increasingly
George Clooney is box office catnip AND the critics’ darling. And no wonder: he looks great and he acts better than he looks. But what if you’re a movie producer who can’t afford Clooney’s vig? You get Thomas Haden Church. You know: the guy in Sideways, the movie about chit-chatting wine guzzlers. Sideway's producer knew Church wasn’t nearly as high profile as Clooney, but he was a lot less expensive. See where I’m going with this? If the MINI Cooper S is beyond your reach, should you lower your grasp? Big savings yes, but do you still get something of substance? Well, Church is an Oscar nominee. As for the Cooper…
It’s a relief to see an automobile that wasn’t designed in anger. Unlike Japanese and German sporting machines’ menacing headlights and blood-drawing creases, the Cooper remains a four-wheeled cheeky chappie. Although the MINI was maximized for ’07, only OCD brand fans can make the call. In case you meet a MINI enthusiast, just remember that the front indicators now sit like laconic “floaters” inside the MINI’s eyes, and the rear window line rises 0.7” higher up at the B-pillar than previously.
Thanks to the Mother of All Option Lists, the Cooper’s cabin is as plain or ornate as you desire, covered in funky cloth or leather or mother of pearl or space shuttle tiles. Most of the first gen’s retro touches (e.g. chromed toggle switches and unrelenting ovality) remain in situ. While these design-lead differentiators may continue to lure buyers who are comfortable deploying the term “post-modern irony” in polite conversation, the Cooper’s cabin is beginning to look increasingly whacked-out.
Equally disappointing, there’s no British-ness to the MINI Cooper. Cocked eyebrow whimsy has been replaced with weird for the sake of weird. The big central speedo of MINI Mk1 has morphed into a dinner plate-sized gauge that could easily double as the weigh-in scale for The Biggest Loser. Still, the ergonomics are bloodied but unbowed, and the fit and finish overall is impressive; part and parcel of Mini’s premium-puny philosophy.
So you stick the fob in the dash, press the “START/STOP” affectation, and fire up the engine. Hang on; can you “fire up” an engine with less displacement than a bottle of Diet Coke? In fact, it’s amazing to us buy-by-the-pound Americans that BMW would dare offer the 118 horse Cooper for sale on this side of the pond. That’s less poke underfoot than offered by a lowly a Kia Spectra. But unlike the original MINI's base (in the precise sense of the word) engine, which was made from rusted toaster ovens in a Brazilian Chrysler factory, the new 1.6 liter four-pot is a peach.
This PSA Peugeot-Citroen sourced mill doesn’t rev like one of Honda’s methamphetamine motors, but there’s plenty of space between zero revs and the 6500 rpm redline. The manual shifter is as slick as Clooney’s hair in O, Brother Where Art Thou? Whatever oomph there is is there for the taking. Metrosexuals and their mates will be delighted to discover that MINI has finally replaced the Continuously Vile Transmission with a proper six-speed autobox. Punch the pedal or row your boat; the best case is still naught to 60 in 8.5 seconds. Not too long ago you would have been impressed.
In day to day driving, the Cooper has plenty of zip. No, it’s not a Cooper S, but it’s still a car that could get you arrested… eventually. That’s because the suspension rewards any and all efforts to build the big Mo. Once you get a lick of speed and get into the game, the MINI’s handling becomes seriously addictive. Snap into a corner. More! Push into an S-curve. Is that really all you’ve got? Surge around a highway on-ramp at 73 mph. Down shift because damn it Scotty, we need more power! I dare you to drive the Cooper a few miles without cackling like a cocaine-crazed craps player.
Come to think of it, the Cooper is a smug little bastard of a car. I don’t have to brake for that turn. I can carve through traffic. I can fit into that parking space. I get 40 mpg highway. Unlike that psychotic dust-buster Civic, I've got completely customizable character. And I have to pay for home delivery because I can’t haul a damn thing. Err, never mind that last one.
No pistonhead worth his TTAC Tic Tacs would pass up a chance to buy a MINI Cooper S instead of a Cooper. Used S instead of new Cooper. Sorted. But let’s face it: there are plenty of people for whom $18k is already a stretch. And no other box fresh sub-$20k car has half the MINI Cooper’s flair and panache. Clooney’s cool, but sometimes you gotta go to Church.
A friend of mine bought a brand new stipped to the bones base convertable, in blue. He drove it to my house right after he picked it up, even before he took it home to his family. To show it off, and offer me a quick drive. It had about 10 miles on it. He offered me the keys, I took it for a ride around Fairmount Park in Philadelphia at dusk on a summer day.
Needless to say, I drove and drove and drove. Being the nice guy he is, all he did was scrunch his face a little as I spun the little doggie around corner after corner. I thought about never returning it, he knew that I was thinking about never returning it.
But I did. After about 50 miles on the odo. Ah Bliss. What a nice guy! What a nice car!
Interesting that you guys gave it 5 stars in ride. A friend of mine just test drove a MINI and she complained that the ride was too harsh. She typically drives Lexus. I told her to try a Volvo C30 instead.
Now that a decently optioned Cooper S is tickling the $30K mark some of us have been wondering if the base Cooper is worthwhile. Thanks for letting us know that you still get a lot for $10K less.
What a lovable review. The writing actually matched the vibe of the car. Nicely done. It’s also nice to see five stars. I was starting to think it couldn’t be done.
Very enjoyable, informative review Justin — thanks.
I think it is a great commuter car, easy to park, great in traffic, and best of all good mileage. If al you do is drive to work and back and sit in traffic you don’t need 250 horsepower on tap. It shows that when they put 110 HP in a car they CAN get 40 on the highway without batteries and electric motors.
Why don’t car companies offer slow versions of cars for the people who value economy over power? How hard is it to offer two powerplants today? Is it that much freaking trouble for them?
My only complaint about the car is the dash. Damn ugly with that huge speedo. I love the outside though.
jerseydevil – ahh…memories. From an ex-Philly native (with family still there – there’s a reason why my screenname is theflyersfan), there are few urban roads that can top heading down the BF Parkway when the flags are out, make the half-loop around the Art Museum, past Boathouse Row and then keep driving with the top down and the river breezes cooling things off. Maybe Mulholland (spelling stinks today) in Los Angeles beats it (at night) but I’m trying to think of another one!
This or the Cooper S more than likely is my next car. Thank you for a great review on the model that tends to be left out. These are just a lot of fun to drive and few cars can cut through traffic (nice long test drive) better than this one. I love the option list, but ouch on how high the sticker can get with some of the electronics boxes checked. Oh well, they do keep their value.
Mini driving stories anyone?
Can an old fat guy even fit into the thing?
GS650G
Why don’t car companies offer slow versions of cars for the people who value economy over power? How hard is it to offer two powerplants today? Is it that much freaking trouble for them?
Most auto companies offer two powerplants today, usually either a 4-cyl/6-cyl or a 6-cyl/8-cyl choice in the same car. However, the days when they offer everything from a 170 cubic inch 6 to a 400+ cubic inch V-8 in the same car are long gone.
This is partly because they want to limit the variations offered and thus cut manufacturing costs. However it’s mainly thanks to the federal government’s regulations. Every powertrain variation has to be emissions certified and CAFE tested. Also, installing an engine with different dimensions and weight changes the dynamics for frontal impacts, and each variation has to be crash tested multiple times. Adding another engine choice can cost the manufacturer millions in certification expenses beyond the usual R&D costs.
My wife has an 05 Cooper S and it’s been trouble free – maybe the odd squeak and rattle but nothing that couldn’t be fixed. The biggest disappointment was the dealer experience who are mostly smug and arrogant.
I hope Mini will also offer the “chrono” pack on the new model – it basically replaces the huge center speedo with oil pressure, fuel and temp gauges and has an additional normal size speed gauge on the steering column next to the rpm gauge.
Great review. Refreshing to see a bit less snarkiness while still having some criticism in a TTAC review. My wife’s had a ’02 Cooper since new and it’s been a fun and practical car. If you know how to stuff stuff into tight places you can get quite a bit in a mini. We went away for the weekend in it with our luggage, two small dogs and their carry kennels. No problem. Ergonomics are a bit koooky but are easy to get used to. After all, the entire ownership experience is a bit about being kooky.
I believe it was Road & Track who long term tested a Mini and actually rated the build quality/reliability as poor. They had a lot of problems with it. That and the absurd cartoon style interior and retro exterior turned me away from the Mini.
I also had been wondering what it would take to get 5 stars on TTAC. Nice to see the first one is a “normal” car, not an Aston Martin or something.
I have now turned my full attention to which car will receive the first 0…
However, the days when they offer everything from a 170 cubic inch 6 to a 400+ cubic inch V-8 in the same car are long gone.
Not in Europe, they’re not. 3-Seires can be found with 4-bangers up to the V-8 equipped M3.
Justing, Thanks for the cute and lovely review. Test-drove one of those, but I just can’t get over the interior. Was having a great time in the twisties, but everytime I glanced down at the tach, I almost ran the car out of the road, as I was petrified in horror. There again, I’ve never warmed up to Austin Powers.
Also, the cargo/passenger capacity is just too low for my needs. Since you own a GTi, how would you compare it to the Mini (power aside, since the GTi goes against the cooper S for power)?
I have now turned my full attention to which car will receive the first 0…
If none of the vehicles in the current Chrysler lineup were rated a 0, I doubt any future car ever will be.
@GS650G :
Yeah, what AKM said about European engines. The two smallest engines in the 3-Series in the UK: 2 liter/143hp/9sec 0-60/40mpg. And 2 liter/170hp/8 sec 0-60/38 mpg. That’s the one I’d buy.
@AKM
In Europe the Mini and GTI are in two different classes. So cargo capacity is good in the Mini, but can’t hold a candle to the GTI which is downright cavernous by comparison. The Mini is useful, but the GTI can withstand a real trip to Ikea (other than for major furniture).
@obbop
Re: Fat old guys. In the front, yes, back no.
“The manual shifter is as slick as Clooney’s hair in O, Brother Where Art Thou”
That’s good! The Cooper S is out for me given its obscene price in Canada (base is $30,600). I’m still not sure about the interior and for less money than the Cooper I could get a Rabbit.
If none of the vehicles in the current Chrysler lineup were rated a 0, I doubt any future car ever will be.
Has TTAC tested the Sebring yet? That’s your “winner” right there.
My 05 Cooper S is a blast to drive (more fun than my warmed up WRX is).
I kept the price down by exercising a little restraint on the options checking – DSC, sunroof and heated seats (my wife insisted on those last two). I do wish I’d got the Limited Slip Diff though.
The reliability hasn’t been great however. The car came off the boat with a defective belt tensioner which meant it squealed like a banshee for the first month while a replacement was shipped from the UK. A wheel bearing failed at 10K miles and an engine mount failed this weekend leaving a pool of hydraulic ‘oil’ on my drive. The car has less than 24K miles on it. I’ll be getting rid of it before the warranty expires and I will probably not be buying another. The car has almost enough charm for me to overlook these failings, but not quite.
If you live in Boston and want a car that can be easily park, especially on a tight spot. The Cooper is the car for you. I see a lot them on The Hub it’s fast,cute and so England or should I say New England.
What? No FWD hate at TTAC? Now that’s refreshing! I like the cars but wouldn’t get one myself. Not my style, but I would love to test drive one. That speedo is crazy looking. Does the guy in the car behind you really need to know how fast you’re going?
@brownie.
Have a look at the Porsche 911 Turbo review. Sorry to burst your bubble.
——-
What? No FWD hate at TTAC?
FWD-hate is so 2002.
Don’t be so hard on the 1.6.
I really wanted to want one of the new Minis. I have a thing for small, fun cars and there aren’t that many of them.
I couldn’t get over the interior. It’s just sooo design-y. It screams “hey, I’m trying to be hip and cool, see, see, see? Look at me, look at me, look at me”. It’s too much. They tried too hard and it shows.
So I went and drove a Honda Fit. Not quite as tossable, but still a blast to drive. Great interior. The Honda designers must have spent a lot of time making the most of that small space. It feels like you can fit twice as much in a Fit as a Mini.
People don’t buy either of these cars to haul things, but it’s nice to have at least a modicum of practicality.
The best part – the Fit is $14k!
“It’s a relief to see an automobile that wasn’t designed in anger.”
Nicely put.
I dig the MINI, but I’ll never get one because my wife is somewhat crazed about only allowing us to own 4-door cars, and with children in the future rather than the past, we’ll need something easy to haul the eventual children. I love the look and the dynamics of this little car. That said, every time I sit in one I really really want to get out of it as soon as possible. The interior seems like it was designed by an ADHD person after snorting 100 pixie sticks while looking through a kaleidoscope on a rollercoaster. Of course, the models I’ve been in have had the chrome bezels, etc, but it’s all shininess and glitter and a HUMONGOUS speedo, it gets me all nervous and unhappy. If they could tone down the interior a bit, I think they’d have even more happy customers.
How are these for taller folks? They look so tiny that I wonder if I’d fit in one.
My first car was an ’88 CRX and for that i will always love small, easily parkable, 4cyl, fun machines. however, that said, there are plenty of those around for less than 18K (or more with options). a well suited mini is easily in the 22K-23K range when you put it all together. minis are unabashedly for those who want that “it” factor in their cars. and by “it” i mean “funky”, “kooky”, “trendy”, and “different”. The comments about “look at me” and “pixie sticks” are not unwarranted. For me, I prefer a car to whisper its talents to me through the steering wheel rather than scream them to the world.
When I test drove a Cooper and a Cooper S, the fun factor difference was VERY LOW. I wouldn’t mind either.
That’s because the source of FUN in a MINI is 5% engine, 95% everything else, with chassis playfulness taking a big chunk of that. What a blast of a car! What an incredible grin-inducer!
Well-written review, too. I echo the earlier comment that the review matched the personality of the car.
FWD hate is sort of irrelivent with this short of a wheelbase and low horsepower.
Great review. I really enjoyed test driving the base when it first came out, really fun drive, but my wife could never get over the size. I would still consider getting one for myself if they still didn’t have a premuim attached to the price.
How is the reliability on the base model from any owners on here? I haven’t read very good things about how they hold up.
Interestingly enough, supposedly George Clooney begged Alex Payne et al. for the sidekick role in “Sideways.” They said no because they thought he would overwhelm the movie. Haden Church’s Oscar nomination tells me they made the right call.
Clooney can do “angst-ridden” loser all day (see, e.g, “ER”), but “happy go lucky” loser is just not in his wheelhouse.
I really dislike when auto journalists always make comments regarding a new vehicle design such as “Although the MINI was maximized for ’07, only OCD brand fans can make the call”, or in the new R32 article on TCAC, where the author says how only obsessive Golf fans can tell the difference REALLY between the new R32 and the GTI. This is never true. I am neither a Mini brand freak, or a Golf aficionado, and yet I can easily tell the difference between the new Mini Cooper and the old one (different head lamps and tail lamps) and between the R32 and GTI (R32 has center exhausts and more comprehensive body kid). It’s not that anyone is a brand freak, it’s that people, such as myself, like cars a lot, and look at pictures of them. Then, on the street, the differences are identifiable.
Thanks, just wanted to get that off my chest.
Allythom: The car has almost enough charm for me to overlook these failings, but not quite.
So true. I owned an ’05 Cooper S for about 1.5 years, before returning it to MINI under the Lemon Law. I was not at all thrilled with going back to the dealer every two weeks for a “Service Engine Soon” light that came on for no explainable reason, despite changing out so many parts and reprogramming the ECU so many times. It also decided to start bogging down on power in first and second when leaving from a stop when the car was still cold. Clutch fully released, foot on gas, and… nothing, for about a second.
Add the 40 min. drive to the dealer (on a good day), the fast-running clock, the burned out bulbs, the idiot detailer kid at the dealer who dented the hood by hitting it with a BMW while it was there for service, causing it to be there for another week for hood replacement, the 12 trips to dealer in 6 months, and I had enough of the sorry sub-par vehicle and clueless dealer techs.
Oh yeah, it was the most fun car I’ve ever driven, and I wanted to love this car so much, taking almost 2 years to save for a big down payment. Other MINI owners in the local MINI club always complained about things here and there, but with a shrug, as if they would grin and bear it. But I have too much self-respect to do the same. The car had to go, and along with it, my love-struck feelings about it.
It still seems too porky, but then again I used to drive a ’70 Innocenti Mini Cooper. 998cc of fury – just don’t expect to merge quickly with traffic on the highway! I’m not sure I’ll ever warm up to the MINI.
LOVE the comment about how the Mini wasn’t created in anger. It’s nice to see a car with normal looking eyes. Also, I’m very gratified to hear that the new Peugeot engine is such an improvement over the NVH-special in the old Mini (and I wouldn’t dream of getting an S with the old engine over a naturally aspirated new engine.) And “downshift Scotty, because we need more power” just about made my day. This was a fun review.
I am 6’3″ with long legs and I fit fine. Wife decided that on our move back to Houston she would keep the X3 though. There was so much flooding going on that it killed her desire for a small speedy car. Too bad, I was hoping she would get the Caymen so I could borrow it.
Most people reading TTAC probably live in cities, major cities. Given that, does it really matter if the engine has more than 118 horsepower, when it’s pushing along something weighing as little as the Mini? Commuter time in the average American city – Seattle, Los Angeles or Boston – is only going to allow a “top end” of about 45 to 50 mph. And the rest of the scoot around town is going to be similarly limited.
Besides, the money a person saves on the initial purchase price means that he or she can spend money increasing engine horsepower by a variety of means, thanks to the burgeoning aftermarket for the Mini, if the owner really feels the need for speed; and can get out on the roads between the cities – think Montana, upper New York State or Nevada.
Great Review. Now if MINI would just build a dealership closer to me…
I’m curious to see how next years model will do on mpg with the hybrid-ish parts that will be added on… Has anyone seen an estimate?
Replying to GS650G :
Why don’t car companies offer slow versions of cars for the people who value economy over power? How hard is it to offer two powerplants today? Is it that much freaking trouble for them?
Those who seek economy bought Honda Fit already. MC won’t stand any chance in the sub-20k segment and thus they stayed out of it.
One thing I like about MINI is if you get the absolute base model, the car doesn’t look totally cheapened when compared to the top of the line model. Unlike other cars where if you bought the base model, the owner and everybody else sitting in it see cheap all over. I have a MINI Cooper S because I need the additional power for climbing the hills and highways on my daily commute. Otherwise, I would have been absolutely thrilled with a Cooper where I actually find the engine more rev happy and the car perhaps more fun to throw in and out of corners.
Good review.
Despite all the cross-shop comparisons offered up so far, I see the base Cooper as the main, rational reason Smartcar will (should?) fail in the US.
Fashionistas looking for a city-friendly, nimble, high-mpg runabout? Why would you even bother with Smart here? You CAN put two of them in a parallel spot. That doesn’t mean the law will LET you ;)
Nice ride. We need more low-powered, well-balanced 4-bangers on this side of the pond (er, both ponds). Consumer choice!
BEsides, all the reviews indicate that the Smart is a POS.
Thanks Justin for a wonderfully toned review.
The cars (or vehicles to be more specific) that win you over are the most remarkable to me. Presently, Im driving the weakest-powered, least- optioned car Ive owned in the past five years but its won me over as a total package. Factor in the price and its even more endearing.
Another example of this type of car that more than delivers is the manual trans. late model Mazda Protege5.
These qualities may not translate quite so well in other media. But here at TTAC, I like to think that they are well received.
“Another example of this type of car that more than delivers is the manual trans. late model Mazda Protege5.”
I really do like that car, I just wish they had the Mazda 3’s engines available back when it was still around. As it is, you get not only weak power, but weak fuel economy as well. Also, a better shifter would have gone great with the kickass chassis. Not only can it handle and steer, it’s also a very comfortable car; I almost took a nap while sitting in the seat waiting for the sales rep to get the keys for it.
MINI Cooper: if Fisher-Price designed car interiors
MINI Cooper: if Fisher-Price designed car interiors
Imagine a Dodge Nitro with the MINI’s interior. The ultimate Play-skool car.
obbop :
October 10th, 2007 at 9:12 am
Can an old fat guy even fit into the thing?
Yes, indeed! I am over age 60, 6′ 1″ and 270 pounds. I keep the seat one or two notches short of maximum. Lots of headroom (I don’t have a sunroof).
Greatest car I have ever driven!
“Come to think of it, the Cooper is a smug little bastard of a car.”
Hahaha, this made me laugh out loud.
John B :
October 10th, 2007 at 11:56 am
” The Cooper S is out for me given its obscene price in Canada (base is $30,600)”
If you think that’s bad – try 50,000 CAD for a Cooper S, that I recently speced up in Ireland!
I’ve had my base MINI for 2 months, and it is fantastic! I didnt want the S because:
1. I kept reading terrible things about the run flat tires wearing fast and being expensive to replace
2. I kept hearing about the S riding even rougher than the base model. I like a firm ride, but I didnt want to feel the very texture of the road surface.
3. The cost.
Instead, I splurged on a few options on the interior, where I spend more of my time… And I am having a blast every time I get in.
GBG
I think a review of the Clubman might be in order!
I was told by an ex mini owner, she had to sell her car cheap, because the CVT died, Mini does not repair them but sock up 12 grand for a new one! Thats kind of suck as when a car is 3-4 yrs old the residual is about 12 k & u need another 12G to fix her.
I guess many folks will be jumping up & down to have the tranny fix!
This is in Vancouver bc, not sure other places fix them?
avatar
GBG
April 15th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I’ve had my base MINI for 2 months, and it is fantastic! I didnt want the S because:
1. I kept reading terrible things about the run flat tires wearing fast and being expensive to replace
2. I kept hearing about the S riding even rougher than the base model. I like a firm ride, but I didnt want to feel the very texture of the road surface.
3. The cost.
Instead, I splurged on a few options on the interior, where I spend more of my time… And I am having a blast every time I get in.
GBG
GBG – Just one question…… did you buy automatic or standard tranny?