Mini Cooper Vs. Go Kart

[Fritzo]

As a recent Mini Cooper S owner, I keep hearing the same thing over and over: "Does it handle like a go kart?"

Well, everyone says it does, but nobody has ever really tested that statement.

Until now....

http://www.crankandpiston.com/on-the-road/mini-cooper-s-vs-sodi-go-kart-that-go-kart-feeling/

 

[Insomniator]

A loaded mini is 45k?!

 

[JulesMaximus]

Why use such an anemic kart? Oh, they wanted this to favor the car... that's why.

You may think then that this test is ultimately pointless.

Yup, that's pretty much what I think. :thumbsup:

 

[Fritzo]

Why use such an anemic kart? Oh, they wanted this to favor the car... that's why.

Yup, that's pretty much what I think. :thumbsup:

I thought the same thing, but a souped up kart is just a steering wheel, wheels, and an engine. The Mini has all those other bits that make it a car. Not really a fair comparison either. It was fun though

A loaded mini is 45k?!

Yeah, you can rack up the price of any car. Go to Ford.com and price up a $65000 Mustang.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I thought the same thing, but a souped up kart is just a steering wheel, wheels, and an engine. The Mini has all those other bits that make it a car. Not really a fair comparison either. It was fun though

That's all any kart is.

BTW-A 250cc shifter kart would have murdered the Mini.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

That's all any kart is.

BTW-A 250cc shifter kart would have murdered the Mini.

And going from a 250 shifter kart to a mini makes the mini feel like a wallowing pig mobile.

Karts are hard wired to the ground. Anything with a suspension ain't going to be anything like a kart.

 

[Insomniator]

And going from a 250 shifter kart to a mini makes the mini feel like a wallowing pig mobile.

Karts are hard wired to the ground. Anything with a suspension ain't going to be anything like a kart.

Sometimes it feels like my mini doesn't have a suspension

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Compare it to a go cart of the same engine size and value... Then we're talking.

 

[Aikouka]

Hm, I happened to come across a picture of a Formula One car, and that reminded me of this thread. My thought was... if we want a more accurate comparison of what a "vehicular go kart" would be, would it be more accurate to say that it's something like a Formula race car?

 

[Fritzo]

Hm, I happened to come across a picture of a Formula One car, and that reminded me of this thread. My thought was... if we want a more accurate comparison of what a "vehicular go kart" would be, would it be more accurate to say that it's something like a Formula race car?

Probably...I'd say that's accurate.

 

[Fritzo]

Sometimes it feels like my mini doesn't have a suspension

Heh...you didn't get the JCW version, did you?

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Probably...I'd say that's accurate.

Lol I've heard pilots make the same comparisons between their favorite crop duster and an F-16. Anyone who's ever actually driven an F1 car or flown an F-16 would

 

[JulesMaximus]

Compare it to a go cart of the same engine size and value... Then we're talking.

Formula Ford?

 

[Aikouka]

Lol I've heard pilots make the same comparisons between their favorite crop duster and an F-16. Anyone who's ever actually driven an F1 car or flown an F-16 would

Two things...

(1) While I mentioned seeing a Formula 1 car as being what spawned my thought, I did also consider that even comparing a Formula 1 car as a "super-sized parallel" might be a little too ambitious power-wise. I did consider specifically mentioning Formula 3 or something similar, but I didn't see a Formula 3 car.

(2) The idea isn't to say that they're the same power-wise, but even that they look kind of similar. Albeit, now I expect someone to post pictures of the two just to be obstinate. Please... don't be that argumentative guy.

Hell, in looking up the better Formula class as a parallel, I found this little blurb in Formula 4's Wikipedia page:

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) saw a need for clearer career path and stepping stone for drivers. There are many drivers wishing to graduate from Karting but can not afford the higher costs of Formula 3.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Even comparing formula ford to most street legal cars is a real stretch of..... wait for it...... your imagination. Anything is possible between your two ears, go for it.

 

[Insomniator]

Heh...you didn't get the JCW version, did you?

No, just an S and I've regretted it ever since

It does have low profile tires and worn out struts though!

The S was 11500 and the JCW I wanted was 16, so I'm sure the S was the better deal (hell 4 grand into an S would be a very fun car)... but you know... I like the idea of factory/stock performance.

 

[Fritzo]

No, just an S and I've regretted it ever since

It does have low profile tires and worn out struts though!

The S was 11500 and the JCW I wanted was 16, so I'm sure the S was the better deal (hell 4 grand into an S would be a very fun car)... but you know... I like the idea of factory/stock performance.

I have the S too and mine's not that bad at all. My BMW with sport suspension was a lot worse to tell you the truth. Everyone I've talked to with the JCW said they regretted it. The suspension is so stiff you almost can't drive it on the roads.

 

[iamwiz82]

I have the S too and mine's not that bad at all. My BMW with sport suspension was a lot worse to tell you the truth. Everyone I've talked to with the JCW said they regretted it. The suspension is so stiff you almost can't drive it on the roads.

Factory JCWs don't get a unique suspension.

They have:

Brembo brakes
Upgraded turbo
Different exhaust
Different ECU
eLSD
Upgraded internals

The JCW suspension is available for any MINI.

 

[Midwayman]

A loaded mini is 45k?!

Geez. So many nicer cars available for that.

 

[Fritzo]

Factory JCWs don't get a unique suspension.

They have:

Brembo brakes
Upgraded turbo
Different exhaust
Different ECU
eLSD
Upgraded internals

The JCW suspension is available for any MINI.

They didn't have different struts and bigger tires?

 

[iamwiz82]

They didn't have different struts and bigger tires?

Perhaps different tires, not sure on that one. Same struts for sure though. Wheels are unique.

 

[KentState]

A loaded mini is 45k?!

I thought they were low 20's and maybe 30k for all options.

 

[iamwiz82]

I thought they were low 20's and maybe 30k for all options.

The MINI Goodwood was around $52k or so.

My MINI is very highly spec'd and cost way more than most people would want to pay but I got the features I wanted. Building it and then watching the progress was great fun.

MINI offers a lot of options that you can't get in the price point, but it also drives the price up. Want a completely stripped car, except for adaptive LED headlights as the only option? Ok. Want only a HUD and nothing else? Ok.

I like that MINI doesn't push bullshit packages like Honda, VW, and a host of other companies. Screw that, I want LEDs and I don't want a sunroof.

 

[Brian Stirling]

A $52K Mini is like a $500 car with $5000 rims -- laughable. On the upside, if the $52K was well spent it could be quite a sleeper though it would still be a Mini.

I have a 2012 Ford Focus and love it but the kids find it necessary to pump many thousands into it to improve power by less than 30HP and thousands more for Rally stripes and similar. Hey, your money your choice, but if you want a faster car buy one that's faster to begin with or at least offers a reasonable opportunity to increase.

You're not going to make huge improvements in power in a modern DI FI engine without either voiding the warranty or otherwise sacrificing something.


Brian

 

[Midwayman]

You're not going to make huge improvements in power in a modern DI FI engine without either voiding the warranty or otherwise sacrificing something.


Brian

exception- 2013-2014 MB c300. The DI 3.5l engine in it is pretty much the same, but with the thottle limited in software. (maybe small other differences) A tune gets you 40-50hp by removing that software limit.