Disappointed

[packlam]

Having waited a while for the S to come out and having almost ordered one in advance without a test drive, I was fianlly able to try one on friday for real.
I drove a cooper last year but was annoyed by it's rattles and squeaks and poor performance, having read comments on here and in the press that quality had improved imagine how surprised I was to drive out of the dealer car park in a 1500 mile "S" only to hear the dashboard rattling away loudly to itself (moments after the dealer had mentioned that the quality had improved) . The column stalks feel like they'll snap if used too quickly and the plastics in the interior are defintely not BMW standard..

Further on the car showed that it had awfully slow throttle response, a lazy engine with a dull note (except from outside) and very artifical steering with particularly poor feel.

I had really wanted one but it just shows that once again the press aren't always to be trusted.

The Lupo GTI will be staying for now, especially as it is almost as fast , is built far better, is MUCH more rare (only 500 in the UK to date, has six gears and xenons, has a lovely engine note and doesn't have the almost laughable fuel economy of the S (sat nav computer showed 15 mpg......).

VERY VERY disappointed

Paul

[OnlyS4me]

I wonder how I will feel after my testdrive in a couple of weeks. I'm used to the explosive performance of the 200 HP CTR now, so that figures .

[Boo]

Quote:

Originally posted by packlam
Having waited a while for the S to come out and having almost ordered one in advance without a test drive, I was fianlly able to try one on friday for real.
I drove a cooper last year but was annoyed by it's rattles and squeaks and poor performance, having read comments on here and in the press that quality had improved imagine how surprised I was to drive out of the dealer car park in a 1500 mile "S" only to hear the dashboard rattling away loudly to itself (moments after the dealer had mentioned that the quality had improved) . The column stalks feel like they'll snap if used too quickly and the plastics in the interior are defintely not BMW standard..

Further on the car showed that it had awfully slow throttle response, a lazy engine with a dull note (except from outside) and very artifical steering with particularly poor feel.

I had really wanted one but it just shows that once again the press aren't always to be trusted.

The Lupo GTI will be staying for now, especially as it is almost as fast , is built far better, is MUCH more rare (only 500 in the UK to date, has six gears and xenons, has a lovely engine note and doesn't have the almost laughable fuel economy of the S (sat nav computer showed 15 mpg......).

VERY VERY disappointed

Paul

Cool, I suggest you don't buy one and stop trolling the Mini2 website

[Boo]

and a bit of this too!!

[cleverzippy]

How can you possibly slate the car on your inital test drive? Why don't you give it another go and reconsider. Most of the motoring journos don't think much of the car the first time around but after another go, they love it. OK, so I agree that the alu dash effect is a bit iffy, but as for poor steering, I'm afraid I can't agree with you on that one. OK, so your Lupo is almost as fast but the MCS will, I'm afraid, kick the butt of most hot hatches down a country road, also has six gears and a lovely engine note. As for fuel economy, Pah, what do you expect? If that bothers you, don your slippers and pipe (no offence to pipe and slipper wearers) and buy a diesel. Go on, give it another go. Ah, go on......go on go on go on go on. GO ON.

[stanMINI]

I have to admit I struggled with the same feelings after my first drive of the Cooper. I think part of the problem was that I was trying to compare the car to a BMW. My second drive was in an S and I new more what to expect from the interior appointments and the steering and I loved the car. The thing I feel that is important to keep in mind is that this car is not a BMW. After my first disappointing test drive of the Cooper I went back and begin to look for a late model 330i. With the equipment I wanted this car was still at least 10K more that the MINI S used. I don't feel that everyone has to like the MINI, however if you are still at all inclined I would suggest another test drive.

[ELISEBOY]

Quote:

Originally posted by Boo


Cool, I suggest you don't buy one and stop trolling the Mini2 website

Boo - we have to let everyone have their opinion on here and we wont always like what is said!!!

but it shows that a lot of people still use the site in the background and value what is said by the people on here.

[M100]

OnlyS4me,

I suspect we're going through similar situations then - as I've also got a CTR...

I have had the pleasure of driving a few MCS now from different garages (albeit all exactly the same colour & spec!). They are very different in how they go about their business - but I too find myself very tempted to change to the MCS, despite my liking for vtecs. And the small matter of what it'll cost to change (at least CTR's depreciation isn't too bad..).

The MCS is certainly slower but feels a lot more fun (all very much IMHO of course!) - and therefore I got a lot more fun at road speeds where I'm not going to lose my licence - I think that's what I really like about the MCS (not that this is meant to criticise the CTR for its many good points - each to their own).

Just have some issues with what could be perceived as the "fashionable" aspect of the MCS....(offence NOT intended, he adds quickly!)

Have to decide in the next day or so to get one in a reasonable timeframe!

And then there's the matter of having a colour choice (not used to that with CTR's..).

[ELISEBOY]

Quote:

Originally posted by packlam
Having waited a while for the S to come out and having almost ordered one in advance without a test drive, I was fianlly able to try one on friday for real.
I drove a cooper last year but was annoyed by it's rattles and squeaks and poor performance, having read comments on here and in the press that quality had improved imagine how surprised I was to drive out of the dealer car park in a 1500 mile "S" only to hear the dashboard rattling away loudly to itself (moments after the dealer had mentioned that the quality had improved) . The column stalks feel like they'll snap if used too quickly and the plastics in the interior are defintely not BMW standard..

Further on the car showed that it had awfully slow throttle response, a lazy engine with a dull note (except from outside) and very artifical steering with particularly poor feel.

I had really wanted one but it just shows that once again the press aren't always to be trusted.

The Lupo GTI will be staying for now, especially as it is almost as fast , is built far better, is MUCH more rare (only 500 in the UK to date, has six gears and xenons, has a lovely engine note and doesn't have the almost laughable fuel economy of the S (sat nav computer showed 15 mpg......).

VERY VERY disappointed

Paul

Paul - Welcome to MINI2

I know what you are saying, I have been waiting for a while as well and was dissapointed with the first drive.

I took a 2nd and my experience was transformed.

I do think that you should have another drive, preferably in another car just to get a balanced opinion.

The noise inside the car is now improved with a grill on the parcel shelf to let more sound inside, however this is not on the demos.

Also, the car you drove was prob very highly specced and had a lot of weight, this combined with a car thats been thrashed and not run in will contribute to the MPG

Have another go and let us know what you think then

[Boo]

Sorry, don't mean to be improper

Let me rephase...

Personally,
I've driven it,
i've darted excitingly through the traffic with it
i've taken some really nice corners in it
i've beaten a sh** load of cars off the lights with it, i've received a lot of stares in it, my girlfriend wants to have sex in it .....
and at no time during this test drive did i ever want to get rid of it ....

[LMB]

Quote:

Originally posted by packlam
Having waited a while for the S to come out and having almost ordered one in advance without a test drive, I was fianlly able to try one on friday for real.
I drove a cooper last year but was annoyed by it's rattles and squeaks and poor performance, having read comments on here and in the press that quality had improved imagine how surprised I was to drive out of the dealer car park in a 1500 mile "S" only to hear the dashboard rattling away loudly to itself (moments after the dealer had mentioned that the quality had improved) . The column stalks feel like they'll snap if used too quickly and the plastics in the interior are defintely not BMW standard..

Paul,

Welcome to Mini2.

I have to admit build quality is something I too am a bit concerned about. Lets just say I was less than impressed with the build quality of my Cooper. That said my dad bought a brand new Golf GTi a few weeks ago. And whilst on the whole the build quality is good, it does suffer from some familiar faults such as a rattling dashboard and squeaky seats. So it just goes to show it happens to the best of them.

I will also admit that the quality of material used in the Mini is not on par with BMW's. But then again what BMW can you get for the best part of £10,000?

Those problems aside the Mini Cooper S is the best drivers car on the market for the money. I have driven all the competition, including a Lupo GTi and it doesn't come close.

[cleverzippy]

Boo, Your girlfriend wants to have sex in your MINI?! Are you both 3ft tall or something?

Incidentally, has anybody from MINI2 had sex in their MINI yet?

[OnlyS4me]

Quote:

Originally posted by M100
OnlyS4me,

I suspect we're going through similar situations then - as I've also got a CTR...

I have had the pleasure of driving a few MCS now from different garages (albeit all exactly the same colour & spec!). They are very different in how they go about their business - but I too find myself very tempted to change to the MCS, despite my liking for vtecs. And the small matter of what it'll cost to change (at least CTR's depreciation isn't too bad..).

The MCS is certainly slower but feels a lot more fun (all very much IMHO of course!) - and therefore I got a lot more fun at road speeds where I'm not going to lose my licence - I think that's what I really like about the MCS (not that this is meant to criticise the CTR for its many good points - each to their own).

Just have some issues with what could be perceived as the "fashionable" aspect of the MCS....(offence NOT intended, he adds quickly!)

Have to decide in the next day or so to get one in a reasonable timeframe!

And then there's the matter of having a colour choice (not used to that with CTR's..).

Hi M100,

Nice to see someone who's able to understand me .
What colour do you have and how long do you have the car ?
I'll have to wait for my testdrive, cause my dealer runs the MCS in himself before anyone else can drive it. It will be possible somewhere in july. Can't wait. But I must say, I love my CTR too, so it's gonna have to be darn good until I decide to trade it in. I have no clue if the residual value is good or bad, haven't discussed that yet. Mine is 3,5 month old with only 2750 miles on the speedo (pics in the 1st gallery).
The choice for the colour was easy on the CTR: I've had a silver IS 200 before that, didn't want the red one and the CTR looks best in black (my opinion). The MCS is another story, but I'm convinced that the DS/White combo is the best option for me, with the Lapis Blue/Black interior (or, when it comes, the Red/Black combo).

Keep me informed what you decide!

Cheers,
M

[potts]

Quote:

Originally posted by cleverzippy
Incidentally, has anybody from MINI2 had sex in their MINI yet?

All these people http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...&highlight=sex
and probably a whole lot more

[DocT]

Hi there and welcome to mini 2

If you think your test drive was representative of the cooper S, then fine, keep the lupo (a fine wee car)

if there are any doubts that you may not have got the whole 'S' story from your drive, you owe it to yourself to try another at perhaps another dealer?

Lupo or cooper S, they are both great cars but a lupo is no more an audi TT than a mini is a BMW.

just my £0.02 worth