[Paul]

Revealed by Sweeny in another topic, CAR magazine in UK has an exclusive test drive of the new MINI.

This depsite MINI2 being told by MINI press directly that CAR magazine had NOT test driven the new MINI. Hmmmph.

I'll be off down the news agents now then.

[Andy E]

I've seen it Paul. All the pics are official publicity shots taken at TRL (just not supposed to be released yet) and the tone of the text suggests they haven't actually driven a car as they claim. The descriptions are all pretty vague and it doesn't give away anything new, just regurgitates stuff that has been written before, including a few errors

[Paul]

Ahhhh, that clears that up then. Glad I didn't call MINI Press to have a moan then! (Not that I would have the nerve or cheek to do that anyway).

B)

[jfunkhouse]

There is the review of the drive on the 4car.co.uk site. Just look under the road tests and under bmw and the mini is listed there with pics and reviews.

Jay

[Paul]

I have to agree with Andy after reading that on 4car. Sounds like they either have not driven the car, or drove round the block once, not much new there at all really. Nice to see some new pictures though.

[doug]

Boy do I hope you guys are right. I want a small car that drives like a small car - not a front-end washing limousine. I'll cry if this really has heavy steering.

[Tim]

The article in the magazine is more expansive than that on the website - it sounds as though they have actually driven the beast. If the article is accurate (and Car's tend to be), then if performance is your thing the Cooper may not be the donkeys. Waiting for the S still sounds the best option, if you have the patience.

[Paul]

I will have a look at CAR magazine when I can, my local newsagents didn'thave a copy.

From what I have heard from very good sources is that the cars handling is one of its best attributes. You can power down in a corner, or lift off round a bend, and either way the behaviour is very controllable and very predictable. Certainly not heavy either.

I can't wait to get behind the wheel myself so I can a) Let you (very patient) guys know what I make of it in person, and b) Have some fun.

It just seems unlikely that a car that has such advanced drive by wire technology and power steering, twinned with z-axle and all the other suspension features packed into a car the size of the MINI wont have very good handling to say the least. We'll see!

[Jakx]

I`ve also read Car magazine (June issue) and reckon its so-called first drive is a bit of a rip-off not to be taken too seriously. The name of the game is called Selling Magazines. Being a monthly mag. means that this is their only chance of getting some kind of `scoop` knowing full well that by the next issue it will have been driven by all and sundry. Also, they have to try and beat their number 1 monthly `enemy` - the BBCs TopGear magazine.
Anyway, the Cooper that they `drove` was unlikely to have been a Production vehicle due to a clear shortage of time prior to publication.
Their `Under The New MINI` bit, however, does make interesting reading.
Meanwhile, todays Autocar does not refer to the MINI in its `Next week in Autocar` trailer page!
In my opinion The Daily Telegraph is most likely to publish the first real driving impressions in one of its excellent Saturday Motoring section issues. With Autocar (out every wednesday) doing the first properly conducted Road Test.
Watch these spaces

[Yurinaut]

I agree with Doug. It's really going to be disappointing if the nose digs in at every hard corner. I read the article at 4car and I started to get really bummed.

I had my suspicions immediately. The first paragraph starts in on the "for show and not go" and "not really a real Mini" thing. I just wish people would grow up and realize that the car is different. Maybe BMW was associated with the yuppie "look at me" crowd back in the 80's but they've passed that mantle on to Lexus and I was happy to see it go. BMW makes serious cars that perform well as they always did. I can't see why the MINI would be any different. "OH PLEASE LET THAT ARTICLE BE BOGUS!!!"

-Mike

[Tim]

The spin in the print article is more upbeat than the web version - principal gripes seemed to be:

- It isn't quick enough (so buy a Cooper S then)
- It understeers a bit when cornering at speed (likewise)
- The steering isn't quite as responsive as they would have expected (no great surprise, as it is modern, inexpensive and not an original mini)
- It has limited rear space (again no surprise)

They concluded by saying that the next revamp (probably mid-decade) would have to either be much simpler or much more expensive - in other words this one is a bargain.

[Paul]

Thing is, these reviews quite happily state they are on pre-production models. Only when we get our hands on production Coopers and Ones will we really know how good value for money the MINI really is.

Press and preproduction models tend to be 'specced up', so I would be surprised (pleasently no less) if all the features on the pre-production cars the magazines (and I) have seen will make it in to the standard package.

The Cooper I looked over in Milton Keynes was lovely, and if that was the less than £12k standard Cooper it is a bargain, but I somehow doubt it. It had a CD player for a start, which is not listed as standard UK spec.

[Mini1380]

When was the last time you read a review of a sport/sporty car where they didn't mention something about.

"I wish it had more power"

Because of this I tend to ignore it when anybody says this in a review. Everybody wants more power, to go faster, to get better fuel economy, but you can't have everything.

Let's wait until someone how can actually drive one tell us something about driving it.

[Jakx]

The 4car website piece on the MINI Cooper driving impressions etc are not taken directly from the published text I read in Car magazine. So where for instance have those 1 to 5 `star` ratings come from? Are they in fact the personal views of Matt Franey, Car Assistant Editor.
No, on further investigation, the ratings are by 4car - presumably based on the findings of that (brief) `first test` in Car!
Hardly, authoritative stuff then!

[smartbomb]

I've read the feature in Car magazine and agree that the term first road test is a bit of a red herring.It appears they have took the MINI on a run round some test area and taken some nice new pics.However it does mention some mouth-watering details and impressions of the cabin and controls.As a classic mini owner and a "on the fence 'til I drive one" kinda guy I have become even more impressed by what BMW have created.
It shares some of the old Minis ethos,including the fact that a loss or no profit can be made from what is an expensive car to produce.
So basically,nice mag,better web-site.well done Paul and co.And I'll now be prseeing my nose against the glass at my nearest beemer dealer real soon...

[sweeny]

However brief the 'test drive' in CAR may have been, its still good to see some initial impressions. Although it does beg the question what are they comparing the handling of the MINI to? A rear-drive beemer twice the size and twice the price? If they are comparing it to other superminis then all front drive cars understeer to some extent. The fact remains that the MINI is probably the best-looking, best-engineered, safest and best built car in its class (and hopefully best handling.)

[BruceK]

Quote:

On 11-05-2001 17:36 sweeny wrote:
...If they are comparing it to other superminis then all front drive cars understeer to some extent. The fact remains that the MINI is probably the best-looking, best-engineered, safest and best built car in its class (and hopefully best handling.)

Remember that when Audi launched the TT, automotive writers loved the way the car handed. But in the real world a number of accidents marred the car's early reputation and early TTs were determined to be too much of a handful handling-wise for the general public. Audi was accused of setting up the car just to please the highly self-regarded driving skills of the world's motoring journalists at the expense of the owners.

Audi was forced to respond with a huge recall campaign to save the future of the TT. They toned down the handling and added a (functional) spoiler to better meet the needs of people who actually purchase cars, rather than those who drive them for free and are inclined to be hyper-critical in order to generate sales of newspapers, magazines, or increase viewership of TV shows.

[MINIAC]

Quote:

Remember that when Audi launched the TT, automotive writers loved the way the car handed. But in the real world a number of accidents marred the car's early reputation and early TTs were determined to be too much of a handful handling-wise for the general public. Audi was accused of setting up the car just to please the highly self-regarded driving skills of the world's motoring journalists at the expense of the owners.

Audi was forced to respond with a huge recall campaign to save the future of the TT. They toned down the handling and added a (functional) spoiler to better meet the needs of people who actually purchase cars, rather than those who drive them for free and are inclined to be hyper-critical in order to generate sales of newspapers, magazines, or increase viewership of TV shows.

I think the problems with TT handling occurred at speeds over 125 mph when the rear end became squirrelly ... several people were killed in crashes on the Autobahn. I don't think the recall for the rear spoiler retrofit was mandatory in the US. IMHO the spoiler has ruined the lines of the TT ... it should be retractable.

[BruceK]

I'm not sure, but I remember there were two issue on handling of the TT; the high speed trouble you mentioned (the car's profile is basically in the shape of a airplane wing, so it's easy to visualize the issue), and another problem that had to do lower speed transient handling -- was it trailing throttle oversteer? I remember reading some of the accidents were occuring on the UK's B roads, so probably no autobahn-like speeds were involved there.

The retrofit spoiler fix obviously dealt with the high-speed issue, but I believe there were changes to roll bars and other suspension pieces for a lower speed handlng problem.

In any event, it is hoped that BMW engineers have learned from the TTs misadventures as well as the Mercedes A-Class failing the "moose" test, to develop a car that will be correct from the start.