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Performance Volvo Cars A forum for those interested in any Volvo performance car from any era, FWD, RWD and AWD! |
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Chalk and cheese?Views : 775 Replies : 0Users Viewing This Thread : |
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Jun 28th, 2002, 15:02 | #1 |
850/70 Register Keeper
Last Online: Apr 24th, 2008 19:02
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Leicester
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Chalk and cheese?
In a search for fun that doesn't come with a 18mpg price tag, I've just test-driven a Mini Cooper S.
It's a hell of a car - corners superbly, brakes on a penny and has a fantastically precise gearbox. Obviously, no creaks or groans since it's new, but less obviously reasonable levels of noise in the cabin for a small car; though to be fair I was too busy to try the stereo. But - and it's a big but, IT ISN'T FAST ENOUGH!!!! I didn't get that thump in the back that I was expecting from a supercharged small car - the power was there but it just wasn't up to the 850R in sheer poke. Apparently there is an upgrade to 202bhp in development and the chassis certainly could take the upgrade with ease. It did show up the standard brakes on the 850 though: when I got back into mine I nearly ran through a junction, despite braided hoses - the Mini has brakes like AP ones, very positive. The other big but is the rear seating - it's the size of a very small thing for very small people with very, very, very small feet. Basically, it's a two-seater with room for toddlers. If they did something about the engine I'd order one tomorrow, but I couldn't face being passed by Volvos like mine and the screams of rage from my normal-sized children when they couldn't go in the front seat. If you did want to order one though, you'd have to wait till next year - yes, they're like Jaguars in the 70s, there's a waiting list and a grey market of premium-priced delivery mileage ones. Interesting - I wonder what a Civic Type R is like.... |
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