Chuckability

digitalwolf · 24 Mar 2007 at 18:00

2 friends & myself went backbox hunting today for my Saxo (a standard one) as it is rather cullinder like atm.

A excellent days driving, some real roads and immense fun but not in the Saxo. Nooo, she was sitting in the garage at home.

In my mums Mini One.

I was rather shocked at how reasonably chuckable it was, it has 16" alloys with runflat tyres so the ride is harsh but it took the twisties really well.

Not as well as a Saxo would, but for a standard Mini without the cooper suspension it made me think "whats the cooper like then?"

So what are the coopers like to throw around and how well does your car take the twisties?

-westy- · 26 Mar 2007 at 01:42

I've never driven a Cooper in anger, only around town - but it seemed fairly firm and composed.

My car around twisties is somewhat of an experience

You come out the other side wondering what just happened - it just grips and grips, until you decide to lift off a touch and flick the back end out

There's not a lot of "normal" cars that would beat it around a tight set of twisties tbh

Its a 205 GTi btw.

Sagalout · 26 Mar 2007 at 09:07

Focus Zetec is great in the twisties - just doesnt have enough power when you want to accelerate out of them.

digitalwolf · 26 Mar 2007 at 09:12

My mate has a Clio 1.4 Extreme 55 plate amd thats pretty chuckable to a degree.

I wish my mum had the cooper suspension package as an extra now

Sargeantpepper · 26 Mar 2007 at 09:18

I enjoy my MCS, obviously feels heavier than the 106 gti it replaced....but its nice to have some go out of the bends. The mini changes direction very nicely.

Had a scary one the other day though, turned traction control of...only to put too much power on a bit too early round a bend (second gear) and proceeded to spin the wheels and started to head in a straight line :eek:

All fun though

Matt-Page · 26 Mar 2007 at 09:22

My Citroen C2 is in its element around country B roads. The grip is brilliant on the standard 16" Citroen alloys.

If i go hard into a corner, i get a bit of quick sharp breaking in, chuck it in the correct gear and accelerate hard all the way around. If your going stupidly fast you get little understeer and a nice screech.

It's one of the reasons i bought it.

digitalwolf · 26 Mar 2007 at 09:54

I'm a bit disappointed that Citreon are not doing free insurance on the C2 VTS.

Any idea when morethan will give me a quote on a VTS? Can't even get a quote on a 1.7 Puma

My mates Mk1 Golf GTi loves the twisties although he understeers a lot.

Mr_Sukebe · 26 Mar 2007 at 10:02

I had a Mini cooper in Spain on holiday for a week. Gave it a good thrashing on several days. The engine was seriously coarse, but did the biz and it was a LOT of fun.
Chased a bike down a mountain pass on one of the days, we couldn't stay with him in a straight line, but sucked him in on the twisties and under breaking. One of those classic drives you never forget.

-westy- · 26 Mar 2007 at 10:12

digitalwolf said:
My mates Mk1 Golf GTi loves the twisties although he understeers a lot.

Something's wrong with it then, a Mk1 Golf Gti should handle very well.

digitalwolf · 26 Mar 2007 at 11:01

-westy- said:
Something's wrong with it then, a Mk1 Golf Gti should handle very well.

It does handle well, I think he prevokes the understeer a lot.

It's quite a few years older than him

Nathan · 26 Mar 2007 at 11:06

-westy- said:
I've never driven a Cooper in anger, only around town - but it seemed fairly firm and composed.

My car around twisties is somewhat of an experience

You come out the other side wondering what just happened - it just grips and grips, until you decide to lift off a touch and flick the back end out

There's not a lot of "normal" cars that would beat it around a tight set of twisties tbh

Its a 205 GTi btw.

The 306 GTI would

The cooper is supposed to be immense fun in the bends.

Simon · 26 Mar 2007 at 12:56

Most car's would struggle to keep up with a well driven Mini one on bumpy country lanes. They soak up the bumps and provide loads of grip.

Used to hoon my mum's one about a bit when I was at home.

InvaderGIR · 26 Mar 2007 at 13:00

Nathan said:
The 306 GTI would The cooper is supposed to be immense fun in the bends.

I don't know about that, it's a fair bit heavier...would like to drive the GTi-6 though to be honest...driven a 205 1.9 GTi with uprated bits, great fun, I bottled it WELL before the car was near it's limits

And on topic...never driven a mini of any form...so no clue.

InvG

Sargeantpepper · 26 Mar 2007 at 13:00

I'm liking the mini love

Wonder how much of it's handling is down to Rover engineering!

cymatty · 26 Mar 2007 at 13:07

You do not want a C2 VTS, they are less chukable than the Saxo you have now. Infact not many cars are more chuckable.

hardc0re_tid · 26 Mar 2007 at 13:40

cymatty said:
You do not want a C2 VTS, they are less chukable than the Saxo you have now. Infact not many cars are more chuckable.

the saxo is fairly chuckable even with £27 tyres on the 13" steelies

digitalwolf · 26 Mar 2007 at 16:34

Sargeantpepper said:
I'm liking the mini love

Wonder how much of it's handling is down to Rover engineering!

And the BMW Mini had what to do with rover?

digitalwolf · 26 Mar 2007 at 16:35

Simon said:
Most car's would struggle to keep up with a well driven Mini one on bumpy country lanes. They soak up the bumps and provide loads of grip.

Used to hoon my mum's one about a bit when I was at home.

I felt the rear going a tad lighter than I would have liked at times.

For a small car that weighs near enough 1.1 tons it's pretty chuckable

al123 · 26 Mar 2007 at 16:44

They certainly are chuckable, I miss mine when i'm driving on country roads.

digitalwolf · 26 Mar 2007 at 16:45

al123 said:
They certainly are chuckable, I miss mine when i'm driving on country roads.

Whats that, BMW Mini? Or Saxo?

Chuckability

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