[R99]

Hi folks,

Got a drive in my local dealers demo Cooper D booked for Wednesday. /

I went in today to get some stuff looked at under warranty, need some new window seals to be fitted, which will be a one hour job. I mentioned that their new Cooper D demo looked rather nice and asked a few questions about the car. Then the service manager sugested that I test drive it while they do the window seals. Which was rather nice of him (given that I'm 19, something which usually start alarm bells ringing!), but it is a great dealership. I don't see any reason not to have a drive of it, I made it clear that I wasnt going to be buying one for at least a year and they were more than happy to let me have it for an hour or so.

So while I've got it, I'm going to take a few snaps and then after write abit of a comparison report between the Cooper D and my much loved 88bhp One D.

So by Wed afternoon I should of written it, and will post it in here.

[Yellow/Black OneD]

Nice one James,

Eagerly awaiting the test result...........

[R99]

Right folks, well I’ve just got back from my local dealer after having my window seals replaced, and test driving the Cooper D while they did the work. Which was a really nice offer by the dealer, so all credit to them!

The car in question was a pepper white D, with black bonnet stripes and 17” alloys. I have to say it does look quite cool. The larger front air intake at the font looks better than the petrol variants imo, it gives it more of an aggressive look at the front end. The fact that the tail pipe also is able to stick out rather than being concealed is a nice touch, something I wish my ONE D had.




Interior wise, I’m not familiar with all the various options of the R56, but it had the boost CD system (quality was quite good, but nothing compared to my H/K system) The seats were pretty supportive and the new centre console is great, but I’m not liking the absolutely huge speedometer, and the various fiddly buttons which are build into it. I think if I ever bought an R56 then I would have to spec the navigation unit to try and justify the huge space it takes up. The start button was a neat touch, but the car really does feel much more heavily influenced by BMW, for example the onboard computer system was identical to that of my friends 1 Series. This is not a bad thing, but I feel the 2nd gen MINI does not have as much character as the 1st gen, I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but it felt much more ‘clinical’. The interior does certainly look rather swish but little things annoyed me, such as the toggle switches, they didn’t feel as nice as the ones in my car and the gear knob, which has some kind of ridge on it, didn’t like that at all.




I got to drive the car for 30mins and courtesy of some rather good local roads I was able to put the car through its paces J. The new 1.6L unit is a cracker; there is no doubt about that. From reading the various reviews I went there expecting it to feel quite a lot faster than my ONE D, and it did. However when I got back in my own car, it did not feel as slow as I had expected, which was rather nice. The new engine delivers its power more progressively than the ONE D, and the overboost gives it even more oomph when you put your foot down. Mind you this is to be expected as the new unit generates 110bhp and 260 Nm on overboost (opposed to the 88 bhp / 190 Nm of my ONE D) I would say based on my driving experience of the 1st gen Cooper that this new diesel would be faster in the real world. Having to work the gears is something I am used to, already owning a diesel, but I though it made the car fun to drive. If you keep the car in the right rev range i.e approx 2500 rpm its quite a potent machine, I was surprised by its ability to increase speed pretty rapidly when using 4th gear @ 50mph. Noise wise, it was very quiet out on the open road, but at one point with the window down setting off from a traffic light it was quite noisy, more so I think it would be fair to say than my ONE D, which does not really have the same ‘clattery sound’ as the French diesel units do. But that it something I would be prepared to live with given the huge improvement over the old 1.4 unit.

A few more pics of it.



Personally though I still love my car. I jumped back into it and it was a pleasure to drive back home, and the speedometer seemed to be tiny in comparison to that of the R56. Based on pure looks I’d take my car, performance wise it would have to be the Cooper D. I think the ONE D with a proper re-map taking the power to somewhere in the region of 110bhp would be my perfect solution!

My car out in the sun on the drive back home..



Still the Cooper D is a great car and it thoroughly deserves all the praise that it has been getting.

James.

[David King]

Nice review there. Im trying to get my mum into a new Cooper/Dooper so ill use some of this info to sway here around hopefully!!

Is it worth the extra money over and above yours?

David

[R99]

Well I didn't leave feeling like I NEED to have one. But engine wise it is a big improvement over the ONE D. Personally though I am still not 100% on the R56 styling.

In a few years when my insurance isn't insane, personally I think my money will most likely go on one of the last 06 / 56 plate R53 Cooper S's.

But still, no denying the Dooper is a fabulous car!!

James.

[sav112]

Thanks mate for that write up!

I’m still at the looking stage but what interests me more ifs the fact you like the old shape. I know the quality and ride etc and engine are better or so they say in the newer version but I was sitting in a 56 plate old shape with nothing on the miles and it was only 12K compared to the nearly 17K on the speced one I’d have of the newer Model cooper.


I was sitting thinking the dash looked better on the old one and it looked fantastic for 12K and fully loaded…..

That’s three Mini’s now I need to test drive! The new coop and S and now the D

[ben__allen]

Was it Bateman's that you tested the car at - they just gave me a set of keys to cars when I was looking for mine, and off I went!

I test drove the Cooper D at Derek Woodman's on Sunday afternoon, and was really impressed with it - it does feel heavier and sounds noisier than a regular Cooper, and my, now dead, R53 Cooper, but good, and MINI-like all the same! For a diesel I think that the engine is quite revvy, and it is great to still have plenty of pull on the motorway, in 6th at 70mph

As for your comments about the interior - it isn't quite as characterful as the original new MINI, but the quality is superb (esp when compared to a similarly priced Focus that I have been driving this week, which is crap in comparison). I do agree with you about the ridged gearknob - not the best to hold, so can feel a Whalen coming on, and the wing mirrors are such an odd shape, that you miss half of what is going on behind you!

Just need to wait for confirmation, in writing from my insurance, and then the order will be in!!!!

[R99]

Quote: Originally Posted by sav112 (original)

Thanks mate for that write up!

I’m still at the looking stage but what interests me more ifs the fact you like the old shape. I know the quality and ride etc and engine are better or so they say in the newer version but I was sitting in a 56 plate old shape with nothing on the miles and it was only 12K compared to the nearly 17K on the speced one I’d have of the newer Model cooper.


I was sitting thinking the dash looked better on the old one and it looked fantastic for 12K and fully loaded…..

That’s three Mini’s now I need to test drive! The new coop and S and now the D

Yeh I am sure that once its been around for longer I will get used to the car. But I think for me the next car has got to be a supercharged S, I do love the R53 shape, its just got something about it. The interior, allthough betterd by the R56, is still leagues ahead of the other crappy Euro boxes on the road.

Quote: Originally Posted by ben__allen (original)

Was it Bateman's that you tested the car at - they just gave me a set of keys to cars when I was looking for mine, and off I went!

I test drove the Cooper D at Derek Woodman's on Sunday afternoon, and was really impressed with it - it does feel heavier and sounds noisier than a regular Cooper, and my, now dead, R53 Cooper, but good, and MINI-like all the same! For a diesel I think that the engine is quite revvy, and it is great to still have plenty of pull on the motorway, in 6th at 70mph

As for your comments about the interior - it isn't quite as characterful as the original new MINI, but the quality is superb (esp when compared to a similarly priced Focus that I have been driving this week, which is crap in comparison). I do agree with you about the ridged gearknob - not the best to hold, so can feel a Whalen coming on, and the wing mirrors are such an odd shape, that you miss half of what is going on behind you!

Just need to wait for confirmation, in writing from my insurance, and then the order will be in!!!!

Yep it was Batemans, such a good dealership, nothing seems to be a problem for them, very refreshing attitude especially compared with that of Citroen, whom supplied my 1st car, a C2.

I agree with what you have said about the Cooper D, it is a massive improvement engine wise over my ONE D. I did like the interior, its a refreshing change, I just wasnt convinced by the MASSIVE speedo.

James.

[ben__allen]

Quote: Originally Posted by R99 (original)

Yep it was Batemans, such a good dealership, nothing seems to be a problem for them, very refreshing attitude especially compared with that of Citroen, whom supplied my 1st car, a C2.

Hmmm...sorry I don;t agree - not forthcoming with info when I was awaiting delivery of my car, and when it broke down they were pretty rude and obstructive on the phone - I wouldn't go back, and struggle to see how they keep their reputation. Give me Bowkers or Derek Woodman anyday - much more accomodating

Glad you lliked the car tho!!

[R99]

Quote: Originally Posted by ben__allen (original)

Hmmm...sorry I don;t agree - not forthcoming with info when I was awaiting delivery of my car, and when it broke down they were pretty rude and obstructive on the phone - I wouldn't go back, and struggle to see how they keep their reputation. Give me Bowkers or Derek Woodman anyday - much more accomodating

Glad you lliked the car tho!!

Fair enough, I guess things are down to personal experience, and until now I've had no problems at all.But I suppose things could easily change, I hope they don't though.

I agree with you on Woodmans, the world record event was fab and when I have been down in the past, always been very attentive etc.

But dealers aside, yeah I really enjoyed the Cooper D.

James.

[madjohn]

hi everyone ! my mini1D is staying around to the end ! but having mini cooper D next year !


having test drive very soon !

[R99]

Is the Cooper D going to be for personal use John, or is it going to become another van for work?

[madjohn]

only personal use ......... have the the other mini for work use !

[madjohn]

but new mini will be well ful of mods before the wnd of 2008 !

[Harpo]

Another review from me later in the week after I pick it up on Wednesday.

Three and a half years with the ONE D and three and a half hours with a CD - should be a bit biased I reckon.

[R99]

Sounds good John! Any ideas about what sort of power the Cooper D's engine is capable of?

Harpo, looking forward to your review mate.

[madjohn]

well between 140 to 150bhp with 40mpg plus ! coopers eat your hearts out !

[R99]

I'm only getting about 45mpg from my ONE D at the mo!! So that sounds excellent!