Topic: Test Drive: 2010 Mini Cooper S Mayfair

[Autos_Editor]

For 2010, Mini celebrates the brand's 50th anniversary with a special 50 Mayfair edition, named for an upscale London neighbourhood. It's a pricey addition, says Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh, but it's for enthusiasts who won't settle for anything less.

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[D70]

50 years later and the Mini has certainly changed. The basic concept is still there.

"you’ll have to consider the torque-steer as part of the charm"

Just like most front wheel drive cars, torque steer rears its ugly and dangerous presence, nothing charming about it. I have a 215 hp V6 parked for the summer with the same scary habit.

I remember driving the original Mini in the early 60s and competing against it in true North conditions, see photo

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d70w7/4809876455/in/photostream/

[aknutson]

What a cool little car, glad Mini is doing so well with this concept and introducing such a variety of interesting variants like the new Camden and Mayfair models. I think this vehicle fits a niché that, as the reviewer said, is very unique. Small, efficient, but by no means an economy car. One of the few 'modern classics', I suspect.

[Snowman]

"you’ll have to consider the torque-steer as part of the charm"   

[aknutson]

Torque steer isn't hard to manage and lots of cars are afflicted worse, i.e. just about every FWD hot-hatch, that doesn't stop them from being an excellent drive.

[tpl]

Jeez you guys who complain about torque steer in a modern FWD car ( Mazdaspeed 3 excepted) should have driven a 1980s SAAB Turbo... That was REAL torque steer...rip your hands off at the wrist if it didn't dislocate your shoulders first.

[Winterpeg]

Even with a mundane vehicle like my old Ford Taurus with the 3.8 big six, the torque steer was ever present if you weren't ready for it. You soon learn to cope and adjust accordingly.
If I only had the $$$$$'s for the Mini. Those rims would take a major beating with the bad streets here in the 'Peg.     

[Eric Green]

D70:

A brilliant pic, thanks. I'd certainly be interested in who the gent in the E-Type is/was.

If anyone is interested, there is now a Vicarage 4.2 E-Type now living in Toronto. Words cannot describe how flawless these cars are in the steel- it's like the inside of a chronometer. Absolutely, staggeringly... perfect. (And well it should be for $200k)

[aknutson]

...Those rims would take a major beating with the bad streets here in the 'Peg.     

I bet! Have you seen the rims on the Camden? IMO those are even better, but again they would get beat up pretty quick.

[johngenx]

i stand by my belief that a $30-42K Mini is insane.

[Winterpeg]

...Those rims would take a major beating with the bad streets here in the 'Peg.     

I bet! Have you seen the rims on the Camden? IMO those are even better, but again they would get beat up pretty quick.

Yep, I agree aknutson....those rims are sweet....till one hits a pothole and those tears of joy changes to tears of @%&#*.