TheTruthAboutCars.com’s Jonny Lieberman took a current 2006 MINI Cooper S out for a quick spin around the block, in preparation for a comparison against the ’07 model:
>Other than sipping cheap wine next to the trio of stunt cars used in the third Austin Powers movie, I’d never had a chance to get up close and personal with a MINI.
>After caning the MINI through California hill and dale, I can proclaim here and now that the MINI Cooper S is indeed the world’s fattest go-cart. The initial turn-in is awesome: tight, accurate and eager. Right until the apex of a turn, the MINI lives up to the hype, steering and responding with the kind of rapid fire, laser-guidedconfidence that makes motorized dinner trays such a kick in the ass. From the turning point on, the go-cart analogy drives straight into the metaphorical tire wall.
[ 2006 MINI Cooper S ] Truth About Cars
MF Analysis: It’s unclear whether Jonny really means “fastest” when he calls the MINI “the world’s _fattest_ go-cart”, but it’s obvious his attention to detail is somewhat lacking. He claims the chrono pack has a boost gauge for the supercharger (it doesn’t), and his nearly-libelous comment that “[while] cute, the MINI is not a track-day option” will likely get him lynched by those who regularly track their MINI (Cooper and S alike).
Maybe it’s because he’s used to driving performance rear-wheel drive cars, but the MINI rocks on the track. Then again, he has been spending a lot of time in trucks, lately. At a recent BMWCCA school, I had no problem getting around the car-shaped obstacles like E46 M3s, Porsches, and the occasional Gallardo. Let the car settle into the corner and then bury your foot into the carpet and it’ll haul out of the turn hard enough to give you whiplash. Get it drifting a bit, and you can induce under- or over-steer with a nudge of the throttle. It’s supremely controllable, and a helluva lot of fun. Especially with the optional limited-slip diff.
Perhaps the interior is a bit brash, but that’s one of it’s defining characteristics, and something I feel is being lost a bit in the ‘07 redesign. The brashness sets it apart from all of the other cars that make you think about nappytime, instead of putting a big grin on your face when you settle behind the wheel. But this car’s really about driving, and if you know what you’re doing, the understeer’s not as bad as he intimates.
But at least he remembered to properly capitalize “MINI”.
Wow, that guy really does care for the MINI what a shame that he could not see and appreciate the uniqueness of this great car. I wonder what he is driving.
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.”
Maybe he edited the review but it says “(where’s the boost gauge?)” implying it does not have but needs one. I’m pretty sure he means ‘fatest’ as in big. The go-cartness of a MINI is more a comparision to other cars than real go-carts, especially the high performance ones.
The rest of the review seems to think the car should handle like as if it had RWD.
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…
“Roadster”? Clueless berk. Not only badly chosen verbiage, but I love it when a guy brags about his competence, then proceeds to throw all that pseudo-cred under a bus by failing to adapt to each different car’s dynamics – fast guys can drive anything fast, poseurs can drive anything and think their going fast. Where’s he been for four years, under a rock? – how hard is it for an auto writer to get a drive in a new-ish car? If he has trouble with certain aspects of a vehicle going in, and can’t do an objective analysis, why take up the profession, anyway. This review is like the old muscle-car days, when cars that actually turned were frowned on in favor of battleship anchors that any ozob could get out of control on a freeway on-ramp and think they were 10/10ths. Sheesh.
BCNU,
Rob in Dago
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.
“Horsepower sucking supercharger”? That’s the only part of this review that has me scratching my head. Maybe we should discuss the definition of ‘back pressure’ cause that’s what usually slows you down when you let up on the throttle, and I’ve never noticed the MINI to have a problem in this regard, unless you’re driving a 20 year old automatic transmission without a lockup in top gear. Sounds like somebdy needs to practice their heel-to-toe…
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.
I thought the current MINI’s rear suspension was based on the recently retired E46 3-series platform, not the E36 3-series…
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.
I meant to say the rear suspension setup, not the RWD.
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 <em>you</em> 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.
In reference to Nathaniel’s comment, I would also add that if you look at how many other “serious car people” actually drive MINIs, especially those who own or have owned some very impressive exotic sports cars, it says even more about how the MINI is not just a cute trendy car but its recognized as a serious performer.
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.
What an amazing craptacular article, but then again the author proves the point that the MINI is not for everyone. It’s almost refreshing to read something about the MINI that is so far on other end of the opinion spectrum that it’s amusing. Simply put, there are MINI drivers (where’s a picture of Mini Driver when you need one), and there are non-MINI drivers; he’s certainly not going to get a “wave” from me. =)
I wave at everyone, even (especially?) if it bugs them. I’ll win them over with my persistence. 😉
Bottom line. MCS(JCW) is the funnest and most unique car I have ever driven at any price. I made an enormous mistake selling mine for a $70,000 Cayman S. When I took the MINI to cruise ins people swarmed around it asking questions and wanting to sit in it. I took the Porsche and it was ignored all night.
I drive my girlfriends MCSC and tell her I’d trade her straight up. I can’t wait until the new convertibles come out so I can come back! No car is everything to everyone and MINI doesn’t try. It succeeds in being like nothing else in the world.
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.
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?
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
<blockquote>I thought my 1979 Honda Civic 1200 was more fun to drive than a Mini. You gonna beat up on me now?</blockquote>
Why would we do that? That car was a hoot! It’s too bad 95% of those are now piles of red dust.
<blockquote>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? </blockquote>
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.
Yeah, Hondas are so cool. James must have meant to log on to the POS site and got here by accident.
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.
That website was the same dump that had the article about how manual transmissions caused accidents, in a lame attempt to boost readership by conterversy. They could love the MINI or hate it, I couldn’t be bothered to care. Now when Brock Yates loves his MINI, that’s why I start bragging… (and he does, and I do)
<p>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.</p>