by "f86sabre" (f86sabre)
Published 11/13/2017 at 18:56
by "f86sabre" (f86sabre)
Published 11/13/2017 at 18:56
Tags: Mini
STARS: 11
As I mentioned earlier, I drove the Mini to work this morning. I now have some highway obersrvations. 44HP and 58 lb-ft of torque do just fine on the interstate. 70 MPH was 3800 RPM and it wasn’t too rough or buzzy.
Modern cars are a spoil of power. In the Mini hills are a thing. Smooth grades on the interstate took a bit of forthought. Passing takes some consideration as well. Those hamsters take a minute to spin up. Once it warms up it is a dream.
The handling of the car is lovely. Ride is a bit firm, steering is tight and all that is great. The low beam headlights are crap. I drove the whole way in with the high beams lit. No one seemed to care.
I still need to get the carb properly tuned. It runs great at speed, but low speed stuff isn’t good unless you run it up to 3k or so. That makes stop and go traffic kind of horrible. Oil pressure was rock steady and temps never got past N.
I was in traffic rolling at about 45 mph and look at the car next to me and the driver was taking my picture. I guess that is part of why one buys a car like this. That and the fact that you can park it almost anywhere.
All of this makes me happy.
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
11/13/2017 at 19:06, STARS: 1
Glad to see Mini ownership is treating you well....hopefully it will be a similar story for me once I eventually get my 126! Then again, I’ll have 24hp and 32ft-lbs of torque, but a slightly lower weight, so....we’ll see :P
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
11/13/2017 at 19:21, STARS: 2
Drag race the slow cars!
"TractorPillow" (tractorpillow)
11/13/2017 at 19:41, STARS: 1
I drove mine everywhere and never had any issues on the highway. I even took it on the dirt motorcycle tracks back in the woods. Very capable car. I need to get another one for sure.
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
11/13/2017 at 19:50, STARS: 0
I wasn’t too worried, but it as my first lengthy run with it. The video Favien posted when he bought it showed it running at speed, so I knew it could do it.
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
11/13/2017 at 20:06, STARS: 1
I would gladly do this one I had it and we were ever in the same area :P
"wkiernan" (wkiernan)
11/13/2017 at 20:21, STARS: 1
My ‘04 Miata turns 3500 at 70 MPH.
I think revs are proportionate to happiness. This explains those wackass motorcycle people, who, knowing full well that their suicidal hobby will surely be the soon death of them, yet persist: “More! [putting another rock in the pipe with trembling fingers] lemme hold your lighter man.”
"gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee" (gogmorgo)
11/13/2017 at 21:35, STARS: 1
Driving the Niva is much the same. Lower gearing and a touch more power and torque but a heavier car. Hills aren’t so much of an obstacle, but passing... Yeah how bout that. Grab third and run it into the rev limiter... And you’re still only going 65mph...
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
11/13/2017 at 21:44, STARS: 0
Truth
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
11/14/2017 at 08:24, STARS: 1
My W450 smart is only playing with 61 bhp and even it sounds like a racecar compared to your Mini. Good write-up!
“I was in traffic rolling at about 45 mph and look at the car next to me and the driver was taking my picture.”
That’s going to happen all the time. Having a tiny car in America practically turns you into a celebrity. :)
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
11/14/2017 at 17:11, STARS: 0
small cars are so rare here
"MINIGTI" (76tr6)
11/14/2017 at 23:24, STARS: 0
Actually my 2003 Civic 4-speed autotragic was almost like that. 2nd gear maxes out at about 60 so if you put your foot down at 65 it would go to 3rd but had absolutely no power. It would take ages to reach even 70.