SO what does everyone think of the new Mini Cooper?

[Paul_M]

I love the classic mini, but on the strengths of what I have seen on the new MINI (and I have been in one), I think it's great too.

http://www.mini2.com

[tigerirons]

1) When are Mini's going to be on sale in the US

2) Will there be Mini dealers, or will they be sold in conjunction with BMW dealers.

3) What are the 0-60 times for the new Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper-S models.

4) How many pounds does the new car weigh.

5) Is it safe.

Thanks for answerig.

[Sentra Styling]

I love the new mini's...I'm deffinetly gonna have to take one for a test drive....

[Sentra Styling]

excellet site by the way.

[vectorfreak]

I dig the new one too. I can't wait for the sport model and I hope the double sun roof makes it to America! The ultimate SUV FU!

[Chris]

Minis should be on sale within the year

All mini dealers will be BMW dealerships

0-60 times: Cooper: 9 seconds Cooper S: ext 7 seconds

WEight: 2300lbs, base.

It is very safe. It is stiffer than the 3 series, so it won't crush like a tin can. It has a lot of air bags, and they are really trying to push the safety aspect, so it must be good.

[vectorfreak]

I just picked up the new Feb. issue of Road & Track. The Mini is on the cover. There is a review and lots of pics.

"Exciting, fun & affordable."

Everyone loves this thing! I am probably going to have to wait a couple years, before I can afford it because I bet the dealer markup will be around 10k for a while due to demand.

I hate that markup crap, I wish it were illegal. I know this is America and all, but the base price should be the base price.

[taranaki]

I will always be fond of the classic Mini.......My first car was a fire engine red mini Traveller(a British attempt at a woody!)about 20 years ago....It had terminal rust even before I bought it,and my Dad slapped my ear when he found out I'd paid 50 pounds for it!The floor under the pedals had rotted out due to all the body leaks and we pop-riveted a sheet of dexion shelving,cut to shape, over the hole.
The seat mounts had to be re-drilled and moved back to accomodate my knees under the steering wheel........The S.U. fuel pump would cut out at random,and I carried a specially shaped piece of steel rod to reach under the fuel tank and whack it back into motion...there was so much rust and crap in tha fuel tank that you had to keep the gas topped up to avoid sucking shit through to the carb and jamming the float open...the carb being mounted directly over the exhaust manifold made overflowing petrol from the float chamber a real fire hazard!!
It was pointless trying to secure the car thanks to the crappy window locks.I owned it for about 9 months and never locked it up....Starsky and Hutch was the big T.V show in those days and I would have painted the white stripe over the roof if Dad hadn't threatened to kick me out of the house..........
I was real sad to see it go come time to get a certificate for it.We didn't even bother trying,we knew it's time had come.For the next five years,I was the proud owner of a string of worn out Mini's ,1100's and a Riley Elf named Kermit.I got a reputation for buying and burying old Leyland cars.

Recently I tested a new Cooper...it was a damn sight more comfortable than any of the Mini's I ever owned,and a damned sight better built.But it lacks that bouncy handling,that throaty little motor noise and the whistle of air through ill-fitting windows.

Whatever the new Mini is,it can't be related to the classic.

That's a long post,but I enjoyed remembering.........

[Hudson]

I've always been a fan of British cars, but I can't see (atleast from an American perspective) the market for this new version of the Mini. My Suzuki Swift GT seems to be all that the Mini is...and cost less.

The Mini has no rear seat room and the Swift has slightly more. The Swift came with 100hp in 1989-1993 and weighed 1800lbs...which would make it quicker (and more economical) than the basic Mini. The list price for the Swift was between $9-11k, depending on the year...and inflation hasn't been great in the past decade to make $16k a bargain.

Again, I loved the original Mini, but the new one seems to pay tribute to the original without much of the flair...and a BMW-inspired price tag.

I don't think it'll be the hit in the US that the New Beetle or PT Cruiser have been.

[Chris]

Mechanically, from a simple point, the Swift is better. But it won't be nearly as habitable inside (hard plastic isn't as nice as soft stuff) Also, I can imagine the mini will drive and ride better than a swift.

[LjasonL]

i like the new one. ive always had this strange desire to stuff a lotus v8 into the hatch of a classic mini, but im not feeling that with the new one... btw anyone got a classic mini or a lotus v8 for sale???

[DDFresh]

I love the look of the new mini.

Dose anyone know how much the cooper S super charged one is?

And there is only 500 made so they will fly off the lots like crazy.

I want one.. ;-)

Thanks
DD

[dejoux]

I hate it, its to huge to be a mini. Its got no boot space, its got no rear leg room...If it wasnt so 'retro' it would be competeing against the likes of a new Integra, and that would beat it hands down in every category.

What a waste of time

[ZondaFreak02]

how many are going to be produced in a year? i hope it goes into standard production cuz i love this car...


by the way

pick up the JUNE 2002 CAR and DRIVER issue there is a Mini Review in it
( 4.99 Canada, 2.95 pounds UK and 3.99 America)

ALSO

pick up the JUNE 2002 AUTOMOBILE..its on the cover

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[CRX586]

Paul_M:

So you're the guy behind mini2.com? I've been following your site for a while now! Love the site!

I got really excited when I heard about the new MINIs. I'd love to get one (DEFINITELY the S), maybe when I'm out of college. For now I have my 160HP CRX, I'd love to auto-x against one (maybe get the chance this summer).

My gf and I saw a new MINI a few weeks ago in a parking lot, so we got a good close up look. I had goosebumps, the all-glass roof is awesome.