"This thing is a rattletrap." – Alex Stoklosa, Online Editor
Our long-term Mini Cooper S Hardtop is barely 15,000 miles into its stay with us, and already it is beginning to make unpleasant noises. We have yet to get the Mini's orchestra of loose trim pieces, rattling heat shielding, and bizarre suspension clunks checked out, but some of the issues are easily diagnosed by the layperson. A hook that juts out of the rear-seat driver's-side door panel—we still aren't sure what it's for—is finger-loose, something in the trunk wants our attention RIGHT NOW, and the panoramic sunroof's shade jiggles in its mounts. The other noises are more elusive.
One such sound that's evaded our curious scouring emanates from the front end when lifting quickly off of the throttle. Audible only on smooth roads where tire noise is kept low, the sound is a sort of metallic clattering, like a loose heat shield somewhere in the engine bay. More concerning is the "snapping" that registers from beneath the rear seat over chassis-twisting events like speed bumps and steep driveway entrances. Slow down to a crawl, and the sound disappears; traverse speed bumps like those found in our office park at any faster speed, and there is a sharp clunk from the rear suspension. It has been suggested by more than one staffer that the sound could be bushing-related, but any such issue would seem remarkable given our long-term Mini's extreme youth.
- 2014 Mini Cooper S Hardtop Long-Term Test: The Latest On Our Smallest Fleet Member
- 2014 Mini Hardtop Test: Three Cylinders, Manual Transmission, Thirty Grand
- Mini Cooper S Hardtop Research: Full Pricing, Specs, Reviews, and More
It should be noted that loose interior trim pieces and other rattles, squeaks, and shimmies aren't uncommon in Minis. Our long-term 2011 Mini Countryman succumbed to similar maladies after only about 10,000 miles, and our 2009 Mini Cooper JCW convertible suffered a nearly identical decline. A big part of the problem, we have surmised, is the Mini's stiff suspension and low-profile run-flat tires. Mix in the Mini's commendably stiff body shell, and, well, it only takes so much jostling on Michigan's cratered roads to start shaking stuff loose. An interior trim engineer (who doesn't work for Mini) has hypothesized to us that the car's trim issues may be an unavoidable side effect of Mini's thriving accessories business. The trim pieces' clip design makes quick removal and attachment a snap (pun intended) for dealers and allows for speedy and inexpensive customization, but it may not be as ideal for keeping the plastic pieces in place over time.
We'll bring you an update as soon as we can get our Mini checked out at the dealer, but needless to say, the fitment of squishier winter rubber has to be welcome relief for our hard-riding hatchback—and our editorial buttocks. In the meantime, we'll continue to appreciate its quick and nimble around-town character and its snappy handling.
from Car and Driver Blog http://ift.tt/nSHy27
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