Dr Pepper
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Registered: 21st Sep 02
Location: oxford Drives Renault Clio RS200
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Right- before i start dont get me wrong, this is a great car. However, I thought that after i had driven it for the day i would be a bit disapointed that i have ordered a cooper s, and seriously consider the extra money for the mazda. This certainly hasnt been the case.
When you give the rx8 some stick it is fantastic- loads of power, great engine noise and it feels really assured. Its when you are driving at low revs that the car didnt feel so good. In the cooper s the supercharger makes the car fun to drive at any speed- there is always nice amounts of acceleration- the mazda just doesnt have this. I have to say i am bitterly dissapointed at the amount of acceleration from low revs in second and third gear- it actually feels sluggish imo.
Also the engine is barely audible unless your ragging the tits off it. I had the impression that the sound of the rotary engine would be really noticable.
The mazda also suffers from having 18" wheels as the only option. It tramlined in every bump and didnt feel as alive as the coopers i have driven round bends. The ride is also really harsh- much harder than the 's' on runflats, and harder than my spax kit on the corsa...I would expect much more impressive cornering from a setup this harsh.
All in all the mazda was just not a particularly impressive car untill you get the revs up- The driving position is good , but rear visability is shocking- The steering is also extremely light- to such an extent that you almost feel removed from the car. The gearbox seemed much better than the cooper s though.
This is all based on a 5 hour drive- on normal roads, and on our local airfield.
For everyday use i am still glad i have a cooper s on order- its much more fun to drive than the mazda. Its still a very nice car though- the interior is gorgeous but expensive. Servicing is also bloody pricey
Well worth a test drive though- get alot of looks when i was driving round town.------Anybody else been in one of these.
[Edited on 16-01-2004 by Dr Pepper]
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Phil321
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Registered: 10th Mar 01
Location: Manchester
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How you get it for 24 hrs????????
Might have to get me down the local Mazda dealer!
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Dr Pepper
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Registered: 21st Sep 02
Location: oxford Drives Renault Clio RS200
User status: Offline
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You have to write to them normally- i know someone who works there- also have to get insurance for the day
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Phil321
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Registered: 10th Mar 01
Location: Manchester
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You have to pay to insure a test drive?
Feck that off! Might go for a blast in a TT this weekend instead 
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Dr Pepper
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Registered: 21st Sep 02
Location: oxford Drives Renault Clio RS200
User status: Offline
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You do if you havnt got the sales man with you.
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Daimo B
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Registered: 20th Mar 00
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Put them both on track and the RX8 would wipe over the Cooper though.
Cooper S is a great little car though, i love em. So tunable also.
Rotary isn't loud, its just distinctive. RX8 sounds like i'd expect. BUt looks wise, RX8 wins hands down for me 
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Dr Pepper
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Registered: 21st Sep 02
Location: oxford Drives Renault Clio RS200
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Daimo B
Put them both on track and the RX8 would wipe over the Cooper though.
Cooper S is a great little car though, i love em. So tunable also.
Rotary isn't loud, its just distinctive. RX8 sounds like i'd expect. BUt looks wise, RX8 wins hands down for me
Definately agree with that- rx8 would be fantastic on a track- and if i was buying it as a track car it would a fantastic job- as an everyday car i know which one i would have
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Jason
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Registered: 5th Aug 03
Location: Northern Ireland
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looks like a lump of plastic from the front....
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Dr Pepper
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Registered: 21st Sep 02
Location: oxford Drives Renault Clio RS200
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I agree Jason- back and side is very nice though- Istill prefer driving smaller cars though- it feels quite long when your driving- reversing is a total mission
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Gambit
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Registered: 5th Jun 00
Location: Common Sense HQ
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the mini aint that tuneable, the actual engine is a bag of shite, hence the need for a supercharger
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Dr Pepper
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Registered: 21st Sep 02
Location: oxford Drives Renault Clio RS200
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Bag of shite is a bit of an exaggeration dont ya think mate
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Gambit
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Registered: 5th Jun 00
Location: Common Sense HQ
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ok, it could have been alot better
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Phil321
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Registered: 10th Mar 01
Location: Manchester
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Have you ever even driven one Gambit or are you just another CS user who reproduces what hes read in some motoring mag?
The stock Cooper engine is quoted at 115bhp but in a mag feature on a rolling road they all made 130bhp ish. Not bad for a 1.6 really and hadly a bag of shite.
They're also impressive in gear and theres a real kick from 4.5k, as any Mini owner will testify.
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Phil321
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Registered: 10th Mar 01
Location: Manchester
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And what do you mean could have been better? Its not designed to be a performance car!
Also, as you are obviously such a fan of what the mags say, EVO reckon its the best Supermini money can buy whilst the 'S' is the best hot hatch money can buy!
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Tim
Site Administrator
Registered: 21st Apr 00
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Have to say the Cooper S is pretty damn nippy... gave me more of a shock than I expected...
Not too keen on that whole rear door thing on the RX8... saw one in town and I'd still rather have an RX7...
[Edited on 16-01-2004 by Tim]
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Ditch
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Registered: 29th Nov 02
Location: St Albans Drives: JDM Celica GT4 WRC
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and handle rather well too.....
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Tim
Site Administrator
Registered: 21st Apr 00
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Yup... love racing them actually (on private roads)... Handling is great and they certainly accelerate low down the revs... what's the top end on them like?
Cooper S drivers are more the 'thumbs up' type than the 'middle finger' type too which is nice...
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Gambit
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Registered: 5th Jun 00
Location: Common Sense HQ
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my god Phil321 anytime somebody mentions anything against a mini you go into one completly - fair enough its not designed to be a performance car, they wanted it to be a hot hatch though, hence why bolt a good dam supercharger on to it and name it the Cooper S, becuase the std cooper is just not good enough for the cooper name and its history
yes i have driven one, all be it a test drive
and you keep chirpin on about the bloody handling of the thing, how ofter do you take your mini to the limits??
TBH i can happily keep with a cooper S through bends and straights or whatever, and all i have is 200cc more minus a supercharger and 12yrs older, but i dont harp on about it
[Edited on 16-01-2004 by Gambit]
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Phil321
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Registered: 10th Mar 01
Location: Manchester
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quote:
Originally posted by Tim
Cooper S drivers are more the 'thumbs up' type than the 'middle finger' type too which is nice...
Yes, I get random Minis flashing and waving at me. Even middle aged blokes! The dealer told me I had to when I picked mine up.
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Phil321
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Registered: 10th Mar 01
Location: Manchester
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quote:
Originally posted by Gambit
TBH i can happily keep with a cooper S through bends and straights or whatever, and all i have is 200cc more minus a supercharger and 12yrs older, but i dont harp on about it
Bollocks!
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Phil321
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Registered: 10th Mar 01
Location: Manchester
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Now I know your talking shit!
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Gambit
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Registered: 5th Jun 00
Location: Common Sense HQ
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whys that then? at least put some explanation behind your comments, i had the deceny to explain so why dont you
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Gambit
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Registered: 5th Jun 00
Location: Common Sense HQ
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and be quick im going to the bar at 5!!
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Phil321
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Registered: 10th Mar 01
Location: Manchester
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Well, they're faster than you in a straight line and they DEFINATELY handle better, definately. A friend of mine has a MKII GTI and wilst I am a massive fan of them (I even want one for myself) they're not a patch on a Cooper S in terms of performance. Not a patch.
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Gambit
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Registered: 5th Jun 00
Location: Common Sense HQ
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8v or 16v though?
there aint much in them from a standing start, in gear yes the cooper will eat it and handling is better but hardly something to write home about.
i just think it could have been better
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