Driving a Mini Cooper…that’s now fully electric!
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- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2024
- People are converting classic cars to full electric in huge numbers. Is it a good idea? Paul Maric finds out by driving a classic Mini Cooper that has been converted to fully electric by Mini Australia.
Hardness tester, noise and lane keeping results: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
More Mini content: www.carexpert.com.au/mini
Skip Ahead:
Intro: 00:00
Exterior: 01:03
Charging: 02:21
Battery & motor: 03:01
Interior: 04:03
On the Road: 05:49
Verdict: 11:01
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#mini #electric #review 
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Love it! I used to drive the 1969 Mini 998. No power steering, no air-con, full of fun to drive. The cornering was unreal!
No power steering is not fun.
No air conditioning and no power steering sounds like an inconvenience to me.
How was the seating position? I could barely fit in this one!
@@realash No power steering is definitely fun. One of my favorite things about my MX5
How are those rose tinted glasses?
That is the coolest review ever! Love the channel and what the team puts together. Thanks for bringing a huge smile to my face!
Learnt to drive in a 1976 Mini Clubman. It was the most fun car I’ve ever driven still to this day. Even managed to squeeze in 8 people into it for a bit of fun 😊
Great review on this little car. Thanks
The first car I drove regularly was a 1966 mini 850, was a fun little thing. Scary as hell on the open road when a semi was coming the other way
I'd genuinely love to see you cover more EV conversions. I hope it becomes a more widely available modification as time goes on.
Theres two of my cars that I'd love to convert to an EV some day, a 94' Nissan Bluebird and a VF Series 2 SV6 wagon (given its not a V8, I don't think its too sacrilegious)
Why have toxic electric car that catches fire is not convenient and just as environmentally damaging
@@hospitalsgivingpatientsdan8894 Because I can
I do have a 1992 Mini 1000. It is really like driving a gokart. I love it. I use it as a daily. Ridecomfort is not as bad as some people say but you might want to go slower over some of the speedbumps here in Germany.
I would definitely recommend to everyone to atleast drive one when given the chance.
It is also impressive that the interior is similar to the size of a current mini, though the old ones height stops at its windows bottom.
Awesome looking car. Not sure if I would take an electric conversion over the original A-Series motor but man is that restoration good. Personally I love changing gears haha. Good review
Mr. Bean 😂😂
Biggest scam electric cars
just watched this again and the heater does get a mention - well done.
It's a dream of mine to own an electric classic mini but at 60K for just the conversion 😬, I really hope the price comes down as the years pass on. That and hopefully battery tech improves even further and we get even more range!
I had a 1969 Morris Cooper S. I loved the driving position and the acceleration out of the 1275cc engine was fantastic.
I have a 1970 cooper mini K and a 1968 Morris minimatic. I love them. If I had the money I’d seriously consider upgrading the mini K to electric. I am 198 cms tall and I have no problems driving the minis.
As a teenager I had both a Moke and a Mini Van. Torque steer was standard back then too. You learned not to hit the go pedal to much when the wheel was turned but it caught me out a couple of times and can rip the wheel from your hands. One day I will get my classic converted to electric but that’s a long way off until the price comes down substantially.
I had the original 1275cc '71 Cooper S in the same colours ie White/ Red. Was a very fun car to drive. Like driving a go kart I recon. Drove it across Aus in 1974 on the old Nullarbor when it was limestone road for several hundred kilometres. Oh what a trip! Good memories. My first car was a 1963 Morris 850 second hand. Love to go back to those days.
I had a 1275GT with full rally cam, roll cage, belts etc. on a rolling road it was tested to 122bhp at the wheels. It would beat the Golf GTi and Nova GSi in a 1/4 mile with a sub 7s 0-60 mph. I used it to get me around the uk to get to hill climbs at Loton Park, Shelsley Walsh, Prescott, Wiscombe Park and Gunston Down. I was a press photographer at the events and carted my camera bags and stuff quite easily.
Economy was not its strong suit with this sort of tune but it sure was fun to drive and could put the frighteners on Porsche 911 and M3 of the day during the rapid cross country dashes I did.
Great review Paul. I've been following Jaunt for some time and would be most interested in reviews of their Land Rovers. It would be interesting to see a review of one of their series builds and also one with the newer Defenders, which I believe they offer a more powerful motor.
Had a 1963 Morris 850 as a first car. Slow, unreliable, noisy vehicle that had pin sharp (heavy) steering and low gearing. this made it fun dragging off posh cars at traffic lights, for the first fifty metres or so (then their ego and right foot kicked in). Surprising good (firm) ride given the suspension. The new shocks that I put in before driving it helped. Needed a big shove on the brake pedal to stop (unassisted drums all round), but would do in a stable manner given the lack of anti-lock and proportioning relief valve. Biggest disadvantage, that still haunts me to this day, is that it was so easy to park that I never really learned how to park... :). I miss it...
Great video would love to see more like it.
I want one!! My first car was a 1968 Morris Mini Deluxe, and I'm still kicking myself for trading it in so many years ago. It was such a fun little car to drive!! I'm the same height as you (183cm) and I never really felt uncomfortable driving it, despite my knees almost touching my head LOL.
It's an electric version of Mr. Bean's car
Great review paul.owned a 69 cooper and a gt capri in early 80s. Cant remember which i enjoyed the most.
Just love it, please do more reviews like this
You can buy a French mini moke called the No-smoke that is fully electric and new. I found them in New Caledonia being used by tourists to drive around the area.
No-Smoke the opposite of the French😅.
Yep i owned a mini, Layland British racing green with white roof. Was a really good car, handled well, great fuel milage and easy cheap repairs.
The front seats did go back further than yours there i feel.
the cost is prohibitive.
Great video but I’m amazed that you haven’t driven a classic petrol powered Mini .
Yes the driving position isn’t comfortable by modern standards but you get use to it …
I’m 6’1” also and my first and third car was a mini .
I guess you noticed it drove like a go cart and gave you confidence to chuck it around a bit .
You really need to give it the full Car Expert review at the test track ….
I’ve a Kia Proceed GT and drive it very much the same way I drove my Mini’s as a teenager but I’m 50 now .
Turn the corner and hold on to the steering wheel until the tyres let go lol .
Keep doing your great videos!
Omg this car is so ridiculously cute and awesome. Just watching Paul towering over the car was comical and then watching the car zip down the streets in a world full of SUVs, this mini thing sure has character. Def. an eye catcher.
The Highway Patrol Police used the Mini Cooper S as a pursuit vehicle back in the day.
great reviewm but like every EV conversion I have ever seen, no mention of a cabin heating system. does it have one ?
gosh...can't believe you were actually able to sit in it...being a 6 footer... hilariously good review...🤣😂
I own a Rover from 1998, which is exactly my birthyear, and I'm 1,84. I love it xD
I can't stop laughing from you squatting just to talk about the bonnet, lol. The things you go through for great reviews.
Great car and review. The driving footage really does look like Paul is just playing a live version of Mario Kart
It is so unreal - that power button. It is like those Japanese cartoon. So interesting.
Paulie.....you made my day 😊
Would love to see the land rover. and i think its good, for the same reasons you said. the reliability of ice vs electric. especially for older cars, where parts will be getting scarce for the drivetrain and so on. Me being a tech freak would like a modern option with moden led lights and some modern feather inside. but epic car indeed.
Owned two minis...a one litre 2 door sedan, and a 2 door panel van. 6'1 tall. Driving position okay but the roof hampers visibility at intersections on heavily cambered roads.
Handling was amazing though.
And when you criticise the 72 kW electric vehicle conversion, realise the original had 37kW, which was plenty. The 850cc had less, and the 1275cc had more but nowhere near 70kW... and of course they raced minis in the 60's in the Bathurst race in October... in 1966 the first 9 places were minis just like that one. Mind you the ride was rubbish... you had to drive around potholes not through them.
I had a 1976, atleast this conversion would take away the issue when driving in rain,
Sometimes had to put plastic bag to prevent water ingress to electrical parts
Had a Cooper S and Mini 850. One of the easily available mods were seat runner extensions for taller drivers.
Of course a number of police forces drove these as pursuit cars. Back in the days when coppers had to be 6' minimum.
I owned one of the 1275cc Cooper S models. Almost dangerous torque steering. I made brackets to shift the driver's seat back a couple of inches. Much better. If I was driving one today I think I'd feel naked without a roll cage and full-harness seat belt.
I had an 850cc as my first car. Hand painted in a mission brown colour. Seat belt material kept the doors from opening past 90 degrees. I remember getting a 4foot aquarium home by removing the passenger seat. Used to conk out in the rain, so had the obligatory rubber glove over the distributor. For all it's faults it was a great little car, full of character and fun to drive. Always felt like I was going much faster than I was, I guess that's because your arse is almost on the road.
Superb, would love to have one!
This is so cool!
Definitely take an electric Landrover for a test at Lang Lang.
What a wicked car!!!! I drove a Mini a few years back. I'm 6'5 so I was sitting in the back seat changing gear from the inside of my leg. If I could fit in one I'd have it in my garage for sure.
Why would drive around in a death trap and turn it electric when no environmental benefits other than toxic fire bomb
@@hospitalsgivingpatientsdan8894 I wouldn't drive it electric, I just love those old Mini's, and also Beetles......they're just beautiful to me
This was my first car and have to say a pig to work on giving the ICE size. Barely fit your hand down the side of the engine to reach components. Electric Classic Cars in the Uk do a great job of converting anything and they weigh the same as the original ICE weight. Awesome to see because we need to stop burning stuff for our future.
Would love to see the Land Rover, its a cool and practical idea
love these older car electric conversions - definitely keen to see the land rover conversion go to work.....
This is like reviewing a go cart. ☺
Nice, more pls
I wonder why brand nowadays don't just do electric superminis, they make so much sense
It's actually Rover Mini (Cooper), Rover being the manufacturer in this case. A bunch of brands built them for British Leyland back then, including Austin and Rover.
I wonder why cars such as the Mini and Fiat 500 were so small back then. I can only guess people were generally smaller too! 😂
I would be interested in seeing more EV conversions on this channel
my vote for the landrover test !!!!
Yeah but how snappy is the Android Auto/Apple Carplay? ;)
😂
We don’t need it
That was fun 👍🙂
Can I recharge it using a USB type C cable? 😂😂
Probably :p might take a few weeks lol
My first car was a 1964 Mini Cooper (Very rare) a hot rod.. Would be worth a bit these days
I mainly watched the video to see how Paul fitted into that car. I would have loved to see the yoga moves needed for you to enter😅
Did the OG combustion power mini even do 100kmh? 😂
Also - please upload pic of Scollie attempting to sit in this
They ripped out it's fkn heart and popped in a pacemaker, how is this good?
I dare anyone to lay out the cash for a Camira conversion
Good way to cut $500k off the value of it!
oh you went past my house lol
ITS GIVING MR BEAN VIBES🤣🤣
My biggest concern is how Insurance companies are going to take this with affordable premiums! As there are a few backyard diy EV conversions out there, and are the insurance companies going to validate all these Classic EVs or just ones that are built by these companies with or without engineers certification??
We've worked with insurance brokers so they calculate it roughly as expensive EV guts, cheap-ish outer shell. Most of our customers paying no more than for another car. Shannons will also insure too
You won’t be able insure them the fires these cause and toxic water trying to put them out.
Wake up electric vehicle is a scam. Home solar great cars are gimmick
Bring on the Land Rover review!
Owned a Cooper and the last 1275 GTS. In both thown that stupid SU carburators away, and fit Weber 38 magic. Great ball of nippy fun. Fits in any parking space. It look like a kids toy, but if you jump from a VW beatle into the Mini, you will find its almost the same size inside. Biggest difference is the VW higer seating position compared to the Mini where you sit very low. As for riding the corners, not many, even moden cars with all the safety gadgets cant do it like a Mini. As for this, im not a Ev fan. Actuly, i am convinced the whole Ev thing is a scam. But this was very intetesting.
Guys, I have a question. At the end of the video where Paul drive through an residential area, is it an affluent area or just a normal middle class area? I'm from India, never seen Australia in person.
I'm not familiar with the area, but one of the signs Paul passes said 'Wantirna South'. It's average property price is about $1.3million which makes it middle class in the current market.
@@pompandsplendor thanks
Well, you've ruined that old girl.
And it's not even fast.
You haven't done a doughnut until you've done a reverse doughnut in a mini 🤣
Paul you are missing the whole point in owning a classic car. Drive a real one and you will understand.
Please do it.
Us there an XPOWER version of this ?? 😂
I would pay many dollars to see Scollie drive this car
60k is a bit steep... don't think there will be many done here
More than zero
60K!!!!
yes yes
how much. hahha i will buy this so cute
The best thing I can say about electric conversions of older classics is they're upping the value of unmolested originals with every one that's butchered.
I think there will be a big industry converting ICE vehicles to electric in the next decade or so. I really like the idea. I think a lot of vehicles will come to the end of their engine life, and get a whole lot of extra years if they are converted to electric.
It’s a Rover mini…. Not a mini rover!
I sincerely hope the conversion movement grows…it’ll be lovely to remove spluttering inefficient engines and gearboxes from older cars and keep them on the road for longer.
100% this model of mini wasn't exactly special for its engine, so this type of conversion is so cool.
Yes like electric cars are environmentally great 😂 great for fires and inconvenience
Electric cars biggest scam
@@hospitalsgivingpatientsdan8894 I mean, they are better for the environment with the right infrastructure. Or are you smarter than a scientist buddy?
@@hospitalsgivingpatientsdan8894 Lol in what way? Everything about this conversion probably improved this car.
Mate. It's an Austin Mini. NOT a mini Cooper
Huge Numbers? HUGE ... adjective "extremely large; enormous".
Yep, sure.
I see Mr bean has changed it up
but but.. .can it tow?
Keen to see the electric defenders
Hi
Am I the only one that thinks this is awful? Can't believe you'd do this to such a beautiful little old car 👎
Can you get tata car's
Tata sell cars in Australia, but they are all work utes. None of the Tata EVs are for sale in Australia because they are not road legal, despite being RHD. So far Tata have not thought it was worth the effort of moving into the Australian market on a larger scale.
So sad to see such an iconic car have so much of its personality destroyed. EVs have their place but not in car as such as this.
8:25 my 89 benz has full structural non intrusion and the same greenhouse.
It's aerodynamic drag coefficient of .30 is not outdone by swooshie modern automobiles.
New cars are shit
I'm not fan electric car whats the point.
Instead of the expensive electric why not bring in a so-called Steam Mini runs on wood and less dangerous than diesel trains.
No, not 16 but 60 k 😂
$60k 💀
Impressive. Very nice. Now let's see ANCAP crash ratings.
What a joke, $60,000 for the conversion, plus the cost of the car. Great way to wreck a perfectly good petrol vehicle and waste another $60,000 on it. You might as well purchase a brand new 2023 Mini Cooper SE Resolute for $50,000
Lol the engine in these things wasn't special when it was new mate, let alone what was probably in there before the conversion in 2023. The price is a bit much, but the conversion itself is very cool.
Yep way too much sadly, most would try and do it themselves.
i don't think the kind of person to drop 60k on something like this is hurting for cash, nor worried about "waste".
Is this a toy or not?!!!🤣
Someone in the uk put a 300hp electric motor in a mini and goes like a rocket. It is on RUclips (petrol ped )
Electric Classic Cars in Wales do lots of these. Including Porsche, Ferrari and Aston Martin. Their series 2 Land Rover does a 3.6sec 0-60
Great the mini will burn too. What a scam