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2005 Mini Cooper Compact Sports Coupe
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Cheap thrills: Mini Cooper offers lots of fun and style for little dough
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As much fun as it is to see the Mini stand out in a parking lot full of trucks, driving it is even better.
Although the Mini's base engine makes only 115 horsepower -- a seemingly paltry number compared to the high-performance compact cars coming out of Japan -- the car actually accelerates fast enough to make it fun in city traffic.
It's a car that can be driven fast, but it takes some work and skill to do so. And that's part of the fun.
If you want a more powerful engine and firmer suspension, opt for the 168-horsepower Cooper S for a hair under $20,000. It has a supercharged version of the base engine, a six-speed manual transmission, and stiffer anti-roll bars for flatter handling in the turns.
I drove the Cooper S in 2002, and the difference between it and the base model is night and day. The regular Cooper is fun like an old Volkswagen Beetle -- quirky, a blast on winding roads, and absolutely adorable -- but the S model is more like a frat party. It's wild, raucous, irreverent and goes so fast that it can easily get out of hand.
The big news for 2005 is the addition of a convertible to the lineup. A convertible Cooper starts around $20,000, while a drop-top S is over $24,000. I'll reserve judgment on those until I drive them, but the general consensus in the press is sheer adoration.
There are a couple more pluses worth mentioning. One, it's generally considered the safest small car on the road because of the number of air bags and safety features packed into its tiny frame. And two, the interior switches and buttons are magnificent, with that satisfying "click" that makes high-end German and Japanese cars feel so fancy. It seems surprisingly upscale for such a small, inexpensive car.
Its only downsides are, obviously, its small size -- which there's no way to avoid in a car like this -- and its fairly noisy cabin at highway speeds. Wind and road noise both seep into the car more than in many economy cars.
But overall, the Mini is all about having fun. It's fun to drive, fun to look at, and fun to pay for -- if paying for something can ever be true fun.
Pros: It's the antithesis of the SUV -- small, agile and very fun to drive. It holds to the road like it's got suction cups for wheels, and the Cooper S offers inspiring performance. As if that weren't enough, its price is more than reasonable.
Cons: It's the shortest car for sale in America, so there are some obvious drawbacks in terms of comfort and roominess. It's also fairly noisy at highway speed.
Ratings (1-10)
- Style: 10
- Performance: 9
- Price: 10
- Handling: 10
- Ride: 6
- Comfort: 4
- Quality: 10
- Overall: 9
More Data
Where Built: England
Major Options: Convenience Package, Sport Package, Cold Weather Package, antiskid system, cruise control, steering-wheel radio controls, navigation system, satellite radio, leather upholstery, headlights w/washers, alloy wheels.
Seating: 4.
Number of Rows: 2
Length in Inches: 142.8-143.1
Warrantees: 4 years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper, 12 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection, 4 years/50,000 miles roadside assistance 3 years/unlimited miles free scheduled maintenance.
Weight in Pounds: 2524 lb â€' 2700 lb.
Cargo Capacity in Pounds: Not available.
Gross Maximum Vehicle Weight in Pounds: Not available.
Towing Capacity in Pounds: Not Available.
Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 13.2
Destination Charge: $550
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