Mini John Cooper Works

Mate's just ordered one of these. It really looks the biz and it looks like the Mito GTA will have its work cut out:

The new MINI John Cooper Works on the starting grid at Geneva

Tell me he didn't opt for
the clubman version...

Originally Posted by Nev

Tell me he didn't opt for
the clubman version...

I'd take the Alfa any day even though it looks like a Micra on acid.

I had some pax laps on track in the new Mini Cooper Works GP edition, think thats the name anyway! ..the one with strut bracing instead of rear seats, and a quaife diff.

It was very competent, and gripped well but felt quite undramatic dynamically and certainly sonically.


I would be very surprised if a Mito GTA wouldn't give a lot more chuckles per litre, assuming the dont lose the plot and forget to fit a Q2.

Nice

The first John Cooper under BMW ownership I believe.

Originally Posted by BigFoot

The first John Cooper under BMW ownership I believe.

Yes it is. BMW have not long bought the rights to use the name. AFAIK my mate had a little bit of bother ordering the car because of this and is expecting to collect it the day the car is launched.

I like 'em, bit of a Christmas tree with all those bits added but they certainly stand out from the ranks of the silver Coopers with back mirrors and estate agent hacks.

My old man used to rally a 998 Cooper (non S) in the late 60's.

Originally Posted by norbert

My old man used to rally a 998 Cooper (non S) in the late 60's.

Cool

There is an S- works version on the road at the moment isn't there. I do quite like the cars, however I will never accept that they are a mini.

Quite nice cars, shame about the PSA (Peugeot/Citroen) engine though, it'll probably go like stink for a few thousand miles then start to show some signs of it's heritage, drives better than the previous version which was like driving a van. I'd rather wait for the Mito.

I am pretty sure I will buy a Mito GTA.

I'm a little embarrassed to say that I have been looking at this little gay car again myself

I'm after something thats not going to cost the earth to run so can do the daily commute in it but also provide some thrills, well more than the Stilo JTD I'm currently in (not hard), the 1.6 twin scroll BMW-PSA engine seems to offer that on paper, I have not driven the new one though so not sure how it matches the old car but it surely can't sound any worse than the old 1.6 supercharged and its unlikely they've stuffed up the handling, the old car drove well and could certainly be thrown around more than my Alfas ever could, more fun in the process too, still I bought the 147GTA over the Mini though last time as I felt it was a more rounded product with more class and was less feminine

I'm not buying until March so have time to wait for stuff like the little Mito/Abarth SS etc. but I don't know something tells me these are going to fail to deliver, the Mini at least has an LSD on the option list should keep the front end in check when it comes to getting the power down whereas Alfa have been dropping the mech LSD option in favor of electronic.