11 replies to this topic

[Jake Didsbury]

HI all,

Just out of curiosity really, I know they are wel known for good road holding / handling, some say they are the best in the world is this the case?
I know there are probably cars such as F1 cars etc that would get around a corner quicker but im talking about everyday cars? and a mini on original cones with solid mounted sub-frames?

Thanks

[CARTER_GT]

I doubt it would be "the" best of all time but im sure it would be up there. But then you have to take into account things such as Tires. 30 year old dunlop aqua jets arnt going to be any where near as good as say Yokohama A032's for example. You also have the differences between wet and dry suspension. In a standard form i would say no the mini is not one of the best handling cars in the world and i mean absolutly bog stock standard. But yes they can be modified to be one of the best. IMO

Cheers,
Steve

[travellering]

Don't know that a mini is anywhere near the "best road-holding" car in the world. There's many sports cars, and race-cars that are barely street legal like Nobles, ariel atoms, most modern supercars, and so on that are going to take most corners faster than a mini.
It may well be claimed that a mini is one of the best in terms of price unit per handling-ability unit, but even in the mini's heyday of the sixties, porsches, Imps, and others were beginning to take the mini on in twisty races.
The mini is more fun to drive than many of those as it is quite forgiving as the limit of adhesion in a corner is approached, and it is a lively and communicative drive thanks to the limited suspension travel, short wheelbase, and direct steering.
Even today, the mini still excels in capacity vs. outside dimensions, but there's not many other superlatives it can truly have claimed against the vast pantheon of sports cars the world has seen.

[DAVEY_C]

haha, he said everyday cars which in my book does not include supercars or barely road legal cars that you would not see everyday.
in my experience i have gone around tight corners at certain speeds that personaly i wouldn't attempt to do in some of the everyday cars i've had... i think they would still give cars a run for their money, due to their size and design you would find it hard to the same in a more modern car because their just not built for it imo.

[mab01uk]

Mazda MX-5......if you include everyday sports cars perhaps?

"Mazda's MX-5, the world’s most popular roadster has received yet another accolade in the Autocar awards taking the title of ‘Best Handling Car 2003’. The Mazda MX-5 beat the Porsche 911 GT3, BMW Z4, and Noble M12 GTO 3-R, proving the Mazda MX-5's driving dynamics still offer tremendous driving pleasure."
More:
http://www.carpages....03_22_11_03.asp

More recent test (2007) of best handling modern cars in USA gave this top 10:
http://www.motortren.../the_field.html

10th: Civic Si
9th: Corvette ZO6
8th: Mazdaspeed3
7th: Honda S2000
6th: BMW 3 Series
5th: New MINI Cooper S JCW
4th: Mitsubishi EVO
3rd: Lotus Exige S
2nd: Porsche Cayman S
1st: Porsche 911 GT3

and in the UK AutoExpress came up with this result:

UK Driver Power Survey 2011
"Our survey crowns Britain's best handling car, rated for steering feel and chassis balance."

Category: Handling
One of the most prestigious categories in Driver Power has to be the handling chart. The way a car can tackle a twisty road, navigate a sharp corner or even deal with an emergency lane change at motorway speeds is assessed and rated here. The key to a good score is a well-engineered chassis, accurately set up suspension and the correct wheel and tyre choice. The model at the top of this chart places its dynamic abilities at the very top of its priority list.

1 MAZDA MX-5/RC MKIII 96.39%

2 MAZDA RX-8 95.32%

3 MINI ONE/COOPER/COOPER S (Mk2 R56) 94.70%

4 SKODA YETI 93.52%

5 JAGUAR XF 93.16%

6 VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO 93.14%

7 AUDI TT/ROADSTER NEW 92.53%

8 MINI ONE/COOPER/COOPER S (Mk1 R50/53) 91.69%

9 BMW 3-SERIES MKIV 91.68%

10 SEAT LEON MKII 89.94%
More:
http://www.autoexpre...l#ixzz1KQm5iANl

Edited by mab01uk, 14 November 2011 - 09:12 AM.

[Wil_h]

A classic mini is far from the best handling car in the world. Good fun though they are.

[ministar]

They aren't half bad though Just a bit slow.....

[racingbob]

when they first came out they probably were

but need setting up to get the best even now you would be hard to beat a mini thats nicely set up

around the lanes and roundabouts, mines good anyway

[ministar]

when they first came out they probably were

but need setting up to get the best even now you would be hard to beat a mini thats nicely set up

around the lanes and roundabouts, mines good anyway

Still think they are pretty good. Setting them up is the key, I have a way to go to make mine brilliant, but it does grip well.

<<< Come on I was holding a Corvette up <<< hhaha

[jaydee]

Mazda MX-5......if you include everyday sports cars perhaps?

"Mazda's MX-5, the world’s most popular roadster has received yet another accolade in the Autocar awards taking the title of ‘Best Handling Car 2003’. The Mazda MX-5 beat the Porsche 911 GT3, BMW Z4, and Noble M12 GTO 3-R, proving the Mazda MX-5's driving dynamics still offer tremendous driving pleasure."
More:
http://www.carpages....03_22_11_03.asp

More recent test (2007) of best handling modern cars in USA gave this top 10:
http://www.motortren.../the_field.html

10th: Civic Si
9th: Corvette ZO6
8th: Mazdaspeed3
7th: Honda S2000
6th: BMW 3 Series
5th: New MINI Cooper S JCW
4th: Mitsubishi EVO
3rd: Lotus Exige S
2nd: Porsche Cayman S
1st: Porsche 911 GT3

and in the UK AutoExpress came up with this result:

UK Driver Power Survey 2011
"Our survey crowns Britain's best handling car, rated for steering feel and chassis balance."

Category: Handling
One of the most prestigious categories in Driver Power has to be the handling chart. The way a car can tackle a twisty road, navigate a sharp corner or even deal with an emergency lane change at motorway speeds is assessed and rated here. The key to a good score is a well-engineered chassis, accurately set up suspension and the correct wheel and tyre choice. The model at the top of this chart places its dynamic abilities at the very top of its priority list.

1 MAZDA MX-5/RC MKIII 96.39%

2 MAZDA RX-8 95.32%

3 MINI ONE/COOPER/COOPER S (Mk2 R56) 94.70%

4 SKODA YETI 93.52%

5 JAGUAR XF 93.16%

6 VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO 93.14%

7 AUDI TT/ROADSTER NEW 92.53%

8 MINI ONE/COOPER/COOPER S (Mk1 R50/53) 91.69%

9 BMW 3-SERIES MKIV 91.68%

10 SEAT LEON MKII 89.94%
More:
http://www.autoexpre...l#ixzz1KQm5iANl

The autoexpress' test looks just a test of which are the easier drive. Which the mx-5/miata is.
The Exige S easily outperforms that cars in handling, yes you really need to know how to drive a mid-engine RWD car to get the best out of it, but the miata is girls car compared to the lotus imho.

I have to add i've driven both mx-5 and the exige, but never had the change to put my hands on the 911 GT3, that would be interesting.

Edited by jaydee, 14 November 2011 - 11:56 AM.

[ministar]

<<< Come on I was holding a Corvette up <<< hhaha

Only in America........

Germany actually...at the best race track in the world!

[DAVEY_C]

<<< Come on I was holding a Corvette up <<< hhaha