For most people, the day to day commute really consists of boring meanderings through traffic, getting to work etc, by themselves. So you don't need a million horsepower or a car the size of Godzilla. Ah, but there is hope: in comes the Mini Cooper.
The particular car Dipstick has its hands on
is a late 2009 model Cooper (far as we know, the 2010 models have not changed). It has myriad of options, including 16" 7-spoke wheels, factory aero-kit, xenon headlamps, blue teeth, black headliners among others. Truth be told, besides maybe the sports package and xenon headlamps, none of the options really add to the enjoyment value of the car, so it may be up to the purchaser. The car starts at about $19k, but if you start adding options, it will easily shoot up to $22, 23k. The basic car should be enough. The options are more or less about customization (which, with a Mini, there are a lot of combinations).
Ri
ght. The first thing that sets a Cooper apart from the regular econo-boxes is the styling. Though the overall impression is of "cuteness", the stance is athletic, and given the correct color, it's rather cool and not overboard on the cute. The interior has many nice touches as well, with the switches and gauges done in style, not found in other cars of the category. There are some gimmicks, such as the changeable interior mood lighting, and of course, the less than conspicuous dinner plate sized speedo.
All that goes out of mind once you start the drive. Mini was not kidding when they said the car is a go-kart. The steering and responsiveness and solid feel of the chassis is the most remarkable. Though the ultimate levels of grip is not too high, can't expect too much from its 195/55-16 tires, the ability to change direction beggars belief. It's like a little puppy when it meets someone for the first time. Driving it really makes you happy! Ok, maybe the design is affecting my judgment. Anyways.
In the regular Cooper, the 1.5L engine produces an adequate 118hp. Though that sounds meager, it is enough to get the car, with a standard 6-speed manual shift, to 60 in 8.5 seconds. The automatic is optional, but also in 6-speed form. The acceleration will suffer slightly however, or so we've been told. The brakes are excellent, with vented disks up front and solid disk in the rears.
Dipstick's example has the sports package, with stiffer springs and a lowered ride height. The car also comes as standard, run-flat tires. Added up, it makes the ride a bit stiffer than most would find acceptable, but it really isn't that harsh. Change out the run-flats, and the ride should improve noticeably.
Through 11,000 miles of testing, the car ran on about 60% hwy miles. The EPA fuel mileage estimate is listed at 30 surfaces and 37 hwy. Surprisingly, the little Mini out did the estimation, with our car getting a combined 36-37 mpg. Sure, a Prius may give 45mpg or so, but avoiding suicidal tendencies may be worth the extra consumption.
But there are a few drawbacks. Given the low power, if a Cooper will be your only car, it may be better to go with the Cooper S, with 167hp and a 0-60 time of 7 and a bit seconds (will do a review on the S soon). The space, as can be assumed, is adequate for 2, but not so good if you have more than 1 friend. Or if you golf, your friend needs to stay home, as the bag fits better in the passenger seat. Still, the fold down rear seats does allow some hatchback utility, more than enough for some Costco runs and short weekend getaways.
Being a British built car, we expected plenty of character. Roughly translated, we expected plenty of quality issues. Surprisingly, it really wasn't that bad. There are a few squeaks and rattles, one of which were from the dash area and got really annoying, but it was fixed under warranty. At about 10k, a transmission mount was replaced as well. So far so good then. Will provide a longer term update later on.
The verdict? If you want a small car that provides some fun while being frugal, the Mini should definitely be in your list of potential candidates. It isn't cheap, as small cars go, but there is an aura of solidity that few others in the segment can provide. Of course it is a rather tiny car, so you wouldn't want to get into an accident with gorilla, but as small cars go, it does feel solid and safe (with the normal arrangement of a bunch of airbags). The overall performance is adequate and the handling is spot on. The space is enough for the o' commute and some grocery lugging, but not for people carrying. It is nice to be able to select a myriad of options however, as though there are many on the road, few are the same.
Pricey? Yes. Worth it? If you like driving but value some economy, then yes. If driving feel is not near the top of your list of priorities, it may not be the econo-box for you. 8/10
