Hmmm, what an odd report from the 5th gear journo. He talks about how the 'standard Cooper S' doesn't quite hold up against the new rivals (which is fine if your talking about a 170bhp standard S) but then says the 'expensive' Works GP with just 4bhp more is really good despite the extra cost.
He seems confused - did no one mention to him that a Standard S costs £15k, and has 170bhp, a 'Works' of decent/similar spec costs at least £24k and has 210bhp, and a GP costs £22k and has 218bhp...? Its as if he: a) doesn't know much about the Mini range, b) lost half his notes (or failed to make them)......
He knows he likes the car, but he just doesn't seem to understand the benchmark he should be compareing it against....
Just to illustrate....
"As standard, although the Cooper S is bested by most of the latest £20,000 hot hatchbacks, it's still an entertainer. It's just about fast enough to hold its own against its turbocharged, 2.0-litre plus rivals and has a pertness and agility to its driving experience that its bigger competitors - even excellent ones like the Focus ST, Astra VXR and Megane 225 - can't quite match, even though they're better at pummelling tough roads into oblivion than the lively Mini.
In GP form, the Mini feels even more vibrant than the regular Cooper S. Maybe it's the reduction in sound deadening, perhaps it's the weight loss and perhaps (just perhaps), it's the four extra horsepower, but the GP feels tangibly more alert than a regular Cooper S."
So, would you say its more like looking at a Dark Silver car on a sunny day with a clear blue sky reflecting on the paintwork, or is it like looking at a light Blue car on a dull day with grey clouds reflecting........
i understand the paint has a different name when applied to less interesting models in the BMW range....?
Well, no, he cant be. Thats why we say he's a but confuddled with his report.
There is, technically, no such model as a standard Cooper S Works, as every one is potentially different. A 'standard' Cooper S Works with this level of equipement on it costs around £24k anyway.
He also compares the 'standard' car that he talks about against the 2.0 litre hothatch competition, which he seems to be saying is considerably more powerful than the 'standard' car. So, he's almost definatly talking about a 170bhp Cooper S there. But then he cocqs up the bhp comparison, alluding to the 210bhp Works. But he confuses this with a '£22k Works GP' that is apparantly more expensive....
I think he may have had a pretty bad handover caused by too free Vino Tinto at the press launch when he wrote the article.
what are the chances off it going around Top Gears track at some point?
GREY COOPER S
17" Alloys, 15% Reduced Supercharger Pulley, Panoramic Sunroof, Auto Air Con, Spoiler, Half Leather Sport Seats, Twin Exhaust and personalised numberplate
You'd have to reckon pretty good. AFAIK no MINI has been timed on their test track. I'm pretty sure the Hammond special on the tuning options didn't see The Stig behind the wheel.
They did do a group test of a Cooper S with three other 'hothatch' rivals, and it was slowest around the track. This was put down entirely to the runflats though.
I don't understand why people review certain types of car and then bring up negative points that are suited to a totally different kind of car. Stiff and bumpy, noisy..... its designed to be loud and handle well, what do you expect, review it in its own class of similiar cars. It's like saying a ferrari is too loud and has 2 seats less for the school run so i'll give it 1 out of 10. Pointless reviews
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