should) have.

[Mini KAMP]

Well did it this morning, and all I can say is "bring on our new Mini"
Cooper S, was excellent very tight and responsive in the S's
A3, was nice but I didn't get any feeling from it
GTi, was good but felt like I had got into the Tardis (Doctor Who fans will know what I mean).
Cooper S, Automatic (why!!!!!!!!) still handled great though
Mazda 3, (why was it even there)
Rabbit, just ok

Just my thoughts

[heli_guy]

I agree. The event was very well done, and Mini's did shine over the competition.

The Mazda 3 was horrible, the Rabbit actually faired pretty well, but the copper still won IMO.

As this was the first time I drove the S, they sure do boogie. I was not impressed with the A3 at all, it really showed a lot of roll in the S turns and the braking felt very soft.

Although I must say it seemed the cars all had longer breaking times near the end, not sure if they were getting soft, or we were going faster :-) .

See you all next week at the ice cream run!
Trevor.

[Mini-Kobe]

Went yesterday and it was great. I'm glad I went.
A3 & GTI got power but A3 suspension is to soft for me and GTI handles well but it feels like you have to work a bit to maneuver the car.
Cooper S - it doesn't have the power like GTI & A3 but quick on the take off and handles very well.
My opinion - power is good but handling is more important on a city street.
That's my opinion anyway.

[dorkboy]

I went today as well. My personal favs were of course MCS stick, but auto drove awesome as well. Then the GTI. 1st drove the Audi, nice car, but really let down by the gas pedal. Mazda, why was it there? One of the guys told us before we drove it "be careful, there is alot of body roll and loose suspension with this". hehe. I got a driving warning in the MCS auto, and then wasnt allowed to drive after the MCS stick. hehe. What a great morning!!!

Even more stoked that I now get a $1000 accessories card with my 07 MCS that I ordered, yay!!!

[Mini KAMP]

Us to Dorkboy, nice little suprise the $1000