Road Trip Driving Impressions - 2014 Mini Cooper Hardtop Long-Term Road Test

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Road Trip Driving Impressions - 2014 Mini Cooper Hardtop Long-Term Road Test

In a span of 10 days I put over 1,700 miles on our 2014 Mini Cooper. Here are my driving impressions.

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chol92594

Even though the Minis are unique little cars, I can't help but think that they've really passed their prime. I know they're a blast to drive and decently practical (considering their size), but for $30k+, I'd rather buy a Golf/GTI or something similar that would be more comfortable, especially on long road trips. Yes, you can be frugal with the options list, but I'd imagine that the average Cooper retails in the mid-$20k range. IMO, that's too much money to be paying for a car that rides fairly poorly, especially since it's not really a dedicated sports car.

darex

Once again, I'm scratching my head, wondering, are we driving the same car!? Mine is eerily quiet around town, and smooth on the highway. Yes, there is some road noise on some highway surfaces, but so much that it overwhelms a conversation? No way! Not even slightly. It's GOT to be your wheels and tires. I just did a 500 mile road trip in mine. It was calm, quiet and comfortable. It's WAY more sedate and comfortable than my 2005 MINI was. I have 16" all-season Run-flats on mine.

prndlol

I like the paint colour, and little else. I can't help but think of just how problematic the car has been over the past ten years. This model has been in the reliability toilet at JD Power for a very long time.

darex

Just did the return trip of my 500 miles each-way journey. I was joking with my traveling companion about how he needed to yell, because I could only see his lips move over the din of the road noise. LOL. Again, I reiterate, my car and your car: night and day!! Cannot hear the engine. Rev-limiter makes for little engine audio feedback for shifting points (my friend's "complaint". I'm more used to it, obviously). Road noise was only ever noticeable on really bad road surfaces, but nearly non-existent on smooth asphalt roads.

In my opinion, road noise is simply not an issue in the 2014 MINI Cooper -- at least not in mine. I just enjoy the excellent Harman-Kardon sound system and drive. :-)

agent0090

Not interested in the mini (I know it's too small), but the pics were nice. In the future could you include a small caption letting us know where they were taken?

ronhawk

I have a 2015 Mini and it is very quite on most road surfaces, only getting noisy on some of the rougher roads around Atlanta. I don't have run/flat tires, that must be the difference. I own a 2011 Mustang and it has more road noise, although equipped with performance tires. I also get much better mileage with mine averaging over 34mpg. You seem to have gotten a simi-lemon.

darex

Mike, I know you must surely already know this (how could you not?), but the arm rest is adjustable to several heights (or rather, angles), plus its surface is curved fore-and-aft. Might you have angled it funny, or inappropriately low? I have never noticed an imbalance between the arm rests, although I am NOT a huge fan of the doors armrest.