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mikeyv
20 posts
80 months
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No performance figures apart from mpg and co2?
Would be nice to know what cost the thick end of six grand over standard too.
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M666 EVO
850 posts
31 months
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DeltaEvo2 said: It looks like it's got a cap on...  A dutch one?
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damiangt3
869 posts
109 months
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mikeyv said: No performance figures apart from mpg and co2?
Would be nice to know what cost the thick end of six grand over standard too. Think low 6 secs 0-60 once Traction and DSC are disabled. 150mph achieved comfortably. Most factory JCWs produce 5-10% more than there BMW/Mini published BHP/Torque figures.
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threespires
954 posts
80 months
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edwheels said: Remember reading about the XC90 - it has all the disadvantages of a 2 door, all the disadvantages of a 2 seater, all the disadvantages of an off-roader, all the disadvantages of a van.... none of the advantages of any! You couldn't recreate that if you tried! True, but they're great at trialling:- Sorry to go off topic.  Suzuki X90 - Clee Hills Trial 2012
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thewheelman
2,194 posts
42 months
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toppstuff said: Johnboy Mac said: Really? Pray tell us why. Because it is not a white household appliance like the Golf is. I like VW's, don't get me wrong, but the adulation heaped on the Golf GTI completely escapes me. Golfs are appliances. Very good appliances, but that is all they are. The Mini in contrast, is a grossly overstyled, ugly, quite ridiculous little thing. But I prefer those qualities in a car with pretence to be sporting, to the bland all-rounder qualities of the Golf. My Mum would prefer the Golf. She would dislike the Mini. That is all, really. I would still happily own a Golf ( and I am thinking of doing so ) but it would be a diesel SE. And I would be under no illusions that it is an object of desire anymore than owning the latest AEG tumble dryer. Well then all cars are appliances on that basis. Maybe cars aren't for you, try Zanussi monthly, you'll love it.
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mike9009
1,225 posts
112 months
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RemyMartin said: enroz said: Hateful car This x 1,000,000 I really despise posts like this. Please explain your hate ...... Is it the engine, steering feel, suspension setup, brakes, position of controls ..... Or do you just not like it?  Mike
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rm89
288 posts
46 months
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I had a test drive in one of these a couple of months ago. I don't mind the styling - in fact in some colour combinations, like the red & black one posted earlier, it's quite decent looking. However, at 6ft 2", I felt extremely cramped for headroom, even with the seat as low as it could go. The interior was not of a uniformly high quality, with some extremely cheap plastics, both in look and feel, around the air-con controls and lower, and I did find this disappointing given the amount of money the car costs (although the ambience may be helped by the extended leather option mentioned in the review). I found the interior controls extremely fiddly, but the seats were very comfortable and the small digital speed read-out in the revcounter was handy - didn't look at the central speedo once!
I felt that the suspension was far too hard. I haven't driven a MINI hatch to compare it to, so don't know if that is a characteristic shared throughout the range, but the amount of steering kickback and torque steer along the local back roads was genuinely quite unpleasant. This of course may be helped by smaller wheels and more supple suspension, but I have no idea if these are options on the JCW, or if you have to go down to the Cooper S. I didn't try it in Sport mode, but can only imagine that it would magnify these effects.
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dtrump
1,271 posts
60 months
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rm89 said: I haven't driven a MINI hatch to compare it to, so don't know if that is a characteristic shared throughout the range, but the amount of steering kickback and torque steer along the local back roads was genuinely quite fun and exciting. EFA 
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ZesPak
11,484 posts
65 months
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30k  That'll get you a brand new SLK if you want the looks...
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SSCooperS
610 posts
33 months
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rm89 said: I felt that the suspension was far too hard. I haven't driven a MINI hatch to compare it to, so don't know if that is a characteristic shared throughout the range, but the amount of steering kickback and torque steer along the local back roads was genuinely quite unpleasant. This of course may be helped by smaller wheels and more supple suspension, but I have no idea if these are options on the JCW, or if you have to go down to the Cooper S. I didn't try it in Sport mode, but can only imagine that it would magnify these effects. Unfortunately that is a characteristic of the standard Cooper S hatch as well. :-(
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ZesPak
11,484 posts
65 months
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Dr Interceptor said: Do you know... sometimes I read a review, and I think the tester dislikes the car before he/she drives it. This comes across strongly in this case - you don't like the looks or the marketing, so almost hated it before driving it.
I've driven one... it's much sharper to drive than a standard hatch, and given I'm 6ft5 there's still a surprisingly good amount of room inside! Don't mock the reviewer, he didn't put it up there with breakdancers. The want to create a certain "ambience", a "feel". They did and this reviewer didn't like it. Before getting in to a car, the only thing you can go by is it's looks and the history it goes with. Put it this way: an ugly bird has to be really good in the sack to get over the looks.
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s m
8,093 posts
72 months
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SSCooperS said: rm89 said: I felt that the suspension was far too hard. I haven't driven a MINI hatch to compare it to, so don't know if that is a characteristic shared throughout the range, but the amount of steering kickback and torque steer along the local back roads was genuinely quite unpleasant. This of course may be helped by smaller wheels and more supple suspension, but I have no idea if these are options on the JCW, or if you have to go down to the Cooper S. I didn't try it in Sport mode, but can only imagine that it would magnify these effects. Unfortunately that is a characteristic of the standard Cooper S hatch as well. :-( On the R53, 16" wheels and non-runflats are a world away from a 17/18" car with runflats ime. The optional LSD, mild though it is, makes a difference as well to the steering/feedback
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SSCooperS
610 posts
33 months
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It's true the runflats do contribute to the awful ride, the steering kick back though is just horrible and is intensified as soon as you hit the sport button.
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s m
8,093 posts
72 months
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SSCooperS said: the steering kick back though is just horrible and is intensified as soon as you hit the sport button. Ah R56 version  Got an extended test drove in one but elected to stick with the R53
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RemyMartin
1,024 posts
74 months
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mike9009 said: I really despise posts like this. Please explain your hate ...... Is it the engine, steering feel, suspension setup, brakes, position of controls ..... Or do you just not like it? Mike Silly interior, crashy suspension. Horrible image. I hated the test drive in the (albeit) hatch.
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nickfrog
2,137 posts
86 months
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My R56 on CSC3s (non-RFTs) and geo to my specs is very resolved handling wise and presents very very little torque steer. Almost totally neutral too. But I have to admit that on RFTs and neglected geo it was poor (but still fun until you hit a bump with a loaded tyre).
So I hope that people carry on slagging it off (whether they have driven one or not, or whether they understand car dymamics or not) as it will keep prices low on the second hand market, where I buy.
Most underrated handling car on the market, mainly thanks to its image, that's all good.
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s m
8,093 posts
72 months
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nickfrog said: My R56 on CSC3s (non-RFTs) and geo to my specs is very resolved handling wise and presents very very little torque steer. Almost totally neutral too. But I have to admit that on RFTs and neglected geo it was poor (but still fun until you hit a bump with a loaded tyre). I've got non-RFT Contis on my R53 Nick too - they seem to suit car well. What settings have you changed out of interest? I'm not bothered about the image either - all my cars have poor image according to image-worriers and "winebarista"  I'm more interested in driving the car itself
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JCW
870 posts
76 months
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rm89 said: I felt that the suspension was far too hard. I haven't driven a MINI hatch to compare it to, so don't know if that is a characteristic shared throughout the range, but the amount of steering kickback and torque steer along the local back roads was genuinely quite unpleasant. This of course may be helped by smaller wheels and more supple suspension, but I have no idea if these are options on the JCW, or if you have to go down to the Cooper S. I didn't try it in Sport mode, but can only imagine that it would magnify these effects. Interestingly, I tried various combinations with my wife's JCW to negate this effect and ended up with 18' non RFTs as the best compromise although at the expense of ride comfort which was never a MINI/Mini strength. Its a shame, as the kickback has always been a frustration of mine with MINIs and whilst the Sport mode sharpens the throttle response, it does so at the expense of steering feel and additional weight. A missed opportunity for the brand and something to address with the next model. Certainly good fun to drive, although it does encourage you to thrash it which is not good for licences etc.
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nickfrog
2,137 posts
86 months
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s m said: I've got non-RFT Contis on my R53 Nick too - they seem to suit car well. What settings have you changed out of interest? I'm not bothered about the image either - all my cars have poor image according to image-worriers and "winebarista" I'm more interested in driving the car itself Great minds... I simply maximised available front camber and reduced rear camber down to just -1 deg, which gives a very neutral feel to the car. I also had to dial out a bit of front toe out as turn in felt unnaturaly sharp and not requiring enough steering input for an accurate line to the apex. This was possibly exacerbated by elec, steering I guess, which is (yet another) problem you won't have on the R53 !
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KMB
95 posts
92 months
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I haven't driven the new Mini Coupe but despite throwing in some sporty versions, my opinion is that the styling and sale pitch isn't aimed at people that frequent PH and read EVO etc It's for the fashion conscious, ladies (sorry for the sexist generalisation), and people who probably think they like driving; although in reality don't really care for much other than friends opinions and the badge on the nose. I want more driver orientated cars that are fun to drive, not funny to look at! Anyway, I did manage to find secret pictures of their prototype... 
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