[minigolf]

Bit of a mixed bag review of the R56 here:
Mini Cooper S July 2007 Car Review - CarPoint Australia

[ScottyB]

Usual comments of lack of practicality - and an option-loaded test vehicle from BMW that make it look bloated.. I remember R50-R53 reviews reading much the same.. bottom line, the fun factor hasn't changed

[Michael]

I don't think the writer has been in a MINI for 30 odd years. To comment on the genius hoops beside the toggle switches, they've been there since '02!!!

He complains constantly about the cost of options yet his only word of wisdom on the fantastic key fob is to spend an extra $800 to keep the friggin thing in your pocket!

The central speedo, which everybody else criticises, he likes and doesn't mention the fact that it can have an easier to read digital display.

To refer to the new indicator storks as moronic is severely harsh and ignorant. He clearly didn't read how to use them!
"The turning indicator wand is the latest moronic BMW item so you soon find yourself switching it in both directions trying to find the central off position. It doesn't belong in a Mini where quick lane changes need quick, decisive indicator usage"
I find the three flash function superb, it means you can still be changing gears whilst the car is legally indicating for a lane change.

I could go on about how pointless some of his ranting is but i can't be bothered really.

As for the constant comparison of MINI to cars such as Golf GTI, Focus XR5, Turbo Megane and the likes, in Australia I compare the MINI more to an RX8 or 350Z.
The MINI is always compared to the performance model of regular computer cars. So it shall always suffer in the luggage space and practicality department. It was never intended to lug a small family around, even in base Cooper form.
I see an 'S' quite comparable to an RX8 or Nissan 350, as they are intended to be personal fun, sports cars, and I certainly would not swap my MINI for a sustantially more expensive Mazda or Nissan.

[AndrewH]

Well in this day and age of this interweb thing, anyone can call themselves a "journalist" even the local internet-connected village idiot who can't work out how to use a simple indicator stalk I remember one dopy journalist who always used to criticise the cruise control in the TS Astra. It only had 3 buttons for god sake on/off, set/accelerate, resume/decelerate and the positioning on the end of the one of the stalks was a stroke of packaging genius - if only these supposed experts actually took the time to understand the cars that they were testing then perhaps their views would be helpful and respected. Instead, most of us just write this sort of garbage off as being light amusement intended to offset boredom

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Interestingly, amongst the critism, this person actually likes the heater controls Is this a first?!

[minigolf]

Haha, just on the journo comments, after spending some time on the weekend with a Motor magazine journo, he even said if he can't get something to work in 5 minutes then he assumes it either doesn't have that feature or is broken. And he never reads the manual!

He was a thoroughly nice chap though, and I'd still like his job despite his protestations that getting the keys to Aston Martin Vantage for a week kind of just becomes another press car.

[Robot Features]

Quote: Originally Posted by Michael Strachan (original)

I don't think the writer has been in a MINI for 30 odd years. To comment on the genius hoops beside the toggle switches, they've been there since '02!!!

He complains constantly about the cost of options yet his only word of wisdom on the fantastic key fob is to spend an extra $800 to keep the friggin thing in your pocket!

The central speedo, which everybody else criticises, he likes and doesn't mention the fact that it can have an easier to read digital display.

To refer to the new indicator storks as moronic is severely harsh and ignorant. He clearly didn't read how to use them!
"The turning indicator wand is the latest moronic BMW item so you soon find yourself switching it in both directions trying to find the central off position. It doesn't belong in a Mini where quick lane changes need quick, decisive indicator usage"
I find the three flash function superb, it means you can still be changing gears whilst the car is legally indicating for a lane change.

I could go on about how pointless some of his ranting is but i can't be bothered really.

As for the constant comparison of MINI to cars such as Golf GTI, Focus XR5, Turbo Megane and the likes, in Australia I compare the MINI more to an RX8 or 350Z.
The MINI is always compared to the performance model of regular computer cars. So it shall always suffer in the luggage space and practicality department. It was never intended to lug a small family around, even in base Cooper form.
I see an 'S' quite comparable to an RX8 or Nissan 350, as they are intended to be personal fun, sports cars, and I certainly would not swap my MINI for a sustantially more expensive Mazda or Nissan.

Michael i totally agree! Without being bias or anything i also think every function on the new mini is fantastic! The new blinker system, the climate control and wheel adjusters, the joystick on the satnav, toggle switches etc. They're easy to use and are ergonomic!

And yes.. the performance of this car is up there with what you mentioned above. This car is quick! I'm still freaking out with how much quicker this car is over my old R50 with plenty of mods.. and i'm still running it in!

Mic

[Nil Time]

Typical journo's...and your comment about not being able to make it work in 5 minutes is spot on, MiniGolf. Prior to acquiring my MCSC, I drove a Citroen C2 for 3 years...brilliant little car, and yet the journo's see fit to criticise anything that their goldfish type minds cannot cope with...like SensoDrive.

So, his comments about the R56 should be taken with a pinch of salt, I believe.

Cheers

[MickyD]

Quote: Originally Posted by AndrewH (original)

I remember one dopy journalist who always used to criticise the cruise control in the TS Astra. It only had 3 buttons for god sake on/off, set/accelerate, resume/decelerate and the positioning on the end of the one of the stalks was a stroke of packaging genius

just read this now, we've got an Astra with about 170,000km's on it that I've had since new (though it's going in a few weeks and being replaced with something new), and the cruise control in it is the simplest and most logical I've ever used, none of this turning it on and then setting the speed, you just hit set and it's working.