RE: Re: OT: Something for car fans!

["Phil Harris" <phil@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Simon Ryley
> Sent: 17 February 2006 09:16
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Re: OT: Something for car fans!
>
> Having driven a lot of miles in a Cooper S, the ride quality
> is affected a lot by the wheel size.
>
> The smaller 16" rims are much more comfortable due to the
> higher sidewall on the tyres.  However, the Chilli pack gives
> an upgrade to 17s which a lot of people take cos they think
> the bigger wheels look better.  This degrades the ride
> quality.  Various reviews have also confirmed this.
>
> On smooth A roads and motorways the bigger wheels are just
> about acceptable, but as soon as you get into the usual
> pitted British urban roads and B roads, it gets very hard on
> the back.  It was always fun to drive for the first hour or
> so of my working day, but then it just got irritating and
> uncomfortable.
>
> And, as noted, the seats aren't the greatest either.
>
> The seats might get better when the new, new Mini comes out
> soon. (July according to Autocar.)  That gets a 1.6 Turbo
> instead for the Cooper S.
>
> HTH,
>
> Simon

Spent most of the weekend chasing around after various test drives - took
out a Civic Type R on Saturday, should have taken an Astra VRX out too but
when he found out I was looking for a company car the Vauxhall dealer
flatly
refused to help me any further saying that his insurance didn't cover me.
Yesterday I took out a trio of Cooper S's (one on standard 16's, one on the
17's supplied with the Chilli Pack and one on a rather scary set of 18's),
a
Focus ST (OK - so I found out last week that I couldn't have it because of
the 2.2 litre limit but wouldn't you still have taken it out for a caning?)
and also a 231bhp version RX-8.

Now have my "pecking order" to give to the leasing company and if
they come
back with any favourable quotes on any of them then we'll see what happens.

Phil