Mini Cooper for a 'big' guy?

[Namuna]

I haven't had the chance to do a test drive yet, there aren't any dealerships near home for me.

I will eventually get myself to a dealership, but I want to know how hopeful I should be (or NOT be) about being comfortable in one before making the effort to check them out.

Thanks.

 

[Hankerton]

For the money you'll spend on one of those, why not get a Big and Fast car?

 

[iamwiz82]

You will be fine. I am about the same size and the sport seats are perfect for me (they made them bigger for us Americans ) and with the seat all the way back, I cannot engage the clutch.

 

[TheAudit]

I think you'll be fine.

 

[fbrdphreak]

What about someone who is 6' 4" and 250lbs?

 

[Akira13]

If you put the front seats all the way back, there's no room in the back seat for a passenger's legs. Of course, if you're considering a Mini, then you probably won't be ferrying passengers around anyway.

Also, if you're looking at the automatic transmission, the 02 model I drove had problems in slow traffic. The CVT couldn't decide which "gear" to stay in, so the ride was very jerkey.

 

[Namuna]

Yeah, the Mini won't be doing any carting around except for myself and wife. Plus I'd be getting the 6 speed manual, I just couldn't see getting a Mini (or any other 'sporty' type car) in anything but a manual...We've got the Honda Accord sedan for that.

The other thing...Which is a crazy kind of idea...My friend is trying to talk me into gettting into Quads/ATVs and I was considering how that could work with the Mini. I looked up the towing capacity on a Mini (the base model) an it says over 1,300lbs. A small ATV trailer is 300lbs and a 400cc Quad is roughly 400lbs...So it's within tolerance. How funny would that be to see? A mini-coop towing a quad that isn't much smaller!

 

[iamwiz82]

They make hitch mounts for the Cooper S, strange as it may sound.

 

[CVSiN]

You know as anti car as I am.. I really actually would love to have one of these Mini Cooper S's they are really pretty neat and get great gas milage almost as much as my bike does.

I was looking today on the net and I found some perfomance sites that offer soem kick butt toys to almost double the coopers power rating.. some packages put the lil ah heck in the 250hp range... thats stout as heck for a tiny car that weighs nothing..

 

[abaez]

I'd love a mini S with the Cooper works package.. What is it like 200 hp? That would be fun.

 

[Anubis]

im 6"0' 220 and i fit in one fine

 

[Gurck]

Those things are fugly, for girly-men, and can't be too safe in an accident - never assume you're too good a driver to get into one, because even if you are some idiot will eventually hit you.

 

[CtK]

Originally posted by: Akira13
Also, if you're looking at the automatic transmission, the 02 model I drove had problems in slow traffic. The CVT couldn't decide which "gear" to stay in, so the ride was very jerkey.

my sisters 04 has the same problem!!

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: abaez
I'd love a mini S with the Cooper works package.. What is it like 200 hp? That would be fun.

do those come with LSD? Something that light would be torquesteering you left and right

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Hankerton
For the money you'll spend on one of those, why not get a Big and Fast car?

 

[ChrisCramer247]

Heh I just want to try to ride in one.

i'm 6'6 250.

I have a feeling i'd have to remove the front seat

 

[AdamDuritz99]

Originally posted by: ChrisCramer247
Heh I just want to try to ride in one.

i'm 6'6 250.

I have a feeling i'd have to remove the front seat

eh 6'8" here @ 245

 

[Thegonagle]

I don't think of the Mini as a great fuel-saver at all. The "S" gets 25/32 MPG (city/hwy), but requires premium. It does make 168 HP though, which doesn't make this tiny car's mileage look so bad.

The regular version also calls for premium fuel, only makes 115 HP, and only gets 28/36 MPG. That doesn't seem like the best deal if you're looking to save gas. By contrast, a Civic EX makes 127 HP on regular fuel, and gets 32/37 MPG.

I realize that most people don't buy these cars for their mileage, but those who do, especially those who buy the base model, are in for a somewhat sour surprise. People looking to save gas should concentrate on the Civic Hybrid sedan, Prius Hybrid, and Civic HX 2-door. (Fuel-frugal folks who don't mind the fact that diesels still pollute a lot more than gasoline engines might also consider the Golf and Jetta TDIs.) Other people looking at Minis should just step up to the "S" version, because a "big" engine in a small car is what the new Mini is really all about.

 

[desteffy]

one of my good friends who is well over 6ft tall used to drive a Chevette. OMG it was funny his head was all touching the roof even with the drivers seat all the way back. everyone got to calling it the clown car and one time we outfitted it with circus logos. but since
chevette < mini and my friend > you, you should be fine.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: CtK

Originally posted by: Akira13
Also, if you're looking at the automatic transmission, the 02 model I drove had problems in slow traffic. The CVT couldn't decide which "gear" to stay in, so the ride was very jerkey.

my sisters 04 has the same problem!!

All CVTs I have ever been in have had that issue.

do those come with LSD? Something that light would be torquesteering you left and right

The axle shafts are equal lengths, there is no torque steer. An LSD will be available in January for $500.

I don't think of the Mini as a great fuel-saver at all. The "S" gets 25/32 MPG (city/hwy), but requires premium. It does make 168 HP though, which doesn't make this tiny car's mileage look so bad.

The regular version also calls for premium fuel, only makes 115 HP, and only gets 28/36 MPG. That doesn't seem like the best deal if you're looking to save gas. By contrast, a Civic EX makes 127 HP on regular fuel, and gets 32/37 MPG.

I realize that most people don't buy these cars for their mileage, but those who do, especially those who buy the base model, are in for a somewhat sour surprise. People looking to save gas should concentrate on the Civic Hybrid sedan, Prius Hybrid, and Civic HX 2-door. (Fuel-frugal folks who don't mind the fact that diesels still pollute a lot more than gasoline engines might also consider the Golf and Jetta TDIs.) Other people looking at Minis should just step up to the "S" version, because a "big" engine in a small car is what the new Mini is really all about.

My personal best has been 40 MPG, which I do not think is too bad. I never buy a car based on gas mileage, though. My Wrangler gets about 12-15MPG on a good day, meaning I am filling up a couple of times a week. I don't really mind, though.