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“After waiting over 14 months for one of the first...”

written by tisdalj on 23/12/2004

Good Points
Looks
Driving position
Equipment

Bad Points
Price
Fuel Consumption
Performance

General Comments
After waiting over 14 months for one of the first Cooper S's my first experience of the car was not good. The car did not come fitted with some of the options I had paid for and the bonnet wouldn't shut properly.



As the MINI was a brand new design I was expecting some problems, but actually had surprisingly little trouble over my 20 months of ownership. The car was recalled for a handbrake issue there were a few rattles, and the car would pull to the left. All fixed under warranty.



Performance-wise the Cooper S with 163BHP was a let down. It was reasonably quick, but long gearing meant it was reluctant to pull away, especially with the air-conditioning on!



Handling was OK, but the ride comfort with 17 inch wheels and run-flat tyres was not good. The front Pirelli tyres also wore out in 6 months, so I decided to replace all four with a set of performane Michelin's. This was the best decision I made. They improved the ride and grip and even helped when pulling away as they are much lighter than the run-flats. The only problem would have been if I had got a puncture, but a few cans of foam in the boot would take care of that.



Steering feel was excellent, especially after the tyre change and the pedals perfectly placed for heel and toeing.



My MINI was very well equipped, but that comes at a price - £17,500 to be precise. A lot for a small car, but it is a baby BMW.



The interior is surprisingly roomy in the front and you can fit two adults in the back without too much discomfort. The boot, although small, would take 4 bags of shopping.



The leather sports seats and driving position are comfortable, and the climate control very handy especially in the winter for quick de-misting.



When I first got the car there were very few around and it used to turn heads, but after a year or so I started to notice 5 or 6 on every journey - they're everywhere now!



Fuel consumption was another issue. The car is very heavy and not particulary aerodynamic. I managed to average 27 MPG in the time I owned the car. Not great for a city car, but OK for a performance car. The Cooper S also prefers to run on Super Unleaded or Optimax, giving a smoother idle and slightly more pull.



My reasons for selling the car were the running costs and wanting something a little more exclusive. I bought a limited edition C2 GT, a car which was £7,000 cheaper than the MINI, more fuel efficeint just as good looking and not too shabby in the performance department - only 110BHP, but several hundred KG's lighter!



Yes I miss the toys that the MINI had, but they come at a price. A price I was originally willing to pay for exclusivety, but I still see 5 or 6 on every journey, and that I don't miss!