The “new” Mini Cooper has been a huge hit for BMW, which is a good thing since the company lost a ton of money when it purchased it as part of the Rover Group. Regardless, the car is very unique. In this article, we take a look at some of the pros of owning a Mini Cooper.
As a matter of credibility, I’ll mention that I own and regularly drive a 2008 Mini Cooper “S”. The car is an automatic with a sport suspension and on the steering wheel shifters. I’ve followed the basic maintenance schedule called out by the onboard computer, but have never required a repair that wasn’t covered by the warranty. In short, it has been a great car…knock on wood!
The Pros
The biggest pro of owning a Mini Cooper S is the one you’ve probably heard about already. The thing is simply an absolute blast to drive. It is a go kart for adults. You can go around corners without hitting the brakes and the car just sticks to the road. I’ve blown by Porsche’s in the outside lane of circular onramps to freeways like they were standing still. For the money, it is absolutely a great ride and you’ll even enjoy driving into work every day!
Character
BMW is known for building quality cars, but the designs are not exactly daring. Fortunately, the design of the Mini incorporates the hilarious characteristics of the older models built in the 1960s and 70s. The speedometer, for instance, is located in the middle of the dash half way between the passenger and driver. The lighting in the interior of the car can be turned from red to a purplish color. There’s no armrest. The volume control for the stereo is found near the heater controls for the car, not on the stereo itself.
Many people find these characteristics annoying. In an age of the bland, boring car design, I find them great. I would much rather have a car with bizarre and unique features than one that is incredibly predictable and boring. The Mini is simply off the charts when it comes to being unique.
Gas Mileage
On a practical note, the Mini gets great gas mileage. Don’t get me wrong. It isn’t a Prius, but it will get 30 miles to the gallon on average. If you drive with the proverbial lead foot, you can get as low as 25. That still beats most cars on the road although this is countered somewhat by the fact the car needs premium gas.
All and All, I love my Mini Cooper S. If you are looking for a bit of spice in your driving life, go give one a test drive. I guarantee you’ll be grinning as you go flying around a corner.
Dirk Gibson is with
DCJ Auto Parts where you can get more
Mini Cooper information and parts at low, low prices.
