November 2007
I was a passenger in the MINI Cooper S (Mk 1 - 2006 version) this weekend. I have read all the problems and complaints about the car, but you can't deny that it is a fancy vehicle with lots of style. I also found that despite being low, it was easy to get into and out of - something which I think is a major plus for me.
This is hypothetical, but if you take depreciation into account, there can't be many cars that match it for practicality and value for money. It's that 'cachet' thing - Yes a Suzuki Swift is a good looker and drives well, but it doesn't have the same performance nor the eye-candy appeal that keeps residuals high.
Anyway, being aware of all the negative comments about it, what could I buy to get the same blend of style, value and performance of a MINI Cooper, but without the rough engines and supposedly poor reliability?
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Say I was to buy a car as a present and fill in the relevant bits of the V5 presented by the present owner.
How to I get the new owners name on the documentation, i.e. the person for whom it is intended as a gift?
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i bought my parents a new car earlier this year but with only a few days to go i had to tell them as i felt guilty about putting it in there name without telling them.
Only in Japan!
tinyurl.com/2mg6du
Anyone think of a tune for the M25?
--
e Prôf - Another Recycled Teenager Read more
"and it boils with every poison you can think of"
Of course it has to be Chris Rea.
Ok ok it may be about the Tees but it fits the M25.
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< Ulla>
Hi Does anyone know if a 2.2 TDCI version of the S-MAX is on the cards? I read reports that it is due early 2008 but a call to the S-MAX brand manager revealed that no version is planned. Anyone else have any information. Read more
AFAIAA Ford have confirmed a 2.2 Mondeo IV for early next year though not S-Max, seems likely it will happen though.
I have resisted the urge to buy a diesel because I think they pollute alot more than petrol engines cars (CO2 being the exception).
The new technology and EURO V legislation will fix all this and we are seeing the Blue Tec technology in MB's and bought from MB by VW to fit into their diesel ranges. The only downside is that you have to top it up with a solution to treat the exhaust.
But I have also just read the road test on Honda's i-DTEC and it explains how the new engine will be available in 150 & 180 bhp with an auto box on the 150bhp version.
According to the tests I have read it will be smoother, quieter and punchier than the current engine - but remains in 2.2l size. From what I read (I have only been a passenger in an Accord i-CTDi - and I had to ask if it was a diesel) the diesel engine is already very refined and punchy even when compared to BMW diesels.
So it looks like the new engine available next year could take diesel refinement to another level - although we also look forward to a new Subaru diesel boxer engine.
If it is as good as they all say then I think I may be delaying my planned purchase and buying a diesel auto Accord estate next year.
Will there be any other diesel engine that could compete in the forecast price range of £18K. Read more
>>due to the torque and power not being dependant on revs
What!? By using common rail does this magically enable engines to break the law of
physics?
Come on NC you get the point, perhaps the word "so" judiciously placed would have helped though the fact is a diesel produces its max torque and max power at lower revs.
Surprised Ferrari didnt have 308 registered to stop Peugeot using it.
In they way that IIRC Peugeot stopped Porsche calling the 911 the 901.
SLT Read more
On early Ferrari's the nomeclature was based on the individual cylinder capacity of a 12 cyl engine, i.e. a 330GTC was 4.0ltr.
Later they used the the capacity and number of cyls, i.e. a 308 was a 3.0 8 cyl and a 512 was a 5.0 12 cyl. Likewise the pre turbo 3 ltr era F1 cars were always 312s.
Perhaps Ferrari had registered this process thus overcoming any objection from Peugeot, anyone know for sure?
Has anyone had any experience of both the 3-cylinder 80bhp diesel and the 4-cylinder 105bhp diesel in the Roomster? I had a brief road test in the 1.9 Scout version this week and was very impressed: very solid car, quiet engine and good acceleration. The smaller engine is quoted as marginally more economical but its acceleration times are way down.
Any opinions on the Roomster from owners who've had one for a while? Read more
I had the 1.9 in a Fabia estate and replaced it after 6 years with the 1.4 80bhp in another Fabia estate, so can compare the two engines in the same car - would agree that the 1.9 has much better power range than the 1.4, also its a lot smoother and less noisy. The 1.4 is more economical, though not that much and I think in the Roomster they are both in the same tax band, which does away with the saving you will get if you got a Fabia where one is B and the other C! The 1.9 would happily potter around in 5th at 35mph, but the 1.4 won't.
In the Roomster I'd get the 1.9, its a big bigger and heavier car than the Fabia and I suspect that the 1.9 would suit it better.
hie guys i have a chrysler neon 2001 model 2.0 litre petrol manual RT .the car has done 155k or rather 155 000,00 miles. The car has been realy great for me never had many major problems with the car. What i was wondering guys is that in your experience what is the maximum mileage i can get out of this car i mean it has already done over 100k and i wanted to convert it to use gas so whats your suggestions guys Read more
Lud
Your right, wear and tear, contamination etc will all have occured naturally whilst a conversion is possible only by taking the engine apart will it's internal condtion be known. The car is worth between £1-2K so some work won't be cost effective.
Just contine with regualr service and good oils.
A colleague at work has recently had the door mirrors stolen from her Mini Cooper S (BMW want £300 parts only). When she informed the police it was the 11th case that weekend in the area so clearly someone was doing the rounds and no doubt these will appear on ebay or similar.
They were removed suprisingly easily and they left no damage to the doors - they did a real good job.
Apparently all you do is move something to access the securing bolts {wording slightly changed so as not to give away how to remove them - DD} . Then they come clean off.
Her concern is that as soon as she replaces them they will be stolen again.
Does anyone know of any solution - (similar to the old VW door lock black caps that stopped people ramming a screw driver into the body panel) I have suggested loctite or rounding the heads off but then she risks damage when then try again.
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maybe the thieves want to look over their shoulders when they move on up to bigger heists like nicking old ladies handbags?
Will be announced on Nov 19th 2007
The shortlist is
Fiat 500
Ford Mondeo
Kia cee'd
Mazda2
Mercedes C-class
Nissan Qashqai
Peugeot 308.
Please make your choices in order, and lets see who gets close to the real result
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< Ulla> Read more
"Does it have to?"
No, I'm sure it doesn't. I would hope that the main criterion for the judges is which car is the best at doing the job it's designed to do.
The Fiat 500 is meant to be small, fun, nippy, cheap and different. Most of us seem to agree that it is - especially, from what I've read, the 1.2.
Browse
On the Mini 'noise on cold start' thread, Aprilia was suggesting, with some justification, that there were better cars for the money. I asked what he thought those were - perhaps that should have come on this thread.
Are we looking for a small, nippy, fun-to-drive car that would do the same job better? If so, I can think of - Suzuki Swift 1.5, Mazda 2 1.5 and Toyota Yaris 1.3. Maybe Fiat Panda 100 bhp?
But the Mini holds its value better than any of those through clever marketing of it as a sort of 'cult car'; maybe Fiat can manage this with the 500, although the road tests of the 1.4 I've seen don't think it's as much fun to drive as it looks.
Some early Mini mark 1's were unreliable, and the same seems to be happening with the mark 2. Let's hope they sort out the teething problems as they did last time: SWMBO's 06-registered Mini One has been fine so far, touch wood.