BMW/Mini 1.5 triple - any experiences?

[Londonvaper]

218i is so underpowered it’s actually laughable. Do not waste your time with this engine. Minimum needed is the 4 pot 2 litre fart box

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cerb4.5lee said:

Agree and the HK system in my MINI just sounds like a normal car stereo to me. Whereas the HK system in my brother in laws 2017 model 530i sounds absolutely amazing in comparison.

Innit Cerb! It sounds no better than a cheapy rental car, the clarity’s not there at all. Miffed because I held out for a car specifically for the HK upgrade, based on previous experience of it (in the R56 MINI) being rather good.

[CousinDupree]

I drive a 118i manual F21 B38, fairly regularly.

As others have said, it's poor on fuel. Just about identical to an N52 330i manual, yet half the power and cylinders!

The VAG options are 20% better on fuel, if utterly dull. Merc has the best motor of this size and decent mpg.

[kieranblenk]

CABC said:

The engine suits a Mini quite well. Credit to Mini for keeping their cars around 1100kg. 45mpg with plenty of efficient long runs, and that’s measured directly brim to brim. It goes quite well too. Sounds like the BMWs are too heavy for it.

On a side note, anyone have real life experience of the 1.0 in the Civic? That’s not a small car anymore, dread to think of real mpg for so little performance

I can help regarding the Civic 1.0 - we've got one. I thought the same before test driving one but it's actually not too bad at all. I mean, it's by no means fast but it does have 127bhp. In real life it's no slower than our 1.5 dCi 90 Clio which is enough for day to day pottering.

Economy is very dependant on how you drive it, it's my partner's car and driven fairly leisurely most of the time on the motorway and round town, it averages around 45mpg. I get about 36mpg when I drive it but I have a much heavier right foot.

The CVT box is pretty good for round town and cruising but doesn't like to be rushed - I reckon a manual would probably explore the engine's potential better but my partner is absolutely over the moon with it.