The MCSc on the World’s Best Road

Sections: In the Press Feb 14th, 2006 29 Comments

Few things are more purely exciting than an agile, well mannered car and a fantastic road. Alistair Weaver has a fantastic article for Edmunds.com about both. Here’s an excerpt:

The road:

The Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the greatest driving road in the world. Stretching for 7.3 miles and climbing nearly 4,000 feet, it boasts 60 corners and a surface so smooth that it would flatter a racetrack. It could easily be described as the eighth wonder of the world, but almost nothing is known about its creation.

The car:

BMW spared no expense when it developed the current Cooper and rumors persist that the Mini is more expensive to produce than the 3 Series. The new car needs to be cheaper to build and it will be interesting to see how the Munich boffins solve this particular conundrum without diminishing its quality. This first-generation BMW Mini could yet go down as a classic.

Nice to see some of the old rumors about the MINI still mentioned in the press. The car costing more than the 3 series to make was one of those things you often heard back in 2001 as the MINI was being introduced. With the new car set to debut later this year it’s worth reflecting on the current car a bit and this article does a fantastic job of that.

You can read the entire piece here:

[ The World's Greatest Driving Road ] Edmunds.com

Written By: Gabe

alpha-6

Better than the Dragon (U.S.129) in NC??!?!?!…..doubtful. ;)
http://www.dynamicminicollective.com Pflashinaz

Better than the “Twelve Miles of Terror”(AZ state route 97), not!!!!!
http://www.nemini.org GMINI

does the dragon two lane? can you go miles without seeing another soul? I’ve really been to neither but this road seems a bit closer to perfect.
Chris

I agree, that road is about as perfect as I could ever imagine. It’s always good to be proud of our own land, but you’ve got to be able to appreciate something like that when you see it. Those night pictures are rediculous! Road trip anyone?
http://whitemaleconsumer.com Zeke

WOH. Nice road. 8)
Matt

Only a yank would believe that the best roads in the world are found in the US.

Imagine a group on Mini’s, from Classic’s thru JCW GP’s to brand spanking new R56′s assaulting that for a weekend. I’d be in.
Xan

DUBAI!!! That country really seems to be just an amazing achievement after another . . . maybe once I get a job I’ll get housing in the Burj tower and drive the Hafeet on the weekends . . . yea- I’ll do that.

cheers
DaCrema

The Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road looks like a very nice road. The author was talking about doing the 7.3 miles in 8.5 minutes. From looking at the photos the Jebel Hafeet Mtn Rd is shorter seems a bit wider than the Dragon. The pavement on the TN side of the Dragon was replaced just before the 03 trip and was very smooth. Last year the pavment was still in very good shape. I can not compare the two as I have not been to the UAE. I’m sure that if there is a will to motor readers can boast about a very good road most any where – well the State of Florida may have a tough time coming up with something longer than 2 miles – but most any where else. ;~) The road I want to try is the one I’ve seen pictures of that goes up a mountain pass on the boarder of Italy and Austria. Makes the Dragon look short and streight…

John
http://bravo5.org/blog blalor

Hrm; Farago has a piece about this article and another author’s declaration that the Hana highway is the other “perfect road” (coughbullshitcough). Farago looks to be going out on a bit of a limb, since he has no direct evidence that this article was actually funded by BMW (who’s calling whom unethical, now?) but it’s interesting nontheless.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Uh yeah… I wouldn’t put too much faith in Farago’s musing.
http://bravo5.org/blog blalor

When I finished reading the article (ok, now I’m a hypocrite…) I realized it was a plea for a leveled playing field with equal access to cars for bloggers as “buff book” writers receive. I’m all honesty, but “won’t someone pbpbpbpbpbleeeease play with me?” :-)
Minitech

Gabe, How did they manage to fit 16inch tires onto those 17inch rims?
kelly

“It’s enough to make Bill Gates green with envy.”

Paul Allen tried to build a road up the side of a mountain in here in tucson but the city stopped him. Would have been nice to motor.
BRG Marine

That road looks pretty sweet, too bad most of us will never make it out there.

People need to realize that the Dragon is not the Final Word in twisty roads in the US. I’ve driven the Pacific Coast Highway and CA 1 all the way from Ventura to Seaside, OR, and there’s much, much more fun to be had along places in the Big Sur and right outside of San Francisco than 100 trips on the Dragon (anyone who’s driven CA 1 just north of the Golden Gate knows what I’m talking about). Heck, I’ve driven places in the Columbia Gorge that offer more MINI fun than the Dragon. Oh, and don’t forget the Coronado Trail.

Also, does it bother anyone else that he keeps saying “BMW Mini” over and over? Kinda irks me, I would think I true enthusiast wouldn’t use that term. However I couldn’t agree with him more than the whine of the supercharger will be greatly missed on future versions.
Giacomo

Try CA1 North from San Francisco to Gualala….A spectacular drive!!! Stay at the Breakers. Lotsa Bears/traffic. Escort it or use detector of choice, even then it’s a crap shoot.

Good to be proud but unless you’ve driven them all I don’t think you can say one is better than the other. IMO

Dubai isn’t that were MJ lives now?
BRG Marine

Yeah, totally what I was thinking there with the road to Gualala. I’ve driven up there twice, that road off of the bridge down to the water is just insane, some day I’d like to drive it going up the hill instead. What’s also really fun is when CA 1 rejoins 101 up north of Gualala.
Vanwall
Rockport to Legget on HWY1, or Palomar Mountain are my local faves, but the key to Dubai seems to be the lack of traffic and radar guns, something just about any road over this side of the water has way too much of. I can appreciate those assets! ;-)
```
             BCNU,
           Rob in Dago
```
Chris LW

when the new road up to Whistler (from Vancouver, BC) is done for the 2010 (?) Winter Olympics, I bet that will be one sweet road (at least until the next winter buckles it ;-))
http://www.miniyaletown.ca David L.

Regarding the Sea to Sky Hwy, the part from West Vancouver to Squamish is great, but after that it is a bit dull. Also, you will more often than not get stuck behind a slowpoke and spend your time grinding at the bit for the next spot to pass. The upgrades to the highway will make the drive a bit more boring but safer. People go too fast for the conditions and crash often. There are many 50 km/h (30 mph) corners and the road is often slick with rain. Keep the DSC on! When you can take your eyes off the road for a second or two the view of the water and mountains is amazing.
Mark

Gabe,

How about turning the comments section into an article about great drives for the MINI? Then at least we can compile a list and make our travel plans. I go through Dubai ever few months on business and will be looking for a MINI rental so I can tackle this route.
Puck

Hana is amazing and insane, but I would never call it the “perfect” road. Much of it is one lane. That’s one lane for cars going in both directions, so if you meet one of you has to pull in to the cliff aas tightly as possible and the other squeaks by. If the road was blocked off to anyone but me it would be great, but you just can’t open up at all lest you meet someone on the next hairpin. This one in Dubai sounds like a seriously good time, but I also would love to hear of some of the sections in Europe. Maybe an international top 10 Gabe? Might be tough to find people who have been on a number of them though.
http://www.mph-online.com Dave. T

while I too find many a fault with ole RF’s musings (almost every one) there can be little doubt that edmunds or a freelance writer did not splurge for this jaunt. let them prove RF wrong.

personally I like any open road sans police.
Giacomo

The last time I was on Maui, 10 years ago, we went to the Ulupalakua’s Tedeschi Winery. A old man suggested, after hearing we were going to Hana, my wife and I forgo the main road to Hana and take the “Back Road” which was just down the street. We did and enjoyed ourselves immensely. At the time is was all dirt. Great views, old churches, flower leis for sale along the way. Did the Hana road, after a nite at Ed’s in Hana, next morning and didn’t enjoy it at all.

Another great drive we did was outside of Silverton Colorado on the Million Dollar HiWay to Ouray. We did it in her A4, would have been better in the MCS and without her.

The drive from Colorado Springs south, just past PIR, to Santa Fe NM on the 25 has some real pucker parts and some top end straights with some amazing altitude climbs and drops as you come into New Mexico going to Santa Fe. Best slow down for those little Barney Fife towns or you will be ticketed.
tony T

I’ve never driven it, but this has sucha reputation…

http://www.sayegh.org/Alps/P9130097r.jpg

Thers also some fine roads in the UK, in Scotland and Wales in particular..

The thing about a truely good road… it has to go somewhere. The road in Dubai looks superb, but it doesnt go anywhere.
Frank

Another GREAT road in North America is the “Icefields Parkway” in Alberta, Canada. That road is about 200 miles long (It connects Jasper in the north with Banff, AB in the south) and it is a gorgeous, curvy road with breath taking scenery, incredible altitude changes and lots of SOLITUDE. I drove it last year, unfortunately behind the wheel of a ’05 Toyota Corolla. Man, did I wish to be in my MINI instead while driving the Icefields Parkway! I promised to myself that one day I’ll drive this road again in a MINI.
DaCrema

Tony T… Your link is the the road I was thinking of!!! I had the location wrong (that’s been happening a bunch). A great drives file would be a nice addition if Gabe has room. John
Chadhoc

Check it out on Google Earth, unfortunately they don’t have close ups. Lat 24Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â° 4’37.20″N Long 55Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â°45’46.33″E
http://dubaiat.com Dubaian

i am from dubai.. that road is amazing and i rarely see any cars pass by there on week days..
LetsGolfn

Hello!

“The Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the greatest driving road in the world.”

Never! But its realy a wonderful street.

You must know: The world greatest driving road is the so called (Jackie Stewart) “The Green hell” [or "The Road to Hell"] and the normal name is “The NÃƒÂ¼rburgring” in Germany. About 100 km away from Cologne and 150 km from Frankfort/Airport.

And i mean not the F1-Racingplace, http://www.rennstrecken.tv/strecke/nuerburgring-gp-strecke/

I mean the old and traditionell “NÃƒÂ¼rburgring-Nordschleife” built in: 18./19. June 1927 Tallness: 20.832 m, curve 73 (33 left, 40 right) Comparison: max. 17 %, descent: max. 11 % Highest point at Start- and Finishline: 620 m Lowest point at “Breidscheid”: 320 m

http://nuerburgring.de/home.324.0.html

That’s the real place for driving your car [perhaps so fast you can]. But if you are not able for “Fastdriving” (or for fast driving on Germans “Autobahn” with normally no Speedlimits), you can get with a so called “NÃƒÂ¼rburgringtaxi”. You can drive with a “Licence Sportscar Driver” in a BMW 5M (~500PS), or perhaps a Porsche 911 GT2 and it would be an incredible adventure/experience for you. http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=28341

So, if you spend your next hollidays in Europa, go to “NÃƒÂ¼rburgring” and drive a little bit – but handle with care!

But CAUTION: It would be like an virus for You! :-)))

Have a nice day LetsGolfn

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