RE: AC Schnitzer Mini
Monday 18th March 2002
AC Schnitzer Mini
Discussion
quote:
Look how much bigger the MINI is compared to that old cooper beside it! Never seen the two together before, but what a difference!
As Father Ted said, "this one is small... that is far away!"
I think the perspective is giving an exagerated differance here although the new Mini is undoubtedly significantly larger than the original, thank god.
I take it from the vomiting negativeness that most haven't actualy driven a new Cooper.
Bloody good fun to drive if you get to try one.
Best to leave the AC Schnitzer bits for the West Staines Massif boys though.
>> Edited by bertie on Wednesday 20th March 10:49
>> Edited by bertie on Wednesday 20th March 10:49
Bertie,
The new Cooper and indeed Cooper S are both great fun, well appointed interiors and so solidly built that they feel like a car that is much much bigger.
However, it doesnt change the fact that a well set up classic Mini could run rings round it on anything twisty. I would even go so far as to say that a classic Mini with a serious engine conversion (although nothing outside drive in drive out modification) could slay it in a straight line as well.
Thats not the only thing wrong with it either, but I'm not going there, as I just dont have the time, you probably wont have the inclination to read it and Ted will worry about server space!
Matt.
The new Cooper and indeed Cooper S are both great fun, well appointed interiors and so solidly built that they feel like a car that is much much bigger.
However, it doesnt change the fact that a well set up classic Mini could run rings round it on anything twisty. I would even go so far as to say that a classic Mini with a serious engine conversion (although nothing outside drive in drive out modification) could slay it in a straight line as well.
Thats not the only thing wrong with it either, but I'm not going there, as I just dont have the time, you probably wont have the inclination to read it and Ted will worry about server space!
Matt.
Lest we forget all the others as well, we lost the worlds only car producing Principality (Gilbern - Wales) plus numerous others along the way. Encouraging though is the specialist market in the UK, we have more recognised Motor Manufacturers than any other country in the world! Ok, so they only make about 2500 cars a year between them, but there are lots! 
Matt.
Matt.
I'm sure you can get a Classic Mini to go very well indeed but it would still be noisey, uncomfortable, drink oil, most likely blow up, and be bloody unsafe.
I don't want to drive around in a 1950s car, same way I don't like teddy boy outfits.
I like technology and progress and looking forward to the future.
Nostalgia is all very well, but it's not like it was in the old days.
I don't want to drive around in a 1950s car, same way I don't like teddy boy outfits.
I like technology and progress and looking forward to the future.
Nostalgia is all very well, but it's not like it was in the old days.
Noisy, well no more so than any car with decent performance.
Uncomfortable - Not mine, well it wont be when the interior refit is finished!
Drink oil - I'll give you that, but only because my oil cooler is a little faulty and the pressure does get a little high from time to time
Unsafe - Yes, I will have to concede that point - but so are TVR's, its kinda part of the thrill.
[RANT]
Dont get me wrong, as a car there is nothing wrong with the new Mini at all, its fine as a mode of transport. However, lets not forget what it was replacing. A design icon, a classic, a car that is as much a part of British heritage as eccentricty and taking other peoples countries. BMW have done a good job at building a small car, but they have done atrociously at replacing the car that was voted Car of the Century even in countries where it hasnt been sold for over 30 years! Lets face it, almost everyone has had a Mini in their family at some point. My mum had one, and a lot of you out theres Mums probably did as well. They can call it what they like, they can give it the winged badge, they can even call the damn thing a Mini, it still doesnt detract from the fact that in everything apart from name - its a 1 series BMW.
[/RANT]
Matt.
Uncomfortable - Not mine, well it wont be when the interior refit is finished!
Drink oil - I'll give you that, but only because my oil cooler is a little faulty and the pressure does get a little high from time to time
Unsafe - Yes, I will have to concede that point - but so are TVR's, its kinda part of the thrill.
[RANT]
Dont get me wrong, as a car there is nothing wrong with the new Mini at all, its fine as a mode of transport. However, lets not forget what it was replacing. A design icon, a classic, a car that is as much a part of British heritage as eccentricty and taking other peoples countries. BMW have done a good job at building a small car, but they have done atrociously at replacing the car that was voted Car of the Century even in countries where it hasnt been sold for over 30 years! Lets face it, almost everyone has had a Mini in their family at some point. My mum had one, and a lot of you out theres Mums probably did as well. They can call it what they like, they can give it the winged badge, they can even call the damn thing a Mini, it still doesnt detract from the fact that in everything apart from name - its a 1 series BMW.
[/RANT]
Matt.
I've just bought old-style mini cooper (collect it Friday, goodbye M100 
) its an X-reg 1.3i and its still a fun drive (the highest priorities in my choice was cheap, cheerful, has character and fun to drive), compared to the hatches we have now the mini won by far. Cart like handling and not bad on the acceleration front. A lot of modern cars could still learn a great deal from this little car.
The A series engine is excellent and almost bullet proof it certainly won't "blow up". I had a kit car with A series for 7 years and it was an excellent engine, didn't drink oil at all.
Whilst I agree that technology is good, it has been applied to the old style mini (airbag, side impact bars etc.). I agree with you on the safety and basic features (ie noisy) front but equally I hate cars that are a souless tin box that wrap you in cotton wool and give the false impression that they are safe.
I'm sorry to see my Lotus goand i will miss it A LOT, but I will at least have a car I can have fun in.
Back on topic that max-power look is awful (another reason for choosing the mini was that I didn't want to be associated with the max-power washer-lit boys)
) its an X-reg 1.3i and its still a fun drive (the highest priorities in my choice was cheap, cheerful, has character and fun to drive), compared to the hatches we have now the mini won by far. Cart like handling and not bad on the acceleration front. A lot of modern cars could still learn a great deal from this little car. The A series engine is excellent and almost bullet proof it certainly won't "blow up". I had a kit car with A series for 7 years and it was an excellent engine, didn't drink oil at all.
Whilst I agree that technology is good, it has been applied to the old style mini (airbag, side impact bars etc.). I agree with you on the safety and basic features (ie noisy) front but equally I hate cars that are a souless tin box that wrap you in cotton wool and give the false impression that they are safe.
I'm sorry to see my Lotus goand i will miss it A LOT, but I will at least have a car I can have fun in.
Back on topic that max-power look is awful (another reason for choosing the mini was that I didn't want to be associated with the max-power washer-lit boys)
1 Series BMW.... well maybe, but lets not forget that the BMW MINI was designed almost exclusively by a British team and it is built in Britain.
(Puts on Tin Hat and Flak jacket)
I drive a BMW MINI Cooper (Cooper - theres a British company thats made a few quid out of BMW), and its a bloody good car, reasonable price, in that you can compare it to a Pug 206 gti performance wise, its much bigger (about the size of a MkIII Golf) and it handles like a dream, particularly with the supersports suspension.
Plotloss, if you have never driven one, take the opportunity and go down to the dealer and ask for a test drive. Seriously... I think you would be suprised. I also own a mildly tweeked '81 mini 1000, which is also a hoot (well it was, it needs a rebuild), the handling is comparable, but as you would expect from the age and difference in price the '1 series' is faster, easier to get on with day to day and much, much more comfortable.
The point I am trying to make is, I know some people are still smarting from BMW shafting Rover, but the MINI is a great car. Rover are now entirely British, are making some interesting cars (MG), and seem to be going from strength to strength.
If you don't like the BMW MINI, thats fine, but I think alot of people have decided they wont like it for reasons that have nothing to do with the car.
Blimey that was an epic...
Cheers Dan
(by the way I hate the AC Schnowzer bolt-ons)
>> Edited by dan on Wednesday 20th March 12:47
(Puts on Tin Hat and Flak jacket)
I drive a BMW MINI Cooper (Cooper - theres a British company thats made a few quid out of BMW), and its a bloody good car, reasonable price, in that you can compare it to a Pug 206 gti performance wise, its much bigger (about the size of a MkIII Golf) and it handles like a dream, particularly with the supersports suspension.
Plotloss, if you have never driven one, take the opportunity and go down to the dealer and ask for a test drive. Seriously... I think you would be suprised. I also own a mildly tweeked '81 mini 1000, which is also a hoot (well it was, it needs a rebuild), the handling is comparable, but as you would expect from the age and difference in price the '1 series' is faster, easier to get on with day to day and much, much more comfortable.
The point I am trying to make is, I know some people are still smarting from BMW shafting Rover, but the MINI is a great car. Rover are now entirely British, are making some interesting cars (MG), and seem to be going from strength to strength.
If you don't like the BMW MINI, thats fine, but I think alot of people have decided they wont like it for reasons that have nothing to do with the car.
Blimey that was an epic...
Cheers Dan
(by the way I hate the AC Schnowzer bolt-ons)
>> Edited by dan on Wednesday 20th March 12:47
Dan,
I've driven the Cooper and recently was fortunate enough to get the chance to try a Cooper S, albeit on an airfield I couldn't really 'try' it on.
Its a great little car, I dont have an issue with it at all. I just dont like what they have done to the brand.
I will be interested to see what happens with the people who are doing tune up parts for the classic with regards to the BMW Mini as if they can get anywhere near the performance increases they got from the A-Series then its going to be an M3 beater.
A standard 850 is something like 38bhp, a 1430 Stage 3 kicks out about 120bhp at the flywheel consistently so thats a 3 times increase (it gets really pricey after 120bhp or so). Whats the Mini One got? 80 odd? Now conisder 240bhp in a new Mini - thats how it should be!
I think I may reconsider after trying the Alpina one if they release it.
Matt.
I've driven the Cooper and recently was fortunate enough to get the chance to try a Cooper S, albeit on an airfield I couldn't really 'try' it on.
Its a great little car, I dont have an issue with it at all. I just dont like what they have done to the brand.
I will be interested to see what happens with the people who are doing tune up parts for the classic with regards to the BMW Mini as if they can get anywhere near the performance increases they got from the A-Series then its going to be an M3 beater.
A standard 850 is something like 38bhp, a 1430 Stage 3 kicks out about 120bhp at the flywheel consistently so thats a 3 times increase (it gets really pricey after 120bhp or so). Whats the Mini One got? 80 odd? Now conisder 240bhp in a new Mini - thats how it should be!
I think I may reconsider after trying the Alpina one if they release it.
Matt.
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