euan2020 Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Girlfriend bought a 2006 Mini Cooper Anyone have any problems with stiff steering and sluggish perforemance ? Know its menat to be "go-kartish" but really stiff steering and performance does not feel like a car that should be 110-115 bhp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eisegerwind Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 (edited) Minis have a 'distinctive' feel to them. They have a heavier more precise steering feel to them than most small cars (Aygos, Corsa's). They're not particularly fast but should corner better than comparable small cars. For the heavy steering issue, check tyre pressures, if the power steering pump whines loudly when turning the steering, the pump is probably on it's way out (it's a very common problem). I have one and personally I think it's an entirely overrated car, with lots of unbelievably annoying quirks. Edited March 28, 2015 by Eisegerwind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasMc1973 Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 The BMW half series is an awkward car.... lots of plastic and toys...a lot of money for what they are... as for you problem, as said above - check the steering pump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euan2020 Posted March 28, 2015 Author Share Posted March 28, 2015 Minis have a 'distinctive' feel to them. They have a heavier more precise steering feel to them than most small cars (Aygos, Corsa's). They're not particularly fast but should corner better than comparable small cars. For the heavy steering issue, check tyre pressures, if the power steering pump whines loudly when turning the steering, the pump is probably on it's way out (it's a very common problem). I have one and personally I think it's an entirely overrated car, with lots of unbelievably annoying quirks. cheers - although am thinking it might be the lower steering column which seems to be a problem as well driving car feels like 1 of my dads tractors before they had power steering Eisergwind - you ever changed the "For Life" Fuel filter ? thinking thats part of the problem on sluggishneess - only got car on tuesday from a car dealer and got booked into my own local garage on Monday, with list of things i want checked out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eisegerwind Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 I haven't changed the fuel filter myself. If you're interested on doing work on the car yourself best check out one of the Mini forums. Modern cars are getting pretty limited on what you can do yourself, however, starting points are always new plugs, air filter,fuel filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euan2020 Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 I haven't changed the fuel filter myself. If you're interested on doing work on the car yourself best check out one of the Mini forums. Modern cars are getting pretty limited on what you can do yourself, however, starting points are always new plugs, air filter,fuel filter. no - not planning on doing anything myself - just extending my list want local garage to check,looking at the typical problems, since warranty from car dealer is pretty short car only had a service 200km ago from them , but certainly not performing how i would expect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 I had a 2006 mini cooper a few yesrs back. They are definatley unique in the way they feel to drive. It took me a while to adapt but j really enjoyed it once i got to know it. They are kind of heavy with regards to steering, but sounds like you habe more issues than that. The clutch quite often needs changed in them too. Hopefully its nothing major and you get it sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toepoke Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 They're a more comfortable drive than the original ones anyway... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugitive Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 Power steering does whine a lot and isn't brilliant. I wasn't impressed with my wife's Cooper at all. The MX5 10th Anniversary was waaaay better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jailender Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 It's a bit rich even calling them minis. They're fecking huge.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Col Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 and performance does not feel like a car that should be 110-115 bhp what are you comparing it to? 1.6 na petrol engine with about 1200kgs to drag about. It's never going to be fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euan2020 Posted April 2, 2015 Author Share Posted April 2, 2015 what are you comparing it to? 1.6 na petrol engine with about 1200kgs to drag about. It's never going to be fast. well my mark 2 golf GTI i used to have :-) + my Golf 5 TDI is 115 bhp as well Obvious thing that was wrong was fecking garage had tyres only blown up to 26 psi - didnt think they could be that ridiculous to check 1st - only checked 5th night got car serviced on Monday but they couldnt do Fuel Filter but driving better got fuel filter replaced at a separate garage today and driving much better and can see fuel economy is a lot better already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Col Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 well my mark 2 golf GTI i used to have :-) + my Golf 5 TDI is 115 bhp as well golf will be about 200 kg lighter and 1.8 = more torque. That would annihilate the mini i'd imagine. and the golf tdi will feel faster due to the low down torque peak of the turbo diesel. Golf will probably have double the peak torque at half the rpm. theres more to car performance than peak power output Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alibi Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 (edited) Is the power steering on Minis a hydraulic system? If so, check the drive belt is tight enough. The current Mini appears to be bigger than my X reg Audi A4 Avant. Massive car and definitely not Mini in any real sense. Edited April 3, 2015 by Alibi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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