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Summer
Fun...
Mini Cooper S Convertible
Lotus Elise 111R
Nissan 350Z Roadster |
Broadcast
dates : 6th November 2005
12th November 2005 |
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Summertime,
And the chilling is easy,
But the Roads are beckoning,
And the horsepower’s on high…
There’s not much to dislike about the Mini. It has lovely
retro cabin touches, its top folds down easily and neatly,
and in the business end it has a highly-developed
supercharged engine in S configuration.
Anyone that dismisses the soft-top S as a soft-touch is in
for a surprise.
Thing is, beneath that cuteness factor, there’s a serious
motorcar, ready to step up to the crease.
When you’re cruising the country in a Mini your never
bored. It has an ability to involve you, whether you’re
running hard or laying back in mellow mode.
So what IS the price of going topless? For the Cooper S
convertible you’ll shell out just under 250 000 ponies,
whereas the tin-top version of the "S" is about
R35000 cheaper.
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The impressive part of the Mini Convertible is its solidity.
On some cars, removing the roof produces a flexible
rattletrap. But the Mini body has been well reinforced.
For this reason the convertible is heavier than the hatch
Mini so it’s a tad slower. But with the breeze in your
hair, who cares?
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Mini Cooper S Convertible
- Engine:
Four-cylinder petrol, supercharged, 1 598 cc
- Power:
125 kW @ 6000 rpm
- Torque:
220 Nm @ 4 000 rpm
- Transmission:
Six-speed manual, front-wheel-drive
- 0-100 km/h:
8,3 seconds
- Top speed:
217 km/h
- Fuel
consumption: 10,3 litres/100 km (Car
Magazine figures)
- Price R
249 000
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As a respected race and rally driver, Gugu took to the Lotus
like a supermodel to a swimsuit. No girl-talk in this
machine.
You’re getting very little car for your money with the
Lotus. But before sending us e-mails about the glory days of
Colin Chapman and Jim Clark, let us explain that we don’t
mean that as an insult.
Lotus founder Chapman was obsessed with light weight and
this 800 kilogram sports car continues the fine tradition
that saw the late Jim Clark win two world driver’s
championships for Lotus in 1963 and 1965.
The Lotus, it has to be said, only appeals to a select group
of performance car freaks.
It is minimalistic in the
extreme, difficult to get in and out of, and its only
concession to comfort is an air-conditioning system.
The 111 R version uses a Toyota 1,8 litre motor similar to
the RunX Rsi mill.
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The 141 kilowatt power-peak may not sound much. But with
only 800 kilograms to shift, it comes to the topless pool
party with a claimed 5,2 0-100 and a 240 km/h top speed.
There’s no traction control, just chassis response and
grip to die for.
Nevertheless, at a hefty R487 000, you really have to want
it baaaad!
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Lotus Elise 111R
- Engine:
Four-cylinder petrol, 1 796 cc
- Power:
141 kW7 800 rpm
- Torque:
181 Nm @ 6 800 rpm
- Transmission:
Six-speed manual, rear-wheel-drive
- 0-100 km/h:
5,2 seconds
- Top speed:
240 km/h
- Fuel
consumption: 10,8 litres/100 km
(estimated)
- Price:
R487 000
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What’s interesting about all three of these topless mamas
is that they have serious heritage.
And the Nissan is no exception, having evolved from the
Datsun-Nissan 240Z Sports car of the 1970s that literally
transformed Nissan’s dowdy image in America. Three decades
on, the 350Z is doing the same for Nissan here in South
Africa.
The coupe 350Z is a current favourite at drag strips and
gymkhanas. In topless form it’s just as good.
The heart and soul of this Nissan - any Nissan, in fact –
is its engine. 244 kilowatts of fire-breathing fun.
And yes, with the top folded away you hear every revolution,
every sonorous response to the throttle.
At R425 000, the Nissan 350Z is priced below its main
competitors, the Chrysler Crossfire and Audi three-comma-two
roadsters. And it offers more sportiness than either.
It feels like a real driver’s car, with a solid gearshift
and communicative rear-wheel-drive handling.
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Nissan 350Z Roadster
- Engine: V6
petrol, 3 498 cc
- Power: 206
kW @ 6 200 rpm
- Torque: 363
Nm @ 4 800 rpm
- Transmission:
Six-speed manual, rear-wheel-drive
- 0-100 km/h:
6 45 seconds
- Top speed:
248 km/h
- Fuel
consumption: 14,0 litres/100 km
- Price: R425
000
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