Drive a Mini yet? LOL test driving...

[ping]

Only a handful of cars have actually caused me to LAUGH OUT LOUD during the test drive... and sometimes the subsequent ownership... among them:

1991 16V GTI, SCCA SSB spec, 6-point rollcage, handbuilt techtonics motor, R-compound race tires on my commuter car... 'nuf said!

1989 Olds Cutlass sales car: 4-cylinder Iron Duke, 3-speed automatic... baby blue metallic, bench seat... no cassette... company car. Couldn't get out of its own way... Couldn't believe cars could BE so bad, hated the d@mn thing but it amazed me and, given nothing but routine maintenance and machine washes, never broke in 60kmiles of pretty extreme driving (despite numerous attempts... jk...)

The Mini simply had me belly-laughing, and my wife/still-gf tells me that during the "S" test drive I actually "giggled" (her word, not mine, and I don't remember anything but the afterglow...)

SO... unless you're prepared to relinquish the keys to your MSP, do NOT drive the Mini. It's a hoot. GREAT car, but was too small for me. I thought the MSP came closest to the Mini's direct "feel", and it offered me the stereo and an extra seatbelt in back to boot. What did you guys think?

(PS: "Guys" = generic, non-gender specific term)

-LD

[REMillers]

I'd love to take one around a AutoX or track once, looks like a enjoyable little sprinter. Don't know about laughing out loud, though I would have a big old shit grin. :D

[funnylittlman]

I hear they have had many ecu reflashes due to their hessitation issue, can you attest to this Ping when you drove it?

[Zray]

I drove the SRT4 and the Tiburon when car shopping a couple weeks ago, and the only time I had that giddy experience you're describing was earlier that same day when I jumped in the MSP on a lark. I remember the first time I saw a MSP; I was at a car show and had been checking out all the 350z's and Crossfires and all those fancy shmancy cars, and then I saw this bright yellow thing parked at the Mazda section and started checking it out, immediately thinking "they've tricked this one out pretty nice for the show." Heh... of course it was stock :D I test drove the MSP before the other cars, and nothing else I've been in since then comes even close.

I thought about checking out a Mini, but it's just so... small. =)

[laracroft]

Mini's are cute. I just keep having lil' people thoughts though. Even time I see one stop at a light, I keep imagining about 15 clowns with lil umbrellas and big red shoes poping out. lol

[Excitmnt94]

yeah...those are what i am shooting for next year in Auto-X. at the last event...i was only about a second behind the first place mini S. i still need to drive one though...just to see how fun they can be.

[Aaron]

minis are kewl!!! i test drove an "s" and it was awesome. I would of got one if it was 5grand cheeper. the msp is the best bang for the buck!!!! I love my msp!!!!

[ping]

Aww c'mon! This is an MSP thread - comparing the MSP to the Mini! Over zealous cleanup this time... ;-) no probs though, got me into a new car lounge for a while...

And nope - no hesitation in the "S" that I drove, but I was laughing too hard (maybe that causes the hesitation....!)

[122 Vega]

Supposedly the hesitation in first gear in the Mins is fixed, I'll find out in May when my wife takes delivery of this...

/members/122 Vega/CooperS/ccopersworks.jpg

[Excitmnt94]

that huh...she is getting the John Cooper Works package? if so...thats gonna be one mean Mini :D

[fatorangecat]

Havent driven it yet but--
Between me and my upstairs neighbor-

1 MSP
1 Mini Cooper S
1 Porsche 914

Have to trade cars for a day.,,