A MINI for me? Yes, but...
The gen II new Cooper S has shed its rough edges that made the 2002-2006 S so endearing and rewarding to drive. Much like the Mazda MX-5 and many other cars before it, the latest iterations of these niche products have lost sight of their true original callings. The new MINI is still a blast to drive, but I cannot help thinking back (once again) to the last MINI and to how much zippier it was. It took Volkswagen two generations before they rediscovered what made a GTI a GTI; hopefully BMW/MINI will correct their aim soon.
The MINI Cooper's price range is from $25,900 to about $40,000 for an S with options. This range excludes the Cooper Classic.
Handling
Steering
Brakes (when warm, not hot)
Fuel consumption
Annoying hesitant throttle pedal
Extra weight
Not to be considered as a small family car
Competitors:
Volkswagen Rabbit / GTI
Mazda3 Sport / Mazdaspeed3
Volvo C30 2.4 / T5
photo:Philippe Champoux, Olivier Delorme
The gen II new Cooper S has shed its rough edges that made the 2002-2006 S so endearing and rewarding to drive. Much like the Mazda MX-5 and many other cars before it, the latest iterations of these niche products have lost sight of their true original callings. The new MINI is still a blast to drive, but I cannot help thinking back (once again) to the last MINI and to how much zippier it was. It took Volkswagen two generations before they rediscovered what made a GTI a GTI; hopefully BMW/MINI will correct their aim soon.
 |
| The Cooper has lost a bit of that little something that made the last generation so special. |
The MINI Cooper's price range is from $25,900 to about $40,000 for an S with options. This range excludes the Cooper Classic.
 |
Steering
Brakes (when warm, not hot)
Fuel consumption
 |
Annoying hesitant throttle pedal
Extra weight
 |
Not to be considered as a small family car
Competitors:
Volkswagen Rabbit / GTI
Mazda3 Sport / Mazdaspeed3
Volvo C30 2.4 / T5
photo:Philippe Champoux, Olivier Delorme
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