Road & Track has a quick update on it's long term MCS tester:
It's funny that a car just about everyone on staff says is tons of fun gets taken on so few trips. Part of the problem is the seven other fine autos in our long-term fleet, many with quite a bit more power. But the main sticking point appears to be its lack of rear-seat space and luggage room if the rear seats aren't folded down.
Another item that keeps people out of the driver's seat is the driver's seat. Many find the seat adjusters too finicky for easy use, while others just can't seem to find a comfortable position, period. But the car is great around town, easy to park. And get it on a back road and you'll think you died and went to go kart heaven, its handling is so sweet.
<p>Roadandtrackcaranddriver sux! That's why I cancelled my subscriptions and went to Autoweek. I can carry 4 adults in my MINI, why can't they? Whassup wif dat?</p>
<p>Little OT, but MINI didn't win the R&T Reader's Choice Awards (Feb '05 issue). Corvette did.</p>
<p>Bummuh!</p>
<p>But a humorous story about picking up a MINI in the Milwaukee area…hopefully it will be online.</p>
<p>Most mags are having trouble with long distance trips in the MINI – I wonder which seats they were using. Stuffing the rears is not t0o common an occurance, I'll admit, but we've been 4 up a few times, and no Jaws Of Life required to extricate the short straws.</p>
<p>I've been on border to border trips, over all kinds of terrain, and frankly, I don't have a problem with the leather seats, which have lumbar support – a very important consideration when I purchased my MINI. </p>
<p>I don't have enough long-distance seat time in the Sport seats to judge, but on our recent Phoenix trip from San Diego, Sean was in the 'S' while I was in Brooksie, and neither of us had any complaints. They are bitch to sleep in, tho. 😉 Consequences from missing a reservation can be so….interesting. </p>
<pre><code> BCNU,
Rob in Dago
</code></pre>
<p>I have a rocken' MCS/works and I had a really hard time with my seats. I never could get the lumbar support to fit me appropriately so the last time it was in for service I had them remove the lumbar and it is much better for me. it was an easy fix and cost me $160 in labor to take out and if I have to, it can be re-inserted.</p>
<p>Rob I agree. I took my MINI on a cross country trip coming up on 3 years ago loved every minute of it. I'm 6' 2″ and had no trouble remaining totally comfortable throughout the trip. And after 10 minutes of driving you should be able to figure out the seats…. com'n people!</p>
<p>And what's the deal with complaining about the lack of rear seating space. Shouldn't the name tip you off that it's not a land yacht?</p>
<p>I think that the operative point in the seating comments (and this is by far not the first mag to make the point that their reviewers left it in the garage for long trips) is that these magazines usually have a stable of cars at their disposal. </p>
<p>If they are faced with a 5 hour trip with more than 1 other person, it probably comes to the point of walking into the garage, looking at the cars and going, “Ah well, I guess I'll take the Lexus (or Maxima, or 5 series, or whatever).”</p>
<p>It's not that it's a big inconvenience, when it's your only car (or one out of 2) but when the choice is in front of you, then I can see not choosing the Mini for that sort of trip.</p>
<p>I can understand the complaint about he seat. Being 6'3″ it took some fiddling to find the perfect seat position with enough reach to the steering wheel and a comfortable leg position. I have found that the hardest setting to duplicate is the seat back position. As a result my wife has agreed to never adjust the seat back position, only forward and back and up and down.</p>
<p>-m</p>
<p>I find the up/down to be the most disconcerting. It adjusts both height and rake, forcing me to adjust all three (height, rake and fore/aft) when sharing with a shorter driver. I think BMW group could have done better. But the car rocks!</p>
<p>I am glad that they found the car fun to drive around town. With road testers like these it is no wonder that we have large SUV being the car of choice for the buying public. Stating that they can not figure out how to work the seats is just poor work. I guess MINI should have electric seats that have 26 way adjustments and auto coffee delivery. It is to bad that they did not take the time to learn the car they tested. One would think that is their job. </p>
<p>I was able to figure out the seats in a very short amount of time. The MCS comes with Sport Seats which I find very nice on long trips. What are they comparing the car against for long trips?</p>
<p>Feel free to edit this note to correct spelling and grammer. The artical just rubbed me the wrong way. I did not take the time to be more correct.
Take car all and enjoy driving long trips around town.
John</p>
<p>Does anybody know why they had to spend $1047.00 in repairs?</p>
<p>I've done four and five hour trips in my MCS with no discomfort in the seats. As a matter of fact I find them comfortable. I think the combination of numerous seats adjustments and the peculiar seat height elevation technique of rotating around a center and not equal elevation change at the front and rear of the seat cussion do make achieving a comfortable setting more than a little fiddly. As humans we are very adaptable. Maybe they just didn't invest the time into becomming adapted to the MINI.</p>
<p>Oops. I can spell cushion.</p>
<p>I agree, the MINI is very comfortable, more comfortable than a lot of other cars. The fact that the windsheild and A pillar are so far away and great head room even WITH the sunroof make it very roomy feeling. There is plenty of room up front. It gets a little crowded with four but I've never had anyone complain. Sport seats are great. Anyone driven a Taurus lately? The roof and A pillar are right at your temples and a friends Jeep Grand Cherokee is far more confining up front. See, a MINI really isn't inside and a GRAND Cherokee isn't Grand!</p>
<p>It's a shame…when I was a kid in the early 80s I loved buying R&T and looking at all the supercars. Their enthusiasm for driving was palpable to me. It's sad to see that they have fallen near the level of American-focused Motor Trend (which sucked even 20 years ago).</p>
<p>I'd have to ask them how many people they are taking on trips? The Cooper is perfect for weekend getaways with a special someone. Throw a carry-on bag in the trunk and you're off. The seats are comfortable on long trips, and if you get tired, well that's your body telling you to stop and smell the roses. I just don't think these guys get it.</p>
<p>Actually I just purchased my 2005 MCS. After about a month, I have to say, I'm actually having slight trouble getting comfortable in my seat. I have lumbar support, but that doesn't seem to help. Everytime I was going out for a spin I found myself adjusting the whole ride. </p>
<p>I finally decided to just settle with one position and try to get used to it.
Interesting that vordo took out the lumbar. I was wondering if that would help. Seems extream though.</p>
<p>I still love the car!</p>