124 replies to this topic

[Ethel]

They handle more than Cash Converters in Anfield.*

Why wouldn't they? Smaller, lighter and lower than any of their modern pretenders, and that's just for starters.



*Other regional stereotypes are available.

[AndyMiniMad.]

* Like a Glasgow chippy??..Or an Amsterdam pleasure parlor?

[duffman]

they're the mutts nuts . . . end of lol.

My dad had a mini which he let me drive when i was younger, since then i've had many modern, high powered or sporty cars like evo, golf gti, mk1 and mk2 MR2 etc etc, even with stiff suspentions they wollow and understeer/oversteer a bit in corners but NOTHING handles like my mini, she's planted and direct with her steering and you feel everything allowing you to get a better driving experience, short but wide wheel base and low to the ground, perfect.

noise, rattles, squeeks etc are all present BUT irrelevant, a mini's not a car, its like a cheeky, excitable puppy that you'll play with all the time, spend fortunes on it, lavish it with shiney things and you'll be sad when its poorly.

modern cars are just a mode of transport which you operate

minis are a member of the family which you drive!!!

you cannot drive it without smiling, even after a ******* day at work, the drive home will bring you home smiling and in a good mood.

[Mini_Magic]

Sold my first Mini, then bought several modern cars. None of them handled as well, so bought another Mini.

Quite simply, they feel fantastic going around any corner at any speed.

Do you mean the road holding or the handling? They are very different things.

I'm talking about handling, there are far better cars out there for road holding.

All the modern cars I've owned have had better road holding then a Mini.

Handling = opinion

Road holding = fact

[Cooperman]

Yes, a well set-up Mini will handle well.
I think the best handling car I have ever driven was a Mk.1 Ford Escort Twin Cam 'works' rally car. It did exactly what was expected and was just so predictable on all surfaces and at all speeds.
The Mini is especially good handling-wise on tight, twisty and relatively smooth tarmac and especially downhill. Because of its short wheelbase it can be 'twitchy' on any sort of bumpy road, the very short suspension travel not helping either.

[Ethel]

Road holding is subjective too as there are different roads - and tyres. Minis excel on back roads with plenty of twists 'n turns but not so much friction.

[mk3 Cooper S]

As a standard low cost car then they handle better than the rest but are a little outdated when compared to a modern performance car in terms or road holding and handling.

If a subjective modern drivability assesment was completed then the results may be a little disappointing at comparable speeds.

[ANON]

it's a shame they don't handle as well as most owners think they do

[Sam Walters]

it's a shame they don't handle as well as most owners think they do

I think for many owners its all theyve ever known apart from things like low cost normal production cars. Ie foucs ect ect.

Two cars that cost less then a decent mini are the mx5 mk1 with a decent set of coilovers and the rallye or 106gti.

All of these cars will out handle and out grip a mini.

[wile e coyote]

Mini's are "point & shoot" - noisy, uncomfortable, unreliable. Handling is best described as direct and you'll easily get a feel of how far to push it. Comparing it with a "modern" car is a touch unfair - it's geriatric, and most modern cars will " have it for breakfast" - but..... its the lack of mod cons like power steering and a fundamentally excellent suspension set up and weight distribution that make it what it is - big grins obligatory. There nothing as much fun as throwing your mini around - something that'd be unsatisfying in a modern car....
Plus a mini driven hard feels like you're going very quickly - most of the time you won't be but it certainly feeds like it...
Wouldn't drive anything else for as much fun!

[jaydee]

it's a shame they don't handle as well as most owners think they do

I think for many owners its all theyve ever known apart from things like low cost normal production cars. Ie foucs ect ect.

Two cars that cost less then a decent mini are the mx5 mk1 with a decent set of coilovers and the rallye or 106gti.

All of these cars will out handle and out grip a mini.

Uhm, i'm sceptic about the mx5 which seemed to me kinda plastic toy (it was mk2, never tried the mk1 thou), but yes the 106 is stunning.

[Stitch306]

noise, rattles, squeeks etc are all present BUT irrelevant, a mini's not a car, its like a cheeky, excitable puppy that you'll play with all the time, spend fortunes on it, lavish it with shiney things and you'll be sad when its poorly.

Yep, sums it up perfectly for me :)

[Sam Walters]

it's a shame they don't handle as well as most owners think they do

I think for many owners its all theyve ever known apart from things like low cost normal production cars. Ie foucs ect ect.

Two cars that cost less then a decent mini are the mx5 mk1 with a decent set of coilovers and the rallye or 106gti.

All of these cars will out handle and out grip a mini.

Uhm, i'm sceptic about the mx5 which seemed to me kinda plastic toy (it was mk2, never tried the mk1 thou), but yes the 106 is stunning.

My friend has an mx5 with these modifications.

Cams
ITBS
Engine management
Coilovers

Then little cosmetic modifications.

I was in the car when he demolosished a m3 csl down the 13 bends of death near us.

But out the box, they dont handle too well!

Edited by Sam Walters, 23 March 2012 - 03:20 PM.

[SqueakyCooper]

Mini is an interesting species. One of those cars where it will do whatever you want up to a point - and then it will kill you. Its a fine balance.

I've totally lost it twice in a Mini - both times in my previous Cooper. Once was deliberate. It was in a controlled environment and I'd just got my new Cooper Sport. I had no idea what it was capable of and I found out. Don't brake round corners...

A second time was certainly not in a controlled environment. Similar situation where I braked around a corner (this time forced) and span around in the middle of a road towards an oncoming truck. I was lucky. It's one of those cars where it will do almost anything if its driven properly. Accelerate at the right times and treat it right and it will really be awesome but the second you do silly modern car habits you'll lose it.

I've only ever driven a Mini with 13 inch wheels though...I'm promised good things when I put 10s on my Mk1 when I finally get around to restoring it.

[Spud_133]

The only time I've messed up is when I was fooling around in the snow, but even I really had to push it stupidly to force a problem, and even then it was slow motion, maybe I'm just too laid back when problems occur? I like to think I'm a good, but safe driver.