26 replies to this topic

[dyl003]

I know it may be a case of 'how long is a piece of string' but as a newbie owner I was wondering on the Mini cruising on the motorway.

Only bought mine last week (1275 Sprite auto) and have been driving it locally, but if I take it on the motorway, do they comfortably sit a 70mph on a decent run?

I will be doing a motorway run this weekend and just want to make sure I don't overdo it with my new baby :). I'm no boy racer and I realise the car is 20 years old and is not going to run like my main car, but I at least want to keep up with the flow of traffic at 70ish if that's possible without affecting reliability.

[IainStallard]

I do the college run every day at 70mph quite happily and that's revving at about 3700-4000rpm, it can easily take it though

[megamini_jb]

I always sit at 65

[Cooperman]

Exactly 50 years ago I bought my first new 998 Cooper. I used to cruise on motorways at 5200 rpm which was about 75 mph.

When I got a 1275 Cooper 'S' with the 3.44:1 FDR I cruised at 5000 rpm which was just over 80 mph.

Up to 5000 rpm cruise is fine.

Just let it rev!

[Andy!]

It'll be able to take the abuse just fine, your ears however may be a different story..

[Miniminx71]

Speed isn't the problem. It's getting stuck in those wheel ruts lorries have made in the slow lane on a lot of motorways. Like being in a dodgem.

[HarrysMini]

Your car will do 70 eeeasily.. Obviously absolutely no faster as that would be illegal.

[ToM 2012]

i can sit at 70 on motorway all day long nice and quiet. anything over 80 it will shake my teeth out! 

[Gr4h4m]

you might find after running at that speed for a long period of time your oil might get a little hot....

[robminibcy]

Your car will do 70 eeeasily.. Obviously absolutely no faster as that would be illegal.

having driven a 998 mini with a 3.44 diff as a daily until recently I think easily is a bit of an overstatement. Yes it will do 70 but hills and heavy loading will affect it quite a lot! The revs are an issue as well if you want to listen to music or chat! The engine will take it no problem though and provided its properly maintained it shouldn't touch wood let you down!

[Chris1992]

i tend to cruse my 998 at an indicated 75, which is actually about 65 lol... it can happily chug along at that speed for hours

[Alex_B]

My 998 easily cruises at 70, and 80 and given a long enough flat or downhill it will get up to 90 without much issue but obviously being totally illegal that doesn't happen on 'er majesties roads

[IainStallard]

you might find after running at that speed for a long period of time your oil might get a little hot....

I've found this too, using an oil such as Valvoline VR1 seems to cope better than say Halfords classic though. Never had too much of a problem though, sat at 70mph for an hour and a half on the way to Beaulieu at the weekend with no trouble

[dyl003]

Well no rev counter or oil temp gauge so can't check those things, but good to hear running at 70ish is a common thing in a mini.

[Hrimfaxi]

Don't be afraid to rev it, the only problem is the noise haha.

I sit comfortably around 65mph on motorways, but can "Make progress" when needed...