[Cootie]

Had the day off work today so myself and one of my mates decided to take a run out in tandem from Edinburgh to Moffat and back. the A710 is one of the best driving roads you'll find - a real mixture of fast sweepers and some really tight and technical corners. You also have to keep your wits about you as you could easily get caught out if you were in any way reckless.

Anyway, we were keen to see how 2 very different cars measured up. Our thoughts beforehand were that the Mini would have the advantage through the corners and the 335d would claw things back on the straights.

Well, having done the run down with me leading and the run back with the Mini leading I gained some more insight into my own car, but also just how capable the GP is. The 335d was very capable through the sweeping turns and flows nicely, but in the tighter and more technical turns there was a little too much lateral movement before it settles and a bit too much roll to provide enough incisiveness on turn-in. Nothing some stiffer springs and beefier ARBs might cure, but it definitely means those corners aren't its forte.

The Mini meanwhile seemed born for that road. The way it scampered down the road was quite remarkable and it left me really struggling to keep up. Certainly if I'd pushed any harder it would have been reckless on what was a dry road with very little traffic. What was also telling was my inability to make ground up on the straights - that is a seriously fast little car in a straight line. At the other end my mate, who only recently got the car, reckoned that was probably the best fun he's had on that road. That's some praise given both the cars he currently owns and those he's owned or driven previously.

So, whilst I still like the 335d I wouldn't advise picking a fight with a Mini GP down your nearest stretch of twisty tarmac!

[DazC]

Those little cars are built for that type of scenario.

I was close to buying a MK1 GP as they great little cars for the money.

Glad you both had fun though.

[Cootie]

Yes, really good fun - perfect day for it as well with the weather.

The GP is a real hero car - a bit of a giant killer and it really is epic fun to drive. Light weight, short wheelbase, hydraulic steering and really well honed suspension.

[chiark]

I think a wise man once said "Ye cannae change the laws of physics!", and unfortunately weight is definitely still an issue with the 3... Particularly with a diesel 6 pot and 4WD hardware.

Sounds like fun though...

[ATM]

I had a brief tussle with a very new cooper works type mini. It ended with me being in front. It was close though.

[335dJa]

Rematch, same route, wet and greasy

[gtsussex]

Originally Posted by 335dJa

Rematch, same route, wet and greasy

I'd question you'd still have more fun in the Mini. My old Cooper S is still used as our office zip about car - couldn't face getting rid of it. It's not as mental as my original Mk 1 Cooper S Works but if you ever wanted something to demonstrate how bloated the 335d feels on smaller twisties, it'll do a damn fine job. Good to see car makers still produce cars with lift-off oversteer on demand

[335dJa]

I agree you'd probably have more fun in the mini but progress might be hindered. Is the mini LSD? I would assume it probably had some sort but my memories of any of my fwd cars was spinning all the power away trying to get out of corners, with exception to an integra type r, that was incredible for a fwd.

[Cootie]

Originally Posted by 335dJa

Rematch, same route, wet and greasy

Might level the playing field a bit but the mk1 GP has a mechanical limited slip diff so has no trouble getting its power down even in the wet. Still reckon it would have the advantage...

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by 335dJa

Rematch, same route, wet and greasy

What would that change? High weight with less tyre grip is likely to make matters worse...No?

[335dJa]

Originally Posted by Cootie

Might level the playing field a bit but the mk1 GP has a mechanical limited slip diff so has no trouble getting its power down even in the wet. Still reckon it would have the advantage...

Maybe, those LSD's do help fwd massively.
I'm still on a learning curve with the 335d to be honest, getting it to do what i want during corners is a very new way of driving. I've driven fwd hard, rwd hard but this is my first awd with rear bias. My various Audis with Quattro may have well been fwd from a driving point of view.

[335dJa]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

What would that change? High weight with less tyre grip is likely to make matters worse...No?

The awd was my point, but as mentioned, the lsd would probably counter that pretty effectively

[Tengocity]

[QUOTE=Cootie;15590131

The 335d was very capable through the sweeping turns and flows nicely, but in the tighter and more technical turns there was a little too much lateral movement before it settles and a bit too much roll to provide enough incisiveness on turn-in. Nothing some stiffer springs and beefier ARBs might cure, but it definitely means those corners aren't its forte.

[/QUOTE]

This is my thoughts on this car, probably even more so as I've got a tourer. Having said that I adjusted my driving style for the 335d over say the Z4 which is way flatter and faster through tight bends. So for the 335d I don't always aim for maximum speed carried through a corner, but to get the braking done early for a slow in, and then get on it early on the way out. With the xdrive I've found you can really get on the throttle early in a way I never could in my old 330d. It's fun in a different way, but probably not quite as satisfying. Having said all that, it's a bloody family estate car!

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

This is my thoughts on this car, probably even more so as I've got a tourer. Having said that I adjusted my driving style for the 335d over say the Z4 which is way flatter and faster through tight bends. So for the 335d I don't always aim for maximum speed carried through a corner, but to get the braking done early for a slow in, and then get on it early on the way out. With the xdrive I've found you can really get on the throttle early in a way I never could in my old 330d. It's fun in a different way, but probably not quite as satisfying. Having said all that, it's a bloody family estate car!

Exactly at end of the day it's an Estate car ( or saloon)

Mini, hot hatch of your pick will nearly always win, as mentioned, it's laws of physics.

[Cootie]

Agree re it being a family car and therefore perhaps an unfair comparison.

Originally Posted by Brigand

Mini, hot hatch of your pick will nearly always win, as mentioned, it's laws of physics.

Definitely think it would have to be one of the better hot hatches in the case of the 335d - I've had no problem shaking a Focus ST, Golf Gti (Mk6) etc. The Mini is definitely a step above them cross country. May be in part due to it weighing less than 1100kg whereas they're 1350+. I actually reckon on the road today the Mini GP would have been able to keep up with a Cayman, having experience of a Cayman R on the very same run.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by Cootie

Agree re it being a family car and therefore perhaps an unfair comparison.



Definitely think it would have to be one of the better hot hatches in the case of the 335d - I've had no problem shaking a Focus ST, Golf Gti (Mk6) etc. The Mini is definitely a step above them cross country. May be in part due to it weighing less than 1100kg whereas they're 1350+. I actually reckon on the road today the Mini GP would have been able to keep up with a Cayman, having experience of a Cayman R on the very same run.

Just proves what a class act it as a family car.

Am looking forward to a summer run to top of Scotland and since am getting an xdrive the winter run as well.