[noahe]

Well, I will. The first day of Spring was last Thursday, and I woke up to snow this morning. It hasn't stopped all day, and the forecast is for it to continute well into the evening. There's about 2 inches already!

So, my scheduled 6pm Cooper S test drive, will be in the snow. This will truely be a bummer if they cancel it.

So, anyone want to know how DSC, or ASC+T works? I'll probably get the opportunity.

Oh, and I'd better get another test drive on a dry sunny day.

I snapped this capture from the TV.

[SomeBlondeGuy]

I hope it clears up by Thursday morning! (For MY test drive).

[noahe]

I going to go through with it. I do intend to drive our S year-round, albeit with winter tires, so a snowy test drive is good mojo.

Then I'll ask for a test drive in the dry. You can't honestly be asked to evaluate a sports car in the snow, can you?

Then, if I can get away with it, I'll ask for another test drive when the car has more than 12 km on it, and it's good and run in. Sounds like these cars don't even start to come into their own until they've racked up a few hundred km.

Anyways, I don't think they'll hassle me for wanting a few test drives. It may be the cheapest BMW, but it's not exactly a cheap car.

[SomeBlondeGuy]

I'll be getting my Cooper 'S' regardless of how the test drive goes, and my dealer knows that. So I don't think 2 or 3 test drives will be allowed (even though I used to work at the dealership as a detailer).

[BrantV]

It's perfectly reasonable to test drive the car in the snow. If the snow is temporary, you might be asked to wait a few days. If so, ask the salesman if they have had the chance to drive it in the snow, and coax them into finding out how it drives in the white.

Just please, don't FU the car. If it's their only S, you're going to tick off a lot of others including yourself, who want to drive the car on dry pavement.

A few vehicles ago, I test drive a convertible, in 6 inches of snow, and made the salesman ride with the top down, on a sunny 20F day. I was going to have to drive it in the snow sometime.

Worked them from noon to close, at the end of the month, to get my price.

[tripwire]

So how did the test drive go? I went to the dealer today (Mini Downtown), and they weren't going to let out the Cooper let alone the S. In fact, I'm not sure if the S was even available for test drive. She shook her head no, and said "not for awhile" when I asked.

[noahe]

Well, I was waiting all day for the dreaded call, cancelling the test drive due to weather, and it never came. So we went up to the dealer. Took us the better part of an hour to drive what usually takes 15 minutes or less.

By 6pm there was in excess of 8 cm of ice (from the freezing rain), slush, and snow on the ground. Not the worst we've seen by far, but not what one expects to see in spring.

There was no ice-scraper in the car, which was a little fun, but once we got it brushed off (with our hands) and warmed up, we were off.

Now, I didn't get a chance to really see how the car performs, and certainly have no idea what terms like "go-cart steering", and "nimble" mean, as no one ever drives go-carts in the snow. But, for those of you who were asking how it drives in the snow? Quite good really.

The light weight and short wheelbase makes it a little squidgy, and it had a bit of a tendancy to pivot (lifted at speed on slush, and went a little sideways), but the most reassuring thing about it's handling in the snow, was it was very predictable. With all the techno gadgetry of DSC off, it pulls away with reasonable traction on the 16" all season run-flats. Either the engine torque or tread pattern caused the car to pull a little to the right on acceleration when the wheels slipped.

Interestingly, I have only ever driven an automatic with traction control. It cuts power to prevent slipping, and even appies the brakes if you're a real dork. Traction control on a manual, is very different. If you rev up the engine, and let out the clutch a bit quick, it WILL spin the tires. It can cut the throttle all it likes, but you've developed inertia with the engine, and it'll spin. If you're already rolling, and floor it in 1st, it'll pull away perfectly, no spin, just like the auto's I've driven.
If only one wheel spins, it briefly apply the brake to the slipping wheel with a loud ABS style 'bang' and you're off. Again, not a subtle effect.

It tendancy is to understeer, and oversteer is very hard to induce. It starts to slip very progressively, and gives you ample time to correct, ease off, or even switch DSC on if you want. The ABS is spectacular, and modulates the brakes very, very quickly.

The DSC (I had it on 99% of the time) is very intrusive in these extreme driving conditions. It does not 'apply' the brake to the inside rear wheel, as the literature reads, so much as locks it a few time, with loud, sequential ABS 'bangs'. That said, it does not de-stablize the car, and really works wonders... it just sounds very alarming. First time it kicks in, you will notice.

The DSC does let the car slide a little bit. I found when it started to plow a little, I was able to lift off the throttle and have it tuck back in, before the DSC kicked on. So it's more for averting catastrophys, than constant correction. I ended up using it as an idiot light. Most of the time it kicked it when I already knew I had done something wrong. Moreover, it is amazing in a empty parking lot - you cannot even intentionally hang the back end out. I'm quite glad I spec'd it. It's even kinda fun.

So, most of my impressions weren't of the car's handling, but of the transmission, engine, clutch, exhaust, interior, radio, etc...

It's all good. Feel free to debate, but I had no problems with many of the items raised by other people. Keep in mind, it is impossible to flog a car in the snow. (No, you can't do the Twin Pines rally in traffic). I drove it rather sedately.

Rattles - none.
Engine - smooth, quiet, not tinny.
Exhaust - not boomy, pretty mellow.
Supercharger - didn't hear it.
Wind noise - silent at 120 km/h.
Driveline noise - prominant, sounded like the transmision.
Tires - silent (too much fluffy white stuff).
Radio Boost CD - Plays CD-R's made on a computer.

So, that is my impression. I drove it in pretty severe conditions for about 45 minutes. To summarize:

Adequate grip in the slop. No more remarkable snow grip than any other light FWD car.
Impeccable intuition and feel. You knew it was gonna slide and how far, just before it started to. Really, really nice to drive something that predictable in snow.
Bad for aquaplaneing (lifting) on slush. Drive slower!
Incredible ABS.
Impressive DSC, but NOT a subtle effect.
Traction Control, good, but does not help too much when starting from a stop. You have to modulate your gas and clutch, because it won't do anything for you until you are at least rolling.

One other 'guess'. The ABS, DSC and Traction Control systems probably can 'apply' the brake, without the 'bang' accompanied by applying the brake hard. I suspect that the system could ease the brake on, if the tires were developing more grip than they were in the snow and ice. But as there was almost no resistance offered by the tire, it just did it's best, which usually meant nearly locking a tire to accomplish it's goal.

I was offered another test drive in the near future, on a sunny, dry day. I didn't even have to ask. They also offered to come and pick me up in the car, so I can drive it on a familliar route of my choosing. While my test drive didn't let me form so much of an opinion of the car, I am blown away by how well the dealer is treating us.

Any further questions, please post.

[Paul]

Quote:

Originally posted by noahe
I was offered another test drive in the near future, on a sunny, dry day. I didn't even have to ask. They also offered to come and pick me up in the car, so I can drive it on a familliar route of my choosing. While my test drive didn't let me form so much of an opinion of the car, I am blown away by how well the dealer is treating us.

Any further questions, please post.

Now THAT is service.

[noahe]

I finally got my second, dry weather, test drive. Yesterday at about 6pm, warm, dry, sun was low, but not setting just yet.

WOW!

I don't want to cover stuff that everyone else has for the upteenth time, but this thing is fabulous. I gotta get me one of these... Oh, wait a minute - I already did, before I test drove it.

Serioulsy, I could not find fault with the car. Now I know some of you are selling off real nice cars, like Audi A4's and the like for a MINI, and I've heard some complaints about this and that, but I guess I just don't have anything to compare to. I wish it wasn't as nice as my Audi A4. Okay, fine, I just wish I had an A4. I don't. I have a 1995 Pontiac Sunfire. Nuff said?

I cannot believe how vastly superior this car is to anything else I have ever experienced... Boomy at idle, quiet at speed, plenty of pull, nimble as hell, tight, rattle-free, hardly any wind noise, wonderful ergonomics...

I just can't say enough nice things. I love it. This is my car. It feels like a part of you when driving. I'm not that connected to my bicycle - and I'm peddling!

Okay - onto the serious stuff. I got the copy of the Cooper/Cooper S manual PDF file that is floating around here, and tried all the cool stuff I read about. Windows down, sunroof open with the key, everything. This thing is a great toy, even when it's parked.

The transmission and clutch is really nice, AND easy. I don't know why, but I always thought that a transmission had to be 'quirky' in some way to be fun. You know, the delight you experience when your buddy simply cannot drive your Mustang GT Cobra, comming out of his Honda, and then your simply drive off like it's no effort. Well, the Cooper S transmission is not all that quirky, it's actually very normal, very intuitive. But not boring for some reason. It's actually wonderful - it feels like finally you've found it, and everything should be made this way. "I've arrived, and I haven't even left yet." BTW, my significant other, who has had say, half a dozen lessons with me so far, did better in the S, than any other car she's driven... Okay, so a Jeep, Integra and Mustang aren't exactly great learners cars - but you know what I mean. It's just right.

The engine is great. Not peaky, just a nice, smooth progressive pull that builds and builds and builds. Boy can it pull you onto the highway. I like the supercharger whine, but I can only hear it with the windows down. The same goes for the exhaust. Real boomy at low revs with the windows down, and sometime a bit on the loud side, but throw it in 6th, roll up the windows, hit the A/C, and you can easily have a nice, relaxed conversaton. I don't think I'm going to get as tired driving this thing to the cottage as I usually am.

Steering. This has got to be the number one talent of this car. They just got it right. Beefy, thick on-centre feel, quick, but light return to centre, and really, really, really fast. Sneeze on the highway, and you'll be onto the next exchange. But it's not scary at all either. Real confident centre track, you could easily let go of the wheel and be just fine. I drove it on a nearly new toll highway, which was perfectly topped. No pull, no wander, no camber drift. Totally, totally neutral. But not on the road. On the road, the bus ruts made it want to drift into the curb, albeit slowly.

Suspension was great. How can something corner that firm, and still take it easy on you when you go over a speed-bump or rut. I even hit a small pot-hole (don't tell anyone I did it on purpose) and it was fine. Harder than most factory cars I've driven, but softer than my friends' tuner car (which is unliveable). This is exactly the kind of spring and damping I like. Reminds me of the old VW Scirocco a bit (when it was new). Again, they've done it right the first time, and I don't think I'd touch it.

All the little things that are odd, like slow windows, radio complaints, small fluid reservoirs and the like, who cares?! That was evidently just stuff for me to look at, and touch at the autoshows or in the showroom, or chat about here. Maybe it was to weed-out the unbelievers. Because if you are actually driving it, none of this matters. Not in the least. Something like this: "Radio? In that go-cart? It had a radio? Cool."

...and I know some of you have challenged this "go-cart" description. Well, maybe it is more accurate over here. When everything else is a large, lumbering, gas-guzzling beast of burden; when the nifty european cars that do make it over here are sold in de-tuned beige and cream versions; when you have absolutely nothing to compare it to - it screams go-cart.

Perhaps my outlook is skewed... Afterall, we are a nation of people that pine for the elusive VW Wolfsburgh Edition, the one VW actually assembled in Germany, and tuned the same as the Euro spec. cars, rather than the "Made in Mexico" variety that litter the showrooms and the street.

Okay, that's harsh. Until I met MINI, all I wanted was a VW Golf. Go figure.

I actually have more praise for the car - but it'd just be more of the same rambling prattle, and it's all been covered here before. It is a teriffic car.
Thank-you for building it.
Thank-you for bringing it to Canada without tampering with it.
Thank-you for selling me one at the world's lowest market price for a MINI, at MSRP, and without the dealer greed surcharge or mandatory accessories.
Thank-you for transforming me from a 'Driver' into a 'Motorist'. I truely didn't know what that meant until my good test drive, even if I bought into the advertising hook, line and sinker.

Finally, I now have a rough estimate of when mine will be parked in my driveway... Certainly before the end of the month. Probably in 3 weeks. Maybe by mid-month (but they don't want to get my hopes up). I'll get a call when it is in Halifax, then it comes in about two weeks. I'm betting on sleepless nights after that call.

[Spectra]

Wow! A very detailed, delightful, and informative insight on your test drive. Did u happen to test drive a Mini Cooper (not S) model? If u did, pls. post your opinion on it as well. A lot of mini-lovers would appreciate it especially me since I'm getting a Mini Cooper (not S).

[rich]

noahe, thank you for that brilliant review. It nearly made me cry. It's impossible to have too much content like this on this board

[Bilbo Baggins]

Thank you noahe for your very detailed review of the S. I have to agree with you on almost everything. I was fortunate enough to get two test drives, first in a Cooper with 15" wheels and then in an S with 16" wheels.

I took my first test drive after I put my deposit down on an S. The drive in the Cooper was very revealing. The car drove great, tight suspension, smooth and precise transmission, comfortable seats, precise steering.....but sorta.....ho-hum. I knew right then that I had put my money down on the right car.

We, me and my significant other, just purchased an A4Quattro, 1.8T engine and manual tranny for her to drive. Sometimes she even lets me drive, if I've been good. We have had it for about seven months and enjoyed every minute. Comparing the S to our A4 is a fair comparison.

The most significant difference in straight line performance is the basic difference between a turbo and a blower. The turbo gives this great rush as you pass 3000 rpms and then continues to build. The blower never gives that rush, just instant response(no turbo lag) that builds and builds, pushing you back into the seat as the speed increases. Ninety mph(145Kph) comes up REAL quick(a very trusting and agreeable salesman helps). And then there is the supercharger whine/wail.....ohhhh sooooo sweet!

The engine is very quiet and willing, when I first got on the Expressway I stopped shifting because the engine sounded so relaxed at 62mph(100Kph). The salesman asked if I was in sixth, I was only in fourth. When I shifted up to top gear the engine noise almost disappeared but the engine was not lugging. Because of the blower there was still plenty of punch to move thru traffic without down shifting.

Speaking of shifting, the gear selector moved like a hot knife thru butter. Very smooth, short throws, precise best describes it. Low gear in the Cooper is definitely higher numerically (shorter gearing) than the S and a little bit of care needs to be exercised when getting underway in the S. High gear in the Cooper is just slightly shorter than the S. Overall the S has a very nice close ratio, slick shifting, box.

I can see that this might be a very expensive car to drive if I don't control my enthusiasm when the "man" is around. Definitely a car to "motor" in.

The test S had the sunroof option, with it open at speed, it was quieter than the sunroof in our A4. Very little disturbance in the interior.

The ride compares very well to the A4. It is tight and squeak free, just like the A4. The slightly longer wheelbase of the A4 does seem to have a slightly more controlled ride over choppy pavement. The longer wheelbase and heavier weight both contribute to this feeling. The light weight of the MINI and the shorter wheelbase and drastically shorter OA length contribute to the rapid turn-in and quick direction change ability that make the MINI soo much fun to "motor" in. The ride is firm and tight without being at all punishing or unpleasant.

Now that I have tasted the forbidden fruit I must wait for my number (340 at my dealer) to come up......BoooHoooo

Hopefully, sometime this winter or early next spring.

Motor on, Dude!!!!!!!