What’s different?

Posted on by Ian C.

Now that I have a few miles in GBMINI#3, I have some interesting observations & comparisons with GBMINI#2 … well I think they are interesting anyway 😉

  • Lower revving – when cruising in “drive” at 70mph, the engine is only at about 2400rpm compared with 3000rpm of GBMINI#2; with the ’05 gear changes, perhaps the manuals rev higher still now?
  • Stereo – very disappointing! The combination of an aftermarket head unit and the tuned-to-MINI Harman Kardon amplifier gave great clarity in GBMINI#2; the stock stereo in GBMINI#3 sounds muffled and a bit hollow in comparison
  • Brakes – much better! The Green Stuff brake pads were never as good as the stock pads for normal road driving; I notice that MINI Peabody no longer offer them
  • Rearview Mirror – too big! Because I ride sitting up straight in a MINI, the new bigger rearview mirror drastically blocks my view when I am turning right; I find it necessary to peer underneath and around … I wonder if the smaller pre-’05 one can be fitted instead
  • Construction – tighter! Both the bonnet & boot require more effort to shut them, although they shut fine. They simply appear to fit better. There are no rattles from the new car either, although there is a slight “buzzing” from somewhere in the passenger / windshield area
  • Lights – excellent! As well as the cool design Xenon headlights there are the new lights behind the door opening handles and the “stealth” interior illumination; I love the ’05 lighting!
  • Seats – much stiffer. Not sure if this is because they are new and not yet “worn in” or if there is any design change
  • Heated seats – they get hotter quicker! I presume because the heated part is cloth on the cloth/leather seats, compared to (thicker?) leather
  • Interior – FABULOUS! Just what I always wanted! The chili red dash is phenomenal and I love the black/red seats and the anthracite headliner; I plan to change the silver downtubes to anthracite (although Margaret advises against it!)
  • MPG – On a long run today, the MPG looks to be between 28 & 30 based on how much gas is left now; the on-board-computer is estimating about 28 which may be quite accurate – much better than GBMINI#2 which typically claimed 15% higher than truth

During todays drive I kept the transmission in “drive” although I did click the steering wheel paddles to activate “agitronic” mode a few times.

Initially I found that “drive” seemed a bit sluggish to sort itself out when pulling away, but this impression faded. Not sure if it is because the transmission is new and has to do some learning, or because I got used to it. Or perhaps I just stopped “babying” it and started pulling away less gently!

Clicking the paddles once or twice to downshift & pass something is definitely easier than the accelerator kickdown – but you still have to remember to give it more gas 😉 When I did use kickdown, I got pretty dramatic results which typically included the JCW air intake opening up (breaking the 4500 rpm rev limit).

Another feature I liked was “engine braking”. On a downhill, if I started braking then the transmission would downshift on its own and engage engine braking to assist – the transmission must somehow know when the car is going downhill.

Overall, I enjoyed driving GBMINI#3 today but I think there is a lot more still to find & enhance that enjoyment. I have not yet tried the automatic and manual “sport” modes, and I try to keep the revs down which definitely spoils things …

GBMINI#3 “test drive”

Posted on by Ian C.

Today Margaret & I headed out to put a few miles onto GBMINI#3; we first headed up 133 then 1A through Rowley & Newburyport, to Salisbury Beach – it sounded & looked good on the map but when we got there it was a bit of a sad beach town, closed for the winter, though we did find one place open – Chef Howies Hobo cafe – and enjoyed an excellent breakfast.

We headed further north through Hampton Beach which was full of cars & people, then we turned west and headed towards Manchester, NH. From there we headed north towards Concord, then west again heading for Keene.
I was convinced there was a nice chocolate place there that I had visited on the first MAMA run but it must be somewhere else. Nevertheless we stopped in a pleasant cafe in Keene with great cookies & acceptable live music, and a mural outside.

From Keene we headed south, back into Massachusetts eventually hooking up with route 2, then 495 north to 114 and back home via Richardsons (another little snack!)
Back home now, with 285 miles on the clock:

GBMINI#3 first drive
GBMINI#3 first drive
GBMINI#3 first drive
GBMINI#3 first drive – 280+ miles
GBMINI#3 first drive

Saw three other MINIs on the road, all in Massachusetts; a pepper white, a yellow/black (license plate BUZZ B) and a black with checkered roof. Don’t think any of them recognized GBMINI#3 😉