UK Launch Test Drives....

[CASMini]

After driving around and being more and more impressed with my daily driver of the last 15 months (Audi S3), it was interesting to test drive not one but two cars that I am going to be driving in the next 15 months, the Cooper S and BMW M3.

Cooper S

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

Firstly, the Cooper S. It was a Dark Silver/Black roof with the Chili pack - 17" rims and full leather (same spec as my order) To look at it is beautiful and moody in a way that all the other Coopers and One's cannot match. Moreover, it looks purposeful and dramatic just standing still - gone was the cheeky looks that initially caught my eye when they first came out - replaced by this serious stance that says "watch out - this is going to be good". Driving out of the BMW garage it feels wieldy in a way that the S3 does not but cheaper all round (the S3 has class stamped all over it's interior) it felt like the door handles would come off in your hand, and the rest of the interior continued the theme - it was cheap and cheerful, the only saving graces were those toggle switches (which are fantastic) and the centre speedo.

STRAIGHT LINE

Then I put the foot down and - what? nothing is happening!! Unlike the S3 this engine needs to be wound up, and where the S3 is coming on boost with fantastic mid-range thrust, this undoubtedly peppy engine has a linear feel to it that denies the initial wow factor that getting in and driving for the obligatory 15 minute test drive allows - this is indeed a slow burner I mused... Changing up at 4k in the S3 gives rapid forward movement with the seat of the pants feeling that the engine has taken the car and hurled it down the road. Instead the Cooper S has hardly gotten into its stride at this engine speed. It feels a lot like a honda S2000, in that it only starts to come alight higher up in the rev range (but not the manic top end the S2000 has). Having said that - it is definitely a more torquey unit than say a Civic Type-R, just an initial disappointment coming from the S3.

Then I took it by the scruff of it's neck and really wrung the engine out - it was tight, but THEN and only then do you get the real sensation of speed being piled on. 10 minutes in and I was finally impressed. This little car does have a turn of speed, but a word of warning to all turbo owners (esp WRX and Evo owners) do not expect it to light up like a christmas tree in the way that I expected a supercharged engine would do. Instead, be aware that you are putting on speed without feeling it - just look down at the speedo (or rather across) as you will be travelling quicker than what your brain is thinking.

HANDLING

Car was fitted with DSC, which I did not switch off. Fortunately I had a Mini Service guy as my co-pilot (and my wife as handbrake!) so on his insistence I gave it some round a few corners. Once going, the car pulls beautifully out of tight corners, DSC hardly flickering, and charges towards the next bend with alacrity. Going into a corner, it is one of the few cars around that can handle speed going into a corner and scrub off the neccessary amount once into it to provide itself with the optimum (and extremely high) cornering speed. This car can handle! It seems to take whatever speed it has and make the best use of it. Driving the M3 along the same corners 15 minutes later and it felt like I was going slower round them, despite barrelling into the corners at a good 15mph faster. It is beautifully poised going in, around and out - providing you with feeling on exactly what is happening at both ends, how close you are to and whether you have gone over the threshold of grip. It is undoubtedly amazing in this respect and huge fun to boot.

And the feel behind the wheel! I could go on about this ad nauseum. Where are those motoring hacks that said this was synthesised - go out and drive it again you nincompoops! I will admit this was heightened by the fact that I had just hopped out of the S3 which does not provide you with all that is going on beneath you from the tiller - but again 15 minutes later in the M3 I was less impressed. It does not provide you with the steering feel of a 911, but it is honest and gives you info that has for so long been missing in the current drop of hot hatches and even some more exotic machines. This is when I finally started to realise the appeal of this car. The longer you drive it the more it provides - it's charms are there to be given, but won't neccessarily be given straight away. It is not a slow burner that I had initially thought, but a car that is multi-layered and multi-faceted and to be enjoyed over the long term. Whether you are out down to the shops on a Saturday morning, going down the motorway on a Sunday night or blasting over a favourite B-road on a Sunday morning, it will provide you with motoring enjoyment with a capital E. I am now very glad I put my deposit down...

M3

As this is a Cooper S forum, I won't bore you but suffice it to say this is some hotrod. It is a sin and a redeeming feature that they took the 3 series coupe body to make this car - as they could then spend so much more on the suspension, brakes, drivetrain and THAT ENGINE. This one was SMGII'ed and a toy that shows just how far the Sequential trade has come for road cars. that said, i'd take the manual. Disappointments were the steering feel, and the fact that to really enjoy yourself you were WAY into license losing territory. But overall, loved it and it exudes menace from the front power bulge to the quad exhausts... gotta have it.

[Andrewfuzzy]

Saw the two demo cars and i was surprised how much better the EB looked than in the pics....but i still love the DS kept the DS roof colour as im still not keen on black or white roofs......test drive at 9 next Saturday so should b fun!!!!!!!!!

Love the dash and the door pockets look great and look a whole lot better than the bright alu look of the 1 and cooper

Overall im still very much in love with it ...much to my Girlfriends jealous looks

[An_S_4_Me]

I was very pleasantly surprised with how nice the DS/Black looked in the wet/overcast conditions, I have read elsewhere on this forum that they look cr*p in dull light, but I thought it still looked amazing.

Wish I could see one next to an S with a white roof and mirrors, so I can make a proper decision.

I also was quite impressed with the space cloth, it was actually quite dark and didnt look anywhere near as bad as I thought.

Dash was lovely IMHO.

Andy

[S200]

CASMini

Nice write up. Turning up in my STI, and then driving S did leave me feeling a bit flat in the performace stakes, but then again as std the S3 always felt the same to me. The thing to remember is that like the S3 a few mods and it will probably feel like the real deal.

Glad you enjoyed the M3. This car really does take some hours behind the wheel to get to know. The SMG was a mistake for day to day use, but great on track. Your right the engine and noise are the best on any car under £50k.
Dont scratch the alloys at £475 a shot though!!.

Jonathan

[CASMini]

S200

Have to agree with you on the S3 - it's flat torque curve is unlike a normal turbo, but it still gives you that turbo "shove" you can't get in a normally aspirated or even it seems a supercharged engine. Modification is the way to erase this issue with the S. Fit a 14lb pulley and related ECU mods and I am sure this engine would sing a different tune...

As for the M3 - decided that a Manual is the way to go - Carbon Black with Natural Leather. If you have any advice on importers please give me a shout as I am of the firm opinion that this is the best way to go.

[Mini4fun]

I also managed to get a test drive of the S on Saturday morning. I think we were probably one of the first S's to hit the congestion and traffic of London!

As with the others, the dealer had a fully spec'd DS and an EB which was confined to the showroom. I saw the EB first and it looked stunning, but the DS was something else.... it really does look beautiful, really well sorted and complete. It has a purpose to it with the bulging bonnet and different bumpers really making a difference. It had the sat nav and thus had the little shark nose instead of an aerial which looked great.

The interior was full leather with Lapis blue and looked great and I thought the patina effect looked much better than I imagined, not as tacky. You couldn't fault it, the build was great, shut lines perfect, thud of the doors, click of the switches..... I could go on!

Then for the drive - obviously London isn't the best spot to put an S through its paces, and to be honest the 30 miles on the clock didn't help matters either. But it still impressed.

I've got a Lotus Elise 111S at the moment so the acceleration was clearly not going to be quite as urgent! Setting off was a doddle, great clutch and the gearbox is superb, really notchy and precise - oh and six gears, what a joy! As others have said, it is not lightening fast from standstill but once it is going, she just keeps on going. And the noise is great, a real whine from the blower. Took the S down a dual carriage way and had to be warned about the speed camera as I barelled along at 70mph within no time at all. Then onto a large roundabout to undertake everything else on it! Yes, the handling is superb, in fact it's almost better than my Elise, far less twitchy, more reassuring, more sorted. You really feel confident and want to wind it up into a bit of oversteer!

Anyway, needless to say I am very pleased that I have my name down for one, except that I need to wait til Sept 2nd.

Here's waiting til then!

[DavidB]

Quote:

Originally posted by D_ibble
Notched up my first drive at 09:40 in Coventry, and WOW I loved it. Overall impression was refined, quick (enough for me) and real easy to drive, be it fast or just around town.

The exhuast note is great, sat at traffic lights "blipping" the throttle, I could have done that all day.

Now I have the missery of waiting until 02nd of Sept for mine!

D.Ibble

Hi,
I am collecting my car on the same day as you from the same dealer!! what number have they told you are on the list??.

Dave.

[cleverzippy]

Got to have a proper test drive this morning (Mon), and WOW, what a car. I can't understand all the fuss about long gearing and stalling from the off. It felt perfect to me, just use the normal amount of revs as you would in any car and it's fine. Stick it in second or third and mash that pedal and bye bye GTi. The useable power is amazing, it just keeps surging forward right to the red line - no tail off in power at all. Suspension is a tad firm though and the car feels a bit skittish if you hit a pot hole when cornering but the electronics keeps the car in touch. Great sound from the exhaust even with the windows up. Sitting at the lights blipping the throttle and you could be on the BTCC grid! Lots of popping on the overrun. Just drive it and be prepared for a permanent smiley face. The only bummer is mine is due September.