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      06-05-2007, 01:42 PM   #1
MrRipfrog
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Mini Loaner

Turned the car in for service yesterday and they gave me a mini for a loaner. The crazy thing is all the little similarities with this car and the 335(buttons, options, etc.), yet a completely different car. (of course)

It felt like the automatic transmission was slipping but as I drive it more it almost seems like is has a continuously variable transmission. However, you can put it in DS mode and also manually shift through the gears. Not a very fast car, but it's not an "S".

This car really has a rough ride. You feel virtually every bump in the road. It does turn on a dime though.

The perspective while sitting in the car is crazy. It's a short car but fairly wide with lots of headroom. I have plenty of leg room and at 6'4", that's not too shabby.

Interesting ride but I can't wait to get my baby back. Here are a couple of pics. Just though I would share.
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      06-05-2007, 02:01 PM   #2
a burrito
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I had similar impressions when driving my friends "S" although the biggest difference that i do see is that the S felt very peppy and quite torquey for what it was. Steering is very nice and does have that go-kart feel. great gas mileage and good power goes hand in hand. the mini is pretty impressive!
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      06-05-2007, 02:12 PM   #3
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My aunt in Italy has a manual mini.......was there last summer as I normally go to europe durring the summer for the past 14 years or so now. The car was a lot roomier then I thought. Managed to fit her, myself, my mom, and my sis, along with some suit cases and stuff in the back. Cant really break down a car's performance aspects on busy Italian streets haha, its a nightmare. However, I spent a few weeks with my family in Germany as well and that was a totally different story. We hit up the autobahn on our way to Duseldorf........though we were limited by the lack of power of my cousins GTI haha. We were doing 240 km/h in the right lane (slow lane on the autobahn) and there were cars flying past us in the right lane, i mean seriously just zooming by going atleast 300 km/h!
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      06-05-2007, 02:13 PM   #4
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The Mini needs non-rfts even more than the E9x.
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      06-05-2007, 02:16 PM   #5
Ryan 330i
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i am so envious. i wish i would have gotten a mini loaner.
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      06-05-2007, 02:17 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boost_Nation View Post
My aunt in Italy has a manual mini.......was there last summer as I normally go to europe durring the summer for the past 14 years or so now. The car was a lot roomier then I thought. Managed to fit her, myself, my mom, and my sis, along with some suit cases and stuff in the back. Cant really break down a car's performance aspects on busy Italian streets haha, its a nightmare. However, I spent a few weeks with my family in Germany as well and that was a totally different story. We hit up the autobahn on our way to Duseldorf........though we were limited by the lack of power of my cousins GTI haha. We were doing 240 km/h in the right lane (slow lane on the autobahn) and there were cars flying past us in the right lane, i mean seriously just zooming by going atleast 300 km/h!
Can't wait for a report from a 335 ED with v. 2 PROcede, if it has speed limiter delete, and if the M-sport suspension and M-sport wheels can be ordered as OEM from factory via Performance unit. [without which I would be too scared to take a 335 up to 300kph]
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      06-05-2007, 02:21 PM   #7
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Checkmate mini. Atleast that mini has LSD, something we desperatly need
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      06-05-2007, 02:39 PM   #8
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I'd love a MINI loaner... that would be cool. They are little go karts!
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      06-05-2007, 02:44 PM   #9
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It's not a bad car at all! Go-Kart is right and the perfect term to associate to this car. It's one of those cars you take back in the canyons and give it hell through the corners. I was surprised that they gave me this as a loaner and quite impressed... although, can't wait to get my baby back.
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      06-05-2007, 02:56 PM   #10
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nice, i wish i got a mini as a loaner, something about the car just appeals to mine attention
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      06-05-2007, 03:16 PM   #11
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I had two MCS (2004 and 2006) - loved them, but really needed more room. The pics are of a Cooper, and if an automatic, for that style it is a CVT. No LSD in it, although you can spec one in an MCS (2005+ MY)

Every now and then I miss it - then again, usually only at the pump...
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Last edited by WxSquid; 06-05-2007 at 03:17 PM.. Reason: spelling
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      06-05-2007, 03:33 PM   #12
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i'd love it if the dealer would give me a mini as a loaner. i'd love to try one out for a day
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      06-05-2007, 03:45 PM   #13
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This is what I want... Will have to cross No mans land but I am looking forward to these coming stateside next year.



But then it won't be too long before some Redneck tool does this...

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      06-05-2007, 08:21 PM   #14
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The Smarts are already here. A local Honda Dealership has quite a few for sale

Colonial Honda in Glendale
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      06-05-2007, 08:22 PM   #15
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South Bay BMW has a Cooper S loaner. I drove it for a few days when my X5 went in for service
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      06-06-2007, 12:13 AM   #16
stefman
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Cool loaner!
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      06-06-2007, 01:00 AM   #17
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The Mini would be fun to borrow for a couple days.
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      06-06-2007, 09:54 AM   #18
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I really want to try the new Mini S - John Cooper Works. I wish they were RWD, though.

http://www.autosite.com/content/shar...le_id_int/1359
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      06-06-2007, 09:58 AM   #19
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the mini is one of the most "fun" cars I've ever driven, and i've driven a lot of cars
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