mini cooper s works
Discussion
I "quite" like the MINI, but I was shocked when I looked at the rear leg room (or lack of). It has no more and probably less room than a classic mini. Combine that with a very small boot and you have to wonder where all the extra space has gone. If Issigonis had made the classic the size of a MINI it would have had the space of a limousine inside.
The rear seats are a joke if your behind anyone over 5"8 but the MINI does have lots more headroom, and lots more space up front which encroaches on the rear if you push the seats back.
Where has the rest of the space gone? Much bigger engine / transmission, side impact, frontal impact, rear impact structures, more NVH insulation, stiffer stronger bodyshell, sophisticated (ie not compact) suspension....etc.etc. If Issigonis designed the new MINI in todays safety concious world it would barely have more space than the current one. Treat the MINI as what it is - a funky, fun 2+2 for people who don't really need rear seats.....
Where has the rest of the space gone? Much bigger engine / transmission, side impact, frontal impact, rear impact structures, more NVH insulation, stiffer stronger bodyshell, sophisticated (ie not compact) suspension....etc.etc. If Issigonis designed the new MINI in todays safety concious world it would barely have more space than the current one. Treat the MINI as what it is - a funky, fun 2+2 for people who don't really need rear seats.....
I've just bought a new Cooper S works, with the wheels, suspension, aerokit, uncle tom cobley and all. It is great fun to drive, loads of character, turns most journeys into a little adventure.
My mum had a "classic" mini years ago in turquoise with matching plastic interior. It was, er, of its time.
To those of you who have invested in automotive intensive care kits to keep these old motors going, I salute you. Hope you have the sense to return the compliment without using two fingers (in which case, eat my brake dust old chap).
My mum had a "classic" mini years ago in turquoise with matching plastic interior. It was, er, of its time.
To those of you who have invested in automotive intensive care kits to keep these old motors going, I salute you. Hope you have the sense to return the compliment without using two fingers (in which case, eat my brake dust old chap).
Stop all this C**P. My first car was a 1966 998 Cooper and I loved it until I wrote it off. I then owned another 3 which I modified in huge amounts. Over 50 cars later I have just bought my 2nd BMW Mini Cooper S but this time a Works 210bhp.
All I can say to you classic owners is smell the roses and get a life, Yes it is German but in my eyes for a modern car it is great.
Please also remember that cars nowadays HAVE to have crumple zones, Airbags, clean emmisions etc hence the look of the mini, the fact that when you run some one over they slide up the bonnet is now taken into design so there is no way the new Mini could look like the old.
But the way of summing it up is VW bought the Beetle back and its a flop, BMW bought back the Mini and it still has a waiting list after 3 years.
So many people cant be wrong
All I can say to you classic owners is smell the roses and get a life, Yes it is German but in my eyes for a modern car it is great.
Please also remember that cars nowadays HAVE to have crumple zones, Airbags, clean emmisions etc hence the look of the mini, the fact that when you run some one over they slide up the bonnet is now taken into design so there is no way the new Mini could look like the old.
But the way of summing it up is VW bought the Beetle back and its a flop, BMW bought back the Mini and it still has a waiting list after 3 years.
So many people cant be wrong
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