Discussion
My 52 MCs went in for its inspection 1 service yesterday and as a courtesy car I was given a shiny new cooper to 'play' with for the day. Now was I driving a particularly crap one or is the engine in the new cooper really that bad? There was just no acceleration until you got over 3000rpm, it was noisy above 1500rpm and sounded like a diesel on start up. I am hoping that it was just this car and not evident in the entire range but I was so disappointed in the car. I was 
to get back into my 'old' new MINI nd hear the supercharger whine again.
I have to agree with most though, the standard stereo is pants and really fiddly to use.
to get back into my 'old' new MINI nd hear the supercharger whine again. I have to agree with most though, the standard stereo is pants and really fiddly to use.
I drove a new Cooper on Saturday and agree with you that the power only comes in above 3000 rpm (apparently that's a feature of the VVT engine), and it wasn't particularly quiet either. I was hoping it would feel more 'BMW' but I think it still shows it's 'Rover' heritage - I still think it is an improvement on our 2001 Mini One though.
I've just had a new Cooper S from BMW on a press loan (the bastards picked it up this morning after a full week). Having spent a week with the new Cooper last month, I was disappointed as it was, as has been noted, underwhelming in almost every respect. The S, though, is a storming car - the most fun I've had on four wheels in many a year. I want one badly and will probably end up owning my own sooner rather than later - what a car!
Exactly my impression of the S. Went and drove an R53 S, was OK but pretty underwhelming. The dealer had to force me into the R56 S, which I eventually did cos I had a spare 30 mins. An hour later... I got back, loved it... So much better than the previous S so I bought it. Had it a month now and itgets better, brilliant little car and certainly one I didnt intend to buy!!!!
twit said:
Exactly my impression of the S. Went and drove an R53 S, was OK but pretty underwhelming. The dealer had to force me into the R56 S, which I eventually did cos I had a spare 30 mins. An hour later... I got back, loved it... So much better than the previous S so I bought it. Had it a month now and itgets better, brilliant little car and certainly one I didnt intend to buy!!!!
Similar experience. I fancied a MINI and didn't want the expence of an S and assumed the Copper would be more than adequate. The big mistake was letting the dealer give me the S first to test drive first. Having driven the S, the Cooper felt underpowered - I couldn't get out of it quick enough.
New R56S delivery due on April 18th
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