Hard to believe that a large publication like the Washington Times is just now writing a review of the MINI range. Here’s an excerpt from an article that appeared in yesterday’s edition:
>Thanks to suspension and steering based on the BMW 3-series, the Cooper is nimble and highly maneuverable in any of its iterations. Consequently, even in the relatively underpowered base form, it remains fun to drive. Moving up the food chain, however, to the S, brings a more highly tuned version of the suspension along with reinforced anti-roll bars. For the extra bucks required, the S is the way to go. The additional juice and firmer suspension make a dramatic difference.
While it seems like a tremendous waste, a six-speed automatic transmission is available as a $1,300 option. Something akin to installing a handbrake on a roller coaster, the automatic dampens the overall Cooper driving experience. The money would be better spent on the Sport Package.
You can read the entire review below:
[ Mini offers maxi fun ] Washington Post
I would have to disagree with the auto comment. My MCSa is a lot of fun to drive and the paddles are excellent. I wish it were an SMG, but it’s not and it still manages to be fun to drive.
I wish Top Gear would test the MINI Cooper S. 🙁
I remember Fifth Gear had somekind of MINI test, or did they?
MF Staff,
I believe it is in the Washington Times; NOT the Washington Post.
Top Gear did test the MCS. It made the highest level of “coolness”. Only the Aston Martin made it to “sub zero”.
Actually Warren Brown who writes for the Post did a review of the 02 when it came out. Warren liked the MINI so much, in fact, he ordered one for himself.
I wrote to him years ago and invited him to join NAM and MINI2, so maybe he’s lurking out there.
BIG difference between the Washington Times and the Washington Post, except perhaps in their boosterism for the Iraq War. Weirdly, the Times has perhaps been less editorially favorable to the Iraq War.
There are bits of sloppy editing in this Times review. For example, Mini was only “revived” in the U.S. — an important distinction. The Cooper was actually “launched” in 2001 (in the U.K.) The Land Rover/MG history in the review is spotty at best. The reviewer forgot about Rover, for example, and doesn’t mention that BMW dumped Rover/MG, too. And the factory-direct John Cooper Works option is available with the 2006 <em>model year</em>. (“Until 2006” reads strangely in calendar year 2005.) I’m not saying that the reviewer needed to go into detail in these areas, but it shouldn’t be necessary to sacrifice accuracy, too.
That said, it’s always nice to see another review.
Yep, the UK TV series did do a feature on MINI. A comparison between three Tuning companies JCW, and two others 2003/2004.
The MINI word is slowly spreading…does it take this long to filter through to papers in Washington?
There must be still some parts of the USA that STILL think Mini is a disney character.
Oops…the UK TV series is of course Top Gear by Jeremy Clarkson, who absolutely hates BMW and its cars.
Some day, someone will get the story about the suspension differences (lack thereof) between the Cooper and the S right. Spend $500 for the Sports Suspension Plus, and the Cooper has the same exact suspension as a Cooper S.
From the article:
<blockquote>There’s no way anyone could watch that quartet of Mini Coopers zipping around in the 2003 film “The Italian Job” and not think to themselves: Man, I’d love to do that.</blockquote>
Quartet? Four? Ummm… Other than two all-too-brief appearances by a late 90’s classic red/white Rover Mini Cooper early in the film, the Italian Job’s climatic and well-staged chase involved <em>three</em>, not four, MINI Coopers.
Timothy, in reviewing the Times review, you also should have mentioned that the horsepower in the 05 MCS is not 163, it’s 168.
Heh, I guess this guy is used to writing reviews for 300hp vehicles….as any real Mini lover will tell you its not about the straight away speed but the corners, which either vehicle(cooper or S) handle perfectly well. Maybe he should stick to writing SUV reviews.
Washington Times blows as a newspaper – no one reads it – maybe that’s why they don’t get current cars to review.
My ’04 MC (BRG/WHT) just turned 30k miles. Lemme say that with the Sport Package (great suspension) I don’t mind a “lack of power” (at low RPMs). When I’m eager to GO! I just prepare for near-redline shifts… and the car LOVES IT!
Cornering is a dream! since mounting 16×7 TOYO Proxies T1-S sticks like glue (careful not to pull a neck muscle).
I actually wish papers/mags would STOP reviewing the MCS… because it just doesn’t get the ecomony of the Cooper (my ave. 33.6mpg). and if you drive like me, that extra 55HP may get you into trouble. lol
He also refers to the price of the MINI Cooper as bargain basement. Whilst I can’t vouch for you chaps in the US, it certainly isn’t bargain basement price here in the UK. In fact it’s an expensive little car.
Gabe there is a huge differance between the Washington Post and the Washington Times. One only has to look at the ownership of the Times to see why it is not a popular paper in D.C.. BTW the owner is The Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon.