J01 Driving Experiences

  • Thread starter Thread starter Puppethead
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Puppethead said:
@insightman posted a J01 driving experience from an F56 owner, and I think it should be included in this thread.

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Appreciate this video, especially the pespective of a current SE owner. Maybe actually driving it would be different, but I still came away feeling disappointed with the car. The interior is a downgrade IMHO - removed of most of the buttons, the center display is very distracting, especially when the AR camera kicks in, etc. I think I could maybe live with these changes if the car had been given a signficiant bump in performance and AWD, but I guess we’ll have to wait to see if a JCW edition comes out.

It’s all kind of moot since this car is not available in the US anyway. :D But my eye is on the Rivian R3x so MINI has a few years to get their act together.
 
LittleWoods said:
The interior is a downgrade IMHO - removed of most of the buttons, the center display is very distracting, especially when the AR camera kicks in, etc.
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I experienced the new interior design at the Countryman (ICE) unveiling a couple weeks ago, and it's actually not at all bad. The display is gorgeous, and the interior is definitely a callback to the original Mini.

1967-Mini-Cooper-S-1275-GT-42-830x553.jpg
 
Except that the original Mini was an affordable "people's" car; BMW took MINI way upscale with the F56, so a $50k+ car that "calls back" to the affordable BMC cars by looking sparse and cheap is kind of a slap in the face. I maintain that BMW have decided to target post-millennial techbros who think a Tesla Model 3 is an upscale, luxury car.
 
SameGuy said:
Except that the original Mini was an affordable "people's" car; BMW took MINI way upscale with the F56, so a $50k+ car that "calls back" to the affordable BMC cars by looking sparse and cheap is kind of a slap in the face. I maintain that BMW have decided to target post-millennial techbros who think a Tesla Model 3 is an upscale, luxury car.
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I’m old dud with all romantic era approaching a cars 1975 Porsche 911 drive 16 years/124 Fiat Pinafarina / WV MK5 convertible / all Mirafioris 1600/1800 /125. Fiats and more 944 Porsche 944 /1985 with 15000 miles I drive for 5 years as I get to age I decide to get EV s 7 years BMW I 3 and MINI SE 2 1/2 years and is no return to gas cars by me anymore not bc they are superior to move around but Mini SE is the best car if you know how to used and you need for ? With historical looks this car is the best car as I have compliments everywhere as I don’t see them in New York at all .As Tesla 3 is better car in every standard if you use to travel a lot but is not design for me and as I drive 5000 miles a year SE is the best car I ever own is like a chocolate ice cream you love it ! I 3 I’m missing IMG_0046.webp
 
Sixt just bought a bunch of Mini E for rentals in Europe as i mentioned. They have been spotted at BRU, FRA and MUC airports
 
SameGuy said:
a $50k+ car
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Will it be $50k when (if) it makes it to the US, though?

A J01 SE costs AU$59k, which at current exchange rates is only US$40k.

You could argue that an Oxford-built J01 will cost more, but an F56 SE costs about the same in the US and Australia, so...
 
I'm at my local dealer. Maybe the persistent high voltage error is actually covered by warranty, unlike everything else that has gone wrong with it. There's a '25 ICE S in the showroom. Not enough headroom even without a helmet for me. Not a good sign. The moon roof is apparently compulsory. I do like the crap deletion that they've done on the interior, not that the F56SE was anywhere near as bad as many other cars, that was a selling point for me.
 
CuriousGeorge said:
Not to inundate everyone with reviews, but I had to share this one from C/D:

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a60848548/2025-mini-cooper-se-ev-drive/

"the J01 model will still have a more favorable power-to-weight ratio. The last SE we tested got to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, so we're thinking 5.7 seconds for this one."
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Car and Driver's offices are in my hometown of Ann Arbor. They're usually very scientific (they once had me bring in my gen-1 Insight so they could assess its aerodynamics). I'm ready to stomp into those offices yelling, "SO YOU'RE THINKING 5.7 SECONDS?!?! THINKING!?!? DON'T YOU KNOW ANYONE WITH ACCESS TO ONE OF THESE MINIS WHO HAS A VBOX?!?!"

Did MINI threaten C&D if C&D dared to bring a VBOX on their Spanish test drive?
 
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CuriousGeorge said:
"the J01 model will still have a more favorable power-to-weight ratio. The last SE we tested got to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, so we're thinking 5.7 seconds for this one."
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The j01 weighs 1680kg (with a 75kg driver). The (real - ok, joking) SE weighs 1440 with the same driver. The power to weight of the SE is 10.666 kg/kW. The j01 SE is 10.5, representing a 1.4% better figure. Assuming the tyres can handle the extra weight and power to the same degree the SE does, then the 0-60 decreases by, .......drumroll......... 0.1s . The aero might help a tiny bit near 60 mph, but my guess is that the SE takes off faster, but the j01 inches back, and will do a quarter mile faster due to the SE hitting the limiter. Not really much to write home about. Let's see what the actual vbox figures are.
 
MrSnrub said:
F56 SE is very difficult to put the power down.
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In this J01 review, Henry, an F56 owner in the UK says the J01 he tested "scrabbles for grip." He didn't add anything such as "just like my F56 SE."

I find the traction control in my SE to be unflappable. Of course, it necessarily reduces the power available on take-off, but it never lets my tires spin--a trade-off I'm more than willing to accept--especially as stoplights turn green.
 
chrunck said:
This Top Gear video says 6.7 seconds. That's probably still high though.
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Yet another "quote the official figure without testing (tm)" style review :) The problem is they got that wrong too. The quoted figure is 6.7 0-100kph, so 0-60mph would be around 0.3s quicker. The (real - ok I should stop doing that..) SE is 6.6s 0-100kph as tested, with a 6.3s 0-60mph (6.0-6.1s with 1ft rollout), again as tested. The J01 is basically the same PWR, so if the traction control is up to it - and that is a big IF based on Henry's review, it should be there or there abouts with our SEs. I immediately dislike reviews that gush over the "lovely, redesigned back end". Ok, that is my issue, but can't they just be honest? It looks cheaper, costs more, is no faster in a straight line, and worse around corners. Oh, but it goes further and makes funny fake sounds .......

Sorry, I need my morning coffee - I didn't mean to sound so grumpy.....
 
Here's a favorable review from ChargeheadsUK, where the reviewer actually gives it the beans (but doesn't actually measure 0-60 times):
 
The old SE is floaty? Really? Unless they nobbled the first car (16 inch eco tyres), the one thing I would never describe the SE as is floaty. If you can break traction that easily around a roundabout, it may be "fun" , especially if you giggle at the artificial sound, but the handling must be terrible.

I still stand by the statement that someone not used to an older generation MINI will probably love the j01, but like Henry anyone used to the SE will probably not want to "upgrade".
 
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