Who here has a Mini Cooper?

[carlgo]

Quote:
It's a well known fact that American muscle cars couldn't go around a corner if their life depended on it. And the mini handles quite well. I do think it's very possible for a Mini to beat a muscle car on a track (note, I said a track, that implies one with curves. No one ever said drag strip)

Answer:
My American Muscle car handles quite well, thank you, and as I stated I will be glad to take a Mini on for 1/4 mile Or Road race. Bring it.
Again, Didn't think so.
Ford Racing, Ever heard of it?
Sure you have.
Mini Racing Team?
Never heard of such a thing.
Must be running against go-carts, in London.

No way a Mini beats a muscle car in any road or drag race. Where is the advantage? Muscle cars today have good brakes, tires, suspensions and lots more power. Minis do not have Formula One suspensions or anything that special, mostly the same basic engineering as any modern small car.

Even at the local twisty Laguna Seca Raceway, the full-cheat professionally driven Minis could beat the back-yard amateurs, but they did not have a chance against any decent muscle car.

Assuming reasonably close driving skills, I do not advise any Mini owner to race for pink slips. If you insist, I'll rent a muscle car and win me a Mini for the wife. Would I have to pay taxes on that? Probably, huh. And the rental people supposedly have ways to see how their cars are driven and they fine you for worn tires and high speeds, so that is another expense. Still,...

I like the Mini and wouldn't mind the green one with a white top and replica Minilite wheels so it would look like the one I used to drive. I just wouldn't expect more out of it than a fun ride and there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[Stridder44]

Wow I totally forgot about this thread, glad to see it still exists.


On that note, Euro cars for life! Anyone else drive a VW GTI?

 

[yg17]

On that note, Euro cars for life! Anyone else drive a VW GTI?

Yep, I've got a 2008 GTI. Love it

 

[SactoGuy18]

The Mini is a fun car to drive but it really needs three improvements:

1) A better, easier-to-use instrumental panel.

2) Improved suspension so you don't have a ride where you feel EVERY bump on the road.

3) A helical-cut limited slip differential to minimize the potentially dangerous torque steer on the higher-powered models.

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

I really hate to come in here and disagree with every single one of your points, but I feel the need to.

The Mini is a fun car to drive but it really needs three improvements:

1) A better, easier-to-use instrumental panel.

That's one of the most distinctive parts about the car. I think the panel is awesome.

2) Improved suspension so you don't have a ride where you feel EVERY bump on the road.

They're made to handle really well.

3) A helical-cut limited slip differential to minimize the potentially dangerous torque steer on the higher-powered models.

Dangerous torque steer on a sub 160 HP car? I doubt it.

 

[RedTomato]

The Mini is a fun car to drive but it really needs three improvements:

1) A better, easier-to-use instrumental panel.

I'm guessing you're American. Do you mean you want less information about the car?

2) Improved suspension so you don't have a ride where you feel EVERY bump on the road.

Softer suspension like american cars?

3) A helical-cut limited slip differential to minimize the potentially dangerous torque steer on the higher-powered models.

Limited slip? So that when you turn the steering, the wheels don't quite move to the same place each time? Just what I want in a car designed to be highly maneuverable.

Basically you have different expectations from a car. I'm not saying your expectations are bad. Different cars suit different people, and maybe this isn't the car for you.

 

[IJ Reilly]

I'm guessing you're American. Do you mean you want less information about the car?

The panel in a Mini isn't especially informative, it's just quirky. Deliberately so. I wouldn't change it, but this is the truth of the matter.

I don't know what Mini is offering now in terms of suspension and wheel options, but I found when I ordered mine five years ago that there was a huge difference in the ride resulting from the larger wheels (and run-flat tires) and the optional stiffer suspension. I opted for the standard suspension and smaller wheels. The result is plenty of road feel but without being overly jiggly and I don't get punched in the kidneys with every pothole.

 

[nissan.gtp]

Just passed 1,300 miles. Break-in period is almost over !

de-badged it last weekend, so now I've got that "clean" look

 

[jb60606]

My brand new... old 1982 Volvo station wagon just died on me and I've been giving the Mini Clubman some serious thought, after seeing the mileage it gets. Though, I actually want to see if I can get my hands on an old/original MINI (Rover/Austin) first, if it gets similar/better mileage. I'm just a sucker for older cars.

 

[ldw5555]

Help W/ Run Flats

I have a 2003 Mini S and the low air pressure light is on. When I checked the tires, the right front tire was low on air. When I tried to put air in the tire, it would not allow air to pass through the valve stem. I also tried to let air out of the tire and no air came out. Is it possible that the run flat has sealed the valve stem?

 

[Rodimus Prime]

I have a 2003 Mini S and the low air pressure light is on. When I checked the tires, the right front tire was low on air. When I tried to put air in the tire, it would not allow air to pass through the valve stem. I also tried to let air out of the tire and no air came out. Is it possible that the run flat has sealed the valve stem?

No it does not. Run Flat has to do with reinforced sidewalls on the tires that allow it to run with out enough air in it.

Something is wrong with your valve stem and it needs to be replaced.

 

[ldw5555]

Changing Run Flat Tires

I have a 2003S and I want to change the run flats to standard tires. I currently have 17" rims with the run flats. Do I have to change rims to put on standard tires?

 

[IJ Reilly]

I have a 2003S and I want to change the run flats to standard tires. I currently have 17" rims with the run flats. Do I have to change rims to put on standard tires?

I assume so. The conventional tires on the Mini are on 15" rims.

 

[steviem]

I came in too late for the Muscle Car guy...

Anyway, just one thing, during the 60s in British Touring Cars, Ford entered V8 Mustangs and 4 pot Cortinas and Escorts (European ones, they are worlds away from US Escorts), one made for straight line speed, the other for the ability to keep momentum around the corners. The more successful cars? The little ones.

On our roads where excess speed = loss of license, I'd prefer a car that can corner quickly on B Roads, where you feel in touch with the car. On a track, a 205 GTi with a tuned mi16 engine (so about 190bhp) will beat a muscle car, but they were made of sardine tins, so light .

That being said, I'm not interested in quarter mile times, one of my goals in life is to go to the Nürburgring.

However with the MINI, I think BMW just wanted a history to use for a small car so they could compete against the Beetle. Both cars are only characatures of their previous namesakes. If you want a new car that shares the same values of the original MINI, then I reckon you'd want something more like a Suzuki Swift. I still think the new MINI is too big outside for its interior size.

Also the suspension in a european hot hatch has always meant that you feel the road more. It enables the car to communicate whats happening on the road and makes you part of the car. That being said, I can't stand being a passenger in cars like this, you get thrown about like crazy. Also the gearing in my old 205 was so high that cruising speed on a motorway meant my ears rang from the engine revving at 6,500rpm for 2 hours, was a wonderful sound though.

I guess thats why lazy, soft suspensioned V8s have always been more popular in the US than smaller countries like the UK. I'm not knocking them, if I ever get to live in the US and had to drive for hours I'd use something with a big engine and a comfy ride to eat those miles.

I just think Colin Chapman was right 'Lighten, then Simplify' (I might be paraphrasing).

 

[ryan]

I have a 2003S and I want to change the run flats to standard tires. I currently have 17" rims with the run flats. Do I have to change rims to put on standard tires?

Nope. You'll just need tires that fit your rims. Any reputable tire shop should be able to help you or you can order them online from a place like Tire Rack and have a local place mount and balance them for you.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Nope. You'll just need tires that fit your rims. Any reputable tire shop should be able to help you or you can order them online from a place like Tire Rack and have a local place mount and balance them for you.

The problem in doing this which should be mentioned is that you will have conventional tires and no spare.

 

[ryan]

My brand new... old 1982 Volvo station wagon just died on me and I've been giving the Mini Clubman some serious thought, after seeing the mileage it gets. Though, I actually want to see if I can get my hands on an old/original MINI (Rover/Austin) first, if it gets similar/better mileage. I'm just a sucker for older cars.

Why not get one of each.

Depending on what sort of commute you have a "classic" might work for you, but they do require some care and while I haven't had any problems with mine I would recommend having a backup mode of transportation if that is going to be your only vehicle.

 

[ryan]

The problem in doing this which should be mentioned is that you will have conventional tires and no spare.

Not really. Tire Rack sells run flats and the S model doesn't come with a spare to begin with.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Not really. Tire Rack sells run flats and the S model doesn't come with a spare to begin with.

Exactly, that's why it comes with run-flats. If you change an S to conventional tires, then you'd better hope you never get a flat.

 

[ryan]

Exactly, that's why it comes with run-flats. If you change an S to conventional tires, then you'd better hope you never get a flat.

The answer to the original posters question is that it is not necessary to switch wheel/tire sizes if they want to run non-run flats. So, your answer was incorrect.

As for the larger question of whether or not it's a good idea to use non-run flats there's no simple answer. There's a greater selection of non-run flat tires to chose from which is a plus but there is obviously a greater chance of getting stuck somewhere if one a tires fails and you don't have a membership to AAA or aren't carrying a can of tire sealant.

 

[IJ Reilly]

The answer to the original posters question is that it is not necessary to switch wheel/tire sizes if they want to run non-run flats. So, your answer was incorrect.

As for the larger question of whether or not it's a good idea to use non-run flats there's no simple answer. There's a greater selection of non-run flat tires to chose from which is a plus but there is obviously a greater chance of getting stuck somewhere if one a tires fails and you don't have a membership to AAA or aren't carrying a can of tire sealant.

Sigh. Obviously you're correct that it's possible to put non-run-flats on the 17" rims, if you're not interested in maintaining original equipment (which I have always been after being very disappointed with non-OEM replacement tires). As for the flat tire issue, I brought that up as something to consider. Clearly it needed to be worded your way or it was incorrect.

 

[ryan]

Clearly it needed to be worded your way or it was incorrect.

No, it needs to be worded correctly to be correct.

The original poster asked if they needed to change rims to go with non-run flats, to which you said, "I assume so." This is not correct.

 

[Sun Baked]

Sigh. Obviously you're correct that it's possible to put non-run-flats on the 17" rims, if you're not interested in maintaining original equipment (which I have always been after being very disappointed with non-OEM replacement tires). As for the flat tire issue, I brought that up as something to consider. Clearly it needed to be worded your way or it was incorrect.

Don't know the tire sizes, but...

Switching to a smaller rim and going with a higher profile tire is a good choice if you are going to a more common size tire and want to use less expensive tires.

Switching to a conventional 17" tire if it isn't carried in most places at the tire stores is still pointless and leaves you just as stranded and awaiting a tire to be mailed in.

If the 16" replacement puts you into a extremely common tire size, then the quick tow (or slow drive with a can of tire sealant) to the nearest tire shop isn't too painful and a long wait. You might get a no-name tire, but at least you are on your way quick.

---

Personally I've used the tire plug repair kit in the glovebox method, with a tire pump in the trunk ...

It has helped the times the factory lugs decided to shed their stupid caps and cannot remove them to use the spare, or when I've changed to solid lugs and left out the new wrench.

 

[QuantumLo0p]

I used to want a Cooper quite badly until I saw one at the new car convention. The hatch was open so I decided to grab the corners and twist it to see how sturdy it is. To my surprise I easily twisted the corners about 150mm! It also made a loud crunching noise. Yikes!

I decided to pass up the Cooper and instead bought a used 7 series. I do think Coopers are very cool looking and look small enough to easily manage in the city. For city driving I would buy a Cooper over a Smart any day of the week.

The Smart is the new Yugo!

 

[IJ Reilly]

I used to want a Cooper quite badly until I saw one at the new car convention. The hatch was open so I decided to grab the corners and twist it to see how sturdy it is. To my surprise I easily twisted the corners about 150mm! It also made a loud crunching noise. Yikes!

I've been opening and closing the hatch on my Mini for over five years, and while I admit I've never tried to twist it eek, it has never "crunched."

I decided to pass up the Cooper and instead bought a used 7 series. I do think Coopers are very cool looking and look small enough to easily manage in the city. For city driving I would buy a Cooper over a Smart any day of the week.

The Smart is the new Yugo!

I'll go with that. The Smart might have some utility is a large, urban place, but otherwise it has no real attraction that I can detect.