124 replies to this topic

[duffman]

Look at everyone getting alllll technical, trailing arms, weight distriibution, weight ratios... If only i had the time, Meh ill just drive it

this ^^^^^^^
i don't care that tuning and tweaking will let me do 65 in a corner rather than 60, when i take it a 50 i'll still be smiling and isn't that what its all about?

[Cooperman]

Look at everyone getting alllll technical, trailing arms, weight distriibution, weight ratios... If only i had the time, Meh ill just drive it

this ^^^^^^^
i don't care that tuning and tweaking will let me do 65 in a corner rather than 60, when i take it a 50 i'll still be smiling and isn't that what its all about?

No, it's about handling, you are talking about the road-holding, as explained above.

[Cooperman]

It goes back to the debate a while ago, whether for track with road going tyres are you meant to increase the pressure, or decrease the pressure? Say a A032R 165 10'' tyre would be classed as a road going tyre yes? What Psi from cold would be optimum for best road holding on track? Very interesting subject.

An Ao32R at 165 section on a 10" wheel would probably work best on a track at around 36 to 38 psi. You would really need to ask a racing person rather than a rally person, but if I had to take my rally car onto a track I would use that sort of figure.

[jaydee]

ive just got a mk1 Mazda MX5 and i got to say that the handling is absolutly spot on. But the only way i can say its any better than a Mini is that it soaks up bumps better. It terms of grip and how much you can throw it into a corner, then they are about the same.
I do like the rear wheel drive on the mx5 though, switching between understeer and oversteer by blipping the throttle round a roundabout.

You're the second one saying that about the mk1.
I've only driven the mk2, and, now that i recall the spec, it was on koni+eibach, and the handling was just FINE and not great, it was only a car easy to drive, but nothing special.
Maybe i need to try the mk1, there are a lot of differencies between them.

[TfcIan]

I'd say that most modern cars have more grip in corners than my mini. The difference, however, is that you feel like you're going twice as fast in a mini and you actually feel like you're connected to the car, rather than in some safe box which has no bumps, fancy electronics and quiet engines. You can feel like a rally driver in a mini, try do that with a modern car.

[oli8925]

I resisted the temptation to reply a few days ago, but the above post pretty much sums it up. Pretty much all modern cars from pretty much all manufacturers will beat a standardise or novice-modified Mini on road holding and handling. But it won't feel like it and you won't get excited by it. In a new Corsa you could go faster around any given corner but it won't feel nice and you will think you're about to roll over. In a Mini you may not be quite so fast but it'll feel great and like the car's on rails.

The Mini hasn't been about going fast or around a corner fast since the 60's, but it still feels as good. Not that I was there back then but you get the point.

[AndyMiniMad.]

Eight pages!! Really??

[mab01uk]

ive just got a mk1 Mazda MX5 and i got to say that the handling is absolutly spot on. But the only way i can say its any better than a Mini is that it soaks up bumps better. It terms of grip and how much you can throw it into a corner, then they are about the same.
I do like the rear wheel drive on the mx5 though, switching between understeer and oversteer by blipping the throttle round a roundabout.

You're the second one saying that about the mk1.
I've only driven the mk2, and, now that i recall the spec, it was on koni+eibach, and the handling was just FINE and not great, it was only a car easy to drive, but nothing special.
Maybe i need to try the mk1, there are a lot of differencies between them.

You may be interested in a couple of 5th Gear track tests of the new v old Mazda MX5's and 2010 MX5 v MINI Cooper S convertible below:

Edited by mab01uk, 28 March 2012 - 05:40 PM.

[oli8925]

I'm afraid I'd have to see that to believe it.

I'm interested in your short 4 door though (assuming you meant www.stretchmini.com), I like it.

[Spud_133]

Any time you are in Norwich give me a call, I dont make a habit of it but when I want to get home from a long distance wedding I wont hang about I can take you out in the stretched mini to show you how it handles if you want, I have nothing to hide.

Totally off topic, but are you the man who had his stretched mini on display at the Norfolk show last year? Ifso, it was a mighty fine example!

[Spud_133]

Lol, I was very impressed, got in for free, (was doing a sponsored bike ride with college) and there was a mini and strippers near each other

[MaxAndPaddy]

Do Mini's Really Handle That Well !


Yes

[Spud_133]

That is what I meant and thought I wrote, but obviously didn't

[Spud_133]

I'm forever skip reading and seeing what I want to

This isn't really on topic, so, yes minis do hold the road well, and with some valuable modifications, in the right hands, they also handle well.

[Spud_133]

Something handles well with a pole dancer