[Tim]

Again may be a bit slow, but the latest version of Car (in the UK, and not What Car? or any other magazine with the word car in it) has a proper review of the Mini in its latest issue. Generally very positive - the understeer on the pre-production model was noted to not be a problem on the production model.

The beefs were with the engine (more about noise than lack of grunt), the overtall gearing and space in the back.

Of greatest interest, they compare the Mini with a Lamborghini Diablo!

[Jakx]

For those MINI2ers living abroad and who are as yet unable to get their hands on a copy of Car`s July issue:

Very briefly, as I haven`t had much chance to read it through properly, (it`s a day early Tim!) there`s a piece where they pitch it against some rivals – Polo GTi, Yaris T-Sport, Puma 1.4 and the Audi A2.

The conclusion there is - “ . . . but who wants serious when you can have fun without too much practical compromise? Buy a Mini. You`ll never have a dull driving moment again.”

In the Mini and Lamborghini Diablo piece that Tim refers to, it`s headed - “ On days like these” and then - “We pay homage to the latest incarnations . . .” concluding with – “Like the original, (Mini) it looks like nothing else and handles like nothing else. The king is dead, long live the King.”

I wonder if Matthew Fletcher of The Mail on Sunday will not bother to read yet another positive motoring magazine review?:O=

[Silverstone]

Car's biggest praise go to the suspension

Comparing it to Mini at low speeds, the best hot hatch at medium speeds, and providing composure like a Subaru Impreza at high speeds - praise indeed!

They recommend avoiding large tyres and sticking to the smallest wheels and tyres for maximum fun.

The engine is only criticised for being boomy, rather than slow.

[Mario A. Funk]

Car says to go with the 15" wheels wile AutoWeek says:

" We also found we ran out of tire before we ran out of car. The 175/65R-15 Pirelli P3000s mounted on aluminum wheels were the weakest link between the steering wheel and the road. Optional 16-inch and 17-inch tires are available, and, if you're going to flog the car at all, our recommendation is to opt for the bigger footprint."

So I'd really like to know which wheel/tire combination is better.
I bet it's the 17s that everyone has been speculating would give a terrible ride.

[Dranoel]

The wheel size is really the cause of a big dilemma for me. While I have heard that lager wheels increase handling and dynamics, I was a little upset when I saw the 17"s on the Cooper S. Can anybody tell me what exactly the advantages of larger wheels would be for the MINI?

[MINIAC]

Quote:

On 18-06-2001 2:53 Dranoel wrote:
The wheel size is really the cause of a big dilemma for me. While I have heard that lager wheels increase handling and dynamics, I was a little upset when I saw the 17"s on the Cooper S. Can anybody tell me what exactly the advantages of larger wheels would be for the MINI?

It's all about availability of performance (ie. wider, stickier) tires for a particualr wheel size. For example, the BMW 2002 tii came stock with 165/80R13 H (130mph) rated tires. Most people have gone to 14" or 15" wheels on their 2002s because there are more high performance tire choices.

If you read the Tire Availability thread, you'll see that there are 205mm tires available for 15", 16" and 17" wheels ... assuming that all these wheels are wide enough to handle this tire size. Remember though, as the wheel size and tire width increase, the sidewall height decreases and the ride gets rougher.

After tire availability it's a matter of what you think looks good on the car.

[panto]

The larger wheels uses tires with smaller sides (I don´t lnow how you call it in english) this helps in having less deformation of de tire at hi speed and forced turns (just see racing cars), so you get a better handling and manouverability, but by having less air (air acts as shock absorber) you get an unconfortable ride because of holes or imperfections of the roads.