Mini Cooper 2001 test drive - 2006 hatchback

Car of the year

Mini sales began in mid -2001. But then only two versions of One and Cooper were available. The top -end, Cooper S, appeared recently and could not help but become an object of our interest ... Since the sale of Rover, it has been two years now, and exactly the same number of Mini brand belongs to BMW. But the phrase Rover Mini has so firmly settled in my head that in the BMW representative office I asked the keys to Rover mini by inertia. It turned out awkwardly. It’s good that they were simply surprised, but not considered a provocation ...


Mini can unconditionally be attributed to the category of Driver's Car, and in the light of this, the acquired relationship with the BMW factory of cars for the driver is useful. Actually, the point is not in the engines, they are not so powerful, 90 and 115 hp. One and Cooper, respectively, and in the impeccable manageability and sports ideology of the machine as a whole. Here I must say that BMW did not have a suitable motor, and it was bought from Chrysler. However, he turned out to be too large for the close engineering space of the Mini, and the six -speed gearbox had to be made in a trivne.


Cooper S is supplied with the same 1.6-liter engine as Cooper, but with a Roots mechanical compressor and intercooler, which raises power to 163 hp. The supercharger drive is carried out by the same belt as the drive of the generator and compressor of the air conditioner. The water pump was transferred to the intake manifold.


Air through the air filter enters the compressor, where up to 0.8 bar is compressed and enters the cylinders through the intercooler, where the compression degree was reduced from 10.6 to 8.3. The piston group and gas distribution mechanisms are reinforced for heavy loads, the cast -iron block remained unchanged. The engine is still loyal to the choice of fuel 91-98. The increased engine power required adjustments to the suspension characteristics, more rigid springs, shock absorbers and stabilizers. But the brakes are the same as on One and Cooper.


When I went to the Mini Cooper S, who was waiting for me, was already getting dark. In addition, it was cold, it was raining, so I decided to immediately go on the road. Quickly adjusting the chair for myself, I am preparing to wedge into the flow of transport. The first gear, gas, clutch and ... the car stalls. But what about the mechanical compressor, the moment on the bottom? The adhesion is elastic, very sensitive and short -term, thoughtful gas. Let's try differently. There are more turns, under 2000. A completely different thing. Up to 3000-3500 vol./Min. The set is not impressive, but then the holiday. The limiter works at 6800 rpm.


The first two transmissions are stretched for the moment movement, so it is not easy to disrupt the drive wheels into the slip, even with the electronics disconnected and on wet asphalt. Useful for a powerful front -wheel drive. Further, when the speed increases and the movement goes into the power regime, at high speeds, the transfers are shortened. Such a distribution of gear rates is changed in motorsport. The switching mechanism is short -lived and clear. It seems that he even puts it in sports. (Six -speed boxes for Mini, by the way, produces Getrag, it supplies boxes for EMOC.)
Inherent in the front drive, the screaming with intensive acceleration is absent in the half axes have an equal length. This is a rarity even for large ones. Passport 7.4 seconds to hundreds is difficult to appreciate due to the lack of any rolls and buildup of the body. In general, Cooper S is very reminiscent of cards. A hard, transparent suspension, even reporting a small transverse wave as a bump with noticeable shocks on the body. The steering wheel can simply be called perfectly excellent reaction and feedback, as if you yourself control the rotary fists with your hands. But this is not for free in the parking lot the steering wheel is heavy, you won’t twist one palm. Despite the small base, Mini exemplary holds the line.


Night, MKAD, sixth gear, left row. All the same rain, I fly under 200. The wipers can no longer cope. But the trajectory is unshakable, despite the longitudinal ruts filled with water, which hung up in the summer. Yes, it does not go for two hundred cards. At high speed, a minus lack of brakes of the same as on less powerful One and Cooper was revealed. But behind the 16-inch discs it was possible to hide mechanisms and more serious. ABS interferes extremely rarely. There is also a SVS system (Cornering Brake Control), which, when braking in turns, additionally slows out external wheels, preventing the skid. Therefore, even with the DSC disconnected, it is not easy to reach the limit.


According to designers, the Mini body is at least twice tougher than that of any modern car. In general, by controlling this image, it is difficult to control yourself. It starts, it is not possible to move calmly in the stream. So I want to overtake someone, to rebuild again, to be the first. And everything is for this.


Morning, dry and the sun is a good moment for shooting. Around Mini in the parking lot a little excitement: is this, BMW?. After washing, it was finally possible to consider it properly. Funny, like a toy. Gray, roof and white mirrors. Large wheels, a bunch of chromium. Good, like old cartoons who will not fall in love with him! Indeed, the car is made by neoclassic, proportions, like that of the previous mini. Lack of overhangs, almost vertical windshield, expressive mouth of a false radiator grill ... From One and Cooper, the Cooper S version is distinguished by a more developed aerodynamic skirt, an anti -winged on the edge of the rear window, designed to reduce air vacuum and thereby carry out the rear axle, the number of chrome parts, and double The muffler and air intake on the hood.


Inside is no less nostalgic. Large round instruments, ducts, vertical racks, chrome toggle switches on consoles. But at the same time, everything is performed taking into account modern technical trends. A multifunctional steering wheel, on-board computer, air conditioning, an abundance of airbags, a stereo system with a CD changer, electric drives of mirrors and side glasses, heating the seats, self-cleansing rear-view mirrors, a glass roof and a large hatch. In the ergonomics of the workplace and in the materials, the BMW hand is accurately determined.


The seats are leather. Convenient, hard, with good lateral support, they have mechanical adjustments along the length, pillow height, the corner of the back of the back, a lumbar back is also set. The location and algorithm for the work of levers must be used to.


The steering wheel is also sheathed with leather, but regulated only in the angle of inclination. By the way, its multifunctionality interferes with conveniently wrapping the steering wheel with the right position of the knitting needle is very thick, and with an active taxiing, you touch the stereo system control buttons. Temperature adjustment is entrusted to the large wheel, and the distribution of flows to the buttons. Simple and convenient.


There are plenty of space in front. The landing is low, but the visibility is normal. There is a parking system. It is impossible to sit behind me to sit behind me: there is enough space in height and width, but the legs are only in the lotus position. The trunk is tiny, only 150 liters. But you can use the back seats. There is no spare wheel at all. However, the Goodyear Eagle NC T5 EMT tires allow you to travel with a puncture of about 150 km (speed not more than 80 km/h).


The hood is made up in a peculiar way with the headlights and the grille, the handle of unlocking the castle on the right side, like every decent Englishman. The motor is crushed tightly. The intercooler lies on top.


Claims to comfort in this case are inappropriate. Mini is sharpened for the driver, for which this is far from the main parameter. Yes, it shakes, it’s better not to eat. It is better not to take passengers with them at all, they won’t understand. Mini Cooper S does not claim the role of the only one in the family, he is at least the second for pleasure. And this is not a female car at all, although small. This pleasure costs a lot of $ 30,000 (they ask for $ 20,000 for Cooper $ 25,000). But such an obedient front -wheel drive still to look. And then, a good toy should be expensive.


P.S. This material was ready in October last year, but for various reasons, its publication was postponed and postponed. And there was a good reason in January in the North American International Auto Show in Detroit Mini Cooper S received an honorary title of car of the year. With which we congratulate.
 
Sergey Yakubov
 

Source: Motor magazine [January-February 2003]