[Paul]

I'll be at the media launch of the MINI One and MINI Cooper Diesel on the 11th April 2007. There should be wi-fi access at the event, in which case live updates and photos will be posted when possible from the event.

[Paul]

OK, here's the review link:
Exclusive: MINI2 Drives the MINI Cooper Diesel

[AMT]

Nice review - not many surprises really. That said, I'm very surprised about the 5% share MINI estimate the D will have.

I thought it would be a major seller!

[Paul]

I was impressed, and the nice thing is I wasn't expecting to be, so that's always a bonus!

I think they're underestimating the increasing appeal of low consumption low emission cars in the UK with that figure.

[AMT]

I'm wondering though, if it is indeed a slow-seller, does this bode well or not so well for residuals?

Do you think the £1.1k premium over the Cooper would be money well spent (residual-wise), even for low mileage drivers?

Diesel VW Golf's attract a huge premium over equivalent petrol models, so despite the fact the diesel cost more new, owners are quids in three years down the line. I'm wondering whether this will be the same for the Cooper D

[Paul]

Hard to say isn't it really, depends on your mileage, as you'll be quids in on fuel, then with your VED your saving money each year. I think it will hold it's value well because it'll be hard to buy. I do think demand will outstrip supply more so than the petrol variants. Depends on how the main stream media react as opposed to specialists publications like us, but it seemed to go down well from murmurings at the launch. I've been shopping around and looking at all sorts of cars and diesels generally seem to cost more new and used, and be harder to get hold of (longer waiting times) than petrol variants from new.

Personally I just preferred it to the Cooper, I felt a little underwhelmed by the Cooper on UK roads, especially after the S, but the Diesel engine is nice. Bit chuggy/noisy when cold and going slow, but once you're on your way it's a good performer in the MINI.

[robertelizabeth]

Thanks very much for that. Well Done on getting your stuff out so quickly in the absence of WiFi connection. Bit worried about the noise observations you made about the new diesel, but encouraged that you thought it a potential winner. My new Cooper D was completed last Friday (April 6) but, very frustratingly, Mini can't get it to me until next Thursday (April 19) Six days or less to build. Thirteen days to deliver. Ridiculous!

[Paul]

It would have been written on site if I could have done, but the delay was made worse because the Volvo satnav I was using to guide me home managed to get me completely lost (the joys of "shortest route" satnav routing!).

I wouldn't say it was overly noisy, but certainly less refined than I had expected it to be at low speed in terms of engine noise. But it's still miles away from Diesel cars of "old" (it's not THAT long since we just accepted tractor sound-a-like diesels!). Also, the exhaust is very nice for a diesel car due to the particulate filter.

[robertelizabeth]

Just hope the Mini Navigation system I have ordered with my new Cooper D (despite reservations about it being based on the BMW iDrive) are better than your Volvo satnav. Can't be worse than my old Boxster 911S system which repeatedly tried to drive me into the River Thames just south of Kingston...

[Paul]

I've only used the older MINI system and it didn't once get me lost. The Volvo I've borrowed has not only gotten me lost, but tried to send me down roads that just aren't there! Even my cheap Navman system hasn't been that crazy!

[robertelizabeth]

Phew! And thanks again. What a pity Mini didn't give you a car with their Nav system.

As a Newbie, I think your Mini2 site is great and really useful for anybody who likes Minis.

As a 60-year-old, I am only just learning about the real power of this web stuff...

[ONED]

Thanks for the review Paul!
Not sure if we're gonna make the launch on Sat....but got our invite this morning.

Glad to hear you gave it the thumbs up over the Cooper.
A wee bit concerned about the noise though ..........had feared this since watching the video clips around Italy! those were really noisey, So much so that I thought someone was taking the Pi*s!! and had overdubbed a tractor onto the soundtrack!!

But as we're both well used to driving diesels, and the noise, maybe it won't be too bad in the flesh!

Barry

[Paul]

It's not too noisy, especially once warmed up and under way, it's just the town driving that sounded a little noisy compared to other diesels I've been in/driven lately. Certainly more noisy than the One D (from memory, it's been a while since we last had one), but I feel it's a much better all rounder.

[R56 MINI man]

have had a run in our demo cooper d was very impressed by the drive and the handling of the car,also just found out the service intervals are 12000 on the cooper d and you get 4 oil changes on the tlc and a brake fluid change

[Olly.]

Nice write up Paul

Just one question, did the wheel arch manage to detach itself like it did on the Cooper S?

[Paul]

No, which was very nice. This is one reason I wanted to take it out alone. I went along some dodgy roads I know out that way and at a swift pace and there wasn't a problem. I was VERY pleased to see that. Sure it was only 100 odd miles of driving, but it was test driving, which is basically play time.

[Olly.]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

No, which was very nice. This is one reason I wanted to take it out alone. I went along some dodgy roads I know out that way and at a swift pace and there wasn't a problem. I was VERY pleased to see that. Sure it was only 100 odd miles of driving, but it was test driving, which is basically play time.

Thats good to hear, wonder what was changed to fix the problem?

[Paul]

Pass, but it was nice to not have to hand back a broken car or two! Then again, you have to remember I didn't have that problem with the S cars on the launches either, but they were on generally smoother roads.

[mcs37]

The Mini Cooper D looks great -- when can we get one in the US? We're big fans of biodiesel out here and the thought of 37mpg in a Mini2 is quite compelling.

[Alan Partridge]

Don't know if they would do anything to the engine for the US market but in the Dooper handbook on page 87 it says not to use rapeseed methyl ester RME or biodiesel.