Sunday, May 25, 2008
Introduced in England in 1959 and first available in the United States
from 1960 to 1967, the Mini-Cooper is back. It's been a unique sight on
American roads for the past three years, thanks to unique BMW
business savvy.
The Mini-Cooper wasn't the top priority when BMW purchased the Rover
Group -- Land Rover, Rover, MG and Mini -- in 1994. BMW was more
interested in the luxury SUV market. But six years later, Rover was sold
to Ford and BMW adjusted its plan.
The new Mini-Cooper is among the results. For 2005 that includes my
test drive for the week, the S-convertible with a six-speed manual
transmission.
Like other retro vehicles in recent years, the Mini-Cooper has found a
market some 40 years after its first success. What drivers enjoyed in the
60s -- an affordable, quick, efficient and fun-to-drive car -- is what they
get now.
I've never driven an original Mini, but friends who have driven both
generations, say the new version is much the same as yesteryear's
model. Yet, it's also quite different.
The Mini Cooper S convertible is a first-time offering for 2005, and the
combination has vast appeal -- and a few less-than ideal
considerations.
Foremost, anyone who likes to drive can appreciate the Mini. One of four
available models -- the Mini-Cooper S has a 16-valve, four-cylinder,
168-horsepower engine. That's substantially more power than its
predecessor.
As such, the car "jumps" from zero to 30 mph, particularly considering its
supercharged, 1.6-liter overhead cam engine. Consumer Guide testers
clocked the S model in the standard 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds, while the
base model took 9.1 seconds.
Perhaps the Mini's finest attributes are its steering and handling. The
response -- maneuvering through parking lots or zipping along the
freeway -- is impressive. The Mini-Cooper is among the smallest cars in
the United States -- its wheelbase is 97.1 inches and its overall length is
143.1 inches. But driving the car on freeway surprisingly didn't include
any notions of inferiority. It's more like a cocky terrier who can hold his
own among big dogs.
The Mini-Cooper has more than once been called a go-cart for adults.
But its craftsmanship and unique features quickly catapult it into the all-
too-real class.
Beyond its swift acceleration and sturdy handling, the Mini has a good
supply of funky features.
Consider the huge speedometer in the middle of the dash. It's as big as
wall clock, and it's cool, for sure. And there's also a small, digital miles
per hour display above the steering wheel in the center of the
tachometer.
Yet, the large speedometer is the centerpiece of the dash, and it also
features one of the car's instrumentation drawbacks. A small digital clock
is positioned at the bottom of the speedometer and just to the left of the
digital odometer. It's hard to differentiate the time of day from the miles
driven. Also, a swiveling cupholder, positioned to the right of the radio,
just seems to get in the way.
As a petite convertible, there are few other common concerns. Consider:
* The seatbelts are too-snugly positioned and hard to reach.
* The rear aluminum roll hoops drastically obscure the view through the
small, rear glass oval.
* The convertible top, which remained up during my test drive, has
"blindspots" between the front and rear seat side views.
* And even by small-car standards, the Mini-Cooper has a small trunk.
Yet, the Mini has many more positive attributes than issues.
* There's plenty of front seat foot and head room, at least for a 6-foot,
185-test driver.
* The cabin's tubular, metallic trim is sleek and modern, and the
glovebox cover and other interior areas are painted the same color as
the bulk of the exterior, in my instance "Chili Red."
* Windows and other automatic functions are engaged with bullet-style
toggle switches on the dash, They're separated by hip-looking black,
metal rings.
The Mini-Cooper S has a suggested base price of $24,900. Several
individual and packaged options are available, which in my test vehicle
included: 17-inch alloy wheels ($600), white bonnet body striping
($100), interior chrome ($200) and a Harmon-Kardon sound system
($550). Add the $550 destination charge and the final tariff is more than
$27,000.
That's not inexpensive for a vehicle that might not get seen on the
freeway in the side mirrors of an 18-wheeler. And it's not cheap for a car
that can't hold more than a workout bag in its trunk.
But the Mini-Cooper is an enthusiasts' car, and its appeal is its
personality.
Whether the driver is envisioning motoring along on a back-country road
in Britain or Germany or competing in a sports rally in the desert, it's
easy to understand why the Mini-Cooper has retained a loyal following.
It also fares equally well in Anytown, U.S.A.
2005 Mini Cooper: The Weekly Driver
Safety features -- dual front and front-side impact airbags
Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 25 mpg (city), 32 mpg (highway).
Warranty -- Bumper-to-bumper, 4 years/50,000 miles;
Corrosion, 12 years/unlimited mileage; roadside assistance, 4 years/
50,000 miles.
Base price -- $24,900.00
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