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My friend gave me a ride home from Boston to NH yesterday in his Mini, a Cooper S with about 190 HP. I'd driven this car locally on some back roads and it was great, quick acceleration, handles like a go kart and is a flat out blast to drive on twisty back roads. I kinda had the "wants" after I drove it on those roads.
I have different thoughts after a couple hours on the highway.
It was a bit of a buzz box, and with 17" wheels and tires you feel everything, especially expansion joints, remaining frost heaves, patched potholes, etc. I mean you really FEEL them--and hear them. The car is quick and fun in traffic, accelerates great and is a fun ride, but I think it would be very tiring for a long ride. I don't think it accelerates any harder than my '96 9000 CSE 5-speed, and the noise level and intensity of the ride makes you think you are going pretty fast. My friend did all the driving and he really kept it revved up, generally around 4,000 rpm, to keep it in the power band. No turbo lag since it has a supercharger, but he seemed to have to keep his foot in it to get the most out of it. (he is very smooth, but definitely aggressive)
It's the intensity of the car that would wear me down on a long haul. I do a 4 hour run to NYC/NJ and a 6.5 hour run to western NY fairly regularly and a Mini (at leeast like this one) would not be good for that. I guess you'd get used to it, but coming out of a Saab with its long road comfort, a Mini would be a big step back. My friend does long runs in his, but admits it does give up some creature comforts.
But as a toy car a nicely tweaked Mini would be great. Be a lot of fun to get on a track, which my pal does with his.
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