philooo

I have been driving my wife's Mini Cooper, base model non-turbo, and even though the engine is pure garbage, the chassis and steering are fantastic.

Compared to my 7 years old 996, the Mini steering is much sharper, plenty of feedback, and the chassis is very playful. The suspension are not punishing and still they give so much control.

I still think that the engine of the 996 make up for all those things, but still I wish I could get a lighter sharper steering and suspension as well. I bet I could improve the suspension with sway bar and a set of coil over, but I don't feel like adding $5k to my car. I'd rather add a little more and go for a gt3.

Anybody experience the same kind of feeling ? I have seen a couple of 911 owners switching to the mini cooper, no ?

LVDell

Huh? Have you driven both at the limit? When you do, come back and update your post.

BruceP

We have an R50 MINI Cooper, too, with the sport suspension and 16" wheels.

The flaw in the comparison is speed: A MINI Cooper is just as much fun at 60 kph as a 911 is at 120 kph. As an urban assault vehicle for car enthusiasts, a MINI is hard to beat, and other motorists just don't seem to get pissed at you no matter what you do.

That's not what a 911 is really supposed to excel at.

racer

Out of the box, one of the most fun test drive I ever has was in a 2005 Mini Cooper S. A BLAST on a highway cloverleaf. On demand under OR oversteer.. I was grinning the entire time. Very communicative steering. And that car, (168(?) hp, and 2600lb is nearly a dead match for a US spec 911SC (180hp, 2700lb)

The key is its relative light weight (300-400lb lighter than the 911), its short wheelbase and, as you know, very quick steering.

LVDell

I'll bet the size of the car (i.e., mini in size) has a lot to do with the "feeling" of what the car can/cannot do. In cruising around town speeds, I'm sure it's a blast. Just not at those higher speeds compared with a Carrera.

achtung911

im sorry, i have to disagree with you, i drive minis all day long and they are terrible cars...

Marc Gelefsky

BruceP

BMW went to a lot of trouble to give that car its personality. Things like brake pedal feel and throttle response were made way touchier than would normally survive an automotive focus group. Between that and the quick steering ratio and the light weight (as mentioned), it "feels" like a go-kart. One of those rare cars that is both great marketing and a great product... for its intended audience and purpose.

fpb111

It is a lot more fun to drive a slow car fast then to drive a fast car slow.

achtung911

its not that they dont have response, cause they do. there just very cheaply made and are falling apart quickly (not aging well). i like the way they look, and i know there is always exceptions as i know someone will come out and say "mines in perfect condion". im talking about normal ppl that just use there cars as a point A-B. its unfortunate that they arnt as good quality as the BMW's are made.

racer

They are built to a price point ($22-28K for a Mini Cooper S) that the 996 is not ($65-100K). I'd guess overall quality of a similar year 996 might be similar

Sneaky Pete

There was a Mini in one of my DE's this year. Passed him a few times in one session....he was an instructor.

BruceP

My wife adores hers. I won it at a golf game and gave it to her, and it still makes her light up like a teenager when she drives it. That's some inarguably amazing performance right there.

redridge

Minis are cool cars.... wound up with a 328xi instead. The more I drove it, the more I thought about the mods I needed to have done to her in order to have the connection with the road... front wheel drive just doesnt do it with this car. I already got that mod problem with one car..... dont need two.

Riad

Free cars always put a smile on your face.