Mini Cooper 2001 test drive - 2006 hatchback

Let me light it!

Just a few months ago, a catchy hatchback of Citroen-S4 appeared in our market, which immediately won the sympathies of buyers (and customers). This model also has a very powerful modification of VTS, designed to amuse the pride of daring.
We decided to check Citroen for compliance with the image of the lighter and picked it up to him a very worthy company Honda Sivik Ture R and Mini Cooper S. We will try to take into account the practical qualities of cars, precisely as means of transportation: for this, a point assessment is intended.
HOT
The brightest car in our company, of course, is a mini Cooper S. It is impossible to confuse it with anyone, except with the primary source of the 1959 model. Of course, the clone is completely different: this is the brainchild of BMW with all the consequences of this consequences in the form of a carefully -minded chassis, an excellent engine and a stylish interior.
The salon requires addiction. More precisely, its secondary elements: a round tachometer in the rim of the steering wheel, a huge arrow speedometer in the center of the front panel and trolleybus cupcans control of the windows on the console. But the steering wheel, pedals, gearbox is continuous delight! The slightest movement of a chubby small bagel causes a clear and instant throw along a given path.
A frivolous look of a shorty with a white cap of the roof soon proves that the appearance is deceiving. He flies along the road, like a tennis ball after a clear serve: quickly, beautifully, for sure. At a power of 170 hp The engine equipped with a mechanical supercharger has a sufficient moment to pick up Cooper S starting from 2500 rpm. Where most of the duddy motors only wake up, the mini is already whistling a compressor and vividly reacts to pressing the gas pedal.
The fact that under a cold ball of a six -speed manual, a complex switching mechanism is hidden, you do not even think the transfers are surpassed instantly, It is almost impossible to make an error.
In critical regimes, Mini only anxiously waves the ESP symbol on the panel, continuing to prescribe turns with some kind of picture stubbornness. One of the record tough in the body of the bodies (24,000 n/hail!), An independent rear suspension with shock absorbers and springs tuned to sports riding, they know their job perfectly.
For behavior on the road, not only the disconnected DSC stabilization system is responsible, but also a constantly activated CBC control over braking in the bend. If in the bend it is necessary to slow down not the most, I must say, the safe effect of CBC calculates which of the wheels the maximum brake force is required. The risk of drift is significantly reduced.
Sub -binding the reception of the supply with growth in speed Cooper continues to move in the tennis manner, pretty shaking on irregularities, not allowing the driver to relax for a minute. In general, this car requires you mutual respect: they say, I am capable of a lot, and what can you?
HOT
In the evenings, the surroundings of Moscow University resemble either a car show or a motorcycle racing: after sunset, lovers flow here with their fast apparatus and just gaze on expensive, rare and catchy cars and motorcycles. As soon as I drove the first meters on Honda Sivik Tour R, I thought this evening I will also spend at Moscow State University.
Frankly, outwardly, the hatchback does not cause a storm of emotions: a squat, tightly knocked down, but a little lazy silhouette at first does not fit with the image of one of the fastest cars in its class. But as soon as you were driving, the mood changed! Great seats, although deprived of a lumbar backup, allow you to conveniently sit down in a matter of seconds. The salon is the opposite of the mini. The ascetic panel of the devices does not present any surprises, but copes with its task perfectly: white scales are easily read. Perhaps the only extravagant interior detail, a six -speed lever taken to the console.
Briefly struck the starter, and under the hood the 200-horsepower engine, in unison, self-confidently amused the graduation system, we went!
A characteristic feature of many Honda engines System for changing the phase distribution of the VTEC series, which allows you to combine two in one engine. In the case of round R, this principle is brought to perfection. Up to 5000 rpm, Sivik confidently, but quite calmly follows the gas pedal in economical mode. We recall the pedal, the main thing is not to switch ahead of time! After an instant, the arrow of the tachometer rushes to the right, a metal roar will be heard from under the hood, and a powerful acceleration presses you into a chair. Now it's time for the second clan-clock, all the same metallic shade and in the voice of the gearbox. Everything, it's time to slow down!
In the first minutes of acquaintance, this machine makes it clear that it is not a toy for children. Excellent dynamic characteristics and understandable, albeit without a highlight, controllability are generously flavored with an adrenaline of an explosive motor, in a sporting short-crossed gearbox and a hard suspension. That is why I could not resist a short duel with the owner, albeit not the most powerful, but the Sportba of the same name. To my and, presumably, a motorcyclist of surprise, a four -wheeled Honda, that is, a car, broke up on the first hundred. Further acceleration did not allow continuing the rules of the road and common sense. Our measurements confirm subjective sensations: Tour R gains the first 100 km/h in seven seconds.
Honda is the most noisy, hard, expensive and at the same time poor in equipping a trinity car: he does not have not only a stabilization system, but even air conditioning! For the installation of the latter, the dealer will ask for about $ 2,000 but a strange thing: after a few days, having returned the car to the owner, you no longer think about these minuses, but only remember the charge of energy that invariably gives the tour of R.
WARMLY
As soon as Citroen was presented, there was a fourth, as a wide variety of prizes fell on him. More than one and a half dozen have gained such, including the second place in the competition of the European car in 2005. However, there is no hint of aggressiveness, as necessary, as it seems to me, a real lighter. The test C4 is not much different from the basic versions of the machine, and its femininity is not able to hide either the VTS inscription on the stern and on the sides, or the rectangular pipe of the exhaust system, or 17-inch wheels. Does not change the picture and the salon. The seats are convenient, excessive side support and hard profile do not crush the sides; Mini-Venn windows at the front racks create an atmosphere rather than a family car; The sound of an idle engine does not look like an evil roar at all, can everything change in motion?
C4 vividly responds to the gas pedal and flows into the stream without tension. Quiet, comfortable and ordinary. It seems subjective that the car leaves the traffic light only a little faster than the majority. But it is worth to break away from the road for a second and cast a glance in the rear view mirror, as you are clear far ahead of everyone!
By the way, the review back is very unusual: the wide rear racks narrow the view; At the same time, the extravagant design of double glazing stern made it possible to lower the viewing line much lower than the usual level. But we will not be distracted again on the stop line in anticipation of the start! Dynamic acceleration slightly spoil the large moves of the lever of the five -speed gearbox, although there are no complaints about selectivity. The pedal node is clearly not designed for the boot of the 44th size; In addition, it is not possible to quickly transfer the leg from gas to the brake, since the pedals are located at different levels. Slowing control requires a habit: the short -flowing brake pedal is sensitive to movement, but not to effort, so constant slander is inevitable. In excuse C4, it is worth noting that, according to the results of measurements, the effectiveness of Citroen brakes turned out to be the best.
Perhaps the most questions were caused by ergonomics. The driver has to read information from five monitors. Pictograms of the included neighboring and high light and turn signals flash directly on the hub of steering wheel, a liquid crystalline crawl over the steering wheel the snake of the tachometer, and on the front panel one under the other there are three large scores: a speedometer with a temperature sensor, an on -board computer and a climatic installation, as well as an audio system. Rubtit in the eyes! But on the highway C4 is simply magnificent. It is amazing how the French manage to configure the suspension so simple in design to clear reactions, maintaining worthy energy consumption and obedience to the steering wheel. At the height and smoothness, and acoustic comfort, and stop! Does this expect this from the lighter?
It's time to lose the racer mask and summarize. Sitroen received the highest rating for the amount of points. VTS, of course, is an excellent balanced car with reliable handling, the best level of comfort in the trinity, moreover, well adapted for Russian conditions, but it is very difficult to carve out of it! Honda pleased with the excellent acceleration and motorcycle patch at the top, and the mini, on the contrary, the engine with the engine, reference chassis and, of course, the brightest appearance below. Like any car, Sivik and mini are not deprived of flaws that influenced the final arrangement of places. But they are unlikely to be taken into account by those who are looking not so much to transport as a means of cheering up a fine evening. Start key!

SUMMARY
Mini Cooper S stylish toy for fans of active driving, whose lot to be the second car in the family.
General assessment - 7.4
+ Catchy, memorable appearance and interior, good visibility, excellent handling.
- The location of the devices, a nervous reaction to unevenness at high speeds requires addictive.

SUMMARY
Honda Civic Type R combines the quality of a practical hatchback and a real car car for a driver.
General assessment - 7.7
+ Excellent accelerated dynamics, comfortable seats, low fuel consumption, full -fledged places in the rear seat and a good trunk.
- The feedback on the steering wheel, high price, a poor equipment, is slightly not available to the ideal.

SUMMARY
Citroen C4 VTS warmed hatchback, and not a hot compartment, which the company positions it. But the car is better than rivals to Russian conditions.
General assessment - 8.0
+ Rich equipment, good as the only car in the family for every day.
- modest, against the backdrop of competitors, the capabilities of engine and transmission, fresh character, an overloaded instrument panel, uncomfortable external mirrors.

The remake of the 1959 classic mini debuted in the fall of 2001, three years later a convertible appeared on its base. In January 2005, the US introduced the most powerful Cooper S Works.
Engines: gasoline 1.6 l (90210 hp), diesel 1.4 liters (75 hp).
Gearboxes: mechanical 5- and 6-speed, 6-speed automatic, variator.
Complete: One, Cooper, Cooper S, Cabrio One, Cabrio Cooper, Cabrio Cooper S, Cooper S Works.
Price: є19 50032 500 ($ 24,00040,000).

The seventh generation of Siviks appeared in 2001. Presented by 3- and 5-door hatchbacks, sedan and compartment.
Engines: gasoline 1.42.0 l (90200 hp), diesel 1.7 l (100 hp), hybrid (90 hp).
Gearboxes: mechanical 5- and 6-speed, automatic 4-speed, variator. The latter is installed on the hybrid version.
Configuration: 7 levels.
Price: $ 20 90034 900.

Presented in September 2004, replaced the Xar model. Type of body: 3- and 5-door hatchback.
Engines: gasoline 1.42.0 l (90177 hp), diesel 1.62.0 l (90136 hp).
Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical, 4-speed automatic.
Complete: VTR, VTR-PACK, VTS.
Price: $ 17 39027 890.

M. GZOVSKY: When we started this test, the main task was to find a real hot hatchback! If you accept the point of view of a person choosing an emotional machine for active driving, then the places will be placed in a completely different way: the most enjoying the ride is given by mini and honda.
 

 

 

Mikhail Gzovsky
 

A source: The magazine "Driving"