Mini Cooper 2001 test drive - 2006 hatchback

48 hours

or Mini-raceta for two with John Cooper
 
The height of Everest with an accuracy of a meter does not mean anything for those who have not been to the top. In the same way, horsepower, accelerated dynamics and other zifir are not able to convey the real sensations from possessing such a car to the slightest degree. Unless weakly hint at them. When it comes to the charged mini, not the technical parameters are important, but feelings, a set of personal impressions. Sitting in him, you challenge - both yourself and others. Even if there is someone nearby, you are still cooler, you are the first! And in the next seat invisible, but as if there is a creator of the car, John Cooper himself. This is a special device, and you need to treat it politely. However, this time we can avoid banal concerns for unprepared potential owners - such mini Cooper S JCW GP (not weak abbreviation) 2000 units were released throughout the world. And the one under the number 0111 went to me for 48 hours.
 
There are plenty of machines that can exchange a second hundred on a speedometer in less than seven seconds. But it is one thing to drown the accelerator pedal in the Mercedes-Benz S600 and as if from another world, where there is always comfort and peace, to watch how pictures of glass turn into a kaleidoscope. It’s completely different - to do the same, say, on Impreza STI or BMW M3. And the third, when it comes to a 3.5-meter mini-automobile car, gaining 100 km/h in just 6.5 seconds. In a word
 
Evil baby
 
Yes, not kind and not recognizing any competitors - this is how he, Mini Cooper S JcW GP (for simplicity in the future, is just GP). And it comes to mind when you only look at it, you still do not go. Only headlights and familiar body contours remained from a pretty face. The rest is a continuous, undisguised aggression. A powerful bumper with a metal mesh and a spoiler in front; The hood with the intercooler's lip and the inscription GP on gray plastic, and even in a silver frame - a simple sticker around the air intake. On the side-a bend of aerodynamic linings on the thresholds, a dark gray bottom and a silver top, as well as huge and beautiful 18-inch wheels, in strips of rubber bands Dunlop 205/40. If you look closely, then red brake calipers and red springs are noticeable. At the stern there is a powerful spoiler of plastic and carbon, and two reputable exhaust pipe with the inscription John Cooper Works, proudly sticking right in the center of the rear bumper. So dear is not to Mini GP. This resembles a clot of energy, only waiting for the moment to break from a place in the quarry.
 
And therefore I will say right away: neither I personally, nor, moreover, a newspaper of auto recovery in any case and never urge to violate the rules of the road. And by the way, we always use seat belts, without any jokes. And we allow ourselves to be violated only in exceptional cases, and without risk for other participants in the movement. Just such a case-this baby is weighing about a ton, with 218 forces under the hood, with a metallic knob of a 6-speed mechanical KP
 
Adrenaline for an egoist
 
Opening the door, and just looking around the salon, you see - this is really a very serious mini. There are no rear seats. Instead, a massive chrome pipe-spark. The front seats - Recaro, with the appropriate range of adjustments in which I did not like only one thing - the excess blockage of the pillows back. Fortunately, when you start lifting the chair, the angle of attack decreases, so finding the right position is quite real. Not even interferes with the height of the steering wheel, behind which, directly on the steering column, does not interfere with this, a tachometer is placed.
 
A speedometer is, of course, a huge saucer in the center of the front panel. But in this version, the mini saucer for some reason does not cause a carefree smile, you are somehow subconsciously tuned in a serious way. Metal pedals with rubber inserts. Schildik GP with number 0111/2000. A decent diameter of the Ball of the manual transmission. When did I manage to squeeze a tight clutch pedal? .. I turn the key in the ignition lock
 
Mini provocateur
 
4 cylinders and the volume of 1.6 liters are actually not enough at all, given the compressor and the almost new filling of the power plant. As a result, 218 hp was removed from such a small volume. Power and 250 nm of the maximum torque, which is achieved at 4600 rpm. Moreover, at idle, everything is quite a divine. Unless a little louder rumbling from behind and under the hood. Okay, I won’t finish - let's go!
 
The first acceleration can plunge an unprepared person into a state of shock. Under the sealing whistle of the compressor, the engine catapults the car from the place, forcing the driver to concentrate as much as possible. It is pleasant that the motor is quite burdened with the bottom, but a smoothly increasing wave of acceleration becomes tsunami after 4000 rpm. The limiter will work at 7200 rpm, but it is better not to wait for this and switch at 6000-6500 revolutions. Then you will fully enjoy the cacophony that creates a compressor screech and a bass sound of the exhaust system. Outside, and inside, however, also, it evokes memories of the voice of the WRC rally car. Moreover, under the discharge of gas, a displeased snort is heard - a truly sports sound! The main thing is not to lose your head from a surging adrenaline.
 
The programs are switched briefly and clearly, the lever is not more than 10-12 centimeters, and a rigid and also a rather short clutch pedal requires exclusively male efforts. Honestly, in the evening, after the first day of the city driving, my left leg was sick, as if I had pumped it in the gym. It is guilty itself, the form is not the same
 
Do not have time to blink an eye, and the speedometer crosses the mark of 100 km/h. The dynamics are fascinating, GP provokes fast riding. Moreover, the browned gear rates of the manual transmission are configured precisely for the fastest acceleration, in any situation. Say, at a speed of 140 km/h and when the 6th gear turned on, the tachometer is at the mark of 3000 rpm, which still guarantees tribute and rapid acceleration with a sharp pressing for the accelerator.
 
It’s good that the new brake mechanisms with the name of the court tuning department are very fearful. They are able to almost instantly cool the fervor of the power plant, and more than once they helped me out. For example, when I flew along the embankment in the right row, and on the left, where the cars should not appear, turned out and stopped by the taxi driver with the numbers near Moscow, so when I had a chance to check the brake abilities of the GP, and at the same time both the steering wheel and suspension. The pedal to almost complete blocking, fast and short movement of a steering wheel, and again - gas. The body literally jumped into the left row - and no drifts, demolitions or slipping. Just like a step to the side.
 
Although it is not difficult to bring to the gliding of the GP. Indeed, with good handling, such power, a transparent steering wheel, verified suspension settings and a self -locking differential appearing in the front axle allow the almost neutral character of the Mini to be rebuilt in accordance with the desires of the driver. He sharply dropped the gas in the bend, without straightening the steering wheel, you will get a skid. Smooth, perfectly controlled. In addition, all these fun are possible only with the DSC stabilization system, which the creators prudently left the untouched. It works clearly, quickly besieging the raging driver with Mini GP.
 
At the same time, the payment for stability and controllability is comfort. It’s shaking pretty on our roads. Each unevenness is given at the fifth point. He leads in the ruts, and abruptly, and on the waves the body can slightly goat - a short base and all the same clamped springs and shock absorbers are to blame. But at high speed - no problems. The car holds the roadway tenaciously, you feel it with the spinal cord. The main thing is to evaluate your own strength, and the car will not let you down.
 
A drop of tar
 
And in conclusion about the price and what I did not like.
 
It costs the mini Cooper S JCW GP 39 900 euros. It is expensive, although this is a real exclusive, and not just a tuning product, but an original, released at the factory and competently sharpened under a quick ride.
  
But personally, I do not understand three circumstances. First - why does the car have no climate control, and you have to control everything manually, turning round levers and adjusting the supply and air temperature? The second is unless xenon headlights, which are on most Cooper S, and some simple Cooper, would not have happened by the way such an exclusive version? And do they not increase safety, especially in the dark? Finally - where did the rear janitor go? Weight savings are written in a press release. But would one and a half kilograms play a significant role? Or, taking into account the dynamic qualities of GP, the rear window will be clean? Nothing like this.
 
And yet - this is the Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works GP 0111. What is it!
 
Andrey Osipov
 

Source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 21 (110), 2006]