The Motor Forum

Grampa · Last edited by Grampa on Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:04 pm; edited 1 time in total

You may recall shortlist is Megane 250, BMW 125 Coupe, Scirocco, wait for next Astra VXR, or as an outsider a Cooper S Works.

Thought I'd get the drive of the outsider out of the way first. Wow, did I change my mind. I was worried that it wouldn't be fast enough - the last one I drove felt nowhere near as strong as the Astra, but that was when it was a dealer fit power boost, this one was a 'proper' JCW.

Even though our normal sales girl wasn't there - best car sales person I've ever dealt with, but she's on maternity leave (son born on the same day and same ward as my granddaughter), still had a really nice greeting from the new girl. Admired the Astra telling me her brother has one and she loves it, but thought I might enjoy the JCW a little more.

First surprise was how much sharper the handling feels than the standard Cooper, second was the engine - like a train, just pulls and pulls. At one point just before the road opened up into three lanes up a long hill, a standard Cooper S came up behind me. "This will be interesting" I thought. I guess the S driver thought so too by the way he was lining up to try and pass the slow traffic too. He must have been in 2nd too judging by the way we both took off, but his headlights (foul day today) just got smaller and smaller in the rear view mirror - great, the Works is definitely the one to go for then.

The demo was loaded up as only MINI know how - yours to drive away for just £31,995!! - looks awful too - black with red stripes over the bonnet and roof with black wheels. As you'd expect at that price, it had the Recaros - which do make a difference and I would quite like them, but I remembered they were a £3000 option on the Mk1 Cooper S. Thought I'd ask just the same. £2000 came the reply, then just as I was thinking "is that too extravagant?" she said "each!!"

So the seats are out of the window, but the car itself is most definitely not now an outsider.
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Andrew L

"him" · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 3:29 pm Post subject:

Was the other Cooper S a turbocharged, or supercharged one?

How do you think it performed compared to the VXR, I would imagine it would feel more "urgent", but was it as quick? Try as I might I cannot bring myself to like the MINI, it tries too hard IMO, it is undoubtedly a good car, just not for me...

(plus it has a turbo, which is a bad thing...)

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Remember - A gym without chalk is a heath spa...

Twelfth Monkey

Grampa

Twelfth Monkey · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 3:59 pm Post subject:

So that should be £32k for a second hand MINI? Haha!
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"Accident Blackspot"? These aren't accidents. They're throwing themselves into the road gladly. Throwing themselves into the road to escape all this hideousness.'

Blarno · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject:

More proof of a German sense of humour...
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Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

Grampa · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject:

If people are daft enough to pay it, you can hardly blame them for charging them - I know I would!

I guess it's a policy to make the sales more profitable - by the time I got back the sales girl had prepared a quote 'as a normal spec' which included 10 extras worth £2520 that I wouldn't want - as it comes with metallic paint will do nicely thanks.
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Andrew L

Nice Guy Eddie · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:08 pm Post subject:

I'd struggle to justify the cost seeing as the Clio Cup is supposed to piss all over the JCW dynamically and for half the price.
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Blarno · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:17 pm Post subject:

simonp · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:31 pm Post subject:

Who's gonna buy one seat, ffs!

As for price I went on the Golf GTI configurator last night and you can get one of those up to £34K.

franki68 · Petrolhead Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 2382

I love the minis...but 32k for a mini of any sort is taking the piss a fraction.

Grampa · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject:

Matt · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject:

The crazy prices are back again, just like the early 2000s.

I'm glad I prefer older cars, because these prices for making cars more entertaining than the factory-softened models are outrageous.
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Small car, big heart.

Guitar Zero · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:53 pm Post subject:

If you get one - take it to Funkpish performance for new dampers, a tit shifter and a 700 bhp bi turbo conversion.
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Previous convictions :

2006 Focus ST 2.5
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2002 Focus 2.0 zetec
1999 Fiat Punto

"him" · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:02 pm Post subject:

Blarno · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:06 pm Post subject:

Yes. Stage II fits the Hi-Wanky rotator splint. Good for another 400 Bhp.
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Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

Matt · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:15 pm Post subject:

Stage 3 includes unobtanium blocks and cylinder heads, presumably?
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Small car, big heart.

Nice Guy Eddie · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject:

simonp · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:40 pm Post subject:

You also get a boot that holds more than 1 shopping bag, too!

Grampa · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:08 am Post subject:

GonnaBreakABuggy · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:32 am Post subject:

Turbonutter · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:20 pm Post subject:

GonnaBreakABuggy · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:21 pm Post subject:

He speaketh the truth.

Keep the hairdryers indoors ;)
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*Innocent Whistle*

Turbonutter · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:44 pm Post subject:

Rodge · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject:

For 32k, I could buy a decent E46 M3, and another one too......
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Blarno · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 9:01 pm Post subject:

Put the 2 engines together....Et Voila: Macca F1!
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Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

GonnaBreakABuggy · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 9:03 pm Post subject:

For 32K, you could have 4 rotary-engined buggies....
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*Innocent Whistle*

Blarno · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 9:06 pm Post subject:

Or a buggy with 4 rotary engines?
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Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

GonnaBreakABuggy · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:36 pm Post subject:

I like the way you think....

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*Innocent Whistle*

gonnabuildabuggy · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:25 pm Post subject:

Martin · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:19 pm Post subject:

Whilst £32k for a MINI is absolute madness, it sounds interesting. Have they managed to sort out the torque steer that you get with the std S and a whole lot more with the Works pack fitted?

The Clio Cup is great value, but some people just couldn't put up with the quality and the cheap interior. Whilst it's perfectly OK for the cost/performance on offer so makes sense in terms of value, it wouldn't be enough for me. The quality and solid engineering feel you get with a MINI is worth the extra. Not that mine was a lot more than a similar age Clio would have been and it's a lot better equipped as well as all the other benefits (appreciating that the MINI is a marmite car).
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simonp · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:13 pm Post subject:

The good thing about the Cooper S is that there are plenty of firms out there who can relieve you of some readies and make it at least as fast as a JCW at a later date, if you so wish. You can't do that with the Clio with it's n/a engine.

Blarno · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:14 pm Post subject:

Grampa · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:00 am Post subject:

GonnaBreakABuggy · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:06 am Post subject:

^^Yeah, but I think the same about those people too

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*Innocent Whistle*

ALF · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:38 pm Post subject:

Yes you can waste silly money on other things, but £32k for a mini does seem madness. Not much else would depreciate quite as fast as a new car, either. There is pleasure in owning a new car, but surely not that much pleasure - not in this instance when a standard Cooper S is so bloody good, and depreciates so little.

£32k.... That could be a mint RS4. An E39 M5 and a Caterham R300. A Lotus Exige S2 and a SH Cooper S... the list goes on.

Grampa · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:40 am Post subject:

Just to clarify IMO the standard Works is definitely worth the extra over the standard S - it's the £11k worth of extras on the demo car that I wouldn't get - none of which (apart from the way-too-expensive seats) added to the car - it actually looked like a dog's dinner!

The second hand options, although a good buy on the face of it aren't an option for me - this car is all about monthly outgoings so I wouldn't be able to afford the second hand option.
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Andrew L

DradusContact · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:17 am Post subject:

Which car are you going to replace, the Astra?
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Grampa · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:53 am Post subject:

Yes - contract is up in March.
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Andrew L

Jasper · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:57 am Post subject:

Have you had a spin in a Scirocco yet?
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"him" · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:00 am Post subject:

I suspect the Scirocco would be a bit "dull" in comparison?
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Remember - A gym without chalk is a heath spa...

Nice Guy Eddie · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:02 am Post subject:

When is the Scirocco/ Golf R due to be launched. They looked yummy in the press shots.
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Grampa · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:15 pm Post subject:

Grampa · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 2:52 pm Post subject:

Turbonutter

TimR · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:36 pm Post subject:

Jasper · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:51 pm Post subject:

I do think they are quite colour sensitive. I fact I only really like them in white and red.

Although the Scirocco R looks fab in Blue.
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Matt · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:13 pm Post subject:

I've seen just the one Scirocco in the lime green and that suits it, but then my level of taste isn't most people's!
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Small car, big heart.

Boxer6 · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject:

Turbonutter · Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:21 am Post subject: