Mini Cooper

[Mike98'240]

So what do you guys think of the new Mini Coopers?

Just curious, they are not huge on performance, but I think they look sweet!

They are supercharged, and so I figure yiou could get some good upgrades ... Well just wanted to know opinions <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/notify.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':notify:'>

[dave240sx]

I like the Mini Cooper. &nbsp;Supposedly it handles really good. &nbsp;I can definatly see that being that it is owned by BMW. &nbsp;The back seat doesn't look like it has much room, but my mom test drove one a while back and I sat back there it was really roomy compared to our 240's, but then again what isn't. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

I'd give it somewhere around a 8 out of 10. &nbsp;I don't really like where the Speedometer is, but I could get used to it.

[chickenmanq]

I like 'em a lot. &nbsp;They kept the styling close to the original, and they have better engines. &nbsp;

The Mini Cooper S version (like the original) is the faster. &nbsp;

1.6 liter with 163 horse @ 6000, 155 ft-lbs @ 4000

Weight is 2678 lbs. &nbsp;-Kinda porky for the size...

Drag Coefficient of .36 &nbsp;Not horrible.

0-60 of 6.9 seconds. &nbsp;Looks performance oriented to me.

[onebadm5]

Im not trying to be anticlimactic, but you guys are talking about MINI, not Mini.


Mini is the original Alec Issigonis design: 1300 lbs, built by austin, cooper, and a half dozen other companies.


MINI is the bmw chrylser joint effort. 2300+ lbs, 1.6 liter, manufactured by BMW.

There IS a difference.

Oh yeah, the MINI is about as close to bliss in small car format. Im still hoping to test drive one; maybe i'll "borrow" the keys to my friend's MCS when he gets blasted next weekend <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>

this car is evil! Cute car? I think not...

http://people.aens.net/middleds/Images/MINIburn-72.jpg

http://people.aens.net/middleds/Images/MINI_Cooper_S-Black.jpg

http://people.aens.net/middleds/Images/Mini_dropped.jpg

http://www.cooperwerks.com/mcs_exhaust.jpg

muhahahahahahahaha! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

[chickenmanq]

Yes, yes, we know. At least, I know. I really still prefer the Austin Mini Cooper S', but the new ones are highly desirable, and I'd rather have the BMW engine than the English one. I'm very fond of British cars, but I've never really liked their engines. I'm talking same category here, Sprites, Sunbeams, Minis, Jaguar, MGBs. Don't yell at me if you're British. It's just a preference. &nbsp;I will make an exception for the 1275 cc mini engines because, well, they're just part of the car.

And wait a minute, how is Chrysler involved? I didn't know that. Makes me suspect the car's interior quality as being "nice for 100,000 miles".

I have some really nice Mini pictures from R&T, but haven't scanned them. Here's one I found on the net. <img src=http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/~mka/1965mini.jpg>

Oops, just saw the copyright thingy. &nbsp;If you own this picture, it was very pretty and I borrowed it to post to this thread. &nbsp;Hope you don't mind.

[SimpleS14]

I like that car, its one of the few new cars out there that I actually like.

I believe that car can handle and its very "peppy". &nbsp;I remember running into one this parkway. &nbsp;I saw him in my rear view mirror dipping between cars at high speed. &nbsp;So then all of a sudden the guy pulls up next to me....and its some old man in his 60's with a big grin. &nbsp;Next thing I know he is gone and I could never keep up.

[Chew Slice]

I love it, the interior especially! &nbsp;Those leather seats are so boss. &nbsp;Im not too big of a fan though considering the only one I'd get is an "s" and they cost about $40,000 canadian. &nbsp;Either way they tear and I've heard they handle fairly well.
I give it 2 thumbs up <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

[RedSuns]

DEATH TO THE MINI!!!!!!....i hate them....

[HippoSleek]

Seen 'em at autoxes. &nbsp;They will fvck you up!

[chickenmanq]

Did I mention Peter Egan wrote in Lone Star Mini (June 2001 Road & Track) "I am willing to stand on the sweeping statement that the Mini offers the most fun you can have--even now--on any winding road. Period. Nothing else is even close." &nbsp;Refering to the 1968 Morris Mini 850cc that they drove in a road rally in Texas. &nbsp;Excellent article.

<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> Awesome cars. I really would like to own one.

[Mike98&#39;240]

Yeah I was debating on whether or not this car would be a good buy. I am going to test drive one this Saturday. They got a dealer right down the road from me.

Go to MiniUsa.com and you can build one! My cooperS was priced at $24,475 and that was with just about every possible add-on option. Where did you see it say 30grand?

Well I will tell you guys how the car handles/drives when I get back <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

[rancid240]

People are saying that the mini is surpassing the miata as the ultimate gay car. &nbsp;I think minis are cool, but I would never be able to drive one without feeling like some type of poser-homo. &nbsp;any thoughts?

[AKADriver]

I'm straight, and, well, check my sig. &nbsp;Yeah, people have some half-baked ideas about what it means to drive a purple VW. &nbsp;It all goes away where the tires meet the pavement, the throttle opens and close to 200 horses come storming out.

I used to drive a Dodge Neon, too, and I want to buy another one. &nbsp;They have the best $/fun ratio around in the realm of sport compacts.

Let insecurity drive your car purchasing decisions and you're missing out on some great cars.

By the way, the Chrysler involvement in the MINI ends at the engine. &nbsp;The engine is a 1.6L SOHC 16v that was created as a BMW/Chrysler joint venture (before the DaimlerChrysler merger). &nbsp;BMW wanted a new small car engine, Chrysler wanted a smaller and smoother engine to use in export model Neons. &nbsp;It's unrelated to the Chrysler 1.8/2.0/2.4 engine family.

[drift freaq]

ok the MINI!! is it gay? no. how the hell can a car be gay? its am inanimate object. The rampant homophobia that goes on here under the guise of red blooded american car enthusiasism is pathetic. A car becomes gay because some gay people may drive it and buy it. Oh boy , you guys are in trouble under your current attitude and line of thinking, because there are gay peope driving 240sx's all over West Hollywood.
Better sell your 240sx its gay now. hahahahhahahahhaha
some of you guys just need to grow up and join the real world .
No I am not gay. but I do not discriminate against people either .Its just wrong especially on a spiritual basis.
now on to the subject of the car. ITs a nice car but for the price it is you could go buy a WRX instead. hmmmm no brainer there. 2 wheel drive vs 4 wheel drive and some real horsepower and WRC heritage <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>

[chickenmanq]

Normally I would agree. &nbsp;And I do for the most part. &nbsp;However, a guy I know used to have a red 69 VW Beetle. &nbsp;It's name was Boo-Boo, the gay bug. &nbsp;And if there was ever a personality to be fitted with the car, it would certainly be that of a flaming Richard Simmons. &nbsp;You'd kind of have to drive it and work on it for a while to get the full effect. &nbsp;Besides that, all the work we did was on the rear-end. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> &nbsp;heheheh.

[drift freaq]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Normally I would agree. And I do for the most part. However, a guy I know used to have a red 69 VW Beetle. It's name was Boo-Boo, the gay bug. And if there was ever a personality to be fitted with the car, it would certainly be that of a flaming Richard Simmons. You'd kind of have to drive it and work on it for a while to get the full effect. Besides that, all the work we did was on the rear-end. heheheh. </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

rotfl, chickenmanq even gay people would probably laugh at that one.
that was just to funny

[onebadm5]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (AKADriver @ Oct. 09 2002,09:32)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">By the way, the Chrysler involvement in the MINI ends at the engine. The engine is a 1.6L SOHC 16v that was created as a BMW/Chrysler joint venture (before the DaimlerChrysler merger). BMW wanted a new small car engine, Chrysler wanted a smaller and smoother engine to use in export model Neons. It's unrelated to the Chrysler 1.8/2.0/2.4 engine family.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
that was a given, i thought most people knew that. the engine actually dates back to 1998, when it was slated to power the chrysler pronto cruiser convertible. That got scratched and became the PT cruiser. So BMW and Chrysler, along with the engine's actual manufacturer, Tritec Motors Ltd., decided to use it for duty in the MINI.


edit: I knew this day would come <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('>

http://www.ziplink.net/~ctroiane/bbb/shit.jpg

http://www.ziplink.net/~ctroiane/bbb/shit2.jpg

http://www.ziplink.net/~ctroiane/bbb/shit3.jpg

http://www.ziplink.net/~ctroiane/bbb/shit4.jpg

[HippoSleek]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (rancid240 @ Oct. 09 2002,11:10)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">People are saying that the mini is surpassing the miata as the ultimate gay car. I think minis are cool, but I would never be able to drive one without feeling like some type of poser-homo. any thoughts?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Funny - those are two of the baddest assest cars in autox? &nbsp;Maybe in addition to clothes, gay men are interested in great performing smaller cars? &nbsp;Hmmm.

Mark - who will be driving a Miata soon... a fully caged Miata.

[sayuki]

Ha! &nbsp;Just had this conversation with friends. &nbsp;The MINI -yes it's great - another retro marketing success. &nbsp;But it in NO way is the mini - nor is it Mini (size) - It's the same size as the AE86 or any other small hatchback/minivan thing out there.

[burgy240]

sweet car, sweet heritage....but over priced. &nbsp;Thta was one of the selling points on the original. &nbsp;Still liike it though.

[thelinja]

Yeah, I saw one at an autox a few weeks ago...it handled really nicely and had some power to it. &nbsp;I saw an actual euro spec Mini the other day. &nbsp;The Mini's look a lot smaller than the MINI's here in the states.

[rancid240]

dont shoot the messanger people! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'>

[240 2NR]

I test drove a mini about a month ago. &nbsp;Had around 900 miles on it. &nbsp;Base engine and few upgrades other than wheels and the union jack roof package (a sticker, not a paint job). &nbsp; My feeling was it's roomy for the size, provided you don't need a trunk and it has a lot of character, even if some of the interior bits seem a bit cheap. &nbsp;The handling seemed very crisp and the suspension was actually firm. &nbsp;My complaint was that below 2000 rpm, this car has NO power. &nbsp;Literally the car felt broken below that point. &nbsp;The power is never really breathtaking, but it feels like quite a surge after the lag at low engine speeds. &nbsp;Granted there were three people in the car including myself and it is portly for it's size without that much power, but still. &nbsp;It would make me fearfull of pulling out in traffic. &nbsp;Once underway it feels normal though, &nbsp;Another quirk is the pedals are really tight. &nbsp;I have fairly small feet and was almost forced to heal toe. &nbsp;Something that's currently impossible for me in the 240.

Also of note, while we were checking out the car (right on the curb at the dealership) some guys drove past and yelled "fag" to myself and my coworker (who actually is gay) from their faux sports sedan monte carlo ss (maybe not even an ss). &nbsp;what a lame choice of vehicle that tries to recreate the muscle car era in such a horrble way that it could only be a GM. &nbsp;Then again, maybe they were british and just needed a smoke.