[richardsn]

visited my local mini dealer and test drove both cooper and diesel(three hours a day for four days), have to say I was very impressed with the oil burner.I went in to buy a cooper and bought the diesel!No,I still can't believe it either.From what I'd read I expected the D to be slow and noisey but, boy was I wrong-I found it completely the opposite.On the motorway the D was definetly the quieter and I'm really not sure where those 0-62 in 13.8 sec stats come from, I didn't have any problems getting the D to shift.Maybe it's because I'm used to a six speed.
Top end not a match for the cooper sure,but small cars-high speeds well it's not a good idea is it?
I was well impressed,gear box was silky smooth handling a dream.I certainly didn't notice any difference in handling due supposedly 'heavier' engine/gbox.I've heard identical reports from other surprised test drivers.And I haven't mentioned anything about economy...

[Paul]

The Diesel is quiet for a Diesel, but far noiser than the petrol engines, and slower than the Cooper by quite a margin.

It's a good car though, but if you're looking for a quick MINI, I'd still advise people to look elsewhere.

[richardsn]

Depends on how you define 'quick'.I've also test driven the cooper S now that is 'quick' but for some even that isn't 'quick' enough hence the john cooper works upgrades.But there are quicker,better alternatives if speed is your thing.I'm only going by my recent test drive,and made my decision.After all we're all buying into what the mini stands for,the way it looks and handles not just that speed thing.

[hugh]

I have to say that BMW have got a lot to answer for: they have made such a damn good car that I want one of each version, now is there any other car on the market that manages to put a such smile on your face even in its "low end" models? I don't think so! Thumbs up to BMW for making such an absolute cracker of a car.