11 replies to this topic

[Reidbook]

Hi Mini people, just a quick question, would a long wheel base Mini handle as well as a standard length saloon? Thanks in advance

Adam

[nicklouse]

yes and no and maybe, as there is less weight over the rear no.

 

but your question is so open you will have to use more words.

 

Why?

what for?

would be good for starters.

[cal844]

They do if set up correctly, they'll be a wee bit more body roll

Edited by cal844, 10 March 2019 - 12:49 PM.

[Reidbook]

yes and no and maybe, as there is less weight over the rear no.

but your question is so open you will have to use more words.

Why?
what for?
would be good for starters.

Kind of fast road use, or as a street sleeper. Don’t have one but quite like Mini Vans.

Edited by Reidbook, 10 March 2019 - 01:11 PM.

[andyapanel]

My pickup did not have any bad road manners, but it was extremely noisy.

It was on standard rubber springs, KYBs and 12"wheels

[nicklouse]

my Pup was a bit tail happy. standard everything 998.

[DeadSquare]

From many years of driving many Minis, my well set up Pick-up was the best / most predictable handling, although a hydrolastic saloon in the wet was the most fun.

 

It maybe in part be due to the longer wheel base, but not entirely, because I once grafted an extra subframe mounting part of the bulkhead, with longer bonnet etc:, into a saloon and it wasn't as super as I had hoped. 

 

Having observed in the rear view mirror how the rear doors of an Estate move up and down against each other when driving through tight S bends, I think that it is also due to the much greater stiffness imparted by the panel between the load and driver/passenger compartments.

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

The wheelbase will make a barely noticeable difference.  The lack of stiffness due to the missing secondary bulkhead will make more difference but probably only when using super sticky rubber.  Mini vans still handle well - just marginally less well than the other models.

[Cooperman]

I wonder whether we are talking about handling or road-holding here. The two are not the same thing by any means. I noticed that tyre compound was mentioned and that will have little effect on handling, but a vast difference to road-holding, for example.

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

I was talking about handling and speculating whether increasing the road holding with stickier rubber would cause more twisting of the bodyshell and therefore have a detrimental effect on the handling.

 

Edit: spelling

Edited by unburntfuelinthemorning, 10 March 2019 - 04:41 PM.

[Cooperman]

Yes, I see where you are coming from.

The torsional rigidity of the Mini bodyshell is quite high, but the vns and pick-ups may not have quite such a high figure for it. The vans and pick-ups I have had over the years have not had wider wheels and/or stickier rubber and I have treated them as work vehicles rather than for higher performance.

[DeadSquare]

I had it from "the horses mouth",  Mr Issigonis,  that the Mini pick-up has the greatest torsional rigidity.