Archive for March 2004
Mar 31st, 2004
In the third-quarter update of AutoWeek's long-term test of the MCS, Carrie Roca writes:
It doesn’t matter what kind of day we may have had, we get assigned to drive the Mini Cooper S and all of life's little annoyances just melt away. It keeps us young and it makes us feel good about ourselves. What more can you ask for in a soul mate?
I think they like it. You can read the rest here.
Mar 31st, 2004
Contributed by Jerry Bradbury
Today brought a winter storm down on Northern California from the Gulf of Alaska: low skies, steady rain and temperatures in the 50's. It's not really unpleasant and it does make the hills go green. I had just dropped Jake, my youngest, full of turkey and stuffing, at his dorm at UCSC and was heading back north out of Santa Cruz on the Pacific Coast Highway, California Highway 1. The rain was moderate but steady, the clouds and fog all but obscured the oily green rollers until they creamed on the beaches below and the light was pearly and soft. Coming down a hill I saw a car pull out of the beach parking lot ahead of me and head north up the other slope. “Joe and Minnie Sixpack, heading home after a brisk wet walk on the beach,” I thought. Even though the grade rose, the dotted line was on our side and Sad Arthur was turning 4000 rpm in 6th gear. No trouble to just scoot around them. But I didn't seem to be closing as fast as I should. In fact, Joe and Minnie had accelerated to my speed and were pulling away a little. “Hmmmm,” thought I, “must be a QUICK CAR.” And I put the pedal down to overtake.
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Mar 30th, 2004
Greetings from the UK!
While waiting for a friend who works for MINI in Oxford to come and pick us up for a quick run to a country pub - something quite unexpected showed up. In fact it was the car just ahead of him. The Cooper Cabrio was being driven by an employee doing a long term test. It had over 1000 miles on it and was missing some of it's interior bits (for the final engineering process most likely) but otherwise in final production trim. The person doing the testing was simply on his way home probably to put it in his garage for the night.
Regardless he was more than happy to let me not only take photos but to crawl inside and really experience it first hand.
One of the most impressive things I think people will find is that with the A-pilars are so far out ahead (as on all MINIs) on the car that you really get the feel that you are in an open top car. With cars like the 3 series convertible the top of the A-pilar is over your head giving you the forward view of a standard fixed roof car. With the MINI Cabrio you get a much more “open air feeling”. Really quite something different.
Here are some other things I noticed or found out about the Cabrio:
- The Hot Orange is quite nice in person. It looks a little more subdued and less metallic in a mostly cloudy day.
- The other thing you notice in person is the roof-line is noticeably lower than the fixed roof car.
- In an effort to give the Cabrio more structural integrity the door frames are approximately 3 millimeters thick while the standard cars makes due 1 millimeter steel.
- The MINI uses 2 pulse welding when it comes to the Cabrio. This is also in an effort to battle the obvious effects of cutting the roof off of a car.
I've also managed to see an all black Cooper Cabrio on the A34 heading south from Oxford. And to give you a sneak peak at my upcoming Oxford Plant tour story I actually saw about every color cabrio in various states of production. Several including a Chili Red Cooper completely finished. Let me be the first to say the red interior looks amazing.
Here are the photos of our chance meeting lastnight: Photo Gallery.
Mar 29th, 2004
Contributed by Jerry Bradbury
Some people wonder why I'd plunk down big bucks to spend a day on the race track with my MINI after just cruising across half the country. Let me see if I can explain this. It's not (as some think) that all MINI Cooper S drivers are speed crazed demons (although I will admit there are some). For me, it's about safety and limits. Even after putting the first 2200 miles on Sad Arthur coming across I-80 from Chicago, I still didn't know what his limits and strengths were, or what would happen should I have to go all in (clutch and brake pedals to the floor) to avoid some brainless fellow driver, or run into a patch of black ice, or suddenly come upon a nail studded board in my lane, or overcook a decreasing radius turn on a mountain road. The time to learn how to deal with these and other emergencies is before they happen so you can get them into muscle memory and not have to think about what to do in the moment. That's why all my boys got Car Control Clinics from Bob Bondurant and Skip Barber when they got their driver licenses. They learned the important things that driver training in school just can't provide. It's cheap insurance and really adds to your peace of mind when your teenager is behind the wheel. It's no secret that the highest driver mortality rate belongs to the teenagers. Good driver training at least gives them a fighting chance. I highly recommend it to all parents for their teen drivers.
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Mar 28th, 2004
Down the Rabbit Hole Redux: Alice, and I, drive my MINI again by Rob Carver
The White Rabbit I followed once so long ago wasn't white - it was Red with a Black top, a Mk1 1275s at the Bisbee Hillclimb, driven with brio and although not the fastest by just one placing, it was decidedly the most influential on me. As I got nearer to actually driving, I saw that picture in my mind of the Red & Black Mini clearly, as bright as the first time I saw it. Owning a number of Minis over the years, I became most comfortable in a Mini than any other. Driving can be an intensely personal experience if you are in the right kind of car, have the right mindset and are so inclined. Some of us are less so than others, but MINI drivers are generally on the More as opposed to Less side, and that goes for just about anything. I'm no exception - I've strong opinions on most everything, especially Minis and MINIs. I've heard Marque identification described as a kind of Cartesian-rationalist purism, leaving no room for other, possibly lesser vehicles - this is most obvious in the Porsche - Porcupine type of comparison, (something I hope MINI owners never aspire to!). Every so often, something happens that re-defines our relationship with our MINI - that makes you add one more plus - or minus - to the whole equation.
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Mar 27th, 2004
This Tuesday, Speed Channel's Tuner Transformation will be featuring a MINI for the first time. Here's the inside story from the owner himself:
Well, as it turns out I was selected to participate in that new TV show “Tuner Transformation.” The format is pretty simple. They know what I use the car for, they take that into account, however they don't tell me what mods they're going to be doing until they reveal the car to me at the end. This way they get my reaction etc. So I could end up with a purple car with pink polkadots but I could also end up with a great autocross/performance car. Think of it like one of those home decorating shows like “While you were out” except for cars.
The episode will be airing on Speed channel Tuesday March 30th at 7PM EST. I've got the car back but cannot post pictures etc of the car or discuss it. Watch the episode!
Cheers,
Paul
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Mar 25th, 2004
As some of you may know I'm going to be spending some time in the UK over the next week and a half. I'll be coming back with stories on the plant tour, MINI-Rentals, what it's like to drive a MINI in it's home country, and maybe even a personal account of a MINI Cabrio.
During that time my response to email will be slow to non-existent. In fact it might take me a while to respond once I get back as well. Getting 20-40 emails a day will add up quickly! So please be patient with any correspondence.
Matt Gifford will be taking over the day to day reins of MotoringFile so any issues that might pop up will be in his capable hands. In fact as some of you may know Matt is responsible for building the code for the back-end and some of the front end of MotoringFile, so he knows the site as well as anybody. Oh and he's the proud owner of a BRG/Black Cooper.
Along with the normal MINI news during this time we'll also be featuring some commentary by a new contributor Jerry Bradbury as well as longtime contributor Rob Carver. They've got some great pieces so I hope you enjoy the change a pace!
And as always I recommend exploring the archives. There's a wealth of information from the past 14 months that people new and old to the MINI world might find interesting.
Cheers,
Gabe
Mar 25th, 2004
It's taken months but I finally got my hands on a pair of the MINI_Motion driving shoes - although not my own. After coming up short trying to find size 12 or 13 (no easy task!) I figured I'd surprise my wife with a pair and write a little about them first hand. She's happy, I'm happy, you get a review - great plan I'd say!
The first thing you notice about the shoes once you see them is the simplicity of the upper design. There are no laces, just some spandex like material and a piece of leather that wraps over it and attaches to the outside with one small metal buckle. The upper is made entirely out of leather save for the rubber pull in the back (which is the only place you'll see a MINI logo). The stitching of the Puma logo is grey and not gold like as it appears on the MINI_Motion website.
The mid-sole is just as simple with no PVC foam at all - just a piece of leather as cushioning. This is how the Puma Speed Cat is built as well - to some degree the shoe that the MINI_Motion shoe is based on. The key differences between it and the Speed Cat's mid-sole is the sole pattern from the and the piece of rubber that wraps around and up the shoe on the outside front (the part that says “Motion”).
The lycra removable boot is less usable than one would hope. The upper of the boot is very thin and breathes well but wearing it it seems like an unnecessary step much of the time. Further the bottom of the boot has no grip whatsoever. It's usage is fairly limited considering you'd probably tear up the bottom wearing it outside. The bottom is made of some type of synthetic material similar to the anthracite material found in the BMW 3 series Performance Package.
While it's a fairly narrow shoe overall my wife likes the fit and overall comfort. It should be perfect for it's intended sport - motoring. However it's worth nothing that they are snug with the boot and a bit more comfortable without.
The MINI_Motion driving show is available in both Black and Grey at MINI_Motion.com or at select Puma retailers worldwide for $150. This particular pair was found in a California Puma outlet for the unheard of sale price of around $30 - although sizes were limited.
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Mar 25th, 2004
Here's what's on my plate for the coming season:
MINI Aux lights. I've thought about alternatives but I personally prefer the smaller style of the OEM lights.
Stripes. I've been debating this for two years now - still debating. I think simply white hood stripes are the way I'll go. In fact I may just opt for magnetic and have throw them on for special days.
Real leather shift boot and ebrake boot. The leatherette versions are rather cheap feeling and haven't held up well around the silver shifter ring. Of course this is ironic since my two year old leatherette seats feel great and look like new.
Okay it's a little short this season but after two years of constant performance, interior, and exterior mods I'm sure you can understand why! How about you - what's on your plate this year for your MINI?
Mar 24th, 2004
As many of you know BMW will be releasing the 1 series later this year. In fact today BMW released the first official photos and info about the car. The 1 series will eventually be available in several configuration; a four door hatch, two door hatch, two door coupe and a convertible (the latter two to be named the 2 series). BMW designed the car to slot just above the MINI in both size and price with some key differences; the 1 series will be available only in wheel rear drive configurations and will offer a small inline six (among the many engine choices).
Expect the 1 series to be released late this fall just about everywhere… but the United States. For some reason BMW has determined it's biggest market won't be getting the initial 4 door/hatch configuration. In fact Jack Pitney (head of BMWUSA) recently spoke about the 1 series possibly not coming to the US at all due to marketing and economical concerns. For one BMW is worried that with the Euro/Dollar exchange being what it currently is the 1 series won't be able to be priced well enough below the US 3 series to justify it's existence here. How quickly BMW seems to forget the new small premium market they've just invented with the MINI.
Why would BMW not to bring the hatchback models to the US? It is assumed that this will be the biggest selling configurations around the world. Yet somehow BMW doesn't believe the US market sales can sustain the investment to bring them over. This fear would seem a bit misplaced considering how successful the MINI has been in the US. The MINI has gone against all rational thinking in terms of the US automotive market and been a huge success for BMW. MINI has proven that there is a growing small premium car market in the US - despite what had been assumed before hand. Now why would BMW decide to not push the envelope and release the full 1 series range here? Dilution of the brand? I'd say the X5 has done more to dilute the brand than a small sporty BMW hatch would. In fact the 1 series is closer to the soul of past BMWs than some of what's in showrooms now. Further with the 1 series BMW wouldn't have to create an entirely new brand and dealer network. Because of this costs could be substantially lower for dealers and BMWUSA than with the MINI's introduction in the US two years ago.
So why is all this related to the MINI? Well for one a four door MINI and a four door 1 series would surely compete against each other in the market. With the US not getting a four door 1 Series the case for a four door MINI could be stronger here. Further the 1 series is built on a version of the next 3 series platform. One would gather there's quite a bit of next MINI in the 1 series. For instance the current MINI shares it's electrical system with the current 3 series. And of course the Z-link rear suspension is also a design based off of the current 3 series. So what changes lie in store for the next MINI based on what we see today in the 1 series? Only time will tell.
You can see a gallery of the 1 series here. And for more information on the car here is BMW's official release concerning the new 1 series:
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Mar 23rd, 2004
Autoweek's current issue features an article about driving the MINI and a classic Mini in and around the Monte Carlo rally circuit. It also goes into some details regarding the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally win of Paddy Hopkirk. Here's an excerpt:
“Could a toy car from the British Motor Corp., with a 1071-cc four-cylinder engine, win the Rallye Monte Carlo outright, racing against other cars with much bigger and more powerful engines-up to 4735-cc (289-cid V8) in the American Ford Falcon Futura Sprint? Not bloody likely, you might say. And yet, the No. 37 Morris Mini Cooper S driven by Belfast's Paddy Hopkirk and navigated by Brit Henry Liddon, did win, not just in class, but overall.
At the recent get-together in Monte Carlo to mark the 40th anniversary of that 1964 victory, everyone we spoke with who was there had the same answer, put two ways: It wasn't supposed to happen. It was a huge surprise.
“There were no electronics, just sheets of paper with calculations on them brought back here to headquarters after each stage,” said Hopkirk. “I didn't even know I'd won the rally until I got a phone call at four in the morning the Sunday after [the rally finished on Saturday, Jan. 25] from reporter Bernard Cahier. He said, 'You've won the rally!' I thought he was joking. I had another beer, and went back to sleep.”
Of course, helping the win was John Cooper's work on a new little engine, a 1071-cc in place of the standard Cooper's 998-cc.
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Mar 22nd, 2004
It's hard to believe but it's already been two years. I remember very clearly the anticipation that day two years ago was almost unbearable. Waiting to just see the car for two years would do that to you. For those that weren't there here's a little taste of the overall atmosphere at that time.
During those days there was only MINI2 and the often maligned Roadfly in the way of dedicated MINI forums. Of the two Roadfly had by far the most US traffic and thus was the place to really see the crazed anticipation that so many of us had.
First came the reports that there were MINIs at the VPC in late February - pictures followed. Then there were reports of MINIs in San Francisco for a huge press event - pictures followed. Then finally there was word that the cars would reach some dealers on the 22nd and 23rd of March - a Friday and Saturday.
As luck would have it my wife had taken that Friday off because we were travelling that weekend. So around 10am we made out way to what was at the time the brand new gleaming building with no MINI signage whatsoever that was soon to become Knauz MINI. We were greeted by a BMW turned MINI salesmen (and now good friend) David Olenick who was happy to talk MINIs and get us out for a couple test drive. To my knowledge we were the 2nd people in both the MC and the MCS demo they had on the lot (they only had 4-5 cars if I remember right.
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Mar 21st, 2004
This is the first article in a series that will feature some prominent MINI owners, what type of MINI they have, what kind of personal stamp they've put on it, and why they've done it all. Our first owner featured is Ian Cull.
Ian is the founder and editor of GBMINI.net, overall pillar of the MINI community and proud JCW MINI Cooper S owner. So without further delay - Ian, what have you got on your MINI?
My MINI Cooper S (GBMINI) was optioned with manual a/c, 16″ wheels and no sunroof. It also had Xenon headlights, front fog lights, the Harmon
Kardon upgrade with steering wheel controls …
Exterior
The front & rear bumpers and wheel arches were removed and sent
to Sublime Restorations; the black textured trim was sanded smooth and
painted to match the Indi Blue body colour. The side skirts were replaced
with painted aero kit ones (I even had a front plate bracket painted to
match). Problem of waxing the car eliminated!
Driving Lights
When I first saw a MINI with the dealer installed driving lights fitted to
the front, it made the car look perfect - I had them on my first MINI
Cooper and even though they are rarely needed for driving where I live, I
had them fitted to the MINI Cooper S also. At nearly $700 they are an
expensive decoration but I think they are worth it. The official MINI ones
are smaller than many aftermarket lights and I think they match the car much
better!
The Union Jack Roof
I had seen and been disappointed with the official MINI Union Jack roof
decal - I wanted one that covered to the edges of the roof. I ordered a full
roof decal from Cooperflags, but I had terrible problems with the
installation; also I was not impressed with the dull colors (something that Cooperflags has since fixed).
I chose to have a Union Jack painted on the roof, using official MINI Indi
Blue and Chili Red colors - the result was “awesome”, especially when the
many clearcoats glow in the sun after a recent waxing!
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Mar 21st, 2004
For those that want to know more about the early life of their US bound MINI here's a couple great pics of BMW and MINI's shipping company in action: Pic 1 / Pics 2
If you want to see more of what your MINI goes through before delivery check this older article about the VPC processing center.
Mar 19th, 2004
The New York Times has an article on Yves Behar, the man behind much of the design of the MINI_Motion collection. It goes into detail on Behar's ideas on “brand fusion” and how it translates to his work for clients. Here's an excerpt:
Behar sees designers as collaborators with their clients in shaping a consumer's experience of a product, rather than just the product itself. He rails against what he calls ''feature creep,'' the gratuitous stuffing of more and more technology into products without making them any easier to use. ''Tactility — how we use and carry products — makes them more appealing,'' he declares.
This approach has pleased fuseproject's clients, like Birkenstock, MINI (a part of BMW) and Toshiba, and has earned it an exhibition that will open this month at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (Behar designed the Learning Shoe, complete with a chip that collects data on the wearer's feet, just for the exhibition.)
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