American MINI fans want in on the diesel goodness too!
Click the photo for a high-res gallery of the new Mini Cooper D
A couple of months ago the latest generation Mini went on sale in Europe in a Cooper D edition with the D being a reference to Dr. Rudolf and his magical oil burner. The 53.5mpg diesel Mini has never been an option for the American Mini buyers but an increasing number of them are starting to make their voices heard in favor of the idea.
The crew over at MotoringFile.com are now clamoring for the Cooper D with over 130 comments on the post. The desire for the diesel is sure to grow even more that BMW has announced that they will be adding their Efficient Dynamics system including start-stop functionality and regenerative braking to the entire lineup. That will boost the D up to over 60mpg. If I could get a Cooper D for a price in the low 20s I'd be all over it.
Gallery: 2007 Mini Cooper D
[Source: MotoringFile]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mike 11:44PM (3/22/2008)
Bring them to the US before I have no choice but to buy the VW Sportwagon TDI. We miss our Mini that we just sold..but now we have to think about mpg, hence the VW choice...
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feliciatwo 4:20PM (4/10/2008)
Mini clubman will NOT ever have a diesel, so says an email from Jase Gammon of Mini USA.
Those Rigid primadonna's
I'll order a CRV diesel o VW Tiguan ASAP ...then
I'll learn to forget about The whole mini love affair. Easier to do now.
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Ed 4:25PM (6/26/2008)
Major automakers already produce 34 models that get over 40 mpg - and not one is available in the U.S.
"Smart" stoplight technology is IMMEDIATELY available. Is anyone making that happen?
The technology to convert coal to oil is IMMEDIATELY available. Is anyone making that happen?
The solar technology to supply the entire country with electrical power is IMMEDIATELY available. Is anyone making that happen?
Frugal diesels are IMMEDIATELY available. Is anyone making that happen?
Sure, the mini sounds great, but the sad truth is that the curious alliance of Detroit suits, Madison Avenue manipulators, agenda-driven greenies, short-sighted oil companies, and politicians and their lobbyist buddies (did I leave anyone out?) will NEVER, EVER allow Americans to have high mpg cars. Q.E.D.
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scott 12:06AM (8/27/2008)
One in a heart beat would have one shipped over if I could. However California would never see it my way. They have now vision on the future.
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jrolli 9:20AM (8/08/2009)
Yes the Clubman Diesel will be fairly hohum after Audi, Mercedes, Hundai, VW, Honda, Volvo, BMW and Jaguar bring their TDIs here. Probably the Russian Oka will bring a diesel here before Mini does!!! Too bad because it OUGHT to be the front runner because MINI was first in 2003 to bring one on board but it is being left behind. We are trying to hold on until the Clubman Diesel hits the US, but growing skeptical...
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VespaCMH 9:53AM (5/31/2007)
I'd buy one in a heartbeat. My next car is going to be a diesel (I want to wait for a Serial Hybrid with Electric drivetrain and ICE range extender - but my current car likely wont last that long). Right now - It looks like VW's Sportwagen (2008) or maybe one of Honda's unconfirmed CRV/Civic/Accord diesels (2009 - I hope). If I could get a MINI or MINI Clubman Diesel in 2008 or know that it was coming as a 2009. It wouldn't be a second thought... I'd be at the dealer tonight putting a deposit down.
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chuck goolsbee 11:46AM (5/31/2007)
I've been driving Diesel powered cars since 1982. But I have always driven Volkswagens. Mind you, that has been because my only options have been VW or an S-class or more recently, an E-class Benz. The latter have always been out of my price range, so I've been limited to VW.
I did own a Peugeot-engined Volvo 440TD when I lived in Europe for a year in the mid-90s, and that was a very nice car.
My beef with Diesels in the USA has always been lack of choice. You can have a VW or a VW, and it will have cloth seats and steel wheels. Since Katrina of course Diesel demand has gone through the roof and everyone wants one. I paid $17k for a TDI Jetta in '02... I see the new ones sell for over 2X that now! I'm surprised that no other manufacturer has gotten a Diesel option to the showroom floor in the past five years! They'd be laughing all the way to the bank.
Hurry up BMW!
BTW: whichever car maker has the balls to sell a 2-seat roadster with a Diesel in the USA, I WILL be your first customer. Alfa? Audi? VW?
Bueller? Anyone?
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Darius 1:11PM (5/31/2007)
I would also be buying right away if its under $20k with the Efficient Dynamics system. I'm currently awaiting the BMWs diesel hopefully next year but that will be a bit more pricey.
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dcwf 12:41PM (5/31/2007)
If Mini brings the Cooper D to the U.S., the line of willing buyers will be out the door ... and I will be camping out for a spot in the front.
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Schmeltz 1:19PM (5/31/2007)
Somebody start a petition to get these Diesel Minis here in the U.S. pronto! 50-60 mpg in a car with that kind of style?!-----Their factory wouldn't be able to make enough of them!
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Jenny 4:05PM (5/31/2007)
I don't have much luck with diesel engines. I guess the maintenance cost is pretty high compared to petrol engines. not sure about the modern vehicles. My ride is an old 80s Mitsubishi Pajero
Jenny
http://www.spaml.com
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Brian Hague 7:39PM (5/31/2007)
I would buy one in a heartbeat!
As for maintenance... let's see...
Oil... timing belts, glow plugs
versus...
Oil... Timing belts, and Spark plugs... I guess
I guess it's just really expensive for those glow plugs. BTW, my 1999.5 VW Golf just passed 183,000 miles, and still getting 45 in the city, 50 on the highway and feels as powerful as a V8.
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Bob S. 8:24AM (6/01/2007)
Recently drove the VW Diesel and got truly outstanding mileage. Average right around 50.
The mini diesel would be a big hit here! And how about a hybrid diesel!
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Phil L. 8:52AM (6/01/2007)
Another frustration: Few US diesel choices for those with families.
Small cars are fun. I still remember them.
Now I have three kids still in car safety seats.
Who's ready to build a diesel for those with a family?
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Val 9:09AM (6/01/2007)
speaking of things you will probably never get in the us, ford of all companies has built two excellent vans: the new Galaxy and the S-Max, which looks badass for a van. It is offered with both diesel and petrol, but the ones i have seen are all TDCi diesels...
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Phil L. 9:29AM (6/01/2007)
One of my frustrations, as a US Ford owner, is the wide range of interesting, quality Ford models not available in the US...
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Dextro 12:01PM (6/02/2007)
I currently drive a Mini One Diesel. Yes i do live in Europe :-)
They better make these cars a lot (really) better than the one i own.
I bought it a few months after they were available and i think i'm getting close to 10.000€ in garage-bills over those 4 years. I bought the car for about 15.000€.
BMW even paid some of those bills (after warranty expired)! That's how bad it's been sometimes.
I probably have a 80% new engine by now, that's how many parts have been replaced. Brakes have all been replaced once or twice. That's not just the pads, the whole thing. Full exhaust line has been replaced. etc.
Even up to today i still have problems with the car that can't get solved. They can't find a solution or fix it. For instance whenever i reverse, it sound like a truck backing up, except that it's not beep-beep-... but beeeeeeppppppp
I was at the dealer a few days ago (for some repairs) and got a look at them. They do look a lot better. Especially the interior. But no way that i'm paying 25.000€ for a car like this ... It's small and way overpriced.
They look great, but don't even come close to being worth that amount of money.
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Willy 12:48PM (6/01/2007)
Is there anyway I could buy one of those beauty Mini D's outside the US and have it imported?
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Joe VW 1:27PM (6/01/2007)
Another buyer here!!! Bring the Diesel to the US! My 98 TDI is just crossing 140K and it is the only way I can afford my 180 mile daily commute.
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Jason 9:58PM (6/10/2007)
Dextro: Forgive me if I'm incorrect, but I do believe that the Mini One Diesel is different from the Mini Cooper D that those of us in the States are clamoring for.
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