[Jakx]

Autocar have just told me that the road test of the MINI Cooper, to be published this Wednesday, is a full, standard Autocar Road Test. They also confirm that the car is a LHD production vehicle. When I pointed out that I was surprised that they had managed to get early, and extended, use of a production car, I was told that it was only made available to them last week!

Left them in “a bit of a rush” then!

Anyone read Mike Rutherford in The News of The World yesterday?

I didn`t, but I`m told that while he hadn`t driven it, from what he`d seen he liked it, especially the build quality. But, some of the reports coming through to him suggest that the MINIs handling and general performance haven`t been that well received.

Rutherford was due to head off to Italy today to try it for himself. The Italian Job? ("My name . . . . . is . . . Michael . . . Rutherford"?)

Seems some of these “hacks” haven`t ALL been on the BMW, earlier, preferred list!

Do we have any reports from MINI2 contacts in Germany, or Italy?

[adie]

Did you see the latest issue of CAR magazine? they managed to get thier hands on a MINI in Germany and they seem to be very impressed. The only thing to dissapoint them was the engine. They said is was flat and unresponsive and also cornering at high speed was a bit suspect.

Perhaps the cars that are being released to the press have already suffered so much stick from BMW's own testers that the engines are ready to give way.

Yep I did read Mike Rutherfords article he still seems to be having trouble with BMW using the name MINI. I tend to take what he says with a pinch of salt anyway.


Watchout for something very special coming around launch date with the British Mini Club - all I can say at the moment !!!

[Andy E]

I've been to the press car workshop at Gaydon (although I know MINI's are not prepared there any more) and the cars the press get to drive are nothing like the ones that go on sale to the public. They get completely rebuilt: rated top-limit engines, sound deadening stuffed in every orifice, every panel gap aligned, every bit of squeaky plastic trim glued in place, etc, etc. I often think that's why the press constantly complain that every car they drive doesn't have enough go; they're weighed down with foam and rubber. The ex-development cars on the other hand are fit only for scrap , never mind the press being allowed anywhere near. You would cry if you saw the rows and rows of MINIS destined for the crusher!!!!

Quote:

On 21-05-2001 14:44 adie wrote:

Perhaps the cars that are being released to the press have already suffered so much stick from BMW's own testers that the engines are ready to give way.

!!!

[Jakx]

Quote:

On 21-05-2001 14:44 adie wrote:
Did you see the latest issue of CAR magazine? they managed to get thier hands on a MINI in Germany and they seem to be very impressed. . . .

. . . Yep I did read Mike Rutherfords article he still seems to be having trouble with BMW using the name MINI. I tend to take what he says with a pinch of salt anyway.

Yes, that “MINI World Exclusive First Test” in Car has been referred to a few times at MINI2.

See Topic: “First new MINI test drive report”.

See Topic: “Flawed First Drives! Are they having a laugh?

I think I know what you mean about Mike (Mr Angry) Rutherford!

But, if he can get beyond his BMW ownership thing, lets hope he has something positive to say about his Italian MINI drive in the News of The World this weekend!

By the way, is anyone surprised to learn that he hasn`t yet challenged John (2 Jags/Jabs) Prescott to a punch-up.(fight)

For our friends elsewhere:-
Mike Rutherford is a Motoring Journalist suffering from MINImal tolerance threshold, especially when writing about John Prescott who is The MINIster of Transport and Deputy Prime MINIster.

Many of you may well have seen Mr Prescott :? fighting with a burly protester on International TV last week!

All this leading (with a straight left) up to a June General Election here in the UK!

[Aquadrome]

Quote:

On 21-05-2001 17:10 Andy E wrote:
I've been to the press car workshop at Gaydon (although I know MINI's are not prepared there any more) and the cars the press get to drive are nothing like the ones that go on sale to the public. They get completely rebuilt: rated top-limit engines, sound deadening stuffed in every orifice, every panel gap aligned, every bit of squeaky plastic trim glued in place, etc, etc. I often think that's why the press constantly complain that every car they drive doesn't have enough go; they're weighed down with foam and rubber. The ex-development cars on the other hand are fit only for scrap , never mind the press being allowed anywhere near. You would cry if you saw the rows and rows of MINIS destined for the crusher!!!!

[...]

The press garage at Gaydon is a right hotbed of activity. Remember when the revised Metro came out in 1990? The press cars were practically hand built to ensure the quality was top notch. Same with the Rover 75, and many of those early hack's hacks were later stripped and completely rebuilt to bring them up to latest factory standards. Mind you, since BMW is building the MINI perhaps we could hope quality - for press and public - is right first time.
You seem to know about Gaydon, Andy E: is that where they're junking the proto MINIs? Standard Rover practise I think used to be to take them to a site near Stratford. I remember a bloke down there telling me how distressing it was to watch a fully loaded, leather lined Range Rover being dumped into their special machine which essentially smacked the car with a series of big hammers on a rotating drum until it was reduced to tiny pieces. Don't get distressed people but that's probably where many development MINIs will end up. Otherwise they have to pay tax on their value apparently.

[Andy E]

All the Mini's got transported to Cowley last year but I expect they meet the same end
You're right about the tax. And they can't sell pre-production cars either, or any parts from them, because they have not met type approval regs. All those press cars will probably end up in the crusher as well because they've been doctored.

[Aquadrome]

I'm intrigued Andy. How do you know so much about this stuff?