OK, so it seems no one in my family likes to be a passenger in our 2007 Mini Cooper S. My brother rode shotgun with me for the trip up north to Sacramento and then back to L.A. and complained about the Mini's stiff ride the entire time. Actually, he's a complainer so it was really annoying, not only did he suffer but I suffered, too...
But when we were in Lane #1 on the I-5 going south, we felt every imperfection of the road. Lane #1 on this highway is kinda beat up, I'm assuming because it's the most traveled by the semis, so it had lots of cracks and holes. My brother whined so much that I switched over to the "fast lane" most of the time; something I hate to do especially if there are faster cars behind me and I feel it makes me more of a cop magnet there.
My brother also complained when I took turns too fast or when I floored the accelerator. He felt that the Mini was "out of control." So my fun in the Mini was somewhat spoiled as I had to be extra aware of my ultrasensitive passenger. I even tried to shift ever so carefully so that he wouldn't feel the transition from 1st to 2nd gear.
After this experience, it made me think that maybe the Mini S is more of a lone wolf's car. If you have friends and family you have to haul around, ferget it.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 9,136 miles
My brother also complained when I took turns too fast or when I floored the accelerator. He felt that the Mini was "out of control." So my fun in the Mini was somewhat spoiled as I had to be extra aware of my ultrasensitive passenger. I even tried to shift ever so carefully so that he wouldn't feel the transition from 1st to 2nd gear.
After this experience, it made me think that maybe the Mini S is more of a lone wolf's car. If you have friends and family you have to haul around, ferget it.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 9,136 miles
desmolicious says:
04:46 PM, 01/ 2/08
Friends that have driven around with me in the prior generation supercharged convertible have loved it. The new one rides better.
Methinks that you should not be concerned about the complainer in the seat next to you. Try out some other passengers for their opinion.
p.s. lane 1 on the I5 is totally miserable in anything that is mildly sporty. Ideal car for that lane? The Camry....
Enough said.
bennetpullen says:
05:56 PM, 01/ 2/08
I think it depends who your friends are...
My roommates have an 06 Cooper and I love riding in that thing. Then again that car is spacious and the ride is quite compliant when comparing to my lowered M Coupe...
casp201 says:
05:56 PM, 01/ 2/08
Wait, i thought the #1 lane was the fast lane and the next lane to the right was #2, and so on.
ayao says:
07:52 PM, 01/ 2/08
Sounds like Edmunds should have purchased the eject-seat-button option...
dingo567 says:
09:35 PM, 01/ 2/08
Lane numbers start at the right side of the road (slow lane) and go up as you move left (from driver's perspective). I know this because I spent a few minutes with a WSP lasering cars from an overpass and radioing speeds/descriptions to waiting cops on the entrance ramp. He explained exactly how it worked and in fact gave me a couple shots with the laser gun as well.
stovt001 says:
09:49 PM, 01/ 2/08
Wow, someone is a spoil sport. Being a passenger in my car is a privilege. Don't like it? You can step out then. Maybe you should institute the same policy.
casp201 says:
10:26 PM, 01/ 2/08
Well maybe lane numbering is different in different regions. According to the California DMV, the lanes are numbered from left to right.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs22thru25.htm
dalaw says:
12:59 AM, 01/ 3/08
Yeah, the slow lane in certain parts of the I-5 is very beat up thru Central Cali. Any kinda car you drive (even Camrys) you would naturally want to drive in the fast lane which is a lot smoother.
blueguydotcom says:
01:24 AM, 01/ 3/08
Wife grumbled tonight about a bad patch of freeway in our Cooper S. Seemed fine to me. Then again, she griped that the buttery soft 06 330i ZSP felt rough too.
Today I was pulled over by a strangely bored cop on a dry, sunny day. My infraction: he felt I was driving excessively fast on an open freeway on-ramp. How fast? Maybe 50-55. Did I break the law? No. The only posted signs on the ramp are yellow warning signs, not regulatory signs. Did I squeal my tires? No. Did I lose control or do anything to indicate the car wasn't totally under my watch? No. Penalty: "You should slow down as it's not safe to go so fast on on-ramps."
I'd take this same on-ramp at much higher speeds in my BMWs. My wife insists the Mini looks like it's going quite fast when it corners. Maybe she's right as this isn't the first time I've been pulled over in my Cooper S for "turning too quickly" for a cop's pleasure. Always the same thing that I didn't break a law but they think I should slow down even though I'm within the speed limit. Weird, weird, weird.
ahightower says:
07:54 AM, 01/ 3/08
Blueguy, that stinks. It might get dismissed in court, but you end up paying fees anyway. They'd probably trust the officer's discretion, but I'd be tempted to make them try and quantify something so subjective before a judge. Oh well.
And, if y'all want to talk about bad freeways, try I-10 in Louisiana, particularly between Beaumont, TX and Lake Charles. Even most of the truckers stay in the left lane.
steve_s2006 says:
09:16 AM, 01/ 3/08
Blueguy – That sucks, I purposely speed up in turns as that is one of the main reasons I bought an RX8 was for the agility, same thing goes for a mini, “Go Cart handling” anyone?
Being a passenger I think you feel a lot more of the road imperfections and corning speeds as you don’t have the wheel to hold on to and aren’t focused on anything like you do when driving. Still sounds like your brother might prefer a Camry.
tmanz says:
10:16 AM, 01/ 3/08
with your families responses to the Mini have you considered a DNA test to make sure you are related?
benson2175 says:
02:30 PM, 01/ 3/08
When passengers start to whine in my car I tell'em I'm just gonna drive faster to get them out sooner; works sometimes to shut them up.
estreka says:
02:34 PM, 01/ 3/08
I, too, wonder about your genetic ties to your family. Who doesn't enjoy riding in a quick little hatchback?
HighTower - Absolutely. Also try I-20 into Shreveport. Horrible.
bimmerjay says:
11:04 AM, 01/ 4/08
blueguy, did you actually get a ticket or just a lecture?
blueguydotcom says:
03:34 PM, 01/ 4/08
Bimmer,
It's always a lecture. I didn't break any laws so a ticket woulda been tougher for him. I guess he could try reckless driving but I was in my lane, not speeding and not squealing my tires.