Comments on: 2009 MINI Cooper D

By: Matthew

Matthew — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 05:07:04 +0000

I drive a $22000 Mazda 2. 1.5L producing 76KWs. Fuel tank is 42 L. I get about 430-450 Kms in one tank. What is wrong with the cooper D? Its about a second faster to the 0-100km/h mark. Surely its just about double the price but I’m entirely sure its worth buying it, if the car suits your lifestyle then you’ve got Australia’s most fuel efficient car. You will get 1000 Kms in one tank! Diesel prices are just about the same to E10 unleaded/Unleaded. If your still not satisfied with its performance, then you can purchase a diesel power chip and that would certainly increase the power to about 20kws more and the torque about 40 NM extra. This is a frugal diesel disguised as a hot hatch that can take you much more longer in a tank without compromising the fun of driving.

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:05:25 +0000

Whoa….Alex I am going to assume you are in the UK due to the times you have been posting.
I think it is best to agree to disagree, because we are both happy with our cars and that’s all that matters at the end of the day.

I am curious though, why did you go for a Cooper D over say a Cooper S?

Cupid Stunt, I agree, they are both in the mini(not the car) market. They both have a range of shared petrol and diesel engines along with turbo hot hatches and a wagon line-up.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:49:46 +0000

Well the way that I see it is that the 207 (minus the GTI) isn’t fun to drive, it’s not in the premium sector, it can fit two people in the back and it has a decent boot. There’s just too many differences.

By: Cupid Stunt

Cupid Stunt — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:10:48 +0000

Uh Mini and 207 not competitors. Hang on they are both small cars in a small car market some models , as you point out, use the same basic engine. I would even suggest they are in exactly the same market comparatively. But that’s just my opinion I’m not saying you are wrong.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:50:35 +0000

But Jimbo, I didn’t comment on your opinion about whether or not this could be compared to a Prius, I commented on the fact that you are going around writing that the Mini is overpriced and not enough car for it’s money. Well, you’re either wrong or wrong and cheap. I don’t buy Minis because they’re fashionable (which they aren’t really, maybe seven years ago but not now), I buy them because they are class leaders. In the Cooper D, I have a car that even if you factor in all the cars that are tweaked to be better for the environment and made nasty in the process, has class leading economy, class leading handling, class leading build quality, class leading safety and at the end of the day, is still cool. If the 207 was all those things and on top of all that, better in the city, I would have bought that instead but put quite simply, it isn’t.
I never wrote that your 207 was bad and I never wrote that you had to like the Mini but I am 100% right when I write that you simply cannot compare the two. The Mini manages to be great fun even in One and Diesel variants, the 207 is only a worth while car with one or two of the engines on offer. And even then, it’s no class leader.
You can prefer the 207 to the Mini if you want but at the end of the day, as far as the actual drive goes, the Mini still has no competitors and if it did it would be the new Fiesta. The 207 is somewhere near the back of the line for possible Mini competitors. It’s a good and capable supermini, but that’s all.

Lastly, just to write it one more time so it’s perfectly clear, the 207 and the Mini are not competitors and therefore, cannot be compared.

By: Cupid Stunt

Cupid Stunt — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:16:30 +0000

Bravo Axel, Hip Hip old bean.

I rather like the old Mini thing not for me though couldn’t possibly get the Picnic hamper in the boot!! Bravo Bravo

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:44:52 +0000

Alex, I’m pathetic am I? Ok then. If you had read my posts, I do actually think quite highly of Mini’s even if they are not my cup of tea.
I do not however see how it can be compared to a Prius as stated in the above article.
If you had read my posts you would have understood that, rather than having a sook because someone doesn’t like your over priced eco-fashion car.

Also I have driven a Mini not to long ago and I’ll take my 207 over it any day thanks, plus I think it looks better! Just personal preference mate!

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:48:56 +0000

Axel, that “here on the estate” thing is getting really tired and irritating. Would you please stop?

By: axel

axel — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:21:31 +0000

Cupid stunt your so naughty , upsetting stan is becoming a hobby for some .

Here on the estate we have no time for know alls , or no nothings.

The mini is legend , long live great britain ,even if the hermans build it .

By: Cupid Stunt

Cupid Stunt — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:06:57 +0000

The PSA diesel engine certainly does a better job than the previous Toyota sourced lump. Binned only after a couple of years he said taunting for toyotaphile reactions. Eh Dan!

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:36:51 +0000

Oh, and as I wrote what Top Gear say about the Mini Cooper D, I thought I should throw in what they say about the 207. “Huge improvement over the 206 that somehow still disappoints” and “The sort of car you buy if you have no interest in cars what so ever.”
I like the 207, but you can’t seriously compare a 207 to a Mini just because they share engines – engines that BMW have heavily tweaked for the Mini.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:32:24 +0000

Jimbo, you’re pathetic. Minis are not expensive because of the look or the brand, they’re expensive because they are absolutely brilliant. The handling is up there with the best and they really are tremendously fun to drive. I can also vouch for the Mini Cooper D as I own one and it is no less fun than the Cooper petrol and you get the wonderful economy.
Your 207 is completely incomparable and that’s not just my opinion, that’s basically the motoring worlds opinion. Top Gear have called this car the world’s real first diesel hot hatch. It may share engines but it’s not as if the driving experience is anything alike. You wrote
“Also I drive a Euro hatch (A 207 this engines original owner), so I understand wanting to add a little bit of style and excitement to the daily drive.”
Style, yes but the 207 is hardly celebrated for it’s driving dynamics and unless you own a GTI, I would hardly call it exciting unless you call a Yaris exciting.

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 05:41:07 +0000

Nightshifter, if its pure acceleration you’re after – sure this car will disappoint. Perhaps the turbo petrol variant would be a better option. Although bear in mind being diesel it should have good in-gear acceleration. So picture driving this car on curvy mountain terrain. It will stick hard on the tarmac and move briskly between corners and up hills. It’s in it’s element where there is little stop-start driving (sporty performance-wise).
If you want brutal performance you’re probably after a WRX, Golf GTI or Evo.

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 05:32:10 +0000

Perhaps “smug” Jimbo, but I still can’t see a problem with that.
I like this car’s intent: Fun diesel motoring. For that reason alone this car will appeal to many.
I sure hope VW bring their Bluesport to production and OZ. I’m already sold on the concept.

By: Nightshifter

Nightshifter — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:19:43 +0000

funky look for sure but 9.9…… way too slow to be an enjoyable drive?

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:11:35 +0000

Hahaha, who turns their head to look at you in your Mini Luke? I think you will find that’s only happening only in your imagination champ.

LOL…Luke, I merely mentioned the 207 in response to a comment made by someone else. The Mini also shares its engines with the 308 and the Citroen C4. I’m therefore not sure what I need to let go of?
I do however wish my 207 had a Mini’s CVT trany.

And “cheap” NO! “fun” yes. My point has been all along is that it is a fun car, not the eco-style, hybrid alternative miracle that Anthony will have us believe by the above article. In the guise of a Mini the diesel engine is welcome addition to the Mini line up but it is by no means a new concept.

On road an Auto Cooper D is $40k. I would rather get a Cooper S for near the same money, or if we are going for environmentally friendly and close in size and spec to a Prius I would go a 308 or a Golf.

Call it what it is people. This car is so Mini owners can not only enjoy their car, but they can join Prius owners in generating a huge smug cloud at the same time.

By: Luke

Luke — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:27:02 +0000

Jimbo,

I think you need to let go of the fact you own a 207. This Mini is such a brilliant package. Yes they share engines, yes this is not a new concept but no Mini has not done this before.

Finally Mini has offered us something that is more in line with the original Minis than any of the other ‘new’ models. This Mini embraces the concept of cheap, fun motoring like the original intentions of Sir Alec Issigonis’ brilliant creation way back in the 60s.

In what world would a 207 ever turn heads like a Mini?

-Luke.

By: t39

t39 — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:49:22 +0000

Is 9.9 seconds to 100mk/h a typo? Seems it should be quicker. Would an auto then be around 11.5 seconds?

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:40:18 +0000

I agree with you on most points Pauly,

Your point about the 207 is flawed though. As the 207 shares all its engines with the Mini. And the 207 tranies are made in Germany and are of German design. So I am wondering what reliablilty issues you are talking about?

By: Pauly

Pauly — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:30:43 +0000

The engine is modified from what I have read int he Mini? Then you have a different suspension setup, different transmission, etc etc.

Also it is going to be up there (right at the top) when it comes to fuel efficient cars in Australia and right up there when it comes to CO2 emissions.

Dont forget Mini’s have amazing resale value to, something the 207 doesn’t have.

Reliability is also an issue with French cars, where as the mini has excellent reliability.

Then you through into the mix the ability to customize the car to how you want.

The excellent handling and the style.

I agree mini has grown this reputation of being a fashion accessory. However it has merit, its still a brilliant car regardless.

Its better then going and buying other cars as fashion statements that are utter rubbish (VW Bettle im looking at you)

Yes you can get diesels in VW Golfs, Mazda 3, Ford Focus, etc etc. But none of them can match the mini with just a all round fun car to drive, with great handeling, great customization options, and great resale value.

Then you have the economy of this engine too.

Im sure the review will come out saying its a great car, all the other reviews overseas have said the same thing.