More Guildford Z photos
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From: London, UK
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That Tuscan looks evil next to the 350Z, would love one as a track day or even hillclimb car (and sunny days of course!).
How does Gerard like the Cooper S?, my girlfriend is toying with the idea of getting one in the summer (she currently has a 1.8S MX5), I'm not sure why she wants an S though as she drives everywhere at about 29mph. I think it's just because she's a snob and wants the top of the range. I'd better not mention that theres a 200bhp Works Cooper S out soon!
How does Gerard like the Cooper S?, my girlfriend is toying with the idea of getting one in the summer (she currently has a 1.8S MX5), I'm not sure why she wants an S though as she drives everywhere at about 29mph. I think it's just because she's a snob and wants the top of the range. I'd better not mention that theres a 200bhp Works Cooper S out soon!
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Hi Paul,
Gerard LOVES his Cooper S. We test drove the regular Cooper about a year ago, and were not at all impressed. At that point he was driving a 'proper' Mini Cooper and I had my V8 MGB, so we were both very much used to old style cars that give a lot of feedback and are a lot of fun. The Cooper by comparison was incredibly dull in that modern car way. Although obviously someone coming straight from a Ford Mondeo or such would think it was a riot!
So anyway, I then went and test drove an MX-5 1.8 Sports - the idea being that we were trying to find a fun modern car to replace Gerard's '96 Mini. I fell in love with the MX-5 and ended up getting myself one!
Great for me, not so great for Gerard. So when the Cooper S came out, we tried that and it was MUCH more fun than the Cooper. He ordered one and got it in January. I sold my MX-5 and my MGB in order to pay for the Z I had pre-ordered, but in the meantime I tried a TVR Tuscan... and, well, you know what happened there. So that's where we're up to.
I've driven a 350 Z (Jap import) and the Cooper S, and the Z was more fun to me (I need an engine I can hear!), but the Cooper S *is* a great car. On motorways it behaves like a BMW, eats up bumps and overtakes like a nutter once the supercharger kicks in, and in town and on twisty roads it behaves quite a bit like a real old Mini. Except 1000 times more comfortable and sophisticated.
I think if I had a choice of going from an MX-5 1.8 to a Cooper S, I wouldn't. The MX-5 outhandles the Cooper S 10-1 in my opinion. It's not as fast, but it FEELS faster. The MX-5 was the first modern car I drove that made me really really grin without speed being involved. The handling is glorious, and that gear change is incredible. The Cooper S has a lot of feedback by modern car standards, but half that of the Mazda in my view. Although if I was chosing a car for motorway driving the Cooper S would win. Actually no, the Z would win!!
Anyway, that's my little review... not that you asked for it! Hope it helps.
Gerard LOVES his Cooper S. We test drove the regular Cooper about a year ago, and were not at all impressed. At that point he was driving a 'proper' Mini Cooper and I had my V8 MGB, so we were both very much used to old style cars that give a lot of feedback and are a lot of fun. The Cooper by comparison was incredibly dull in that modern car way. Although obviously someone coming straight from a Ford Mondeo or such would think it was a riot!
So anyway, I then went and test drove an MX-5 1.8 Sports - the idea being that we were trying to find a fun modern car to replace Gerard's '96 Mini. I fell in love with the MX-5 and ended up getting myself one!
Great for me, not so great for Gerard. So when the Cooper S came out, we tried that and it was MUCH more fun than the Cooper. He ordered one and got it in January. I sold my MX-5 and my MGB in order to pay for the Z I had pre-ordered, but in the meantime I tried a TVR Tuscan... and, well, you know what happened there. So that's where we're up to. I've driven a 350 Z (Jap import) and the Cooper S, and the Z was more fun to me (I need an engine I can hear!), but the Cooper S *is* a great car. On motorways it behaves like a BMW, eats up bumps and overtakes like a nutter once the supercharger kicks in, and in town and on twisty roads it behaves quite a bit like a real old Mini. Except 1000 times more comfortable and sophisticated.
I think if I had a choice of going from an MX-5 1.8 to a Cooper S, I wouldn't. The MX-5 outhandles the Cooper S 10-1 in my opinion. It's not as fast, but it FEELS faster. The MX-5 was the first modern car I drove that made me really really grin without speed being involved. The handling is glorious, and that gear change is incredible. The Cooper S has a lot of feedback by modern car standards, but half that of the Mazda in my view. Although if I was chosing a car for motorway driving the Cooper S would win. Actually no, the Z would win!!
Anyway, that's my little review... not that you asked for it! Hope it helps.
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I know what you mean about the handling of the MX5, it's a bit dainty for me (I can never get the seat far enough back), but great fun with the top down on a fast A or B road. To be honest though Jackie only buys cars on the way that they look, I suppose she's just a poseur at heart!.
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