TopGear - August 2015 PH

MORE INFO

Rivals

Peugeot 208 GTI,

Volkswagen Beetle

On sale

2006-2014

Best resource

http://www.theminiforum.co.uk

Parts

Oil filter: P1,200/

piece (OE)

Air Filter: P1,500/

piece (OE)

Ball joint: P5,500/

per side (OE)

Front Brake pads:

P9,600/set

*Prices indicative of range

Top contact

British United

Automobiles

QUICK FACT

The original Mini

was a rally legend,

winning the presti-

gious Monte Carlo

Rally thrice in the

’60s. The modern

Mini ALL4 team has

won the even more

rigorous Dakar rally

four times.

RUN-FlATTER

If your secondhand

Mini no longer has the

original run-flats, good.

S FOR SUPER

Later turbocharged cars

like this packed over

180hp under the hood.

TIghT FIT

Comfortable for two,

the Mini Hatchback is a

tight fit for four.

CAPITAl IdEA

The white roof keeps

the car cooler during

the day. A godsend.

CRACKlE

The rorty exhaust note

and backfire of the

Cooper S entertains.

ShEll gAME

Scoop is cosmetic only.

The intercooler sits

behind the bumper.

1 2 3 4 5 6

osition because of its longer wheelbase

and added space.

Engine

The R 56 used a direct-injection turbo-

charged motor shared between BMW

and Peugeot (which uses it in the 208

GTi and the RC-Z). This produces up to

208 hp in John Cooper Works variants.

The engine is mated to either a six-speed

manual or a six-speed automatic, both of

which put power to the ground through

a standard limited-slip differential.

When test-driving older year models,

check the oil and listen for that distinc-

tive timing-chain rattle that signals the

previous owner has driven the car a bit

too long on low oil pressure. For manual

transmissions, also check for vibrations

that may signal a need to change the

(somewhat) pricey dual-mass flywheel.

Automatics require regular fluid chang-

es, so ask for service records if the car

has more than 40,000km on it.

Driving impressions

Anyone who says “front-wheel drive

sucks” has never driven a Mini in anger.

The short wheelbase and light weight

mean effortless direction changes, with

a sprinkling of lift-off oversteer if you’re

so inclined. While not as tactile as the

steering in the first-gen car, the R 56 ’s

electric power steering is one of the best

out there, with a rack-mounted electric

motor allowing a lot of feedback through

the wheel.

Cooper S variants come with Sports

mode, stiffer suspensions and bigger 17 -

inch wheels, making for better handling

on the racetrack at the expense of some

ride comfort. JCW models dial things

up to hardcore, but often struggle to put

that extra power down to the ground.

Many owners replace the standard run-

flats with regular tires to smooth out

the ride. While there are kits to mount a

spare tire under the body, these can’t be

mounted to the turbocharged cars due

to the center-exit exhaust. Which means

you’ll need a can of fix-a-flat and a com-

pressor in the trunk for emergencies.

Verdict

The original Morris Mini was an icon,

and the new Mini hatchback lives up

to its reputation. These little cars are

pricey, but they provide an immediacy

and urgency at the wheel absent from

most cars nowadays. And thanks to their

fuel economy and small footprint, you

don’t have to feel guilty about giving

them the beans every now and then,

either.

We can’t get enough of

cool personal touches like

this Union Jack mirror

IN dETAIl

WWW.topgear.com.ph TOP GEAR PHILIPPINES 101

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