Truth About Cars Drives the 2006 MCS

i do agree that the chrono pack is annoying. sounds like he’s too accustomed to driving RWD cars. i’m still getting used to switching between a BMW and a MINI…two different beasts entirely. you can’t expect to drive a FWD MINI like a RWD go-kart. that’s like saying “this road bicycle sure does ride well on the street, but i just couldn’t get it to work on these mountain trails. must be a poorly designed bicycle.”

Yes, that mistake regarding the boost gauge was corrected.

I think he’s unfortunately correct about the gear box. It hasn’t made me hate the car, but it could be a lot better than it is…

Clearly this person is not appreciative of a car that dares to be different. Is the MINI perfect? Absolutely not. I don’t expect everyone to love it, but in today’s cookie-cutter car industry the MINI stands out as a refreshing alternative to bland, “safe” automotive designs. I would take this individual’s opinion with a grain of salt. There are far more credible journalists and “experts” that truly appreciate the capablities of MINIs. Consider that Dale Earnhardt Jr. owned one and I’d say the MINI has had many ringing endorsements that drown out the snobery and anal retentiveness of this particular reviewer.

He also fails to acknowledge that the multi-link rear suspension of the MINI is akin to that of a RWD BMW 3 series (E36) if I am not mistaken.

Agree with all the comments posted so far. Faulting a product for what is not and failing to see the overwhelming positives it brings to the table is nothing but shortsighted attitude.

Since the R50 MINI was designed in the mid-to late 1990′s, the RWD may have been derived from the E36 3 series of the time. may be Gabe can clarify.

It amazes me the perception “serious car people” have of the MINI sometimes when they don’t actually have any direct experience with the car. When people so vehemently fault the MINI for one thing or another, my question is always “Well what the hell are you driving? What are you comparing this to?” All I know is that after driving my MINI for a week, never before did my Acura Integra feel so much like a Civic. To each their own, but I can’t fathom this “perfect car” they’re comparing.

I love TTACs and Jalopnik, that said, I’ve never cared for Lieberman’s reviews.

I’m guessing he was relishing a chance to skewer a favorite car among their readsership.

I wave at everyone, even (especially?) if it bugs them. I’ll win them over with my persistence. ;-)

did anyone see this comment? : “Front wheel drive is for housewives and people with heart problems. “

yeah- ok guy! u definitly know what ur talking about. (btw, that was 100% sarcasm there) does anyone else find it funny that two of the other cars mentioned in that story were said to be the cars to beat- civic si and mazdaspeed3- are also FWD? who writes this stuff? seriously c’mon. im also surprised he didnt say anything about the GTi. he definitly lives in AZ or some place that doesnt see a drop of percipitation a year. oh yeah! Mazdaspeed3? where did that come from. give an R56 the mazda’s displacement and we’ll talk. and finally a real automotive journalist would have gotten behind the wheel like 4 or 5 years ago. i saved my motor trend and card and driver with the first reviews. thanks guys, just needed to vent. people on sites like that just annoy me and drive car not even worth a review.

I read a review he did on a Convertible orange Mustang, and someone commented about posting reviews of your own cars… so I think thats the car he owns

Amazing. A guy drives the Mini and doesn’t like it. The Mini fourms go haywire. Go figure. I thought my 1979 Honda Civic 1200 was more fun to drive than a Mini. You gonna beat up on me now?

Well let’s see. Obvious enthusiasts on a site essentially devoted to enthusiasts, take issue with what is clearly a poorly researched and written article. And for this you wish to ridicule us?

Seems to me you have the axe to grind here, james. I think the initial post and many of the comments were well stated and thoughtful. I also didn’t find them particularly venomous as you might expect in response to such a negative review.

He is entitled to his own opinion and imo even as a mini lover there is at least a few things to think about in his article.

However, as a person with a BA in journalism, his writing is a joke. I’m sure the attempt was to be overly brash which would invoke an emotional reader to read on. But get your facts straight, get your driving straight etc.

Who mashes the gas on a fwd car in the middle of a corner and complains of understeer. Mash the gas in the middle of a corner in freshly prepared m3 and what happens, oversteer.

I’m a realist about my car and know how fast it is and isn’t. That being said to say this car is not an otption for the track just shows glaring ignorance. The car does decently in all classes it competes in. Sure some new cars stand up to be as good or even a better value, ala the mazdaspeed3 but who cares honestly.

If you don’t see that the mini manages to take an age old style and history and mold it into a solid performing, good on gas, well built hatch that can easily be a hoot to drive on the track, you clearly have no grasp of the automotive market.

I remember first time in a MINI was at a track day summer of 04. I had a Mazda6 and planned on getting a RX-8, and asked one of the instructors if I could ride with him in his MINI. I thought to mysel well this is a convertible it won’t be as fast. My god was I mistaken, we got the wave by from several high horsepower and more expensive machines. I asked the instructor what mods he had said only suspension mods were done. Six weeks later I bought one, a hardtop without a sunroof.