Having owned several quick/fast cars I can say I have never know a car patter about as much as the 1 series. It doesn’t get the car out of shape mid bend or anything scary, but it very noticeable on typical duff UK roads.

Do you find you get more business from young women who see you have a Mini as a learning car? I know my friends daughters all like the Minis they see in driving schools.

Having owned several quick/fast cars I can say I have never know a car patter about as much as the 1 series. It doesn’t get the car out of shape mid bend or anything scary, but it very noticeable on typical duff UK roads.

Do you find you get more business from young women who see you have a Mini as a learning car? I know my friends daughters all like the Minis they see in driving schools.

The 1st generation BMW Mini was appalling on its runflats, but the second generation seems greatly improved. They have sorted the damping out to work with them and I really like the benefits that stiffer sidewalls bring to steering feel. I may even go for more run flats once these wear out. The car does patter occasionally, but only when the surface is really bad. I have had plenty of cars that will hop more. Equally, I am tempted to try some conventional sidewall tyres next time just to see how they feel.

The girls like the Mini, but so do the lads. I did buy it on the basis it would help with marketing and it has roped in 9 customers so far, although I would probably have got at least 4 of them anyway.

Chris

The girls like the Mini, but so do the lads. I did buy it on the basis it would help with marketing and it has roped in 9 customers so far, although I would probably have got at least 4 of them anyway.

I still find this hard to believe whenever you bring it up but the fickleness of youth does not really surprise me.

Is this a new phenomenon or has it always been this way?

The pattering over broken surfaces I think must be a Run-Flat’s feature rather than fault, the symptom you describe Chris is almost exactly the same feeling I have in my much heavier 1 series. I think it is the lack of compliance in the stiff walled run flats.

I liked the Cooper D when I drove one and your review adds to the brief experience I had:thumbup:

I've never driven anything with "limp flats" (I refuse to describe anything that gives you 100 miles at reduced speed and no spare as "run anything"), but I've seen several reports implicating them in a poor secondary ride due to lack of compliance.

I still find this hard to believe whenever you bring it up but the fickleness of youth does not really surprise me.

Is this a new phenomenon or has it always been this way?

Much as I hate to say it's true, I know people who chose which instructor because they couldn't be seen in a skoda/fiesta/whatever as it wasn't an in car.

Pathetic really as they won't be able to afford a new mini when they pass on the whole. Still it's working here so all good

Another thing I'd say is that I tried to choose my instructor based on a car, but that was purely so I could fit in it. I couldn't get anyone with a bigger car in the end so ended up learning in an AX.

I still find this hard to believe whenever you bring it up but the fickleness of youth does not really surprise me.

Is this a new phenomenon or has it always been this way?

There are literally hundreds of driving instructors around in my area. Most of them do a good job, so a pupil looking for recommendations will often have several instructors on their short list. Having a car that generates interest is a good way to move yourself up that short list. Having a car that does not generate interest leaves you neutral, having a Skoda probably did not help my business as much as having a Fiesta.

My analysis of the market in this area would indicate that the primary question from the majority of prospective pupils is "how much?" Next will be recommendation, next will be "what will I be driving?"

Thing is that all pupils have to balance this out. The main thing we can do as instructors is to be good at the job and secondly, be visible to prospective new business. I had current pupils telling me their mates had seen a new Cooper out doing lessons in the first week I had it, so on the second count, the car is doing it's job. I have also had more walk up and ask for a card approaches in two weeks than I had in the Fabia in three years. Given that I have been focussing on consulting work and have not been out much in the Mini in the first two weeks, that indicates it was a good decision.

I've never driven anything with "limp flats" (I refuse to describe anything that gives you 100 miles at reduced speed and no spare as "run anything"), but I've seen several reports implicating them in a poor secondary ride due to lack of compliance.

The poor secondary ride I believe was a lack of forethought on the part of the manufacturers. The runflat system has two distinct disadvantages. Firstly, the tyre has a stiff sidewall, so compliance is different to what you would find in a normal tyre. Secondly, the tyre is generally heavier, so the unsprung mass is increased. Both these things lead to poor secondary ride if the damping is not tuned to match the tyre properties. The Mini has a secondary ride quality and wheel control that makes the Fabia vRS (when it was new) look like a not very funny joke.

The runflat system has a few pros and cons:

Pros-

You can drive to a safe location to change a tyre (if like I do you carry a spare) or to re-inflate the tyre and get to somewhere for repair if it is a relatively slow puncture (they can be repaired provided they have not been run flat). This means no standing on the hard shoulder, or on the narrow verge of a fast A road with a flat. A very very big plus point IMO.

Range and speed are not dissimilar to many space saver spare wheels once the tyre has deflated.

Cars equipped with them incorporate an indicator to let you know you have a problem (some people would not feel a slow deflation on a conventional tyre until it fell apart).

Cons-

If it has been run flat, it should not be repaired (which equally applies to normal tyres).

Increased weight and stiffness mean customised damping is required and fuel consumption may suffer a little.

Expense, until they are the norm, they are still relatively expensive.

My suggestion is don't knock it till you have tried it.

Chris

I wasn't knocking the concept beyond where the technology does not offer you a significant gain unless you have the space, money etc to carry a full-size spare.

Having had 2 punctures on Run-Flats I think I can say they haven’t been as difficult as I thought they might. The low pressure indicator doesn’t come on till the tyre (at least with the profiles on my tyres) is around 10 psi. I suspected thee was something afoot on the motorway because the car started to tramline very badly and liked to sit in the Truck grooves. I pulled off the motorway and kicked the tyres, they looked fine all the way around. So I continued until I found a Service station and checked them properly………..10psi!!!! Good grief. The second time (and puncture) I was rounding a fast motorway bend and the car felt a little ‘lairey’ checking the tyre proved a similar story.

What I can say is that you are allowed 160 miles (unladen) on a total flat tyre at moderate speed, but if you do run it 100% flat the inner beading and sidewall become damaged, the fitter immediately spotting this because ‘cracking’ is visible on the inside. In my case I had slow punctures and so the car retained air pressure reasonably well, as a result, even though the tyre couldn’t be repaired, the car was safe to drive on for an extended period till it was convenient to change it.

I have also performed an emergency stop whilst the front tyre was running at low pressure (10-15psi, before I knew of a puncture) and can say the car monetarily felt as if it was going to dive to the side, but the sensation is no worse than performing an emergency stop on a road with uneven grip or severely different frictional properties under either side of the car.

As for the ride quality, any doubter of the run-flats should try the 3 series. It rides beautifully:)

Thanks Amanda. The last twice I had a slow, I picked it up at about 15PSI.

Seems to be the pressure at which it becomes obvious I find. If you drive the same car for long enough, you do pick up a loss of maybe 2 or 3 psi, but only if you are pushing enough for the effects to become noticeable.

I repaired a runflat that had gone down to 12 - 13psi. It had only been driven a short slow distance from when the screw was picked up (actually heard it in the tyre when it went in). They are fixable if not run fully flat, but obviously it depends on how much stress the carcass has been subjected to. Many tyre places will not fix them even if they have not been run flat.

Of course, you can always fix them yourself.

Chris

Thanks for the photos Chris, looks super. I'm surprised at the white wheels though, considering the mileage and type of braking that must go on

Steve

Really like those mood lights..... Little things and all that.

Seriously though it does look the business though..... Are the sidelights in with the front fogs then??? I've noticed another car that does that.... Might have been a people carrier of some sorts i think.

Cheers

Dave.

Thanks for the photos Chris, looks super. I'm surprised at the white wheels though, considering the mileage and type of braking that must go on

Steve

I am starting to think the white wheels are going to be a liability. They seem to look grubby after just 10 miles of driving. They also seem to have stained easily with dog p!ss. I will give them an agressive clean up tomorrow and try a few coats of Poorboys wheel sealant. If it keeps them easy to clean, all well and good, if not, I am going to try Metalmate wheel coating. It does look good when clean.

Really like those mood lights..... Little things and all that.

Seriously though it does look the business though..... Are the sidelights in with the front fogs then??? I've noticed another car that does that.... Might have been a people carrier of some sorts i think.

Cheers

Dave.

The sidelights are in with the front fogs. I think the Fiat 500 does the same, unless it is on DRLs. The mood lighting is kind of cosy. Pointless, but I like it.

Chris

Really like those mood lights..... Little things and all that.

Seriously though it does look the business though..... Are the sidelights in with the front fogs then??? I've noticed another car that does that.... Might have been a people carrier of some sorts i think.

Sidelights are in the front fogs and I have to say I find the mood lighting damn annoying on blue. I just wish it went to full on red, but it is kind of nice too.

I am starting to think the white wheels are going to be a liability. They seem to look grubby after just 10 miles of driving. They also seem to have stained easily with dog p!ss. I will give them an agressive clean up tomorrow and try a few coats of Poorboys wheel sealant. If it keeps them easy to clean, all well and good, if not, I am going to try Metalmate wheel coating. It does look good when clean.

Don't worry Chris, the silver ones are just as bad

I'd try something like a sealant on the wheels. I've no idea if the poorboys lasts very long but I do keep hearing very good things about jetseal on alloys.

Jetseal 109 does seem to be the current big thing in wheel sealant

But if you've got PB to use up, then of course...

I've used Collinite 476 on my current set and does the job well. I also find it way easier to apply. But I did do this while the wheels were off the car. Confident it will out-last PB too, but haven't tried Jetseal.

Steve

Jetseal 109 does seem to be the current big thing in wheel sealant

But if you've got PB to use up, then of course...

I've used Collinite 476 on my current set and does the job well. I also find it way easier to apply. But I did do this while the wheels were off the car. Confident it will out-last PB too, but haven't tried Jetseal.

Steve

I use the Collinite 476s on bodywork usually. I am looking at the Jetseal 109 as the Collinite is only a wax (but a good one). No harm in putting a coat of Collinite on I suppose.

I tried the PB on the Fabia wheels and was underwhelmed by its apparently total lack of effectiveness. Maybe it needed more than one coat.

Chris

I'm not a fan of PB sealant either Chris, I have the same opinion as you.

I'm sure Jetseal is a better product overall, as it's specifically designed for the job in hand. But I had Collinite to hand and know it to be very durable, so I thought I'd try it

Maybe the sealant, then Collinite to finish - if you have the patience.

Steve

Turtlewax glass guard is also quite effective on alloys if you're after a quick and easy to apply hit.

I too found the PB Wheel Sealant lacking in durability, but the Collinite 476S works well on wheels!

If the rain holds off this evening I will try a coat or two of Collinite 476s. I think I may have to use Wonder Wheels to get the more stubborn deposits off. The car is only two weeks old and the wheels have been cleaned three times in that period. I may just go over the road to the dealers and see if I can blag the Metalmate sealant for free on the basis that the standard wheel coating is not fit for purpose.

Chris

Worth a try

Collinite 476s. One coat, excellent result. The dirt literally falls off with the gentlest of washes.

Chris

476s'd my wheels today too.

I keep harping on about the Cooper D being slow. It really is compared to the other stuff on my driveway, but today, I got to passenger in it next to a "proper" driver.

First thing noticed from the passenger seat is that the gutless engine actually pulls pretty well. As I said earlier, I expect it would keep an unmapped Fabia vRS honest. Next thing to notice was the cornering speeds and sheer pointability (is there such a word? There should be) of the thing. As a passenger, the forces at work and the attitude of the chassis (quite sideways for a front driver) are much more evident than you would notice as a driver.

Lastly, the way the car can be thrown at corners with complete confidence is something that again is only really evident as a passenger.

As for my friend, he was expecting to find the car a real disappointment and really not worth the asking price. When we got back, we had another Mini convert.

Chris