The car to drive before you die.

[medea]

Britain's best-loved small car, the classic 1960s Mini Cooper, has been named as the car everyone should drive before they die.
The humble four-seater, nicknamed the "Flying Shoebox," beat the mighty McLaren F1 supercar into second place in a top 50 compiled by one of Britain's top motoring magazines.
"You just feel good driving a Mini Cooper," Auto Express' motoring editor Tom Barnard told Reuters. "You can go around corners fast and zip through traffic."
With its friendly looks and relatively fast performance for what was first dubbed a "housewives' car," the Mini Cooper became as much a symbol of swinging London in the 1960s as the mini-skirt and flower-power.
It was exported round the world and won an army of celebrity fans, including British comedian Peter Sellers and Beatles stars John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
Perhaps its most famous appearance was in the 1960s heist film "The Italian Job" starring British actor Michael Caine.
It was the first British car to win the European Rally Championship and triumphed four years running at the Monte Carlo Rally in the mid-1960s.
"It is an enduring masterpiece and even now is a hoot behind the wheel," the magazine said. "Everyone should drive a Mini at some point in their life." The second-placed McLaren F1, which has a top speed of 240 mph, was described as "uncompromised engineering purity."
The German-built Porsche 911 C2 came third after winning praise for its "blistering performance, wonderful handling, perfect steering and a seductive exhaust note."
The Model T Ford came fourth for "bringing motoring to the masses" while the sleek Citroen DS, once the car of choice for French presidents, came fifth.
The highest Japanese entry at 14 was the Subaru Impreza, which made its name on the world's rallying circuits.
Seeking to cover every driving experience, the judges recommended people try a traditional London black taxi (31st place) and a five pounds old banger bought at auction (43rd).
Limping into last place was the Sinclair C5, the ill-fated electrical tricycle launched in Britain in 1985.


I've always wanted a classic mini coop, but I think I'm going to buy one of the new ones the BMW has brought out.

[Dont Hurt Me]

I have driven one the minicooper's and thought this would be my next car. Its to cool. But my pocketbook yelled AT me and said no way so i guess its the truck during the week and the MGB on weekends for awhile.Cool Car! The one i drove was supercharged and it could haul a _ _! maybe next year or so if my wife will let me. And you can have the American or British flag on top so take that all you Saddam Lovers!

[guitargeek]

I would LOVE to own a Mini Cooper. Now that it's owned by BMW, that's even more of a reason.

My favorite car is, and probably always will be, a BMW M3, although a 96 Impala is pretty darn close.

[pantagruel]

they seem kinda small to me, maybe if it becomes available in a convertable.

[cr2sh]

Just down from our hotel in London was a McLaren dealership.. *drool* I stood outside the window for 20minutes in some sort of dream-like haze that I don't fully remember. Further down was a mini-cooper dealerhsip.. cute car but uh... no biggy.

Just up Park Lane was the Aston Martin dealership... so sweet. We ended up going into the dealership and buying one.
(Of course it was 12" big and cost 20pounds.) :D

[rainman::|:|]

i went over and built one on their website... fully loaded, GPS, dual-sunroof, best seats, best sound system, cold weather package, A/C climate control... $25,000 not bad at all! i was expecting more than *that*...

this little car kicks ass, i gotta find a dealer to test drive one... not that i could afford it, but i might steal one one day ;)

pnw

[voicegy]

Being 6'3" it's not the car for me...but I appreciate seeing them around, they always bring a smile to my face.:)

[iWantAMac]

Originally posted by medea

The humble four-seater, nicknamed the "Flying Shoebox," beat the mighty McLaren F1 supercar into second place in a top 50 compiled by one of Britain's top motoring magazines.
Good (pause) GOD! What is the world coming to?!?

[iGav]

Mini Cooper..... :p :p :p

Unreliable, rusty, unsafe, uncomfortably small, and not really that fast... even in Cooper form.....

But really, what else was a British motoring magazine going to vote for..... :rolleyes:

P.S. people above, you do realise they mean the original Mini.... not the retro Beemer Mini..... :p

[G4scott]

Personally, for all of those who are too big or too good for the mini cooper, you would probably want to drive something like this (http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/info/concept/cadillac16/) before you die...

It may guzzle gas like nothing else, but it's cool factor is just off the charts...

[Mr. Anderson]

Time travelling, hover converted DeLorean.....

But since that won't happen, I'd have to say it hasn't been built yet. There are some really interesting vehicles that'll be showing up in the next decade.

D

[FelixDerKater]

HaHa! I opened up the Mini site, then left it open when I went off to work. I came back and the Mini site had popped up this JavaScript message.

"Sorry to interrupt, but haven't you been in front of this computer long enough? We here at MINI are worried you're not getting enough exposure to the sun and stars. Don't worry, we'll be here all week. So, get going. Save your retinas for the road."

[IJ Reilly]

Originally posted by voicegy
Being 6'3" it's not the car for me...but I appreciate seeing them around, they always bring a smile to my face.:)

Go, right now, to the nearest MINI dealer. Sit in the car. Drive it. Unless you are about as wide are you are tall, you will not have a problem fitting into the new MINI.

I'm 6-2. I rented one in England last spring, and drove it around the country for a week. Was I comfortable? Did I have fun? Was it any short of a total hoot? Ah, let's just say my new MINI is scheduled to be assembled next week and will arrive here in April. I'm really not the kind of person who cares that much about cars, but I can hardly sit still in anticipation.

BTW, it was cool being a Yank driving around England in a new MINI. At the time, they'd only been on the roads there for a few months, and quite a few people were openly curious about it.

[shadowfax]

Why hasn't edesignuk said anything on here?

these cars are the coolest, but i have only seen like 3 around in Austin:( .

[Raiden]

beat the mclaren f1?!?! impossible.

Maybe in creature comforts, but not in speed. Not in speed....

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by Raiden
beat the mclaren f1?!?! impossible.

Maybe in creature comforts, but not in speed. Not in speed....

well, if you want speed, you're probably better off flying airplanes or something. i doubt speed is the be all end all of the driving experience. McLarens are awesome, but so thoroughly unrealistic for normal human beings... what do they cost, anyways? isn't it upwards of a million dollars? would you honestly drive something like that at 150 mph or whatever knowing that your insurance rates would put you in the poorhouse for the rest of your life if you crashed it?

[Wes]

Of course you have to drive one. My parents have one.

[edesignuk]

Originally posted by voicegy
Being 6'3" it's not the car for me...but I appreciate seeing them around, they always bring a smile to my face.:)
I'm 6'2" and I have loads of headroom in my (new style) Mini Cooper (http://homepage.mac.com/edesignuk/PhotoAlbum2.html), they are MUCH bigger inside than the old ones...and they ROCK! ...but then I am *slightly* bias ;) :D

[Wes]

Originally posted by edesignuk
I'm 6'2" and I have loads of headroom in my (new style) Mini Cooper (http://homepage.mac.com/edesignuk/PhotoAlbum2.html), they are MUCH bigger inside than the old ones...and they ROCK! ...but then I am *slightly* bias ;) :D

awww I want the crash pics! Ah well here we go. The car in its more recent state: http://homepage.mac.com/edesignuk/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2003-02-05%2002.53.46%20-0800/Image-FB8D815838F611D7.jpg

[edesignuk]

Originally posted by Wes
awww I want the crash pics! Ah well here we go. The car in its more recent state:

Thanks for that Wes :p I prefer it in the other pics :D

[G4scott]

Originally posted by Shadowfax
[Bthese cars are the coolest, but i have only seen like 3 around in Austin:( . [/B]

I saw one in Austin right in front of the CompUSA at the gateway shopping center. I was oogling it, and the owner came out and asked if I liked it. I told him it was a cool little car. I think it was blue...

[krossfyter]

personally i think they are ugly as hell.

[IJ Reilly]

Originally posted by edesignuk
I'm 6'2" and I have loads of headroom in my (new style) Mini Cooper (http://homepage.mac.com/edesignuk/PhotoAlbum2.html), they are MUCH bigger inside than the old ones...and they ROCK! ...but then I am *slightly* bias ;) :D

Mine's also chile red/white. It will look exactly like yours, but I went for the silver hole wheels. Black cloth interior with the light silver door casings, anthracite dash, sport seats and most of the interior gadgets (upgraded steering wheel, auto climate, computer, auto mirror and wipers). Almost went for the CVT, but at the last minute changed to the 5-speed.

[IJ Reilly]

Originally posted by krossfyter
personally i think they are ugly as hell.

Thank you for sharing.

[edesignuk]

Originally posted by krossfyter
personally i think they are ugly as hell.
Each to their own, but are you talking about the old or new mini? or both?

[bcsimac]

I am not into the Mini Cooper.....sorry. I am however into the old convertable Cadillacs you used to see in a lot of old movies. I have always been a Cadillac guy. I have to be honest and say I don't particularly like the new Caddies.....they just aren't my design type I am not into small cars...... I like nice long cars.....like the old Caddies. I am talking the one ya see from the 50's, 60's, and 70's.....yes they are really big gas guzzlers.......but I don't care. I am not so much into speed.......I am into nice smooth ride and I prefer to just relax and ride about 35 mph.

If I want speed and some excitement, I would love to drive a NASCAR car......Dale Earnhardt Jr's would be nice!
:)

[krossfyter]

Originally posted by edesignuk
Each to their own, but are you talking about the old or new mini? or both?


yeah both... im surprised on how much people like thier looks. very odd very odd. why do people like thier design? just curious.


yeah each to thier own.


its all about preference.

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by krossfyter
why do people like thier design? just curious.

i think they look very stylish, in a very urban sort of way. it's not a suburban sedan or a midlife crisis sports car, but it has the appeal of the smartly designed economy car--i don't know what kind of mileage the new one gets, but basic design is very efficient for fitting in small places. it also strikes me as classy (sorta different from stylish, i guess) and at least different from american cars, which are honestly beginning to look all the same to me.

[iWantAMac]

Originally posted by Raiden
beat the mclaren f1?!?! impossible.

Maybe in creature comforts, but not in speed. Not in speed....
A British motoring magazine compiled a list of the Top 50 cars that "everyone should drive before they die." And the McLaren F1 came in second place, behind the (1960's) Mini Cooper.

The two cars were not pushed to their limits along side of one another... If they were, I think it would be safe to assume that the Mini would most definitely not have taken pole position.


On a related note, I'm surprised the Enzo didn't get a single mention. :confused:

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by iWantAMac
On a related note, I'm surprised the Enzo didn't get a single mention. :confused:

what's the Enzo? is it that really tiny city car i may have seen a lot in Munich 2 years ago?

[guitargeek]

Originally posted by bcsimac
I am not into the Mini Cooper.....sorry. I am however into the old convertable Cadillacs you used to see in a lot of old movies. I have always been a Cadillac guy. I have to be honest and say I don't particularly like the new Caddies.....they just aren't my design type I am not into small cars...... I like nice long cars.....like the old Caddies. I am talking the one ya see from the 50's, 60's, and 70's.....yes they are really big gas guzzlers.......but I don't care. I am not so much into speed.......I am into nice smooth ride and I prefer to just relax and ride about 35 mph.

If I want speed and some excitement, I would love to drive a NASCAR car......Dale Earnhardt Jr's would be nice!
:)


Caddilacs RULE. I know you said you don't like the newer ones, but I had a 94 Deville Concours. That baby ROCKED. The only thing it didn't have was a moon roof. Digital Instrument panel, all leather, fully powered seats with memory, automatic climate control, and, most importantly, 270 ponies to play with. :cool:

I would get another in a heart beat, if the new styling they're taking on weren't so "Bling Bling". Why don't they just start shipping them out with "dubs" :rolleyes:

[iWantAMac]

Originally posted by Shadowfax
what's the Enzo? is it that really tiny city car i may have seen a lot in Munich 2 years ago?
With a top speed of 217.5 mph, and a 0-62 mph sprint time of 3.65 seconds... No, I don't think it's that tiny city car that may or may not have been popular among the people of Munich two years ago.

Try searching google (I'm not about to do it for you). Either that or you might find something at... Ferrari.com!!! ;)

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by iWantAMac
With a top speed of 217.5 mph, and a 0-62 mph sprint time of 3.65 seconds... No, I don't think it's that tiny city car that may or may not have been popular among the people of Munich two years ago.
Try searching google (I'm not about to do it for you). Either that or you might find something at... Ferrari.com!!! ;)

damn, was i off in left field. do you have any idea what the car is i was talking about? it was puny as heck, and shaped really funky.

[iWantAMac]

Originally posted by Shadowfax
do you have any idea what the car is i was talking about?
No. I'm still trying to get over the pitty I feel for you.

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by iWantAMac
No. I'm still trying to get over the pitty I feel for you.

don't worry about it. i'll manage to pick up the shattered pieces of my life and move on. someday :( .

actually, i don't care very much for cars to begin with (although the mini is pretty sweet).

*ducks flames of excessive enthusiasts*

[iWantAMac]

Originally posted by Shadowfax
don't worry about it. i'll manage to pick up the shattered pieces of my life and move on. someday :( .

actually, i don't care very much for cars to begin with (although the mini is pretty sweet).

*ducks flames of excessive enthusiasts*
Hehe. I'm not exactly what you would call a car enthusiast, either. I just like to contemplate the power, speed, acceleration, handling, engine/exhaust tones, etc etc that some of the finest cars in the world have to offer.
So basically, I don't know a thing about cars... Except that the fast ones are cool. ;)

[IJ Reilly]

Originally posted by krossfyter
yeah both... im surprised on how much people like thier looks. very odd very odd. why do people like thier design? just curious.

The new MINI is odd. It's an eccentric and aggressively retro design. I think you either like that sort of thing or you don't -- though to be honest you're the first person I've ever heard say they thought it was ugly, instead of just not to their taste. Wht is that, I wonder. Just curious...

[iGav]

Originally posted by IJ Reilly
The new MINI is odd. It's an eccentric and aggressively retro design.

Exactly... which I think is a shame..... I reckon Issigonis would say that the Audi A2 is the more worthy spiritual successor to the original Mini.

[IJ Reilly]

Originally posted by iGAV
Exactly... which I think is a shame..... I reckon Issigonis would say that the Audi A2 is the more worthy spiritual successor to the original Mini.

The A2 isn't sold over here, though I do remember seeing them in the UK last year. Honestly, the car must not have made much of an impression on me as I can't recall what they look like. I realize also that many auto enthusiasts in the UK don't care for the new MINI, if only because it isn't the old MINI, and was designed partially by and is owned by BMW. Perhaps because I'm an American I don't have the same attachment to the classic version of the car, I find its eccentricity endearing. It's the first small car on the U.S. roads in decades to have any kind of personality at all. I am also hopeful that the success of the MINI in the U.S. will open the way for more cars in its class, in particular some of the smaller cars made currently for the European markets but not currently exported to the U.S.

[blackfox]

Car to drive before you die eh?...how about a Pinto(right before...). Actually I love the minis(both revisions). Have any of you seen the cars built by SMART?(not available in US). Pretty cool, and they make the minis look spacious(www.smart.com). Not for everyone...personal favorite-old Citroens from the 70's(not the 2CV)

[iGav]

Originally posted by IJ Reilly
The A2 isn't sold over here, though I do remember seeing them in the UK last year. Honestly, the car must not have made much of an impression on me as I can't recall what they look like. I realize also that many auto enthusiasts in the UK don't care for the new MINI, if only because it isn't the old MINI, and was designed partially by and is owned by BMW. Perhaps because I'm an American I don't have the same attachment to the classic version of the car, I find its eccentricity endearing. It's the first small car on the U.S. roads in decades to have any kind of personality at all. I am also hopeful that the success of the MINI in the U.S. will open the way for more cars in its class, in particular some of the smaller cars made currently for the European markets but not currently exported to the U.S.

I hear ya.... I think Issigonis would have been more impressed with the A2, because of how if moves the whole small car movement forward, interms of technology, design, functionality, etc.... The Mini when it was released was consider very innovative in it's mechanical layout, but also it's size, compared to other british cars of the time. The new MINI however, really isn't that small a car any more, Autocar and Motor magazine did a picture shoot a couple of years ago with the old Mini and the new MINI nose to nose, and you really get to appreciate the difference in size, but making it larger was the only option for BMW because the original Mini is uncomfortably small!

I don't think the new MINI moves the small car thing on at all..... it's retro, everything else about the car is conventional, it's alot like the new Beetle, it's a Golf with a funky shell..... That's it...... I think both VW and BMW missed the boat in trying to move the 2 cars on, instead merely jumping on the retro design fad...... this is where I believe Audi both with the A2, new A4 and TT have been such a success.

That said I can see the appeal in the new MINI and why people would buy one!

blackfox, do you mean the Citroen DS?? a totally radical car... well except the engine that is.... heh heh!!

[IJ Reilly]

Right... but of course a car the size of the original MINI would not find much of an audience in the US -- at the moment American drivers are still pretty obsessed with multi-ton behemoths. The new MINI is the camel's nose under the tent for smaller cars, so to speak. Although it might be a bit large by European standards, it's currently the shortest car sold in the US (though perhaps not the lightest). As I say, I hope the success of the new MINI in the US will give courage to the auto manufacturers to try some of the other, perhaps more innovative, small cars in the US market.

The attached photo is a side-by-side of the old and new MINIs. The black new MINI is the one we hired in England last year. I actually moved the car from one spot in the car park when one opened up next to the old MINI so I could get this snap.

[MacFan25]

Originally posted by IJ Reilly
American drivers are still pretty obsessed with multi-ton behemoths. The new MINI is the camel's nose under the tent for smaller cars, so to speak. Although it might be a bit large by European standards, it's currently the shortest car sold in the US (though perhaps not the lightest).

I love the looks of the new MINIs, but are they very safe? I mean, would you feel safe driving on a highway next to big semi-trucks with that small of a car?

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by MacFan25
I love the looks of the new MINIs, but are they very safe? I mean, would you feel safe driving on a highway next to big semi-trucks with that small of a car?

are you implying you'd feel safe in an SUV next to a semi? that's asinine. your chances of surviving a nasty highway collision with a semi in either is marginal at best. not to say that an SUV doesn't offer more protection, but good lord, 65-70 mph is a leveling ground for safety!

[IJ Reilly]

Originally posted by MacFan25
I love the looks of the new MINIs, but are they very safe? I mean, would you feel safe driving on a highway next to big semi-trucks with that small of a car?

The car has performed well in crash tests and includes full side-curtain airbags as standard equipment. It may be small, but it's built stoutly and is certainly no cracker-box. But the question of how safe I'd feel is fair, and I suppose time will tell on that score. I already feel exposed driving a full-sized American car around all those speeding monster SUVs.

[bcsimac]

No, I wouldnt. I would feel safe however in my dad's "The Green Hornet" tow truck. My dad and grandpa built theirs themselves. It is an old 1974 Ford truck which I think grandpa said it was used as semi cab or a dump truck cab. They put a boom (not sure of spelling?) and all on the back to this truck ........they used pebbled steel for fenders, flooring of boom, and most of the back of the truck......of course put the part that holds over 300 yards of cable......dad loves a lot of cable.....especially when he has to fish out a cement truck that got stuck in the lake! They put I-beams on the front of the truck with 3 large boards crossing horizontally across the I-beams. The rear "bumper" is made of 10 1/2 inch think plates of steel bolted together with grease between them. I wish I had a picture and a scanner! We painted the cab green hence the nickname green and orange on the back with the plates.....hence the rest of the nickname hornet. Four people have hit the truck.....and four instantly were killed.......the vehicles were literally sliced in two. Grandpa said it has not been pretty to hit the truck!


Originally posted by Shadowfax
are you implying you'd feel safe in an SUV next to a semi? that's asinine. your chances of surviving a nasty highway collision with a semi in either is marginal at best. not to say that an SUV doesn't offer more protection, but good lord, 65-70 mph is a leveling ground for safety!

[jefhatfield]

i used to work er in the hospital and the least survivable accident is a rollover...no airbags on the roof of the car

so if you want to drive a car that will maximize your chance of dying, get a top heavy suv

[IJ Reilly]

Originally posted by jefhatfield
i used to work er in the hospital and the least survivable accident is a rollover...no airbags on the roof of the car

so if you want to drive a car that will maximize your chance of dying, get a top heavy suv

SUVs are relatively dangerous, but I don't think the statistics bear out the claim that they maximize your chances of dying in a car. In fact pickup trucks are far more prone to causing fatalities, statistically speaking. Rollovers are the most deadly kind of accident, but they also aren't the most common type of accident.

Either way, you won't find me driving either an SUV or a pickup.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by IJ Reilly
SUVs are relatively dangerous, but I don't think the statistics bear out the claim that they maximize your chances of dying in a car. In fact pickup trucks are far more prone to causing fatalities, statistically speaking. Rollovers are the most deadly kind of accident, but they also aren't the most common type of accident.

Either way, you won't find me driving either an SUV or a pickup.

as we can all figure out, non fatal fender benders are the most common type of accident and it often slows up traffic

for the suv of the future, i would make it lower to the ground and have some sort of computerized system to prevent rollover...like volvo

and a car with a well designed crumple zone saves lives over a car that is too hard and rigid and ends up causing death and injury

during driver's ed, we were forced to see the results of large boat type cars in relatively slow accidents...the car was not too damaged but the drivers looked like scrambled eggs...really sad

and besides crumple zones and anti-rollover technology, i would (in these times of severe gas price hikes) make a more economical vehicle

i have to admit, even though i have seen the results of rollovers and had four friends rollover once, i would consider that volvo suv if it really prevents rollovers and becomes as safe as a sedan

i will keep my mind open to all types of vehicles and safety will be the most important aspect

i like my volvo sw even though the parts are very expensive and the thing is a bit on the heavy side and tends to eat gas, but i do feel safer than if i was carting around in a top heavy suv

[agreenster]

The car I'd rather die before I'd drive.


What an ugly piece. Sorry, but it just looks like your typical teeny brit car. There are hundreds of better looking cars

[iGav]

The cars I'd like to drive before I die... in no particular order..... but all must be truely divine!! ;)

Ferrari 250 GTO
Ferrari Daytona
Ford Mustang 65 or something like that.... actually the one Frank Bulliet drives!
Porsche 959
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 7
Audi Avant RS6
Ford RS200
Mercedes SL AMG

And there's lots more, but I can't be bothered to think what they are.... :eek: :p

[MacFan25]

Originally posted by iGAV
Mercedes SL AMG


That thing is nice looking. I saw one last weekend.

Here are a few of the cars I would like to drive before I die, even though I'm not 16 and I can't drive. :D

BMW 760 Li
Porsche Carerra
any Ferrari
Nissan 350Z

[MaxArturo]

Mine is gonna be a Chevy Nova, which seriously no one drives here. (en espanol no va = no go)

[iGav]

Originally posted by MacFan25
That thing is nice looking. I saw one last weekend.

Here are a few of the cars I would like to drive before I die, even though I'm not 16 and I can't drive. :D

BMW 760 Li
Porsche Carerra
any Ferrari
Nissan 350Z

I really like the new BMW 7, especially the V12... even though the motoring press has been pretty harsh about it....

I wouldn't mind getting my mitts on the new Mercedes S600, as the thing totally rockets to 60 in a bit over 4.5 seconds, and the ton in little over 10....

That's mightily fast.. especially when you could have your buddies in it too!! :p

[guitargeek]

BMW 760 Li

The 7 series are overrated as a sports sedan. The 3's handle much better, although the 7's are fun too... just not in the same way.

I've vowed to myself to owned a jet black M3 Convertable before I grow old. I can't think of a more perfect car, esspecially for me.

My next car will most likely be a 325 or 330, as well.

[WinterMute]

Originally posted by iGAV
I really like the new BMW 7, especially the V12... even though the motoring press has been pretty harsh about it....


That's the same engine in the BMW X5 isn't it?

0-60 in less than 5 second in a SUV, 155mph LIMITED top speed:D

Not even remotely funny:p

I've driven a few of the cars I would love to own, ferrari 355, Lambo Diablo (most uncomfortable), the Viper (great in a straight line), but the one car I would kill to get into is the Aston Martin Vantage 600 bhp...

Nearly two tons of muscle, I don't stand a chance:( Dead in about 5 mins.

[iGav]

Originally posted by WinterMute
Aston Martin Vantage 600 bhp...

Nearly two tons of muscle, I don't stand a chance:( Dead in about 5 mins.

But you'll die in style..... :p :p :p

[WinterMute]

Originally posted by iGAV
But you'll die in style..... :p :p :p

lol

Take me now lord, 200mph and still accelerating:D

[Abercrombieboy]

Originally posted by Shadowfax
are you implying you'd feel safe in an SUV next to a semi? that's asinine. your chances of surviving a nasty highway collision with a semi in either is marginal at best. not to say that an SUV doesn't offer more protection, but good lord, 65-70 mph is a leveling ground for safety!

I would not worry about the semi's so much since they poise a risk to every other vehicle out there. I am just wondering what a head-on would look like with a MINI versus a Chevy Suburban. That would be UGLY! Let's just say if you were forced to get in either in the situation, I don't think many would want to get into the MINI headed at a Suburb.

[chibianh]

take a look a drool!! muahahaha!

http://homepage.mac.com/chibianh/.Pictures/DSCN1896.JPG

[evoluzione]

oh definitely Aston Martin. They make them about 15 miles from me in England, I remember getting onto the Newport Pagnell bypass and seeing one entering the roundabout as I was coming off it, I floored my HF turbo and hit 120mph half way down the hill, before I knew anything else this Vantage FLEW past me at must've been well over 150. He was probably still in 3rd too. I love the way the build the cars in the old buildings and have to wheel the engine across the main road on a tea trolley. calssic

What about TVR??? For all you lot over her in the USA, John Travolta drove one in Swordfish.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by chibianh
take a look a drool!! muahahaha!


i am generally not a bmw person, but that car is really nice

well done:D

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by chibianh
take a look a drool!! muahahaha!


I don't like the gold as much, but BMW is doing the COOLEST headlight design of the big German car companies (thinking volvo, mercedes BMW here). very sharp looking.

[jefhatfield]

i don't like the cut off back that some of the bmw's have

they were definitely much sexier looking when they had the more conventional looking rear

same goes for volvo...i like the more conventional back end

[evoluzione]

Originally posted by Shadowfax
I don't like the gold as much, but BMW is doing the COOLEST headlight design of the big German car companies (thinking volvo, mercedes BMW here). very sharp looking.


volvo is swedish. although, i ~think~ ford owns them now. ;)

it's amazing how many few car companies there really are now, 'cause they're all owned by someone else.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by evoluzione
volvo is swedish. although, i ~think~ ford owns them now. ;)

it's amazing how many few car companies there really are now, 'cause they're all owned by someone else.

and in the case of jaguar, who is owned by ford, the more reliable ford has helped the reliablility rating of the notoriously unreliable jaguar...but when the jaguar works, it's the best thing around...but now, one can get that jaguar quality and the better ford reliability

but on the flipside, when the super reliable volvo was bought out by ford, the "ford" volvo's reliability went down...where volvo is the best when it comes to reliability, being bought out by someone lesser in quality and reliability could only hurt them...so in the case of volvo, they lost out

many volvo owners like me are looking for a new volvo, but would much rather prefer to buy a swedish volvo instead of one of the newer "ford" era volvos of today...to be fair, volvo was not much on sexy designs and ford at least makes a better looking volvo in terms of looks

[agreenster]

This is closer to the car Id like to drive before I die. Kind of a mix between a Vette and a Viper....

[IJ Reilly]

Originally posted by Abercrombieboy
I would not worry about the semi's so much since they poise a risk to every other vehicle out there. I am just wondering what a head-on would look like with a MINI versus a Chevy Suburban. That would be UGLY! Let's just say if you were forced to get in either in the situation, I don't think many would want to get into the MINI headed at a Suburb.

I wouldn't want to get into the MINI headed for a wall, either.

You should see the crash test videos of SUVs t-boning full-sized sedans. The way the bumpers are configured, they ride right over the door framing and into the passenger compartment. These beasts are killing machines. They pose a risk to everyone, and it doesn't much matter what kind of car you drive.

[WinterMute]

Originally posted by evoluzione

What about TVR??? For all you lot over her in the USA, John Travolta drove one in Swordfish.

CERBERUS!!!:D

Nearly the most fun you can have lying down;)

Bloke at the top of my road has a really vile purple one, sounds like the four horsemen of the apocalypse when he leaves for work every morning.

[evoluzione]

Originally posted by WinterMute
Nearly the most fun you can have lying down;)

~cracks up~


I drive a mate's mini around new york sometimes, that's fun as anything, you gotta be able to handle people staring mind. it's kinda weird nipping through all the gaps that no one else can get through, then stopping at a red light to hear someone talking to you and realising they're sitting in their truck about 3 feet higher than you. :p


ooooh, i can't wait to import a mini van over here with a vtec lump and watch as i speed into the distance while they're wondering what the hell just happened.....

[WinterMute]

Originally posted by evoluzione
ooooh, i can't wait to import a mini van over here with a vtec lump and watch as i speed into the distance while they're wondering what the hell just happened.....

Once saw a report of a bloke who'd shoehorned a 2-litre Astra 16v lump into a NOVA (same mount points apparently):D

He reckoned he could get wheelspin in third and hit 130 in a straight line:eek:

[guitargeek]

many volvo owners like me are looking for a new volvo, but would much rather prefer to buy a swedish volvo instead of one of the newer "ford" era volvos of today...to be fair, volvo was not much on sexy designs and ford at least makes a better looking volvo in terms of looks

I hate to have to say this, but don't buy a newer Volvo. My mom owns a V70, and it CONSTANTLY has problems. It has just over 100,000 miles, which is kinda flying in the face of Volvo's "in it for the long run" reputation.

Also, at the parts store I work at, many people come in complaining about the newer Volvo's. It's not uncommon to see someone looking for parts for an early 80's 240 or 244 with 300,000 miles, and it's not uncommon for people looking for all new brakes, front and rear (calipers too) for their new S60 with 40,000 miles.

Sadly, Volvo has degraded in quality, and it breaks my heart because they're one of my favorite cars. I'll miss that quirky 5 cylinder....

If I want a Swedish car now, I'll have to get a Saab, which, of course, is owned by GM.

[3rdpath]

i've been lucky enough to drive and/or race some amazing cars over the years...the ones that have left the biggest impressions on me are:

full race ruf twin turbo porsche( based on a 930)...holy moly! unreal acceleration combined with the quirckiness of rear-engined physics.

renault r5-turbo...i always called them the flying shoebox. fun, fun, fun

pantera...nothing like sharing the cockpit with a 351cleveland. hot, loud and horrible on a date.;)

'69 charger 440, hemilift cans, bored 60 over with velocity stacks thru the hood. american street racing at its best. had a switch in the glovebox to turn off the tail-lights while leaving the headlights on...wonder why.:D

hope to do some laps in my nephew's sprint car this year...should be fun to squirt some dirt( as they say...)

dream rides: ac cobra, maranello, cannondale scalpel.

[chibianh]

you think the M3 is mean? Introducing the M3 CSL. Faster, lighter, meaner!

http://homepage.mac.com/chibianh/.Pictures/5.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/chibianh/.Pictures/6.jpg

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by guitargeek
I hate to have to say this, but don't buy a newer Volvo. My mom owns a V70, and it CONSTANTLY has problems. It has just over 100,000 miles, which is kinda flying in the face of Volvo's "in it for the long run" reputation.

Also, at the parts store I work at, many people come in complaining about the newer Volvo's. It's not uncommon to see someone looking for parts for an early 80's 240 or 244 with 300,000 miles, and it's not uncommon for people looking for all new brakes, front and rear (calipers too) for their new S60 with 40,000 miles.

Sadly, Volvo has degraded in quality, and it breaks my heart because they're one of my favorite cars. I'll miss that quirky 5 cylinder....

If I want a Swedish car now, I'll have to get a Saab, which, of course, is owned by GM.

from word of mouth, over and over again people say the swedish volvo sw's are the longest lasting

for trucks, the nissan ones last the longest but lack heavy duty power

for sedans, the accord is the long lasting champ

[hacurio1]

Originally posted by Shadowfax
what's the Enzo? is it that really tiny city car i may have seen a lot in Munich 2 years ago?

It's a New ferrari...........Sweet machine. I saw it in the Chicago Autoshow:cool:

[hacurio1]

Originally posted by chibianh
you think the M3 is mean? Introducing the M3 CSL. Faster, lighter, meaner!

http://homepage.mac.com/chibianh/.Pictures/5.jpg http://homepage.mac.com/chibianh/.Pictures/6.jpg

No....This is an M3 on steroids. It's the street version of the GTR. it has the same V8 engine of the racing GT's, and all the features you expect from one of the fastest BMW's out there.:cool:

[hacurio1]

Originally posted by WinterMute
That's the same engine in the BMW X5 isn't it?

0-60 in less than 5 second in a SUV, 155mph LIMITED top speed:D

Not even remotely funny:p

I've driven a few of the cars I would love to own, ferrari 355, Lambo Diablo (most uncomfortable), the Viper (great in a straight line), but the one car I would kill to get into is the Aston Martin Vantage 600 bhp...

Nearly two tons of muscle, I don't stand a chance:( Dead in about 5 mins.

Nop....the fastest X5 has a V8. The 740's also have V8's, but the 760's have V12's!!!!

[G4scott]

I just thought that this was funny... The "The car to drive before you die" thread was right above the "Have u ever been drunk?" thread... The irony...

Don't drink and drive the car you drive before you die. It would really suck.

[WinterMute]

Originally posted by hacurio1
Nop....the fastest X5 has a V8. The 740's also have V8's, but the 760's have V12's!!!!

Gotta love those V12's:D

[scem0]

Originally posted by G4scott
I just thought that this was funny... The "The car to drive before you die" thread was right above the "Have u ever been drunk?" thread... The irony...

Don't drink and drive the car you drive before you die. It would really suck.

lol, how ironic. There was a woman who spoke about how her
daughter died from a drunk driver at school a week or two ago...

She made a really sad speech - full of emotion. :(