[supa-dupa-cooper]

Went and test drove the Cooper D this morning, and WOW! what a car!

Arrived at Specialist Cars, and parked my baby between a new Cooper S and an older One, she looked perfectly at home, so I knew she wouldn't mind me going to drive a new one

After a chat and running through some specs and figures, I was given the key to a 57 plate Pepper White and Black Cooper D with 300 miles on the clock.

The car had been specced with quite a few options, 17" Flame Spoke Alloys, Half leather interior (cream), Piano Black with Cream colourline, CHILI pack, Multifunction 3 spoke Steering wheel, HiFi upgrade, Front Spots, and a dodgy vinyl stripe all the way over (from what they were saying I think that one is a long story! )

On starting the car up you could tell it was a diesel, but it wasn't as apparent as I thought it would be. The car was parked behind a Cooper S and beside a new BMW, so I had to manoeuvre it out of the space. I remember being impressed with the light steering on the S and the Dooper was no different. I noticed the pull in this car straight away (bear in mind I'm a ONE driver ). Pulling out onto the main road was so easy, the car got up to speed with complete ease, and approaching the first roundabout I didn't even have any issues with the indicators!

As I'd been given the keys to this car and told to 'have fun' for half an hour I decided to make the most of the test drive.

I ventured down onto the A1, and going down the slip road, it seemed the slightest touch on the accelerator made this car move. The sound of it being a diesel had all but disappeared and it was just like driving any other petrol MINI. Overtaking was also really good, and even in 6th the car still shifted at a touch of the pedal, that was when i remembered I had a 6th gear! (why is it I go for 6th in mine when I only have 5 and when I get in a car with 6 I forget and only use 5 )

I pulled off after one junction and decided to take in some country lane and town driving. Keeping the car at 30 was proving difficult (though after the earlier events this week I knew to be careful ) The revs seemed so low on this car, I kept forgetting what gear i was in! The gear changes were very smooth and refined, whereas my ONE can be a bit notchy (though not a problem). I drove through here with the window down to see what the 'diesel noise' was like at slower speeds. It was there but it didn't put me off, I'd be perfectly happy with this car. Through here I also had a little play with the radio and steering wheel functions (different layout to my current MFSW). Once I'd worked out how to switch it on, it sounded good. This car has the upgraded speakers but to be honest i couldn't really tell a difference.

Going out the otherside of Codicote and approaching the national speed limit sign, I pushed on the accelerator a bit more and was soon up to speed. I was also impressed at how well it handled through the bends. This car was running on 17"s but with no Sport Suspension, and the comments from the rear passenger were good! Apparently the ride was more comfortable than my current ONE on 16"s And again in the front it was noticably more smooth and refined.

I was disappointed to reach the end of the country lane, and was soon thrown back into town driving in Hitchin. Back up the dual carriageway to Stevenage, the road splits from 1 lane to 2 and overtaking was not an issue at all. Cruising along, the car was smooth and not at all diesel like.

Now was the task of putting this car back where I'd got it from. Not an issue at all. The mirrors seemed quite small, but i think that was more a combination of them not being set quite right and them being dumpier I even remembered where reverse was and didn't attempt to put it into 6th this time

Walking back into the showroom and handing the key back, I was asked what I thought. I thought the car was great, loved driving it. Only really at idle speeds could you tell it was a diesel, and I was very impressed with both this and how torquey the car was.

I'd gone in there not really being able to decide between the Cooper, Dooper, and Cooper S. Ive now ruled out the S in favour of the Dooper, and will be going back to test drive the petrol Cooper soon.

All in all, very impressed with the Cooper Diesel (he laughed when I called it a Dooper )

[KillerByte]

Great review Jo.

Glad you got to test it on a variety of different roads to see how it handles each one. Sounds like you may have already made your mind up ahead of seeing the petrol Cooper.

[yorkslad]

Test drove a Dooper followed by a Cooper S. Didnt want to test the S but couldnt resist it but went with my gut and ordered a Dooper, cheap insurance/road tax and great fuel econ and still a bit of poke when you put your foot down...what more can you want!!

[Sooper J]

Go for the dooper!!!! you won't regret it i've done 200 miles and only used a quarter of a tank, and im not driving like a pensioner either!! i'm loving every minute with it

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sooper J (original)

Go for the dooper!!!! you won't regret it i've done 200 miles and only used a quarter of a tank, and im not driving like a pensioner either!! i'm loving every minute with it

200 miles on a quarter of a tank?!

[nickschin]

i found the cooper a bit of a let down compared to the dooper. didn't see any benefit other then the £1k, but will make that back on tax and fuel.

[DerekH]

Supa what ever you do if your happy with the Cooper D don't drive the S as this could be fatal, great test drive review and as a driver of two 330D Bmw's i know how much the torque does to give a great drive but we test drove the MCS first then the Cooper what a mistake , good as it is though, you have got some good roads down there we usually visit my cousin in Ware each year and have ventured on alot of roads round about that area sometime's being lost i will admit.

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by DerekH (original)

Supa what ever you do if your happy with the Cooper D don't drive the S as this could be fatal, great test drive review and as a driver of two 330D Bmw's i know how much the torque does to give a great drive but we test drove the MCS first then the Cooper what a mistake , good as it is though, you have got some good roads down there we usually visit my cousin in Ware each year and have ventured on alot of roads round about that area sometime's being lost i will admit.

Ive already driven the S, last year when they first came out.

The Dooper impressed me as much (if not more) as the S.

I do want to go back and drive the Petrol Cooper and probably will do so next weekend. Im not sure that I will like it as much as the Dooper, but I have to drive it to be sure in my own mind

The only problem i'm having at the moment is deciding on the right spec, and thats never happened before

[DerekH]

Supa i think it is easy to go crazy on spec and Mini have it set up to reel us in on that little hook , we have a low spec MCS but put on crown spoke and colour line made the difference inside and chilli red so no extra there, we also put stripes and spots on realy pleased with the car but the desil was not there to test drive when we ordered our car, good luck with your specing up.

[Stiggy]

Quote: Originally Posted by supa-dupa-cooper (original)

The only problem i'm having at the moment is deciding on the right spec, and thats never happened before

My nearest dealer is Specialist Cars in Stevenage too! They did me a nice test drive around Knebworth in a Cooper Auto.

I went for a Cooper D Auto, and the spec agonies cost me £18k in the end! As I wanted Auto and Xenons and Bluetooth/USB, that was £2k I couldn't spend elsewhere. So, no Chilli pack or leather interiour for me