{"id":37324,"date":"2021-07-26T06:00:43","date_gmt":"2021-07-25T21:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=37324"},"modified":"2021-07-25T22:32:44","modified_gmt":"2021-07-25T13:32:44","slug":"bmw-mini-testdrive-202107-wife","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/bmw-mini-testdrive-202107-wife\/","title":{"rendered":"Wait, Do I Like It More Than the Golf 7? I Took the MINI Cooper for a Drive\u2014and Honestly, I Want One"},"content":{"rendered":"

First Impressions of the BMW MINI Cooper D<\/h3>\n

The other day, I shared my husband\u2019s test-drive report on the BMW MINI Cooper D his younger sister had bought<\/a>. I recently got the chance to drive it myself, both around town and on Royu Driveway, so I\u2019d like to share a few of my own impressions. My husband had already told me it was a beautifully engineered car that was easy to drive and left a great impression<\/strong>, so I was looking forward to getting behind the wheel.<\/p>\n

\"BMW<\/p>\n

I bought a manual-transmission car this April, although its production date is still up in the air because of the semiconductor shortage. At the time, I\u2019d also considered the MINI Countryman. It seemed like a great all-around car: a solid five-door with easy access and plenty of room for loading luggage, a comfortable back seat for the kids, and a cute design.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But when I searched used-car listings for a manual, I couldn\u2019t find one in the condition I wanted or in a body color I liked, so I gave up on the idea.<\/p>\n

Back to the MINI Cooper. My first impression was that the doors felt reassuringly solid and substantial<\/strong>. As soon as I shut one, I felt cocooned in a space that protected me\u2014a really nice feeling.<\/p>\n

Then I set off, and the suspension surprised me. From its looks, I\u2019d expected the MINI Cooper to feel light and nimble, with a tight turning circle. The reality was quite different. Beneath its cute exterior, it felt robust and planted, with a real sense of grip<\/strong>. My husband said:<\/p>\n

The suspension is fantastic, isn\u2019t it? This one costs over \u00a54 million out the door when new, but you can see where the money goes. If anything, it feels better than the price suggests. You don\u2019t often find suspension this solid in cars in the same price range\u2014and especially not in Japanese cars. It\u2019s firm without being harsh, and the sense of security and tire grip is incredible.<\/p>\n

I once had the chance to test-drive a Mazda Roadster (ND)<\/a>, and remember thinking, \u201cThis car is incredibly well built!<\/strong>\u201d The MINI\u2019s suspension felt like an even more tightly dialed-in version of the Roadster\u2019s.<\/p>\n

We also used to own a Volkswagen Golf 7<\/a>, whose suspension we loved. My husband and I praised it every time we drove it. But for me, the MINI felt even more planted than the Golf 7, with a stronger sense of grip that made it easy to trust the car<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

I prefer suspension that\u2019s a little firm and gives me a clear sense of what the tires are doing, rather than a soft setup. The MINI Cooper suited my tastes perfectly, and throughout the drive I kept saying, \u201cThis is so good! I want one! This is so good!<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

The MINI Cooper Is a Wonderful Car<\/h3>\n

While we were stopped at a traffic light, I took a good look at the interior. The materials and overall feel were excellent. I was told this particular car had very few options, but if the interior feels this nice as standard, that\u2019s more than enough for me.<\/p>\n

\"BMW<\/p>\n

Next, I took it onto Royu Driveway. The steering felt intuitive, and both the accelerator and brake pedals were easy to operate.<\/strong> The car turned exactly as much as I asked it to, without needing me to add more steering input, making for a smooth and satisfying drive. The brakes were just as impressive: it was easy to judge how much pressure to apply, and they responded with a reassuring bite when I pressed down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just want to keep taking these corners. This is so much fun!\u201d<\/p>\n

Before I knew it, I was driving with a huge smile on my face.<\/p>\n

\"BMW<\/p>\n

The MINI Cooper was easy and fun to drive both around town and on roads like Royu Driveway. When I pressed the accelerator a little harder, though, its acceleration did feel slightly underwhelming.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s only because I was comparing it with a Porsche<\/strong>. I think the MINI has more than enough power for joining the highway or accelerating when needed, and it\u2019s comfortable enough to make you want to take it on a long trip.<\/p>\n

Personally, I also suspect the regular gasoline-powered MINI Cooper would be even more satisfying to listen to, with a livelier engine note.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m still waiting for my own manual car to be delivered\u2014or, more accurately, waiting to hear when it will go into production. The MINI was such a wonderful car that I found myself wondering, \u201cWill my own car\u2019s suspension feel a little inadequate next to the MINI? I hope not\u2026<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019m so grateful I got the chance to drive it. Thank you!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"First Impressions of the BMW MINI Cooper D The other day, I shared my husband\u2019s test-drive report on the BMW MINI Cooper D his younger sister had bought. I recently got the chance to drive it myself, both around town and on Royu Driveway, so I\u2019d like to share a few of my own impressions. My husband had already told me it was a beautifully engineered car that was easy to drive and left a...","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":24655,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=24632","footnotes":""},"categories":[72],"tags":[204],"class_list":["post-37324","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-testdrive","tag-bmw-mini","en-US"],"yoast_head":"Wait, Do I Like It More Than the Golf 7? I Took the MINI Cooper for a Drive\u2014and Honestly, I Want One - \u30dd\u30eb\u30b7\u30a7\u304c\u308f\u304c\u5bb6\u306b\u3084\u3063\u3066\u304d\u305f - \u30aa\u30fc\u30ca\u30fc\u30ba\u30d6\u30ed\u30b0<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A candid MINI Cooper D test drive: discover how its planted handling, polished interior and driving feel compare with a Porsche and the Golf 7.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/bmw-mini-testdrive-202107-wife\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Wait, Do I Like It More Than the Golf 7? 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