Mini Cooper creation story. History of the Mini Cooper brand. Wide range of options

What is the first car that comes to mind when we talk about a fast, fashionable, compact typewriter? Most people will not hesitate to answer that this is a MINI Cooper, another 10 percent will answer that it is "Smart". But it's hard to call Smart fast if it's not Brabus. Therefore, as soon as one recalls “Cooper,” the respondents will immediately change their answer.

After all, it is "Mini" that attracts all people with its cute appearance. It has excellent handling, constantly urging the driver to put pressure on the gas, after all, "Mini" is a "BMW". Any "Cooper" will please the girls not only for their appearance, but also for their interior. The salon of even an old copy cannot be called boring. At meetings of the owners of "Mini" you can always see completely different people with completely different cars.

Moreover, many owners belong to clubs dedicated to this brand. They often greet each other on the road, blinking headlights, gestures of greeting, even if they don't know each other. And every country in the world has its own army of Mini fans. Even grandparents love "Mini"! But is everything so good with the reliability of this nimble "Mini Cooper"? Owner reviews vary widely. But now let's figure it out!

Features of "Mini Cooper" and owner reviews

It should be noted right away that all "Mini" are very similar in technical terms. This applies to all cars manufactured since 2001. For example, MINI Cooper differs from MINI ONE only in engine boost. Other models differ in the number of doors, size, interior, engine and the presence or absence of all-wheel drive. Even different generations of the same model rarely have big differences in technical terms.

You definitely need to know: a motor with a volume of 1.4 liters should be immediately excluded when searching. It has all the problems of older motors, plus it has its own personal drawbacks, but does not give absolutely any dynamics at the same time! You won't be able to save on fuel consumption either. And if the car is also equipped with a machine gun, then during acceleration, you can confuse the tachometer hand with the minute hand of the clock, and the speedometer hand with the hour hand. Fortunately, there are few such machines on our market. In recent generations, this motor is generally absent. Probably, the manufacturer decided to take pity on its customers a little. Below we look at the characteristics of the "Mini Cooper" and the reviews of the owners.

"Mini Cooper"

When you read the reviews of the owners about the "Mini Cooper", then one question arises. Which one? Why are the reviews of the owners of the Mini Cooper S so different from the usual Coopers or ONE? It's all about the power of the motor. Often the "S" is taken by guys who do not know how to properly maintain the car, but only want to drive. And since with a greater load on the car, more care is required, which is not there, problems arise. Therefore, when looking for the "S" model, pay attention to the owner. If he knows everything about his car, talks about any routine work for 10 minutes, then this is exactly the fan who served the car correctly.

Engines and transmissions

Of the problems of 1.6 gasoline engines, both atmospheric and turbocharged versions, one can note the pump (sometimes it fails even after 50 thousand mileage), oil consumption, which occurs due to improper maintenance. The oil should be changed every 7500 kilometers, a maximum of every 10 thousand on atmospheric engines. Every 5-7.5 thousand on turbo versions. Do not turn off the engine immediately after actively driving a motor with a turbine. Let the oil cool slightly. This will prolong the life of the turbine and the motor as a whole.

In no case do not believe in the fairy tales that oil consumption of 1 liter per thousand kilometers is the norm. Even with aggressive driving, this only happens with dead engines. The motor is not the most reliable, the resource is about 200-300 thousand kilometers. It also has not the most reliable timing chain drive. It is worth monitoring the oil level so that the chain does not knock earlier than prescribed by the regulations. Sometimes, due to a leaking gasket, the oil starts to burn on a hot engine. Then the smell of burning will be felt in the cabin. However, this is one of the trademark features of the old "Mini" and "BMW".

Pay attention to the temperature of the motor, overheating will end in dire consequences. For preventive purposes, the thermostat can be replaced every 1.5-2 years. In recent generations, take a closer look at the 1.5-liter engine. Engineers have saved him from the problem of stretching the chain, and the power is even higher than the 1.6. Diesel engines are a little more reliable than gasoline engines, but they are few in our market. Most with twisted runs and in a very sad state. Boxes are automatic and mechanical.

According to the owners of "Mini Cooper", the five-speed mechanics does not cause any complaints, except for the wear of the synchronizers. This usually happens due to aggressive driving and inexperience of the owners. The CVT is highly discouraged on the forums, it is not intended for a daring ride. The classic torque converter automatic has been installed since 2005. It is really reliable, easily covers 200 and more thousand kilometers. One of the problems of the machine is weak cooling. In hot weather and an active driving style, the machine may simply overheat. The problem can be solved by installing and / or a box oil temperature sensor. The oil in the box requires replacement every 60-80 thousand. Do not trust the dealer and the manufacturer who say that automatic transmissions are maintenance-free.

Suspension

The front suspension is of the MacPherson type, the rear suspension is independent rather rigid, which gives that notorious karting handling. Frequent replacement on our roads require stabilizer struts and bushings (20-30 thousand mileage), ball bearings (about 60 thousand mileage). Shock absorbers go for 100 thousand, sometimes more. In all generations, except for the last one, insufficient sound insulation can be noted. As a result, we get a relatively reliable car, which is confirmed by the reviews of the owners of the "Mini Cooper" after 60,000 km. The main thing is correct service!

Charged version

The apogee of power and drive is the "Mini Cooper JCW" modified by the British Workshop. The same 1.6-liter engine, but with a fantastic output of 211 horsepower. Installed only with a six-speed manual. This Cooper was produced from 2010 to 2014. He exchanged the first hundred in 6.5 seconds. Produced only in the back of a three-door hatchback. Only the power in this case is directly proportional to the number of problems. Absolutely all the same problems as with the other 1.6 engines, only they occur 2 times more often.

More preferable against the background of this car looks like "Mini Cooper JCW", produced from 2004 to 2006. The ancestor had only 1 horsepower less, which had almost no effect on acceleration. This old man will fly at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour in just 6.6 seconds! It also has a six-speed manual, and the curb weight in the new and old body is the same: 1140 kilograms.

True, the brand new "JCW" is nine centimeters longer than its predecessor. But the old man is much more reliable. To increase the power, a compressor supercharger was installed on the motor, this gives even, confident traction from the very bottom, in contrast to turbocharging. In addition, the older generation model has distributed fuel injection. Simpler design means fewer problems! Just take into account the reviews of the owners of "Mini Cooper". More money is spent on the maintenance of such machines, by about 20 percent. That 20 percent comes from the car's good appetite. In the city, you can safely count on 15 liters with a less aggressive driving. The new generation JCW may also require expensive engine repairs at the most inopportune moment.

The indisputable advantage of these modifications is the dynamics and appearance. Wide sills, bumpers and fenders make a real bulldog out of the car. Do not forget that the regular "Cooper" is a really tough car, so the almost "furious" "Cooper from John" is not suitable for everyone.

Characteristics of "Mini Cooper"

All "Mini Coopers" with a 1.6 engine have good dynamics. A five-door hatchback of 2001-2004, with a manual transmission and a power of 115 horsepower, accelerates to a hundred in 9.2 seconds, the device is from 2014, already with a six-speed manual - 8.2 seconds. The same cars, only with the "S" index at 163 and 192 forces, will accelerate in 7.4 and 6.9 seconds, respectively. Depending on the driving style, a "Mini" with a 1.6 engine will consume 7.5 liters of fuel per hundred kilometers in the city, up to 5 liters on the highway, at a speed of 90-100 km / h. "Mini Cooper" with a three-cylinder 1.5-liter engine develops 136 horsepower. Although it is turbocharged, it is really reliable. It will also accelerate your five-door "Mini Cooper" to a hundred meters in 8.2 seconds! He has a much more modest appetite than the 1.6 engine, about 8 liters in the city.

If you want a faster Mini with less fuel consumption, check out the three-door hatchbacks. They are all about a second faster than their five-door brothers. All characteristics and reviews of the owners of the "Mini Cooper" in the back of a hatchback can be found on the Internet. Some of them are listed below.

"Mini Cooper Countryman"

Among the buyers and fans of "Mini" there are people who often drive outside the city, travel a lot, like to sit above the stream, or are simply tired of the car's rigid suspension. Owner reviews of the "Mini Cooper Countryman" also vary. Some owners want an even softer suspension. There are only complaints about the ONE, with a 1.6 engine with 90 or 98 horsepower, it is simply not enough for a car with a gross weight of 1735 kilograms. This is evidenced by the acceleration to one hundred - 12 and 13 seconds, respectively. The crossover is equipped with gasoline engines 1.6 to 122 forces, and 184 forces. Diesel engines 1.6 liters (112 hp) and 2 liters (143 hp).

All diesel versions and petrol versions can be equipped with all-wheel drive, for 184 forces. Moreover, four-wheel drive does not affect the acceleration for the worse, as is the case with other crossovers. The front axle is the leading one, the rear is connected by a double-disc electromagnetic clutch, which does not cause complaints from the owners. Gasoline versions will have consumption from 11 liters per hundred kilometers. Diesel will help fix this problem by reducing it to 7-8 liters in the city. Better to choose diesel engines. Less flow and no chain and valve problems.

With improper maintenance of the gasoline engine (insufficient oil level), expensive repairs may be required already at 100 thousand kilometers. The whole problem is in the absence of an oil level sensor, which can be installed additionally. Often, owners of gasoline versions complain about the oil pressure light blinking during acceleration or braking, which means that there are no more than three liters of oil left in the engine. And this is with the required volume of 4.3 liters.

We do not think it is worth telling what it is fraught with. Another problem is that the engine runs out of oil at low revs. This problem is especially relevant on a turbo engine, when the driver presses the gas pedal to the floor before the turbine starts to work. Later, this problem seemed to be solved by replacing the oil pump. When you read the reviews of Mini Cooper owners about a model with a 1.6 petrol engine, you can come across another problem: the chain knocks during a cold start. It's all about its tensioner. It is hydraulic, that is, it pulls the chain using oil pressure. Because of this, for example, in frost, the oil does not have time to create the required pressure. As a result, the stars wear out. The probability of chain slip increases, and this is almost always an expensive repair.

The oil should be changed every 7,500 kilometers without fail! Hub bearings fail after about 60 thousand mileage. The rest of the suspension is relatively reliable. Almost all the first copies of "Countryman" had a thermostat changed under warranty, later the problem was fixed. Many people note bad mirrors, the size of which is not enough for a given car. There is plenty of room in the back row, but that space has gone out of the trunk, into which a couple of smaller bags can fit. Some owners had problems with the upholstery of their seats, and their dealers removed it under warranty. These chairs are not the most comfortable yet, too soft, but with good lateral support. All characteristics and owner reviews of the "Mini Cooper Countryman" can be found on the Internet. More precisely, on specialized forums.

"Mini Cooper Clubman": owner reviews and characteristics

It is completely incomprehensible what the "Mini" marketing department was guided by when they came up with the name of this model. If we look at the technical description of this car, we see the word "station wagon". But this is far from a classic wagon that immediately comes to mind. Mini made a supposedly practical version of the regular Cooper, which became 8 centimeters longer. Only with the doors, everything is completely unusual. The station wagon has five of them: two trunk doors, two front doors and one hinged rear door. It is located on the right and opens against the direction of travel. Just like a Rolls-Royce! The practicality of such a solution is questionable. The trunk cannot be opened if there is another car at the rear bumper, or if you drive too close to the wall. The left passenger in the back row will be able to get out of the car only after the right and center ones. Is it such a special British practicality? Here you can find only one plus: children will not run out of the Mini onto the road by themselves if you forgot to lock the doors. True, this is not what the owners of the "Mini Cooper" write about in their reviews. A photo of this car can be seen in our article.

In 2015, the developers showed the next generation "Mini Clubman", which is more practical. He already has at least two conventional rear doors.

Reading the reviews of the owners of "Mini Cooper Clubman", you see the already familiar problems of gasoline engines. All the same chains, valves, oil consumption. Weak ball bearings are noted.

Clubman JCW

There was also a really charged version with a 1.6 liter engine and a capacity of 211 horsepower. This is the version from the British studio John Cooper Works. She, just like the “Cooper JCW” is even more rigid, has an aggressive design, wide sills and fenders. But the main thing is a powerful motor. With him 6.8 seconds to one hundred are provided for you.

Characteristics and reviews of the owners of "Mini Cooper Clubman" can be found on the Internet.

Output

General disadvantages in the reviews of the owners of "Mini Cooper":

problems with gasoline engines developed by BMW in conjunction with Peugeot-Citroen, with a volume of 1.6 liters;
weak wheel bearings;
rigid suspension;
insufficient sound insulation.

General advantages and reviews of the owners of "Mini Cooper":

excellent handling, driving pleasure, excellent or acceptable acceleration dynamics, excellent vehicle stability on the track;
reliability of electronics, motor attachments, clutches (in the presence of all-wheel drive) and gearboxes;
appearance;
good body resistance to corrosion;
compactness, convenience in the city.

"Mini" is, first of all, a toy, a favorite toy. It will not work on it, changing only the oils and filters. We can say for sure that the cars of the British brand will not leave anyone indifferent! The characteristics of the "Mini Cooper" and the reviews of the owners show this perfectly. Everyone will be able to find a model to their liking. Do you want a fast, agile car? There is a three-door "S" hatchback. Not enough? Get JCW. Do you like convertibles? You can always find "Mini Cooper Cabrio". Do you need low fuel consumption and just a beautiful car? There is a 1.5-liter engine and excellent diesel engines. Or maybe you need a car for an egoist? "Mini Cooper Coupe" at your service! Does your family require you not to be selfish? There is always "Clubman" and "Countryman"!

Any "Mini" always attracts attention on the street, but does not forget about its owner. Gives him the most positive emotions from movement both on public roads and on closed polygons or highways! This is exactly the car, once having a ride on which, you will never forget the emotions of the ride! You just need to be prepared to spend up to 150 thousand rubles a year on maintenance. However, having picked up a really good copy or buying a new car in the salon, you can safely count on 15 thousand rubles a year.

The legendary British Mini car owes much of its origins to Egyptian President Gamil Abdel Naser, who nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956. As a result of the ensuing war in the Middle East, oil supplies to England fell sharply - to the point where gasoline cards had to be introduced. This sparked a surge of interest in small cars, which Leonard Lord, then head of the British Motor Corporation, decided to take advantage of. BMC is an association created in 1952, which included such well-known brands as Austin, Morris, Wolseley, Riley and MG.

Dissatisfied with the dominance of somehow built "bubble cars" ("bubble cars") on British roads, mostly made in Germany, Lord decided that he needed a noteworthy domestic car. He entrusted the development of the new car to Alec Issigonis, an Englishman of Greek descent, who had long established himself as a car designer and even a racer. He was given the task to design a four-seater car, the dimensions of which would not exceed 3 × 1.2 × 1.2 m, and the length of the passenger compartment was supposed to be 1.8 m. ...

To fulfill these requirements, Issigonis took a revolutionary step. The new model had front-wheel drive, and the engine was located across the body - this scheme would later become generally accepted on front-wheel drive cars. The creators shoved the transmission into the crankcase, and placed the radiator not in front of the engine, but on the side of it. In this position, the radiator was blown by a stream of air that had already passed by the engine and had time to heat up, but the length of the car remained within the established limits. 4 people easily climbed into a miniature car and even had room for luggage. Tiny 10-inch wheels have eliminated the large wheel arches. Finally, to save space, the conventional springs were replaced with tapered rubber blocks. The design of the car made it possible to drive with an open trunk, thereby increasing the volume of the transported cargo. The design also featured external welds and open door hinges, which reduced manufacturing costs. The first prototype was ready by October 1957.

However, sales began only in August 1959, and the new minicar was not yet called Mini. It was sold either under the name Austin 7 (the traditional name for the smallest Austin since the 1920s) or as the Morris Mini Minor. The Mini name appeared only in 1961. This is not to say that the model instantly became a hit of sales, but over time it gained popularity, becoming for the British what the Beetle was to the rest of the world. It is even said that this particular machine was inspired by fashion designer Mary Quant, who invented the miniskirt.

Mini came in all sorts of varieties. There were wood-trimmed station wagons called the Morris Mini Traveler and Austin Mini Countryman. There were vans and pickups for a quarter of a ton. There was even a Mini Moke "jeep" designed for the army, but with its tiny wheels and without all-wheel drive, which turned out to be unsuitable for military affairs, but gained sufficient popularity as a beach car. In line with badge engineering practice, the more prestigious Riley and Wolseley brands acquired their own Mini - these cars were sold as Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet and had protruding trunks and front end design in the style of these brands. Licensed Mini also appeared: since 1965, they were produced by the Italian company Innocenti, which was under the control of BMC, and Mini were also assembled even in such distant countries as Chile and Uruguay.

The design also did not stand still: in 1964, the rubber suspension was replaced by a new hydraulic suspension, Hydrolastic, which gave the car a softer ride, but significantly increased its weight, price and complexity. In 1971, it was replaced by the same suspension type. Instead of a 34-horsepower 848 cm3 engine, which allowed a speed of 116 km / h, since 1967, a 948 cm3 engine was installed on the Mini - with it, the tiny car reached an unprecedented speed of 145 km / h. But most importantly, the successful weight distribution along the axles (51% of the weight - to the front, 49% - to the rear) allowed the baby to successfully participate in the rally.

John Cooper, owner of the Cooper Car Company, collaborated with Issigonis to create the Mini Cooper, a car that has been produced under the Austin and Morris brands since 1961. The 997 cc engine developed 55 hp. The car received two carburetors, a gearbox with a modified gear ratio and disc brakes on the front wheels. In 1964, the Mini Cooper S appeared, already with a 1071 cc engine. This model distinguished itself in 1964, 1965 and 1967, winning victories in the Monte Carlo Rally.

Mini of the first generation, sold in the amount of 1 million 190 thousand units, ceased to exist in 1967. It was replaced by the Mini Mk II, produced in 1967-1969 and featuring a radiator grill and a number of cosmetic changes. In 1969, the Mini Clubman appeared with a completely new radiator, but in parallel with it, the production of models with the traditional "rounded" design continued.

The third generation Mini (since 1970) was externally characterized primarily by hidden door hinges instead of the previous open ones. Only since that time Mini has become a brand, another part of the incredibly expanded BMC, which, after mergers and acquisitions, became known as British Motor Holdings (BMH) in 1966. And two years later, in 1968, it was renamed the British Leyland Motor Company. At this point, the company included many of the famous British brands, including Jaguar, Daimler, Rover, Standard and Triumph, in fact, crushing the entire English car industry. All this did not go to her benefit: the more she grew, the more she became more reluctant, and even nationalization did not save her.

After discontinuing the production of many brands and again changing the name - first to the Austin-Rover Group, and then to the Rover Group - the concern was finally sold in 1988 to British Aerospace. Aerospace technology also failed to regain profitability, and in 1994 the Rover Group fell into the possession of BMW: the Bavarian company at that time was overcome with ambitions to put together its own automobile empire.

However, all these shocks had little effect on the Mini: despite the archaic design and construction, it was still loved by the British, even the appearance in 1980 of the Mini Metro, which was later produced under the Rover brand, did not change the situation. Actually, the non-decreasing popularity of this car became one of the main reasons for the takeover of the Rover Group for BMW. And even when the latter, failing to meet the expectations of BMW, in 2000 passed to a new owner - the Phoenix consortium - the Mini brand remained in the possession of the Bavarian Automobile Plants.

But nothing lasts forever, and after 40 years of production, the Mini was taken off the assembly line. It was replaced in 2001 by a completely new car, but retaining the recognizable features of the old Mini in its appearance. This car received the official name MINI - all the capital letters here are not accidental. They not only indicate that we are dealing with a new car, but also that it is a class higher than the previous model. In fact, this is no longer a supercompact car "for the poorest", generated by the fuel crisis, but the brainchild of prosperous times - a stylish and prestigious hatch with excellent handling, the design of which exploits the current fashion for retro motives.

Since we have already mentioned the Volkswagen Beetle, we can say that the new MINI refers to the old Mini as the New Beetle to the classic Beetle. The slightly increased dimensions of the MINI speak of the same: the car has become 55 cm longer, 30 cm wider and 400 kg heavier. The size of the wheels is already a solid 15-17 inches. The retro exterior hides anti-lock and traction control systems, dynamic stability control and airbags. The range includes the base Mini One, the sporty Mini Cooper and the charged Mini Cooper S with mechanical charging, the successor to the legendary Cooper S from the 60s. In addition, John Cooper Works offers the MINI in a variety of tuning options. Since 2004, the MINI convertible has been produced. In November 2006, a heavily updated MINI appeared, unofficially called the Mk II and equipped with a new 1.6-liter engine - a joint development of BMW and PSA Peugeot-Citroen. This model goes on sale in April 2007 and the convertible will be available from 2008.

MINI Cooper, 2018

I bought a MINI in the summer of 2018, before that I drove a Nissan Micra 1.4 automatic. Since 2018, in MINI, a robotic box, which was unexpected news for me. The managers at the car dealership tried not to talk about this: "a robot is the same machine, what's the difference." There was no mention of this even on the official website. So, a Getrag 7-speed robot with two wet clutches. Well, thanks for not DSG. In practice, the shifts are quite smooth, they are not noticeable at speed, except that there are jerks in the first gears. But it may well be that this is just my problem. All things being equal, I would still prefer BMW's proven 8-speed automatic, it's smoother. As far as I know, the same robot is on the BMW M3. At a speed of 110 km / h less than two thousand revolutions, the car does not strain at all. The engine and turbine hum nicely. After "Mikra" it is surprising to me that you drive 130 and you can still hit the gas and quickly break away. And not even necessarily to the floor. My equipment is almost minimal, but with LED optics and tail lights in the form of a British flag - it's worth it. I'm talking about the headlights of course - at night it is as bright as day. A very comfortable fit (I am 155 in height and in it I do not feel somehow restrained), the steering wheel is adjustable in height and reach, the speedometer moves with the steering wheel, it is comfortable to sit, the visibility is good.

I personally did not like the small rear-view mirror, which magnifies so that the driver's face in the car is seen from behind, I hung up the panoramic one. Everything inside is very beautiful, the display is already in the minimum configuration, there is a round progress bar around it. Progress bar in the car. Once again, progress bar. When you make the music louder, it fills with orange, when you adjust the temperature, it shimmers from blue to red. The default color can be customized. I put pink, of course. Divine. Oh yeah, the air conditioner. MINI Cooper is worth over a million and it has a simple air conditioner. The surcharge for the climate of 100 thousand rubles is inhuman. Established tires are narrow and on miserable disks. On the wet road, it took me a couple of times. There is also a surprise. I leave the house in the morning, outside minus 3. A small layer of ice has formed on the glass. The door opened, but it never closed again — the glass didn’t drop until everything had thawed. What else. The trunk is small, but I don't need it. Consumption 7-7.5 liters. No noise isolation. In a duet with spikes, this is an airplane. Suspension as suspension.

Dignity : manageability. Appearance. Salon design. Landing.

Flaws : air conditioning. Established tires and wheels. Noise isolation.

Tatiana, Nizhny Novgorod

MINI Cooper, 2017

What we liked. Taxiing. In this regard, there are no complaints, everything is very informative and clear. The steering wheel of the MINI Cooper is pleasantly heavy. It is somewhat reminiscent of a go-kart, only with an amplifier. I think this was done with a purpose. I like it. Personally, I do not like handlebars that are too wadded. Toggle switches on the center console: ignition, deactivation of the stabilization system, start-stop and something else, but I don’t know what, because the equipment is simple. I really liked it. A reference to the monoplane cockpit. One of the most comfortable landings in my memory. You sit as if you were at the controls of an airplane. Suitable, I think, for drivers above average height (mine is just 175). Motorcycle analog gauges that adjust in conjunction with the reach and tilt of the steering wheel. Cool design of the radio, door handles. The steering wheel cover and the steering wheel itself. Very pleasant to the touch and comfortable to hold. Comfortable and pleasant side mirrors. I like the oval shape.

Controversial. The gas pedal is not suspended, but a floor one. The elongated torpedo and the hood long enough for such a car at first did not allow us to accurately determine their dimensions in front. The interior looks incongruous with the exterior. Everything looks cool inside, but cheap. From the outside, everything looks cool and expensive.

Did not like. A little ridiculous trunk. The electric scooter didn't fit in there the first time. I had to contrive. This was a real discovery for me. The scooter got into the Smart, but it didn't fit into the MINI Cooper. Very strange. Ergonomics. A hefty handbrake simply blocks the entire space of the central tunnel up to the gearshift knob. The gear knob is also rather big and not very neat. The phone did not work properly. Such a narrow armrest. I would be surprised if you can put something in it other than receipts for gasoline and change. The cupholders are located in front of the gearshift knob, which is also so-so in terms of convenience. I think engineers could somehow make it more convenient or something. I understand that there is not enough space, but I would like to see at least attempts in this direction. Noise isolation and lack thereof. For some it is a minus, but for some a plus. For me, rather a minus. The car has a fairly stiff suspension, it should be, but in combination with the absence of noise, as well as the roar of a small, but very revving engine, it is tiresome.

Dignity : appearance. Controllability. Dynamics. Comfort.

Flaws : service cost. Noise isolation. Reliability. Salon design.

Konstantin, Moscow

MINI Cooper, 2016

I switched to a MINI Cooper from a fresh X5, the difference is certainly serious - a much noisier car and everything is not so good in terms of roominess, you can't drive 1000 km without a break, but it would be silly to expect something else. But what makes no difference (almost) is the feeling of quality - both there and there are excellent German quality, the feeling that you are holding a high-quality expensive thing, and not a rattle. The materials are almost the same as on my former SUV, the same options, less leather. Ergonomics design - everything is very comfortable and beautifully done. By Spaciousness - four of us went: 2 hours is good, then the back is not very good. There is a lot of space in front, two-meter friends fit in without problems. Thanks to the "boxy" body - there is enough room in the shoulders, even there is a feeling of spaciousness. The front seats are hard with support, a shelf under the knees is excellent, you can drive about 5 hours. 4 adults, one teenager, drove around the city - normal. Access to the rear is inconvenient (for 3 doors). A full cart from Auchan goes into the trunk without folding out the sofa. If the sofa is folded out to fit an adult bike (with the wheels removed) it inspires respect. Carried at a time 2 thick mattresses 90 to 200. The trunk is closed. Fine. Consumption 7.2 - a lot compared to diesel X5, but I "refuel". The usual MOT came out to me in 11 thousand, with their consumables. The oil must be changed every 7-8 thousand. Type of sport. Vinyls are going to be very expensive, mind you. It makes no sense to take relatives - it's expensive and will still fly off. Comfort. There is no noise, the suspension is stiff, but not so straightforward, but without breakdowns. If the roads are bad, I definitely do not advise, if Moscow and so, for two young people is just an excellent option. It is not necessary to drop the speed to zero in front of the tram lines. We drive to the dacha with my wife with pleasure, 150 MINI Cooper goes everyday. The sun beds rolls over, does not cling. He drives onto the curb in the yard. There is no electric trunk drive, this is not good news.

Dignity : manageability. Dynamics. Appearance. Salon design. Build quality. Transmission. The spaciousness of the cabin. Multimedia. Dimensions.

Flaws : insulation. Suspension. Comfort. Price. Trunk.

Denis, St. Petersburg

MINI Cooper, 2017

Quite an interesting car, in many ways different from the popular Solaris, Rio, X-Ray, Kaptur and others. The machine is doing its job. Another thing is what you expect from this kind of car. But one thing is for sure - MINI Cooper will find its fans, both among men and women (moreover, in a ratio of 50-50%). There were no major or at least a few significant breakdowns for the entire period of use. The service from the officials, of course, is biting, but that's why he is German. A very smart guy. Still, the S grade makes itself felt. True, this also affected the rather stiff suspension. What can I say. Sports car in urban style. Almost BMW.

Dignity : dynamics. Reliability. Dimensions. Salon design. Multimedia.

Flaws : insulation. Suspension.

Dmitry, Moscow

MINI Cooper, 2018

So, everything is in order. MINI Cooper, body F56, 136 HP, automatic transmission, gasoline, black, BMW concern, assembly Great Britain. Operation in the city, in the Moscow region. It was purchased to replace the Peugeot 308 in the fall of 2018. The children grew up, and for me and my wife there should have been an ideal car. The assembly outside of Russia also bribed me. We chose an inexpensive car with minimal fuel consumption and small dimensions for convenient parking. Exterior. There are no questions here. LED daytime running light circles on the front. British flag tail lights. LED head optics. Interesting appearance. All this draws attention to the car on the street and makes you turn around. By the way, even when changing lanes, brutal jeeps miss the car. Very often, drivers of overtaking cars try to look into the salon. Interior. Nice looking and touching plastic on the dashboard and a little worse on the doors and on the side walls of the rear passengers. Original instruments, both above the steering wheel and in the central part of the torpedo. Backlights, changing colors. Convenient handle for automatic transmission control joystick. Controllability. We got a small frisky car, which also holds the road well. The power reserve of the MINI Cooper is enough for quick lane changes in traffic. On a dry road, there are sometimes slippages when starting off. Therefore, be careful with the gas pedal. Good visibility from the driver's seat.

I think many people are interested in the shortcomings that I revealed during six months of operation. I will dwell on them in more detail. Maybe I expected something unusual from a car for 1.6 million and with such a pedigree? Although, I just wanted to just like on the Peugeot 308 - for the first 3-4 years, fill only gasoline and change the oil. But not destiny. Speaking about the body, after several washes I noticed concentric circles all over the body. Circles from wiping with a rag. I wash in one place, I went to swear. I watched rags, other cars at this car wash. There was no such thing anywhere. Just me. I polished the body. I go there, but I ask you not to wipe the car. Then I wipe it out myself. A special cloth. No scuffs yet. I am inclined to believe that the paintwork is poor. Because even under the handle of opening the passenger door there were scratches from the wife's nails. The decorative trim around the headlights and taillights is held in place by snaps that do not secure them tightly. If you tap lightly on them with your finger, you will hear a noticeable bounce. The ground clearance of the car is too small and not for our winters.

Dignity : design. Interior. Power reserve.

Flaws : LCP. Noise isolation.

Alexander, Moscow

The Mini Cooper has become the object of worldwide desires. It was ridden by everyone, from The Beatles to the Enzo Ferrari.

In the late 40s of the last century, the Englishman John Cooper registered the Cooper Car Company and began to create compact racing cars. Auto racing is what many began with in those days, since victories in competitions helped car brands to advance, were excellent PR.

John Cooper - Like Enzo Ferrari, John Cooper was into motorsport. When he was 12 years old, he was already performing well in a race car built by his father.

Such famous people as Sterling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio became the clients of Cooper's company. It should be noted that the first Cooper to have a rear engine was not inferior to Ferrari and Maserati, which put the engine forward.

One of John Cooper's earliest clients was Sterling Moss, the famous race car driver. Many athletes got behind the wheel of the Cooper 500, and the five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio sat behind the wheel of the first Cooper for Formula 2.

Mini was not the brainchild of John Cooper. This car was created by Sir Alec Issigonis for the British Motor Corporation. Alec Issigonis, an Englishman of Greek descent, has long established himself as a car designer and even a racer. He was given the task of constructing a four-seater car, the dimensions of which would not exceed 3 × 1.2 × 1.2 m, and the length of the passenger compartment was supposed to be 1.8 m. ...

The audience received this little baby cool. And in 59th the situation was not saved even by the fact that in the standard configuration the car cost only 497 pounds, and in the De-luxe version - 537. During the first year of production, only 20 thousand cars were sold all over the world.

But over time, she gained popularity, becoming to the British what the Beetle was to the rest of the world. It is even said that this particular machine was inspired by fashion designer Mary Quant, who invented the miniskirt.

The Mini has become an iconic, off-class vehicle. The car was not neglected by members of the royal family, they drove Mini, Peter Ustinov, Charles Aznavour, Belmondo, Enzo Ferrari had three of them ... The list of celebrities from among the owners of Mini takes several pages of small print!

The MINI Cooper S achieved its stellar status when it won the Monte Carlo Rally for 4 years in a row (1964-1967) (although it was disqualified in 1966 for irregular headlights!)

The small car has become the object of desires of the whole world. It was driven by everyone, from The Beatles to the Enzo Ferrari.

The same is the list of all kinds of Mini versions (there are station wagons, vans, convertibles, not to mention dozens of anniversary series marked with the letters LE - Limited Edition). The same place is occupied by the list of victories in all kinds of rallies, including the first place in the overall standings of the Monte Carlo Rally ...

Time passed, expensive and prestigious brands appeared, but these cars did not lose their popularity due to their exceptional low cost. This was used by the Austin Rover concern and produced cars, although not in very large, but quite sufficient quantities. Profits were tight, however.

The famous racer and his son Mike, however, kept the legendary name alive. To meet the growing demand for Cooper vehicles, in the 1980s they produced tuning kits and accessories that turned a production Mini into a charged Mini Cooper.

In 2000, BMW becomes the owner of the brand. The new brand launched by the company was decided to be written in capital letters: MINI BMW. You can also find other names for this car: "BMW MINI", "The New MINI" or simply "MINI". The creators of the novelty have set themselves a difficult task - to preserve the individuality of the Mini and at the same time to make it as much as possible to meet modern requirements for capacity and safety.

In 2001, a completely new design car arrived, but retaining the recognizable features of the old Mini in its appearance. This car received the official name MINI - all the capital letters here are not accidental. They not only indicate that we are dealing with a new car, but also that it is a class higher than the previous model. In fact, this is no longer a supercompact car "for the poorest", generated by the fuel crisis, but the brainchild of prosperous times - a stylish and prestigious hatch with excellent handling, the design of which exploits the current fashion for retro motives.

From that moment on, the Mini's renaissance in new models begins. Mini is positioned as a car for young, active people who love life and adventure. No other car delivers as much driving pleasure. This is facilitated by the vehicle's assembly concept (short body overhangs, long wheelbase, low center of gravity, comfortable gear shifting and steering). MINI perfectly "holds the road", fits into any bends and easily finds a place in the parking lot. Thanks to modern electronic systems (ABS, EBD, CBC, ASC + T, DSC), a rigid body and six airbags, it meets the most stringent requirements for active and passive safety. To this day, the MINI car brand is produced under the auspices of the BMW Group. Today, almost 80% of MINIs are custom made and exported. Sales were initially estimated at around 100,000 vehicles per year, but since 2001, actual annual sales have more than doubled anticipated. In March 2006, a record 7854 Mini were sold.

Also in the section:

Full title:	Mini
Other names:
Existence:	1959 - today
Location:	United Kingdom: Longbridge
Key figures:
Products:	cars
The lineup:

The name "MINI" means that we are talking about something miniature. Indeed, this is the name of a car that is notable for its small size.

A compact small-sized car was in decent demand and was produced practically unchanged for four decades.

Today the MINI brand has not been forgotten, but improved models with different names have appeared. Perhaps the most popular of them is produced under the supervision of the BMW concern. This is the Cooper model.

Cooper and famous racers

At the origins of the company were two Coopers - native British.

Father - John Cooper was a famous race car driver in his homeland. It was he who decided to create his own company. In the middle of the last century, he registered the Cooper Car Company. The firm began building miniature racing cars.

Cooper Jr. - Mike owned a tuning shop named after the older Cooper. The son brought to life his father's ideas, created cars.

The compact racing cars of the Cooper brand could boast of success. More than one athlete has achieved high results in modification.

In 1958, in a then unknown little car, Sir Stirling Moss himself began the season with a victory. Soon other racers also turned their attention to the "kid".

In the second half of the fifties, the rear-engined Mini Cooper competed on a par with the famous Italian sports cars Maserati and Ferrari. Italian racing cars at the time had a front-mounted motor.

John Cooper has successfully competed in numerous rallies in his own improved Mini Cooper.

The most famous racer in Argentina and the only person in his country who managed to become the world champion (and as many as five times) in this sport - Juan Manuel Fangio "traveled" the first-born of the Cooper company, created for racing in Formula 2.

Cooper and public reaction

In addition to racing cars, the Coopers created vehicles for ordinary people. They believed that inexpensive cars would be in demand. There were a lot of people willing to get around on four wheels, and there were not enough offers for middle-income consumers. However, despite the low cost, which for a standard equipped car was a little less than £ 500, the general public greeted the appearance of the little car rather coldly.

First year sales are not impressive. Buyers were found only for 20 thousand cars. This number includes cars sold not only in the UK, but also in all other countries where the Mini was exported.

The first "dwarf cars" did their job and a year later the Austin 850, as well as the Morris 850 (as the Mini was called in European markets), wanted to buy thousands of Europeans. 1960 was marked by the release of as many as hundreds of thousands of machines. And two years later, production volumes increased even more and reached the number of 200,000 pieces. This volume has not decreased for 15 years. True, by that time the company no longer belonged to the Coopers.

Over the long years of its existence, an almost toy car won the hearts of masses of people. Who else has not driven this amazingly attractive car! Even members of the British royal family did not give up the pleasure of riding a minicar.

Among the celebrities known around the world who preferred Mini were the four Beatles, the French: Belmondo and Charles Aznavour, the American singer Madonna, Italians Aurelio Lampredi and Enzo Ferrari. They say that the latter was the owner of three mini cars.

In many ways, the success of the Mini depended on the fact that there were several versions of the car. It was produced as station wagons, as a van, and as a convertible. The jubilee series came out in a limited number. Such machines were marked with the letters LE and were very expensive. But there were a lot of those who wanted to acquire an exclusive, even expensive, baby.

Minicar at the end of the 20th century

Over time, new models appeared on the markets. Most of them were both more powerful and more comfortable. The small car survived only because of the low cost. Austin Rover continued its production in small batches in the 80s.

They did not let the legendary Coopers' car “sink into oblivion”. In their workshop, they turned a standard car into a real supercar. Cooper tuning kits were in high demand.

In the 90th year, the production of Mini Cooper was taken over by the Rover Group. But even then the little car was not removed from production. The Cooper family was still working on improving the chassis and engine of their brainchild.

There is a memorable date in the history of Mini of the last century - 10/04/2000. On this autumn day, the last legendary "baby" rolled off the assembly line. In total, for 41 years of "life" of such babies, about five and a half million were released.

MINI in the XXI century

The new owner of British production facilities that produced miniature cars, and BMW became it in the 2000th, decided to create a completely updated car. The prefix “New” was added to the name “Mini”. And the work began.

The new car had to meet the relevant requirements of the time:
- comfort;
-power;
-capacity;
-security.

Both young engineers and those who participated in the creation of the "old" model worked on this task.

Joint actions have yielded excellent results. The updated "baby" has not lost the main features of its predecessor. And, at the same time, he began to move faster, but "eat" less. In terms of comfort and safety, the NewMini could compete with the compact Volkswagen NewBeetle and other "classmates".

Even more expensive is the sports version of the car - Cooper S, presented to the audience in 2002. For a small car, the Cooper S has a too serious engine with a power of 163 hp.

The retro car was once again subjected to a restyling operation in 2010.

Modern "Englishmen" of German production have diesel and gasoline engines with a capacity of 120-220 hp. They have slightly increased in size, acquired adjustable steering wheels and seats, and received built-in devices that ensure the comfort of passengers and the driver.

The plans of the automakers do not include the termination of the production of the "toy" car, which means that it will travel on the roads of different countries for a long time and delight those oncoming with its irresistibility.