gtr_Gtti
Well-Known Member
Hi all, guess many forumers already know that I'm sales staff from MINI showroom, but anywayz juz wanna post my 1st hand test experice on all the new MINIs that has been launched so far. My post will be unbiased and neutral.
1) MINI Cooper 6sp Manual and 6sp Auto
Exterior:
The test car came with the sunroof which was nice to have but costly option of 3.5K. Black exterior beige interior...very classy. Exterior design is very similar to the outgoing model so many would be hard pressed to spot the differenc eunless u park the old one beside it. However the largest diff is the front end which sports a make angles headlamp with larger chrome grille.
Interior:
The car comes with beige leather thus making the interior brighter, more light hearted and more classy with all the chrome and silver trims. The new refreshing designed dashboard now features two portions where buyers can choose the facia trim and the colour for the colourline which stretches accross the dash and the door sides arm rests. Fit and finish is much better compared with the previous car, materials used feels more expensive and all switches click reassuringly. Nice touch is the toggle switches that is on the roof and on the centre console used for various controls including the mood lighting that u could switch 5 colours to glow up the centre console, behind the door handles and on the B pillars... nice....
The centre speedo is a lil too big for my liking though, housing the audio controls and in-vehicle monitoring system. a lil confusing for first time users. Ergonomics are spot on but still lacks cubby holes and places to put your stuff and coins. Seats are half bucket itmes and are pretty supportive and great for long enthusiastic drives. No electric adjustments though, so gotta use all the adjustment handles which are far better than the previous model which felt like it might break off. It now has more safety and convenience features like auto headlamps, auto wipers, auto A/C with shape of a MINI logo, 6 airbags, ABS etc the list goes on.
Space is deceivingly larger and more spacious than what the exterior suggests, could only take 4 adults though, 5 will be tight. Boot space is marginall larger but still, too small for golf bags unless u fold one of the back seats down. But who cares, MINI is supposed to be small anyway... haha
The drive:
Finally, A proper high tech engine by BMW to replace the thirstier Chrysler unit of the old. Features Valvetronic, VVT, Direct injection and variable lift. All packed to this compact 1.6L DOHC engine. 120BHP and 160Nm. Paper suggests 0-100 is 9.1secs and max speed 205KM/h.
Press the start button and a sporty exhaust note greets you. Its a free revving engine, much more responsive than the previous car. Shift action is smooth for the manual tranny and clutch is relatively easy to operate. Autobox is pretty idiot proof as well, and transmits the power to wheels very effeciently. Steering is surprisingly light on parking speeds as it comes with electronic power assisted steering technology. Less assistance would be offered at higher speeds for better control and feedback.
Floor the trottle and the runflat tires chirps a lil, and the car races to its redline of 6.5K RPM. Its a close ratio gearbox, so shifting is pretty frequent. The pickup is strong and throttle response is really fantastic even in the automatic car. The auto car comes with peddle shift system which sometimes makes the driver a little lost but otherwise good to use for overtaking. Performance feels better than what the figures in the specs suggests and the nice and loud exhaust and intake growl just keeps begging u to rev it harder. Good enough performance for overtaking and zipping thru traffic but not enough to see the higher performance cars off though. The best part that despite my heavy foot, it returns 6.8L/100km. Unbelievable.
Handling is still razor sharp and almost no roll around corners with very little understeer. lift off oversteer is in the menu if u were to drive it into corners at insane speeds though. But its pretty easy to counter it so nothing scary and hairy. Mind you that MINI is a relatively heavy car, 1200kgs of it, but it still manages to drive like a sub 1000kg car. Really fun to play it in the corners. Brakes are strong but a bit too sensitive, most drivers would find it hard to modulate and less so for heel and toe.
Ride comfort has improved dramtically and really feels more planted at high speeds. Pretty similar to a E46 with Sachs Sporting kit. Finally a MINI that wont make u feel or your passengers feel tired after driving it for long hours! Overall, this car is BMW everything, yet draws more smiles from the general public. If space is not something that u MUST have. this car does everything perfectly. Really fun to drive it on whatever the road conditions and traffic is like.
I'll update with Cooper S drive tmr. nitenite
1) MINI Cooper 6sp Manual and 6sp Auto
Exterior:
The test car came with the sunroof which was nice to have but costly option of 3.5K. Black exterior beige interior...very classy. Exterior design is very similar to the outgoing model so many would be hard pressed to spot the differenc eunless u park the old one beside it. However the largest diff is the front end which sports a make angles headlamp with larger chrome grille.
Interior:
The car comes with beige leather thus making the interior brighter, more light hearted and more classy with all the chrome and silver trims. The new refreshing designed dashboard now features two portions where buyers can choose the facia trim and the colour for the colourline which stretches accross the dash and the door sides arm rests. Fit and finish is much better compared with the previous car, materials used feels more expensive and all switches click reassuringly. Nice touch is the toggle switches that is on the roof and on the centre console used for various controls including the mood lighting that u could switch 5 colours to glow up the centre console, behind the door handles and on the B pillars... nice....
The centre speedo is a lil too big for my liking though, housing the audio controls and in-vehicle monitoring system. a lil confusing for first time users. Ergonomics are spot on but still lacks cubby holes and places to put your stuff and coins. Seats are half bucket itmes and are pretty supportive and great for long enthusiastic drives. No electric adjustments though, so gotta use all the adjustment handles which are far better than the previous model which felt like it might break off. It now has more safety and convenience features like auto headlamps, auto wipers, auto A/C with shape of a MINI logo, 6 airbags, ABS etc the list goes on.
Space is deceivingly larger and more spacious than what the exterior suggests, could only take 4 adults though, 5 will be tight. Boot space is marginall larger but still, too small for golf bags unless u fold one of the back seats down. But who cares, MINI is supposed to be small anyway... haha
The drive:
Finally, A proper high tech engine by BMW to replace the thirstier Chrysler unit of the old. Features Valvetronic, VVT, Direct injection and variable lift. All packed to this compact 1.6L DOHC engine. 120BHP and 160Nm. Paper suggests 0-100 is 9.1secs and max speed 205KM/h.
Press the start button and a sporty exhaust note greets you. Its a free revving engine, much more responsive than the previous car. Shift action is smooth for the manual tranny and clutch is relatively easy to operate. Autobox is pretty idiot proof as well, and transmits the power to wheels very effeciently. Steering is surprisingly light on parking speeds as it comes with electronic power assisted steering technology. Less assistance would be offered at higher speeds for better control and feedback.
Floor the trottle and the runflat tires chirps a lil, and the car races to its redline of 6.5K RPM. Its a close ratio gearbox, so shifting is pretty frequent. The pickup is strong and throttle response is really fantastic even in the automatic car. The auto car comes with peddle shift system which sometimes makes the driver a little lost but otherwise good to use for overtaking. Performance feels better than what the figures in the specs suggests and the nice and loud exhaust and intake growl just keeps begging u to rev it harder. Good enough performance for overtaking and zipping thru traffic but not enough to see the higher performance cars off though. The best part that despite my heavy foot, it returns 6.8L/100km. Unbelievable.
Handling is still razor sharp and almost no roll around corners with very little understeer. lift off oversteer is in the menu if u were to drive it into corners at insane speeds though. But its pretty easy to counter it so nothing scary and hairy. Mind you that MINI is a relatively heavy car, 1200kgs of it, but it still manages to drive like a sub 1000kg car. Really fun to play it in the corners. Brakes are strong but a bit too sensitive, most drivers would find it hard to modulate and less so for heel and toe.
Ride comfort has improved dramtically and really feels more planted at high speeds. Pretty similar to a E46 with Sachs Sporting kit. Finally a MINI that wont make u feel or your passengers feel tired after driving it for long hours! Overall, this car is BMW everything, yet draws more smiles from the general public. If space is not something that u MUST have. this car does everything perfectly. Really fun to drive it on whatever the road conditions and traffic is like.
I'll update with Cooper S drive tmr. nitenite
