MINI2

Paul · May 29th, 2001, 12:22 PM

Talk about double take time! Driving back from Peterborough to Milton Keynes, at about 12:30pm I went passed an all metallic British Racing Green Cooper 'S'. This was most likely on its way to either the Milbrook Proving Ground or Bedford Autodrome, both in the direction it was heading.

I wouldn't have really noticed it so much, apart from all the black tape put on the bonnet scoop to make it more 'secret'.

Shame there was no chance of turning round and tracking that one, like the last Mini Cooper I saw in Milton Keynes!

B)

Twinsun007 · May 29th, 2001, 03:57 PM

Nice! I saw one on the M69 about 3 months ago... and I too seriously did a double take... and then slowed down for a good butchers! It was fairly quiet... so don't worry! I did not stop the traffic!!

They are so small!! I currently drive a Ford Ka, and I towered over it! About the same length, but...

I shall be speaking to my local BMW dealership, where I used to work in fact, and seeing what can be done about getting one at cost! I know some tricks... lol!

arty:

B)

Paul · May 29th, 2001, 04:03 PM

This also looked very small. I have seen another MINI in the flesh before, in that absolutely lovely pale blue colour (hint to whoever makes the decisions at MINI - release that 'surf blue' colour, it's lovely!), and that was smaller than the Clio we were driving at the time, but didn't look that 'dinky'. However the 'S' was in dark metallic green, all one colour, and looked much smaller than the cars front and back of it.

}:O

Twinsun007 · May 29th, 2001, 04:09 PM

AH yes,

Considering they are the same length (give or take a matchbox) as a VW Lupo, they are also a lot lower...

I think it is due to the fact that I am used to driving and road fighting with much bigger cars that it looks so small... saying that, they look a lot smaller in the 'flesh'.

At the motorshow, when you actually managed to cut your way through the crowds to get near the things, they were really small, almost approaching 'dinky', but not quite!

Sooo cute though - just want to get behind the wheel!!!

8)7

BruceK · May 29th, 2001, 05:01 PM

All the talk in this thread about how small the MINI is - great stuff. Very encouraging compared to all the gripes I've heard (not at MINI2, but elsewhere) about how large the new MINI is. It's nice to hear how well the car looks out on the road.

Paul · May 29th, 2001, 05:37 PM

The problem is that compared to the Classic Mini, a car I drive almost every day, the MINI is pretty big. But, so is just about any car on the road today.

When you see the car in the flesh, it is a small car, no two ways about it. It is apparantly just a bit longer than the baby VW Lupo, and slighly shorter than a Ford Ka. That is NOT big.

The MINI looks bigger than it is, no doubt, particularly in two tone paintwork, but that is because it is crammed with design features that really make it stand out.

neilk · May 29th, 2001, 07:35 PM

All this talk of how small the Mini is, makes me once again apprehensive of buying one. I would have no problem buying one in Europe, but living in Dallas, TX home of overgrown SUVs, I question the sanity of it. It would still be great fun.

Neil

smartbomb · May 29th, 2001, 09:04 PM

Paul,I saw a BRG S in Cambridge a few months back.It had twin rear pipes,roof spoiler and plenty of masking tape on the bonnet and wing mirrors.Had a good look round it as it was parked a few yards from my mini and was struck by it's size.Dunno 'bout the one you saw but this was German registered.....
Can't wait to see one properly...!

digidelia · May 29th, 2001, 09:42 PM

Concernin the size of the mini, I took the measurements that Paul has posted on here and i measured those against my current car, a 4 door 1998 dodge neon. I was surprised to find that it has almost the same width and height of the neon, and the length is about to the start of the trunk on the neon.
I don't really find that to be as small as some people have come to say it is.

scott

BruceK · May 29th, 2001, 11:38 PM

Quote:

On 29-05-2001 20:35 neilk wrote:
All this talk of how small the Mini is, makes me once again apprehensive of buying one. I would have no problem buying one in Europe, but living in Dallas, TX home of overgrown SUVs, I question the sanity of it. It would still be great fun.

Well, the SUVs are the same size down the road in San Antonio TX and my daily driver is a classic Mini Cooper, smaller than the new MINI COOPER. I've fitted a full roll cage as an anti-SUV measure, but the new MINI has the strength built into the body itself, plus all the modern safety features. You may want to read this article for more information http://www.mini2.com/news/news.php?id=30

Don't forget that the semi trucks are just as big in Europe, and an S Class Mercedes or a Range Rover is the same size no matter which side of the pond you are on. Roads in Europe are so much more congested compared to Texas that on the whole, there probably isn't that much difference in terms of a threat to small cars.

On the plus side, the smaller size makes for a much more maneuverable car so you can dodge the overturning, on its roof, flipping SUV piece of junk.

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Discussions concerning the Cooper S

May 29th, 2001, 12:22 PM	#1
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 10:57 PM Posts: 40,555 Offline	Talk about double take time! Driving back from Peterborough to Milton Keynes, at about 12:30pm I went passed an all metallic British Racing Green Cooper 'S'. This was most likely on its way to either the Milbrook Proving Ground or Bedford Autodrome, both in the direction it was heading. I wouldn't have really noticed it so much, apart from all the black tape put on the bonnet scoop to make it more 'secret'. Shame there was no chance of turning round and tracking that one, like the last Mini Cooper I saw in Milton Keynes! B)

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May 29th, 2001, 03:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
Twinsun007 MINI2 Newbie Join Date: May 2001 Location: uk Local Time: 09:57 PM Posts: 25 Offline	Nice! I saw one on the M69 about 3 months ago... and I too seriously did a double take... and then slowed down for a good butchers! It was fairly quiet... so don't worry! I did not stop the traffic!! They are so small!! I currently drive a Ford Ka, and I towered over it! About the same length, but... I shall be speaking to my local BMW dealership, where I used to work in fact, and seeing what can be done about getting one at cost! I know some tricks... lol! arty: B)

May 29th, 2001, 04:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 10:57 PM Posts: 40,555 Offline	This also looked very small. I have seen another MINI in the flesh before, in that absolutely lovely pale blue colour (hint to whoever makes the decisions at MINI - release that 'surf blue' colour, it's lovely!), and that was smaller than the Clio we were driving at the time, but didn't look that 'dinky'. However the 'S' was in dark metallic green, all one colour, and looked much smaller than the cars front and back of it. }:O

May 29th, 2001, 04:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Twinsun007 MINI2 Newbie Join Date: May 2001 Location: uk Local Time: 09:57 PM Posts: 25 Offline	AH yes, Considering they are the same length (give or take a matchbox) as a VW Lupo, they are also a lot lower... I think it is due to the fact that I am used to driving and road fighting with much bigger cars that it looks so small... saying that, they look a lot smaller in the 'flesh'. At the motorshow, when you actually managed to cut your way through the crowds to get near the things, they were really small, almost approaching 'dinky', but not quite! Sooo cute though - just want to get behind the wheel!!! 8)7

May 29th, 2001, 05:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
BruceK Moderator & Sponsor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Antonio, Texas Local Time: 03:57 PM Posts: 3,759 Offline	All the talk in this thread about how small the MINI is - great stuff. Very encouraging compared to all the gripes I've heard (not at MINI2, but elsewhere) about how large the new MINI is. It's nice to hear how well the car looks out on the road.

May 29th, 2001, 05:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 10:57 PM Posts: 40,555 Offline	The problem is that compared to the Classic Mini, a car I drive almost every day, the MINI is pretty big. But, so is just about any car on the road today. When you see the car in the flesh, it is a small car, no two ways about it. It is apparantly just a bit longer than the baby VW Lupo, and slighly shorter than a Ford Ka. That is NOT big. The MINI looks bigger than it is, no doubt, particularly in two tone paintwork, but that is because it is crammed with design features that really make it stand out.

May 29th, 2001, 07:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
neilk MINI2 Newbie Join Date: May 2001 Location: us Local Time: 09:57 PM Posts: 3 Offline	All this talk of how small the Mini is, makes me once again apprehensive of buying one. I would have no problem buying one in Europe, but living in Dallas, TX home of overgrown SUVs, I question the sanity of it. It would still be great fun. Neil

May 29th, 2001, 09:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
smartbomb Bring the noise My Classifieds Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Trancentral Local Time: 09:57 PM Posts: 2,437 Offline	Paul,I saw a BRG S in Cambridge a few months back.It had twin rear pipes,roof spoiler and plenty of masking tape on the bonnet and wing mirrors.Had a good look round it as it was parked a few yards from my mini and was struck by it's size.Dunno 'bout the one you saw but this was German registered..... Can't wait to see one properly...!

May 29th, 2001, 09:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
digidelia MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Las Vegas NV USA Local Time: 09:57 PM Posts: 72 Offline	Concernin the size of the mini, I took the measurements that Paul has posted on here and i measured those against my current car, a 4 door 1998 dodge neon. I was surprised to find that it has almost the same width and height of the neon, and the length is about to the start of the trunk on the neon. I don't really find that to be as small as some people have come to say it is. scott

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May 29th, 2001, 11:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
BruceK Moderator & Sponsor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Antonio, Texas Local Time: 03:57 PM Posts: 3,759 Offline	Quote: On 29-05-2001 20:35 neilk wrote: All this talk of how small the Mini is, makes me once again apprehensive of buying one. I would have no problem buying one in Europe, but living in Dallas, TX home of overgrown SUVs, I question the sanity of it. It would still be great fun. Well, the SUVs are the same size down the road in San Antonio TX and my daily driver is a classic Mini Cooper, smaller than the new MINI COOPER. I've fitted a full roll cage as an anti-SUV measure, but the new MINI has the strength built into the body itself, plus all the modern safety features. You may want to read this article for more information http://www.mini2.com/news/news.php?id=30 Don't forget that the semi trucks are just as big in Europe, and an S Class Mercedes or a Range Rover is the same size no matter which side of the pond you are on. Roads in Europe are so much more congested compared to Texas that on the whole, there probably isn't that much difference in terms of a threat to small cars. On the plus side, the smaller size makes for a much more maneuverable car so you can dodge the overturning, on its roof, flipping SUV piece of junk.