Driving A TINY, Right Hand Drive Car In The USA Has Some Challenges

( www.alltfl.com/ ) Check out our new spot to find ALL our content, from news to videos and our podcasts!
In this video we hit the mean streets of the USA in a classic Mini Cooper!
( / tflcar ) Visit our Patreon page to support the TFL team!
Watch more videos from TFL Studios:
The Fast Lane Truck ( / tfltruck )
The Fast Lane Car ( / tflcar )
TFLoffroad ( / tfloffroad )
TFLbike (kzbin.info/door/lbike )
TFLnow ( / tflnow )
TFLclassics ( / tflclassics )
TFLtalk ( / tfltalk )
TFL Podcasts:
TFL Talkin' Cars Podcast ( redcircle.com/shows/tfltalk-c... )
TFL Talkin' Trucks Podcast ( redcircle.com/shows/tfl-talki... )

[@patbaer9931]

I take my mini through the drive-thru the normal way. Other than rolling down the left window, reaching across a car, that's just over 4' wide, isn't that difficult. Although you do have to lean over, since you're well below the order-window ;)

[@jonathanchapman7990]

Same. It isn’t that hard to live with a right hand drive car.

[@deanosaur808]

Maybe if he didn't stick the camera to passenger side window 😂 Obviously done for entertainment purposes 😆

[@daviderb3184]

Had to laugh when you called 2 people a test. Growing up in the '60s my first car was '62 Austin 850 with maybe 40 horsepower on a good day. We actually managed to fit 10 teenagers and a guitar in mine on a rainy evening. 3 guys wedged into the back with guitar tucked behind their heads. 3 girlfriends in their laps with central girlfriend having another girl on her lap. Guy and girl in the front passenger seat and myself driving . That version of the Mini had a long willowy gearshift sprouting directly from the gearbox and shifting into second basically put my hand in the crotch of the central girlfriend. Now I liked her and I think she liked me but we were definitely not in hand in crotch territory so we worked out a system where I would push the clutch in, call out the gear and the girlfriend would shift. Managed Ok and everyone got home safe and dry. Doubt you could do the same as your Mini is much more plush

[@goracks69]

My only question was, did you encounter a hill? I remember driving home 5 people in a 90’s Civic with 106hp. I thought that was impressive, but I got nothing on you, bro. I remember encountering a hill and having to gear down just to get up the hill with 1000lb of people in there. Couldn’t imagine what it’d be like with almost 2 times the weight and less than half the power. That engine musta been SCREAMING! 😄😁👍🏻

[@daviderb3184]

@@goracks69 We did manage to crawl up several hills. The city was St Johns in Nfld which is built on a series of parallel ridges so mostly up>>down >>>up with the occasional flat bit in between. At the time I was glad it was mostly uphill since that made it reasonably sure I could stop the car. Tiny drum brakes fitted into the 10" wheels of the original Mini/Austin 850 were not exactly leading edge tech even back then. Suspension was solidly down on the bump stops but nobody seemed to mind the bumps much; tightly packed teenage boy/girl ratio might have had something to do with that :)

[@adolfoabhurtadoc6106]

Good story! It reminded me the time we went with my family on a vacation trip and all the vehicles where broken but a Nissan Frontier single cab. We fit 6 people inside that cabin for at least 2 hours 😂 Necesity is mother of creative there is no doubt 😂

[@bldontmatter5319]

@@adolfoabhurtadoc6106 I fit 5 people in a regular cab f150 back on Omaha many times. Cousins and I. Gotta love the bench seat

[@ThePruts0r]

Parking at Target could be challenging, though; Not the parking itself, but finding the Mini again! You can't see it at all, when it's parked. I love taking out my 2CV on the Canadian roads, you get a lot of waves and thumbs up at the time. Taking the 2CV to the Drive Thru, is a nightmare, because of the car windows, and it it is way to low for the service windows!

[@nicoledodds7182]

The dynamic duo! Seriously love Tommy & Kase together.. the McDonald’s drive thru was GREAT. “So I really look like a dick now” 😂😂😂😂

[@anthonymrskipt9252]

Great video! Went to Italy in the mid-70’s and the Mom of the family we visited in Rome had a Mini (she drove a white with red interior Corvair convertible when they lived in America!). She drove us all over Rome in that thing at what always seemed like full throttle - often with 6 of us crammed in. Never stopped at a stop sign or light and it never once seemed scary. Of course, I was a kid back then and my Pops (sitting in the front) was probably terrified!

[@robervin9107]

The dynamic duo crushing it.

[@cmcb7230]

I have a 2014 r55 clubman. I’ll admit it is a little out place on US roads. People drive very close behind because I guess since it’s so small they think it’s further away than it really is. Normally once they get with 10ft they tend to back off. Another big issue is the bright ass headlights shining right in at night, but even in my wife’s expedition I get blinded from behind in that (the auto dimming rearview mirror is a game changer in that). Paying nearly an extra dollar per gallon for premium is a painful too. But I still love that car and don’t want to get rid of it.

[@hypercomms2001]

"Hang on, Lads, I've got a great idea!"

[@Statimtek]

There was another You Tuber who took a right drive mini thru a drive through backwards and was told by the manager to never do that again. LOL

[@steveam29]

This video was fantastic. Great job guys

[@BigDaysOut]

Love these goofy videos! 😂 My bro has a classic mini and a Riley Elf (like a classic mini but in a saloon body). Great cars if a little unpractical for modern driving. More challenge videos with the mini would be awesome

[@palebeachbum]

Small cheap cars are so much fun to drive! It's like driving a big fancy go-cart on public roads. Though I've never owned a classic Mini, I'd love to drive one someday. I did, however, own a late-model Mitsubishi Mirage, which is a tiny car by American standards. Even though it was slow as cold molasses, it was still fun to zip around in. It was so easy to parallel park in the city and it fit into the tightest of parking spaces. The turning radius was also amazingly tight. Doing U-turns on narrow 2-lane neighborhood roads was no challenge. It was also so satisfying every time I filled the nearly empty tank with only 8 gallons of gas. I will say though that driving a little car on American roads feels a bit dicey thanks to constantly being surrounded by comparatively huge vehicles, 1/3rd of whom seem to be driven by people who didn't get enough love as children and take their anger out on little cars. Yeah, highway driving on American highways in a tiny car is a bit scary.

[@VintageWanderer]

Great video ! I have a 1980 mini right hand drive that I have not gotten on the road yet so this is good information! Lol

[@chrisbates8064]

I had the mini bigger brother - Morris 1100... even as an automatic it handled 65-70mph well. Plus it had four doors and a much bigger boot.

[@jeep2003]

I drive 4 people in mine all the time people wonder how especially in the back but there is actually more room in the back atleast it feels that way without the steering wheel and stuff in your lap. Its alot harder to do drive thrus with mk1 sliding windows

[@finnianfitzsimons623]

Would love to see more classics videos of your 911, the pov beetle video idea would be cool to see with that car

[@TheVintageApplianceEmporium]

Dear god you're brave! I wouldn't do all that in a Mini in the UK let alone in Murica 🤣

[@pernell4351]

Well Wood perfect car over here in South Louisiana to go through drive-through where our drive-through is on both sides of the building left and right in some fast food restaurants.

[@petelattimer6808]

of course, you guys do know that these were sold in mainland Europe too, so you can get them in LHD too? as for the 'highway test' we had one (the 1998cc version) here in the UK and it would sit all day at the legal limit (and above) here (70mph) without issue. if it feels like its maxed out at 4700 rpm, its either something with it being the fuel injected (and possibly cat equipped) OR its just not a great example of the A+ series engine (early cars were A series. the A+ had some upgrades over the A series in the 80s when the Metro was launched in Europe). i also HAD a metro and again, in its 998cc form it would rev for fun, 6k wouldnt be an issue, even if it didnt get there as quick in 3rd/4th gears. there are also 5 speed gearboxes available for the Mini too if you REALLY want to bring the revs down for cruising

[@stephensalt6787]

FYI in the UK only 2 grades of gas are available 95 octane E10 and 99 octane E5 so the 85 octane dishwater will not do your Mini any favours. Good vid though guys.

[@sonictech1000]

Just like with many other things you guys measure octane differently than here in the U.S..

[@danthompson1467]

Lol I think you picked up a new girlfriend at the drive up . That thing is like a old washtub on wheels lol

[@mattrooke3210]

Reminds me of driving my big American car in U.K. 🇬🇧 trying squeeze it down narrow roads, car parks pay booths on the wrong side and the car didn’t fit in parking bays. It wasn’t even the biggest US car going .

[@the_jarmel]

Tommy and Kase at it again 👏👏👏 LOL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SAFE FRIDAY EVERYONE ✌️

[@all-flat-engines]

0:11 I've had MANY RHD cars, some much larger than a mini and I've never had to back through a drive through.

[@Darth_Chicken]

Putting 85 octane in - not surprised running was poor 😑😑😑. They need good stuff to fly. I put E5 (97 Octane) in my UK 1275. Also sounds like your vacuum lines need replacing, they will definatly cause stalling if gone bad.

[@personator907]

The first car my brother and I shared had an inoperable driver window. My brother backed through a few drive-thrus and reached across to use the passenger window.

[@dalejones4322]

That was a really fun idea, backing through the drive thru lol. I'd be tempted by this vehicle if it had more power, was quieter, was more reliable, didn't sit so low, didn't ride so rough, didn't stall at red lights, and didn't rattle so much. Other than that, it seems like a great vehicle. Just having a little fun. Great video guys

[@On-tele-gram-Apmau1]

Let's talk on niecgram about a promo

[@deanosaur808]

More powerful minis exist, and reliability is not a problem most of the time. Can't do much about the size though 😂

[@Indypacecar82]

When I was a kid in the late 90's. There was a local Taco Bell that had the drive thru window on the right side of the vehicle. It was an older building that couldn't have a window on the correct side due to the property line. They'd rather have the window on the wrong side than not at all. I was sad when it closed because I enjoyed climbing up to the front seat and exchanging the money and receiving the food for my Mom. This Mini would have been perfect for that specific Taco Bell.

[@edinreviews]

I had the McDonalds problem problem but the exact opposite- I live in Scotland and had a Chevy G20 conversion van🤦‍♂️ It was a tight fit through the drive through and reverse wasn’t an option 😂😱🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@snowyowl7042]

Reminded of driving an 83 civic wagon, think enclosed grocery cart, tight squeeze being 6' 300#

[@Nickwillfixit]

The factthe gerabix is in the engine under the crank, I used straight cut gears so it whined like a Banshee at 5500rpm.

[@christophermorin9036]

Mini's are awesome little cars man. Even with the steering wheel on the wrong side lol.

[@deanosaur808]

Thankfully, the steering wheel was on the right side in this one! 😉🤣

[@RootBeerRacer]

My 91 UK Mini does fine forwards in drive thrus in Oregon. I'm 6'5" and have long enough arms to roll down the left side window. Cool fun video still though.

[@EvendimataE]

ITS A VERY BEAUTIFUL CAR....I REGRET NOT GETTING ONE WHEN THEY WERE ONLY ABOUT $5K IN THE USED CAR MARKET

[@davva360]

Miss my Mini Cooper S. Owned a British racing green one back in the 90s. Great fun car but now I live in the US I would not want one. That sound is 100% mini.

[@davidmilhouscarter8198]

4:10 I don’t have the balls to do something like that.

[@palebeachbum]

Me either, but extroverts love attention. No shits given. LOL

[@courtneypuzzo2502]

always liked the styling of the classic mini coopers from the 60s and 70s but would never want to own one I'd feel to claustrophobic in a car that short the shortest car I've ever ridden in is a Subaru XT turbo which was 14.75 Ft long the longest car I've ever ridden in was Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine almost 19 Ft long always felt more comfortable in midsize/full size cars cause its what my family most often had oh and dad used to bring the police cruiser home sometimes when I was a kid so I got to love the Ford Crown Victoria oh and he drove uncle Rico's 1984 Chevrolet Caprice classic sedan from fall 1993 to Spring 2000 uncle had downsized to a Honda Accord

[@Nickwillfixit]

The Classic Mini, I am 6'2", 225lb, and I have rallied, hill climbed, sprinted and toured in the Cooper, Cooper S, 1275GT, and stuffed a 1300cc Hayubusa bored the 1275 to 1340cc many many mods, K series, Turbo Metro engine and also fitted a 998cc Cooper engine front and rear and as I used two front subframes so kept the steering so rear steer and set a Guinness book of records removing and refitting an engine, we cheated by dropping the subframe with engine to speed things up also helping we had five modified tools for the job. Try to win one in the UK Giveaway guys site.

[@goracks69]

I still remember reading an article in Car and Driver about the old Minis. The engines seem to be bulletproof in Europe, but made of glass in North America. A British mini expert. once said, “We couldn’t figure out why you Yanks were blowing up so many Mini engines until we drove one in a straight line for an hour at 80 mph.” Very well suited to the twisty hills of Britain, but horrible for the long, high-speed straights of North America.

[@sirhcmi3]

Ok, the drive through backwards was a bit much. I get In-and-Out on the passenger side all the time.

[@foellerd]

Mmmm that 2nd generation CRV poking out in the back of the thumbnail 👌Imagine if TFL reviewed one of those on classics?!

[@On-tele-gram-Apmau1]

Hi dear ✌️✌️

[@Mike-rk8px]

I live in Connecticut and drive a 1973 Lotus Europa John Player Special. It’s not considered a “mini” car, but it’s very short and low. I have to constantly be aware of other drivers, because the majority of cars on the road in the US are SUV’s and trucks. We also have a lot of trucks that owners customize to be much taller, as well as a huge amount of tractor trailer trucks. Many of those drivers either can’t see me, or they just don’t care. I’ve come close to being run off the road, or crushed by huge trucks who just cut into my lane without looking. There are also a lot of VERY hostile drivers in the US who will bully you if their vehicle is larger than yours. My wife has a 2017 Mini and she has the same problems. When I drive my Europa I try to stay on secondary and country roads where I won’t encounter too many other cars or trucks, and here in New England there are plenty of roads that don’t get much traffic. When I lived in Germany the drivers were far more polite and aware of small cars (everywhere in Europe you see tiny cars) so driving wasn’t nearly as terrifying.

[@basbeestKT]

"Everybody is looking me now"... Really? Can't imagine why :P

[@LionRunner]

Is that Mini has brake boost? If its real classic with no brake boost I still remember how scary it is. I was ok with no power steering but no brake boost is definitely adventurous to drive. I would love to own classic mini and VW bug to bring my childhood memories, but not having good mechanical knowledge it might be challenging to keep them running for me.

[@deanosaur808]

If you mean a servo the answer is yes!

[@infernoking7504]

I'm pretty sure you could fit that mini in the back of a pickup truck

[@lab1042]

I think I'd rank Rally's and Wendy's fries above Mcdonalds. And Five Guys (topped with vinegar, naturally).

[@davekaylor458]

I bought a GPS speedometer from Amazon for my Kei truck.

[@nicholassmith7048]

9:45 wow the absolute entire city of Boulder must have been at McDonald's or Target because I've never seen such a deserted highway this side of North Korea.

[@gadgetmantwincities]

You should look up online how many ingredients are in those French fries😳

[@deanosaur808]

Do the ingredients include potato? 😅😂

[@davidmilhouscarter8198]

4:39 Try going through a drive-thru headless.

[@jermainecotton4406]

Never stop making classic mini videos and also stop going in drive thrus

[@NON155]

HOW ABOUT A CLASSIC FIAT

[@JohnPMiller]

5:54 Incorrect. The best French fries are at Five Guys.

[@JohnPMiller]

Also, that stock Mini bumper is just for decorative purposes. In France, they retrofit big metal bars to the front & rear.

[@zoefaith120]

When blaze come one ratings pop with the dog viewers!

[@jcm9698]

No one in their right mind goes to McD's! 🤢🤮

[@TheNewStoryteller]

I'd never like to drive backwards in McDonald's drive thru if you had a US version of a classic mini you wouldn't drive backwards.

[@deanosaur808]

They was just being silly 🤣

[@wythes.]

4:47 strangely common misconception that Europe drives on the left. Only two countries in Europe do - Ireland and the UK (unless you like to count the UK as four, and if you do - shush)

[@deanosaur808]

I've seen many Europeans drive on the left. Mostly drunk drivers 😅😅

[@TheLastCrumb.]

Kmh? That’s odd. It’s mph in uk.

[@deanosaur808]

Japanese mini! 😉

[@rickyloganjr.2362]

McDonald's fries are hands down unequivocally the greatest fries ever, I so very much agree. I love your hoodie Tommy, the color and style is everything.

[@deanosaur808]

But do they contain potato like British McDonald's 😂

[@OldThomMerton]

McDonald fries? Ick.

[@cyclesingsleep]

McDonald's is toxic to your body...not food. But, going backwards through a drive-through...genuois!!! ...and laughter is very healthy! : P

[@daniyaldanish8996]

🫡🙃😁😎👌🏻

[@youtube2kwatcher]

mcds in uk is crap never went back for years as they tasteless and not fulling

[@deanosaur808]

They are not that bad. At least our fries are not filling with crap lol

[@elliottlee1050]

I Owned a '67 Mini RHD. Never needed to do this 😏 - one you have a passenger. Two the car is small enough to roll down windows & take order... can you say NEED to be seen - your car should be the 🌟enough without the narcissism. Normally I think you're pretty cool fella, but this was just 🤮

[@davidmilhouscarter8198]

I suppose this is the first comment on this video.

[@thecleanoffroader]

Right hand drive just seems wrong and awkward

[@deanosaur808]

Left seems wrong too 🤣

[@theredneckratter6199]

I live in the UK and daily drive a LHD American SUV... I prefer LHD even on our narrow country roads

[@raymondluna3187]

Haha Tomy picking up girls driving backwards through the drivethru is amazing see my dumb butt has always went through in drive like a fool!!