A Mini drive

Got the chance to drive a Mini today, a Mini Cooper-S to be precise (the top sports version). Some specs below for the more technically minded amongst you. Note that the 170bhp is achieved by supercharging the engine which is rather unusual. The difference between a turbocharger and supercharger will be explained if required.

Displacement: 1598cc
Max power: 170bhp (120kW) @ 6000rpm
Max torque: 210Nm @ 4000rpm
Acceleration: 0-100kph in 7.2s
Top speed: 222kph

The new Mini - by BMW

It is someone's company car but anyone in the company is allowed to drive it. Not surprisingly, many people ask to borrow this car if they need to go somewhere. Had some urgent testpieces to send to a testhouse so I drove to a motorway service station around mid-way to meet with someone from the testhouse.

The Cooper-S comes with sports seats with side bolsters to keep you from sliding off the seat during overzealous cornering. The soft interior trim, including most areas of the seats, are in fabric while the dashboard is a mixture of plastic and metal. I have to say I am somewhat disappointed with the quality of some of the plastic. For example, the finish on the indicator stalk looks a bit worn even though the car has only done less than 20k miles. Anyway, who cares what it looks like if it drives like a dream.

The first thing that strikes you when you get into the car is the location of the speedometer set right in the middle of the dashboard. Yes that's right, in the middle, between the two people in front. A bit incovenient if you need to check your speed. Personally I don't like the location of the speedo. As the engine is relatively small, one needs to maintain fairly high revs to get the best "pulling power" (i.e. torque) from the engine. Thankfully the rev meter is right in front of the steering wheel, great for knowing whether you are in the sweet spot.


The cockpit of the Mini

As most of the driving was on the M1 motorway, there was very little opportunity to find out its handling capabilities around twisty roads. For that a good substitute was the many roundabout that litter Rotherham. Certainly I wasn't going to go at crazy speeds into roundabouts on public roads. All I can say is that the car corners like it is running on rails and I was unable to get the front or rear end to lose grip. Yes just turn the steering wheel in the direction you want and the car goes where you want. None of this body roll or the car trying to make up its mind whether it wants to change direction.

Perhaps the stiff suspension will be a bit more painful on a long drive through rough roads. However, it is not true that sports suspension always means a very stiff ride - there is a lot of science and engineering in setting up the handling of a car. I hope that BMW have done their homework on this. Unfortunately I wasn't going into Sheffield so I couldn't find out. Some areas of Sheffield have truly awful road surfaces full of bumps and potholes. Enough to shake dentures out from the mouths of old grannies.

Anyway, the 170bhp on tap from a relatively light car means that it accelerates pretty quickly. Coming off the slip road onto the motorway, you can blend in and get into the fast lane very easily with a light touch on the pedal. Whilst the 0-100 time of the Mini is probably around 1s faster than my car (can't remember exactly) which also has about 170bhp from a 2.5 V6, the feel is very different. The Mini just feels quicker and more lifely. More fun and more smiles.


Going far too quickly on a nice sunny day

For the practical minded, the Mini has hardly any boot to speak of. Might be a bit larger than a Kancil, that's it. Furthermore, it has no spare tyre. Apparently the run-flat tyres can run for a long long time (I've heard 500km!) even if there is a puncture. Enough time to get you to a tyre shop, unless you are in the middle of nowhere, like the outback in Australia. Don't know what happens if there is a rip in the sidewall though.

How much is it? You can get a second hand one for around £15k (about 2 years old). Brand new ones are under £20k if I remember right. Remember that this is the top of the Mini range. Would I buy one? Not unless if I have lots of money. It can only really be a second car, and for a second car there are others which have a bigger grin rating. Like the Lotus Elise. Older (5-6 years) ones can be had for just under £15k. Reputed to be one of the best handling cars in the world. Might go test drive one. I have sat in one before and the seat fits me like a glove. Fat people need not apply... Now we are talking. Ear to ear grin type of fun.

Location 53°N 1°W