It just dawned on me when driving the Crossfire this weekend in a parking lot. The Crossfire has a remarkably small turning radius, perhaps one of the smallest I have ever experienced in a car.

In searching the posts, I noticed that this has not been mentioned (or if it has, I have not been able to find it during a search).

I have not measured the full lock radius. Anyone know what it is?

 

16.1'

the only car i can think of with a smaller turning radius is the miata at 15.1'
the z4 has the same turning radius as crossfire.

 

My mini can beat both the Miata and the crossfire My 69 mercedes 280S can turn as tight as the crossfire.

 

Here's a good site to look at for curb to curb turning "radius". You can select a type of vehicle for comparison and then compare by turning radii. Note the figures are more accurately a turning "diameter" which is why I divided by two.

http://www.theautochannel.com/newcar...parachart.html

The Mini (all varieties) is listed at 17.5' (35') so it shouldn't be turning tighter than the crossfire or miata. Surprisingly my Olds Alero (35.1') turns just about as tight as a mini. The Crossfire is listed at 32.2' for 2005 models but only 32.9' for the 2004. I'm not sure why there is a slight difference even though the 2004 SLK shared the same 32.9' figure.

 

I didn't realize you had an original mini. So i'll take your word that it turns really tight. I assumed before reading your sig that you had a thoroughly modern mini.

 

What A BMW I Think Not. Lol

 

yes really tight, and with all 73 HP I can light up the tires, yeah haw unfortunately my daughter has taken over being the daily driver, what a great dad letting a 17 year old drive a vintage mini.

 

since four people should be able to pick it up and turn it around to face the opposite direction i guess your mini would only need 10 or eleven feet.

 

LOL we actually put a midget on top of the girls locker room in highschool once they got a crane in to get it down.

 

I can't believe you let your 17 y/o daughter drive the Mini! My dad won't even let me sit in his vintage Jag, let alone ride in it. Driving it is out of the question. Aren't you afraid with the steering wheel on the WRONG side that your daughter might not have enough experience to drive such a rare car. I've had many sports cars since I got my license but nothing that is irreplaceable like your Mini. You must be a pretty nice dad to let your daughter drive such a rare piece of European auto history.

 

Those original mini are going up in value, that would be like having your daughter drive around a G35 coupe value wise but only worse, because you will have a hard time replacing the mini.

If i had an original mini, that thing would be supporting a B18C5 or a K20.

 

Normally she drives a 69 mercedes 280s but its in the shop, she's been driving since she was 12 started her out on a 3 wheeler a 8, had her own quad by 10, and started driving the dune buggy @ 12.

I even let her drive the crossfire once.

I posted a picture of her with the mini in my gallery.

 

My parents let me drive anything in the garage except the vintage jags. My dad doesn't care about the cars that he can replace, but the jags are too rare to find. My 16 y/o brother drives everything from my dad's Magnum to my mom's Corvette powered Firebird. Those cars can be replaced, a vintage Mini is very hard to come by...

 

I don't know if WRONG side is correct phrase perhaps right side or other side would be a better term she and I will have the memories of her driving a piece of history, now that's better than a car sitting in a garage never getting used.

cars are meant to be driven we show both vintage cars, drive them to shows,no trailer queens here.
What could be more fun than cruzin with your daughter in a mini and a healey side by side, or rotating forward position?

20 years from now.

 

I agree if you can't drive it what good is it? Just a piece of metal wasting away. Besides Minis may be hard to get a nice one here in the states, but they made a million of them. I think 60s cars are fun to own and use because they are much better drivers than the fifties or older. And you can find parts still.

 

Sorry, you know what I mean by wrong side. I spent some time in Australia and my buddies and I would always joke with locals that they put the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car. It just became habit. It did take some time getting used to driving a RHD vehicle. I drove a Mitsu truck while I was down there and it was a task getting used to shifting with my left hand. It only took a few drives but it would be hard to adjust at such a young age. If you trust her than that's all that matters.

As far as trailer queens, my dad's cars aren't anywhere near that. He has had his E-type since he was my age and if anything happened to it I know he would be upset. I understand where he is coming from and I don't even ask to drive it. I'm sure one day he will take me out and throw the keys at me but I will just have to wait and see. Its nice that you have something to share with your daughter. That is something you will cherish longer than the cars themselves...

 

5 million + made until 1990 you can get them here for around 10k
the hardest part of driving it is the left turn while you shift.

 

Re: Xfire turn radius.

Car and Driver magazine says the Crossfire turning circle curb-to-curb is 32.9 ft.

Nick

 

You all talk about how tight, it is but do any of you know why that is? I'll give you a hint, it doesn't have rack and pinion steering. Oh darn to big of a hint. LOL