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elwine30
Guest
I had opportunity to try out the Mini Cooper Clubman for 5 days. Being driving to/from work using the NKVE and federal highway. My FR as follows1) Power/Engine/GearboxIt's a 1.6 inline 4 engine which produce up to 118 bhp with 6 speed automatic. Overall, the car is quite fast and zippy for it's size and engine capacity. Basically, I can hit 160 km/h without a sweat at all. On D mode, the car is normal. You can use the paddle shift to downshift or upshift at any point of time. Then after a while, it will switch to D. This feature is cool because you can use the paddle shift to downshift to overtake. Then it will go back to D as you just need that moment to shift gears.On DS, the gear upshift much higher and the car flies. Nothing much here actually.On Sports Mode. The gear will always be in DS mode as default. Now, this is where the car really sprints. It is always on the high gear and it upshift very late. Also, the engine sounds different and it's very much willing to rev. The beautiful thing about the Sports is, it even blips for you when you downshift. In D or DS mode, it's fast. But when it's Sports, the car transforms to a faster beast. It was fun.But you can't drive normal in Sports as the gear keep on hunting. So, SPorts is when you want to run the car. 2) HandlingThe car has very rigid and strong body. It feels heavy and solid but not underpower. The power and weight is very balance. Even for the clubman which is 2.5 inch longer. The steering is very nice. It's very sensitive but yet heavy. It gives a precise point and shoot. LIke go-kart they say. The body roll is minimal. It feels like RWD but when pushed harder, can feel it's understeering. Handbrake turn is VERY easy to do. (that's how they do it in Italian Job). 
. Long wheelbase makes it even easier. Suspension is not so stiff. Drive it normal, it's ok. But i don't think i can take it for long distance driving (say to Ipoh or penang). it's not very comfortable3) ConsumptionI did 300km with RM 50 petrol. I was not driving slow and i did a lot of urban driving. Overall, i think the consumption is good for 1.6 and it's not fuel guzzle even if we push it hard. 4) InteriorLove the ambience of the lights. The instrucment cluster is nice and as mentioned in other thread. It's the same. Can change interior light color on the B pillar and on the rear mirror glass. Not used to the speedo in the centre but can change OBC to provide the speedo in the Rev meter front. The light switches is neat. Feel like driving a PLANE. Sound system is decent. Enough for me actually. 5) NVHAs a frameless window, wind noise is not that noticeable on highway run. But road noise or tire noise is quite noticeable. Maybe it's RFT. Engine makes quite a nice induction sound. I believe the Cooper S would sounds better. hehehe. 6) PracticalityI think this is good for bachelor boys or weekend car. I need to ferry maid and my girl via the back seat. It's ain't easy. Doing it for 5 days, i think i m getting tired of it and can't wait to get back to a 4 door limo. But the rear qtr door makes it easier for the rear passenger to go in and out. Boot space is quite minimal but for town driving, i think it's ok for me. 7) LooksIt does turn heads and especially girls would tell their bf/husb I want one too. hehe. But it's a chick magnet car actually. Overall, I would say Mini is a nice car to drive in town. But everyday car, i would have to decline. But as weekend car, i wouldn't mind. If i have the cash (or rather plenty of cash), yes I would buy one. Cooper for the wife and Cooper S for me. heheh
. Long wheelbase makes it even easier. Suspension is not so stiff. Drive it normal, it's ok. But i don't think i can take it for long distance driving (say to Ipoh or penang). it's not very comfortable3) ConsumptionI did 300km with RM 50 petrol. I was not driving slow and i did a lot of urban driving. Overall, i think the consumption is good for 1.6 and it's not fuel guzzle even if we push it hard. 4) InteriorLove the ambience of the lights. The instrucment cluster is nice and as mentioned in other thread. It's the same. Can change interior light color on the B pillar and on the rear mirror glass. Not used to the speedo in the centre but can change OBC to provide the speedo in the Rev meter front. The light switches is neat. Feel like driving a PLANE. Sound system is decent. Enough for me actually. 5) NVHAs a frameless window, wind noise is not that noticeable on highway run. But road noise or tire noise is quite noticeable. Maybe it's RFT. Engine makes quite a nice induction sound. I believe the Cooper S would sounds better. hehehe. 6) PracticalityI think this is good for bachelor boys or weekend car. I need to ferry maid and my girl via the back seat. It's ain't easy. Doing it for 5 days, i think i m getting tired of it and can't wait to get back to a 4 door limo. But the rear qtr door makes it easier for the rear passenger to go in and out. Boot space is quite minimal but for town driving, i think it's ok for me. 7) LooksIt does turn heads and especially girls would tell their bf/husb I want one too. hehe. But it's a chick magnet car actually. Overall, I would say Mini is a nice car to drive in town. But everyday car, i would have to decline. But as weekend car, i wouldn't mind. If i have the cash (or rather plenty of cash), yes I would buy one. Cooper for the wife and Cooper S for me. heheh
