[FONT=Verdana]How do you think the two compare? Have any of you run track fun days with Type-R's before? I used to have a Type-R and I know the characteristics are different between the two, but I'm wondering if the cornering is better with the cooper JCW or Type-R and general information. Thanks for any info...[/FONT]

 

Yes, I was around one all day at LRP last season.

This is a hard question to answer because the DE environmant does not allow for an all out race, nor should it. I would expect that most folks put the pedal down along the straight and this is really the only area where I value a comparison. There is no passing thru turns and it's hard to know if the other guy or gal is trying to perfect a line or simply trying beat the person behind them.

So here's your answer; if I had a really good run coming thru the down hill and I was close to the Type-R I could pass it with difficulty. I would say the torque advantage helped. But, the Type R is a screamer and if I was not past it by mid straight there was no way I was catching it.

I don't know if this Type R was modified, probably nothing more than a CAI. Having owned one...they're very close indeed in a track environment.

Watkins Glen will definately seperate the weak from the strong. Perhaps i'll see one there.

The TypeR is a great handling car. Quick sterring, extremely responsive, great brakes, not so great steering feel...to light too. A very well put together car. The Mini's gear box cannot compete period; Honda/Acura boxes are very very precise.

 

thanks for the very frank post! i have to keep a look out for your posts (considering you’re an x R owner). i miss the type-r a lot, but it's time to move on and try something different. the type-r is a very well built machine, and most don’t appreciate it until they get it on a proper road track…damn that thing shines in the turns! question...did you notice differences between the LSD's? how does the LSD compare with the R's? i had a final drive in the R and man, that thing just tore it up ...would like to get the same feel from the mini, considering the right time, touch and love are put into it! i want an angry lil mini!

 

I don't have an LSD. Although my car was stock during the events last season, I din't find I was really fighting for traction...excepts for turn two. Here I just dropped the throttle fairly abruptly, waited for a little rotation and went about my business.

The Type R I referred to above did not have a stock suspension set up. FYI.
The differences between the cars show the weakness in each as well as the strengths that divided them. I would take the general feel of the mini any day. But not joke, a SLA front end has way more potential than a Mac strut. If the Mini had a SLA front end it would be a pretty tuff act to catch.

By the way, my car is an 05 JCW - so 210 or 207 hp chasing down a Type R. The Type R is a little lighter but becomes a monster after the VTEC kicks in. It's just a very short trip from that point to redline, so it doesn't last long.

Interesting that I was able to pass a WRX with greater ease in the same place. Who knows? In the end, I compete with me.