Mini handling

thepharcyde · 28 Jul 2006 at 15:30

Everyone rages at the handling of the Mini Cooper, but what makes it so special, does it have the best handling in its class, or is it comparible to say a Boxter, Clio Cup etc?

Reason I ask, is I find it twitchy and not as surefooted on the road to my previous ST170, which I had more confidence to give it some on country roads, I find myself holding back with the Mini because every bump in the road seems to make it loose its stance on the road as if its going to hop off the road and into a tree.

thepharcyde · 28 Jul 2006 at 16:41

yes I have run flats, i have driven mine CS and a works which was even worse. The focus wees all over it for late breaking etc. What can I do to improve tyres?

thepharcyde · 28 Jul 2006 at 16:43

merlin said:
Unless you have money for an M3, or an M5, maybe.

No! but even if I did these would not be my choice, certainly not the M3.

So the handlings carp on these then. All this its "great on the twisties" err no it aint its almost dangerous. In the wet its even more predictable.

thepharcyde · 28 Jul 2006 at 18:29

merlin said:
How about not asking the car to perform the equivalent of ballet on an ice rink?

It's just not going to do what you want it to do down backroads/lanes. :/

y not?

thepharcyde · 28 Jul 2006 at 18:46

mrk1@1 said:
The clios are the king of skitish on B roads btw. There are few cars that are truely smooth to drive on dodgey b-roads which actually offer a serious grin factor.

It depends on the road though, if they are rutted and not well surfaced most hot hatches will suffer. What is good on a track does not always equate to the same on real roads.

I take the mini has not suffered from any accident damage btw? Its tracking is all ok etc. Also how low pro are the tyres? All makes a difference.

Mini in general I have driven 2 mine and the sales managers which was brand new.