Mini Cooper S

[DALE DORIA]

Anyone here look at, consider, or purchase a new Mini Cooper S? I am considering buying one and went for a test drive on Saturday......WOW.......the 6 speed tranny really is nice and the run flat tires stick to the road like glue. I would replace my 2001 Mazda Tribute with the Mini. The Mazda just developes more rattles each day and I find I am driving around a-lot of useless space. So, I was wondering if anyone here was, or is, interested in the Mini and what your opinion is on the car!

[jsmith]

i am a bigger fan of the original cooper s but nevertheless an admirer of the "bini" as it's called by afficionados. i think it is the fastest current production car through the cones in R&T's tests. the thing must handle like a go cart! there are rumors that the a-series is coming to the US - maybe if they come out with a tuner version here then there will be competition from MB! the car in my avatar is the a-series with the 3.2L V6 featured in the january issue...

[84300DT]

when i lived in England i drove a mini 1000 and a mini 800
(the latter would do 90mph after about 15 mins of pedal to the metal and a strong tailwind!)
the cars stuck to the road and were a blast to drive. i can only imagine what would happen with much more power/better suspension etc etc - go for it man!

It's pretty nice, but I'd take a Ford Focus SVT (or ST170 in Europe)for a hot hatch, if given the chance. My reasoning follows:

The Focus comes from a long line of fast European Fords, and has been extensively raced and rallied in Europe. As such, its 2.0 liter, 170 hp, 145 lb-ft powerplant would seem to have long-term durability built into it. Didn't Chrysler develop the Mini's drivetrain along with BMW?

However, it'll still be just a quick Ford, and won't have the charm and style of the Mini.

Isn't an Acura RSX Type-S also around the same price as the Cooper S? Those things are seriously quick and agile.

-Sam

[yal]

Great car. Why oh why would anyone get this car in automatic considering the amount of extra fun you could have with the manual? The ONLY minus is the copious amounts of SUV's tied to aggressive drivers out there But the little mini may be just the thiing to scoot away from trouble
Good choice!

[Piotr]

I ALWAYS preferred small fast cars over big rambling ones (aha, fooled ya with my posts on the SUV thread, didn't I?? but SUV issue is just a matter of principles, not preferences!). However, I disagree on the SVT (But, GO MARKO MARTIN!! I hope he'll whoop Colin this year...). Focus came as NOT recommended by the Consumer Report. They Liked Mini a lot (I can't help hearing that song from the "Italian Job" with Michael Cain :" It's a self-preservation, sociiieeety!" every time I see one). Lot's of fun to drive, at least with a turbo. how about a new Protege, though?

You may want to wait for the Lancer Evolution VIII as well. I can see a LOT street racing between WRX's and Evo's.

[Michael K]

A friend has one, and my 16 month old son loves it... just his size. He climbs in through the tailgate up to the driver's seat (back seats folded). Standing up, he's got a great view of the "road." He makes all the right noises.

[pentoman]

Many customers are having serious issues with the new Mini's reliability.. I think there's plenty of websites about it, so beware of that.

But small fast cars can be *really* fun, and I doubt the Cooper S is any exception

Some information from a Mini Cooper discussion board:

http://www.minicooperonline.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB_14&file=index&action=viewtopic&topic=332&106

One might want to consider the new Honda Civic Si as well. It isn't as high-strung and torqueless as earlier VTEC Civics; having a 2.0 liter engine with a lot more low-end power than earlier 1.6 liter units, despite also having 160 maximum horsepower.

The Focus is quite good in Europe (the German authority TUV rated it the most reliable car in Europe) and US Focuses are getting better from their recall-plagued origins. Thus, an SVT would still be worthy of consideration in my mind.

The Acura RSX is pretty much the alpha and the omega of hot hatches in the US market.

The Lancer Evo is nice, too, but competes in a different bracket (with WRX STi) around $30,000.

-Sam

[rickg]

Originally posted by pentoman
Many customers are having serious issues with the new Mini's reliability.. I think there's plenty of websites about it, so beware of that.

I hear the same. Some real quality issues. (Hey! It's a Bimmer after all! )