Comments on: Another Auto Express Scoop?

By: Russell Williams

Russell Williams — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 09:19:51 +0000

Well I have been in this car and vouch for the fact it is quick - Very, but it is no CSL.

Congratulations to Tony on a wonderful Scoop all of his very own!

By: TT

TT — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 10:26:55 +0000

"Mitch Williams / October 10, 2005 3:31 PM / Permalink I think this is a really stupid thing to post tbh, I'm sure these mags dont go out of the way to purposely mislead people, so why do people like this purposely mislead the magazines. "

Do you work for AutoExpress or something...?

By: Mitch Williams

Mitch Williams — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 22:31:46 +0000

I think this is a really stupid thing to post tbh, I’m sure these mags dont go out of the way to purposely mislead people, so why do people like this purposely mislead the magazines.

By: Jace

Jace — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 07:08:38 +0000

IMO it doesn’t sound that unbelievable but it does reveal how unreliable the media can be. If anyone has ever watched a show “Media Watch” (in Australia)- it’s quite amusing to see how big media giants can get tricked by silly websites and photoshopped graphics.

By: MadisonMini

MadisonMini — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 05:37:52 +0000

I have those same rims…imported them from England. Am told I’m the only one here in the states with them.

By: apexer

apexer — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 03:54:21 +0000

Light weight Mini with a sunroof. Yeh, I’m sure that will work.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 02:09:43 +0000

So that's how Auto Express is able to meet it's weekly deadline! "All the news that fits" could be it's motto. :)

Here in the US we really only have one weekly automotive news magazine: AutoWeek. But in the UK there are many weekly car magazines and competition is very intense. So intense, it's clear they'll skip checking facts as long as there is sometime to do with cars to fill the empty space!

By: greg

greg — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 23:40:20 +0000

Hi Tony T. I have a similar S. But the only engine mod in addition to the ‘05 Works is a Unichip. What else did you do? If you wouldn’t mind getting back to me my address is gregzito@zitoinsurance.com. Sorry if this is “off topic” Gabe.

By: tradiuz at mth-usa.com

tradiuz at mth-usa.com — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 22:39:28 +0000

[quote] Anybody know who makes/which ones these are? I really like them. If only I could get them black with a silver rim. [/quote]

Those are 5zigen Fn01r-c.

By: S2000&CooperS

S2000&CooperS — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 22:23:00 +0000

Nice!! :-D

By: Tony T

Tony T — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 21:57:32 +0000

The picture of the engine bay wasn't supplied by me - its good old Autoexpress doing their finest journalism again.

Just for the record, My car is a 210bhp Works that has been further modified by GT Tuning. It had a +4% crankshaft pulley, race spec SS manifold and a very agressive remap.

Pulls arounf 230bhp, torque curve is fat and wide, goes like the clappers, and has been timed 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds using a Gtechpro. Top speed would be around 155 on the clock, seen 152 with revs to spare.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 21:29:32 +0000

I wonder what BMW thinks about these bogus stories going out? Good press, keep them thinking? Or bad press, too many rumours?

By: Dustin Tarditi

Dustin Tarditi — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 20:45:49 +0000

From my perspective the under bonnet shot doesn't even look like the same color as Tony's car - it looks blue.

As mentioned, it also looks totally stock... I guess the 232hp fire breather uses the standard Cooper S airbox ;-)

By: David Bunting

David Bunting — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 20:29:20 +0000

We should have a MINI of the week spoof

I thought this was the second installment.

If you missed it, here's a good candidate for spoof #1 Note the special "lightweight" wheels.

By: Lee L

Lee L — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 20:19:03 +0000

Am I crazy, or is the engine bay in the picture blue, while the car is Dark Silver? ;)

By: O(=^=)O Capn

O(=^=)O Capn — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 19:06:50 +0000

Those wheels look better on the car.

I like these.

Anybody know who makes/which ones these are? I really like them. If only I could get them black with a silver rim.

Okay, now back on topic. We should have a MINI of the week spoof with autoweek. I know there is a talent pool here. Good job Tony.

By: phaedrus

phaedrus — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 19:02:29 +0000

"...tuned to deliver 232hp."

Despite the article being hoax, this power figure is likely close to the truth for Tony's car ;)

By: phaedrus

phaedrus — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 18:50:04 +0000

Fell in love with those rims when I first saw them last year on Tony's first MCS (RIP). (Tony: I still use its picture as my desktop wallpaper!)

A limited production run of approx. 30 sets of the 4x100 bolt pattern version was made available exclusively through a group buy arranged last year on MINI2 (thanks to Mark Bloom a.k.a. Leccy_Blue for that). All were, of course, spoken for.

I don't know if they made any more after that, but the ones I see selling online seem to be only of the 5-bolt variety.

Though they're relative featherweights compared to the S-lites, they're no Superleggeras; more show than go, they look sick (IMHO) on the MCS and I wouldn't trade them for any other wheel.

By: Iain

Iain — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 18:42:28 +0000

I just checked Auto Express’ website and this story is still up! Should we tell them it is a hoax???? Nah….

By: fj0

fj0 — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 18:40:55 +0000

I’m pretty sure the rims manufacturer is “Kahn”.