RE: new Mini

["Nick Koleszar" <npk@domain.elided>]

The new Mini IS huge. Mirror to mirror, it's exactly as wide as the new
Beetle.

And that interior trim IS nasty plastic. Mind you, most of the new cars I've
been in lately have had really nasty trim and plastics compared to even a
few years ago. They tend to look nicer but feel much lighter and cheaper. I
noticed it in the Mini and also in a new 156 I had a look at.

I think manufacturers are building car chassis so solidly now and with so
much sound-proofing that, in an effort to keep the weight down, they're
resorting to much lighter interior trim.

The new Mini is supposed to have a superb chassis and the S is quite quick.
However, I watched a road-registered, modified Mini Clubman of about 25
years' age running circles round new Minis on a race track. All of them
would likely have left my Giulia Super for dead on the track. But none of
them sound anything like as good as the Giulia or the 75 so I'm happy.

I can't wait to see what the Italian police are driving in the new Italian
Job (hack, wheeze, splutter, cough...).

nk

Nick Koleszar   koleszar@domain.elided
outgoing mail scanned for viruses by Norton.
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1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super 2.0
1990 Alfa Romeo 75 3.0 QV
1993 Mini
1990-ish Rotax 125cc/Gbox kart
1926 Amilcar C6 (I wish....)
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 11:49:06 -0700
> From: "Paul Irvine" <pi@domain.elided>
> Subject: I saw a Mini
>
> I'd been somewhat intrigued by the new Mini Cooper. A coworker
> recently took
> delivery of a new S and brought it to work the other day. I'll have to
> admit, it wasn't what I was expecting. First of all, the thing is
> HUGE! The
> roofline is nearly up to my chin. Secondly is the, what I thought to be
> cool, interior. What looks like aluminum in pictures looks like cheesy
> plastic in real life.
>
> I didn't get to ride in it but performance-wise I think it really kicks
> butt.
>
> Paul Irvine - Antioch CA
> Project Alfa - http://home.pcmagic.net/pi
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