Minis SE: Test Drive + Impressions

Tommy Electric said:
Holden was an Australian car company that went out of business a couple of years ago and was owned by GM. The Barina was nothing special but served a purpose as an economical, small city car. Students loved them because they were/are so cheap to run but I won't miss mine.

Will definitely be doing the Mini-loha.
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I do like looking at cars other countries get that we don't. I'm aware of a lot of brands out there that USA doesn't get. Holden was one I must have missed. Small economical city cars are something we severely lack here. I still have fond memories of my Plymouth Horizon (cheap city car). Though I don't really miss it LOL

The Mini-loha is something my 12yo loves about Minis. He always points out to make sure I wave!

insightman said:
One of my few disappointments with the H/K audio system is that it does NOT offer AM reception. Fortunately, MINI's well-designed electrical propulsion system does not generate significant RFI (Radio Frequency Interference), so I can bring an AM radio to tune in a sports event that is not carried on an FM station.
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I kept forgetting to look on my current Mini to see if it has it or not. My manual only says "refer to integrated Owner's Manual" so I have no idea if mine even has it or not. I admit we do all of our music and sports on FM or streaming. So we're not much help.
 
GetOffYourGas said:
Batteries have a normalized charge rate, called the "C" (capacity) rate. Basically, charging 0-100% in one hour is 1C. The Mini's battery is 32.6kWh, so that means that 1C = 32.6kW. At 50kW peak, the Mini can only charge up to 1.5C. How stressful a quick charge is depends largely on this C rate (adjusted for the various chemistries of course). Most modern batteries can comfortably handle 1.5-2C. When you hear about "super fast charging", they are typically talking about Teslas. A Model 3 with a 70kWh battery can charge at a peak of 250kW. That's almost 3.6C!

Bottom line, the Mini doesn't actually charge "super fast" (although it's certainly faster than my Bolt's measly 0.9C), and you shouldn't have to worry about it causing degradation.
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That's very informative. Thanks! As I alluded to in my review, we get free charging from a number of fast charging stations in Melbourne and, living in an apartment without access to a power socket in our parking lot, I might be using these stations on occasion. Your explanation has helped ease some of my anxieties about this.

Lainey said:
Ah cool! I will have to spend sometime reading about Holdens then. Thanks for the info!
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Growing up in Australia, the "Holden Monaro" was considered the epitome of muscle car cool.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_Monaro#:~:text=The Holden Monaro (/mə,saloon from 1973 to 1977.
 
I was missing the test drive car today so wandered back to the Mini dealership to have another look. I happened to see a white roof/BRG Mini that looks very similar to the model I have on order. Only difference is that this is an ICE version with the bonnet stripes and the wheels are slightly different. Yes, the waiting game is difficult.

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So beautiful--I love seeing the prominence of the MINI emblem without the overbearing, ornamental scoop messing up the bonnet (sorry, I'm a one-trick pony).
 
insightman said:
So beautiful--I love seeing the prominence of the MINI emblem without the overbearing, ornamental scoop messing up the bonnet (sorry, I'm a one-trick pony).
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It's interesting, I love the fake bonnet scoop and I think I finally realized why. I have it on my current F55S so there is a bias, but this weekend I was watching a video of Chris Harris racing a spruced up original body Mini. I like the scoop because it causes the bonnet to not look like it slopes off the same way the non scoop does - so the bonnet scoop reminded me more of the original bonnet look in terms of apparent bonnet shape. The non scoop seems more flat.

Of course we can love what we do, and I respect your dislike 100%
 
insightman said:
So beautiful--I love seeing the prominence of the MINI emblem without the overbearing, ornamental scoop messing up the bonnet (sorry, I'm a one-trick pony).
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I'm clearly not as fixated on the hood scoop as you are but, looking at these photos, I can see your point. I guess the rationale for including the hood scoop was that they wanted to maintain a consistent look across the entire S series?
 
Tommy Electric said:
I'm clearly not as fixated on the hood scoop as you are but, looking at these photos, I can see your point. I guess the rationale for including the hood scoop was that they wanted to maintain a consistent look across the entire S series?
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That is my assumption. I am about 70/30 in favor of the fake scoop. :-)
 
Tommy Electric said:
I'm clearly not as fixated on the hood scoop as you are but, looking at these photos, I can see your point. I guess the rationale for including the hood scoop was that they wanted to maintain a consistent look across the entire S series?
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Expanding on your guess, MINI decided the only electric MINI Cooper would be an "S" (there would be no slower "MINI Cooper E"), and any MINI Cooper with an "S" must have a scoop. I've been following the electric MINI's development closely since the 2009 MINI E prototype. From that time, none of the electric MINI prototypes, concept sketches, concept cars, or pre-production prototypes had a scoop. Then on July 9, 2019, when MINI unveiled the production car, the fake scoop from the MINI Cooper S was added.

I maintain that the fake scoop is the only nonfunctional ornament on the MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper SE, unless you consider the car's badges to be ornaments. Some might argue that the text-free, ornamental scoop is actually a kind of badge. I don't begrudge anyone who likes the scoop, but I wish MINI had taken me up on my offer to pay $1,500 to get the less-expensive scoopless hood, which I consider more appropriate for an electric car. I feel lucky MINI didn't also include the ugly "chin" scoop from the MINI Cooper S.

scoopectomy.jpg
 
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insightman said:
Expanding on your guess, MINI decided the only electric MINI Cooper would be an "S" (there would be no slower "MINI Cooper E"), and any MINI Cooper with an "S" must have a scoop. I've been following the electric MINI's development closely since the 2009 MINI E prototype. From that time, none of the electric MINI prototypes, concept sketches, concept cars, or pre-production prototypes had a scoop. Then on July 9, 2019, when MINI unveiled the production car, the fake scoop from the MINI Cooper S was added.

I maintain that the fake scoop is the only nonfunctional ornament on the MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper SE, unless you consider the car's badges to be ornaments. Some might argue that the text-free, ornamental scoop is actually a kind of badge. I don't begrudge anyone who likes the scoop, but I wish MINI had taken me up on my offer to pay $1,500 to get the less-expensive scoopless hood, which I consider more appropriate for an electric car. I feel lucky MINI didn't also include the ugly "chin" scoop from the MINI Cooper S.

scoopectomy.jpg
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There was a slower Mini E at one point that while more HP was only 0-60 in 8.5 sec. The S ICE has similar HP and 0-60 as the SE. In fact test runs show it faster than my S currently is. That's why it's an SE and not an E (version 2) - which I think will show up sooner than later. I know you hate it, but they had reasons. If it ran slower like the non S ICE they likely wouldn't have a bonnet scoop and it would be just an E.
 
insightman said:
any MINI Cooper with an "S" must have a scoop
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I find it curious that MINI labels the Countryman PHEV the SE Countryman. Not only is it not a BEV, it doesn't have a scoop. I think calling the Countryman an SE is confusing, and not sure it has the performance to be classified as an S. But apparently there's a Countryman JCW, so go figure.
 
Lainey said:
There was a slower Mini E at one point that while more HP was only 0-60 in 8.5 sec. The S ICE has similar HP and 0-60 as the SE. In fact test runs show it faster than my S currently is. That's why it's an SE and not an E (version 2) - which I think will show up sooner than later. I know you hate it, but they had reasons. If it ran slower like the non S ICE they likely wouldn't have a bonnet scoop and it would be just an E.
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Why doesn't the MINI Cooper SE also have the MINI Cooper S chin scoop to make it look really, really fast?
 
insightman said:
Why doesn't the MINI Cooper SE also have the MINI Cooper S chin scoop to make it look really, really fast?
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Am I sensing a heavy load of sarcasm? They changed the front in many ways since it doesn't need an air intake.

Puppethead said:
I find it curious that MINI labels the Countryman PHEV the SE Countryman. Not only is it not a BEV, it doesn't have a scoop. I think calling the Countryman an SE is confusing, and not sure it has the performance to be classified as an S. But apparently there's a Countryman JCW, so go figure.
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No Countryman cars have scoops. Hardtop, Convertibles, and Clubman do. In terms of power it is an S level, but I agree SE would be confusing if they ever have a BEV and a PHEV
 
Lainey said:
Am I sensing a heavy load of sarcasm?
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Guilty. I'll do better.

Lainey said:
SE would be confusing if they ever have a BEV and a PHEV
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Having two different MINI Cooper SE cars makes googling for one or the other more difficult. A year and a half ago, journalists weren't unified on whether the new BEV was going to be called the "MINI Cooper S E" or the "MINI Cooper SE." I'm unsarcastically glad the space was a typo.
 
insightman said:
Guilty. I'll do better.


Having two different MINI Cooper SE cars makes googling for one or the other more difficult. A year and a half ago, journalists weren't unified on whether the new BEV was going to be called the "MINI Cooper S E" or the "MINI Cooper SE." I'm unsarcastically glad the space was a typo.
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Let's be real, Mini naming confuses many anyway with the cooper vs hardtop vs countryman etc. I love Mini and such, but it does confuse once they added in other models like the Clubman and Countryman. I think that's why so many on other groups use body type. F55S is less confusing than Mini Cooper S hardtop 4 door. F56SE is clear as a bell.

Calling the Countryman PHEV the MINI Cooper SE Countryman was less than brilliant. Added so much confusion.

Adding Cooper to anything other than the hardtops that or convertible seems wrong. But I'm both not in charge nor even a longtime owner (though dreamt and configured countless Minis over the last 20 years) so my thoughts count for little. I would have the Mini E, SE, and E JCW (GP) for 2 door hard tops to nod to the original Mini E they had (ignoring the retrofitted E Minis from Italian Job). If they add in 4 door or convertible, I'd just make the distinction on the end.

For any Clubman or Countryman or Roadster that gets tossed in like Mini Clubman SE. For PHEV, MINI Countryman PHEV which is how it's listed on their info page, but not on the build page https://www.miniusa.com/model/countrymanhybrid.html

Checking for errors isn't one of their strong points
 
I think I should take back my criticism of the Countryman SE. While the Countryman is a slow beast (can you tell I'm personally not a fan of the size?), this information seems to justify the PHEV being called an SE:

The 1.5-liter turbo three-cylinder gasoline engine under the hood powers the front axle through a six-speed automatic gearbox, while the rear wheels are driven solely by an electric synchronous motor. The pair of powerplants produce a combined power output of 224 horsepower - 35 hp more than the Cooper S Countryman - which enables a 0-60 mph sprint of 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 122 mph.​
 
My SE is currently in the shop having a full PPF and window tinting done. While I wait for it to return, I was in the process of organising a few thoughts to revise and update my previous review of the car in this thread. It's been interesting to note how some of my views have subtly shifted over the last 10 or so days since I took delivery. I only spent two days with the test drive model and there are many aspects of the driving experience that you don't fully appreciate in such a short space of time. It's made me realise how many online reviewers are, owing to the short time they spend with the car, only able to offer a limited perspective on its merits.

One point from my initial review which I have completely changed my mind on is the HK sound system. I was initially underwhelmed by its performance but have come to realise that this was due to me only using it to listen to the radio. Now that I have paired my phone to the SE and use Apple CarPlay, I've been really pleased with the rich sound quality. I actually look forward to selecting some music to accompany my driving now. Anyone concerned about sound quality due to my original comments should put their mind at ease.
 
Tommy Electric said:
My SE is currently in the shop having a full PPF and window tinting done. While I wait for it to return, I was in the process of organising a few thoughts to revise and update my previous review of the car in this thread. It's been interesting to note how some of my views have subtly shifted over the last 10 or so days since I took delivery. I only spent two days with the test drive model and there are many aspects of the driving experience that you don't fully appreciate in such a short space of time. It's made me realise how many online reviewers are, owing to the short time they spend with the car, only able to offer a limited perspective on its merits.

One point from my initial review which I have completely changed my mind on is the HK sound system. I was initially underwhelmed by its performance but have come to realise that this was due to me only using it to listen to the radio. Now that I have paired my phone to the SE and use Apple CarPlay, I've been really pleased with the rich sound quality. I actually look forward to selecting some music to accompany my driving now. Anyone concerned about sound quality due to my original comments should put their mind at ease.
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At first I fully exercised the H/K audio system--the best in any car I've owned. Recently, however, I've been listening to just the sounds the car makes, enjoying mostly the real, but even the artificial ones (after all, a bona-fide composer created those sounds on purpose). Fortunately, most of my drives are on twisty back roads where this car is at its best. So I rarely find myself on the expressway where driving isn't nearly as much fun, but it's good to have that H/K system always at the ready to distract me from the boredom of the rare e-way trek. I still listen to my tunes when my wife beats me to the SE and I have to take the Clarity PHEV.
 
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