I just have to admit that automotive-journalistic integrity goes right out the window when it comes to the MINI Cooper.  Whether you’re a car guy who likes a responsive, excellent-handling vehicle, or a commuter who only wants to get from Point A to Point B, there are few finer pleasures than nipping through traffic in a MINI, and that’s just the way it is.  Personally I’d rather have a MINI than a Ferrari, even though I certainly wouldn’t be able to keep up with the Italian sports car.  It’s all about personality.


Personality aside, it stands to reason that more power can’t hurt either.  The MINI is available in two flavors; 115-horsepower Cooper and the 163-horsepower supercharged Cooper S.  I was smitten by the less powerful car the instant I drove it, and expected to be doubly seduced by the MINI Cooper’s more powerful sibling.  MINI’s parent company, BMW, has made a tradition of getting the braking and handling just right on a new car, increasing the horsepower to remarkable levels only after the car performs well in all other aspects.

Telling the two cars apart is easy, thanks to the big supercharger-feeding scoop that splits the hood of the Cooper S.  The more aggressive look is appropriate for the more aggressive of the two MINIs.  The cute one-box styling is the same, but the Cooper S looks much more purposeful thanks to bigger wheels, a body-colored grille and a taller spoiler.  Subtle touches like a racing-style chrome gas cap and chromed “S” badges on the sides remind onlookers that the Cooper S is just a bit more special.  At the rear, a dual exhaust exits at the center rather than off to the side.  The trademark cheerful two-toning and color-matched mirrors are still available, as are full-size roof decals, and the Cooper S is available in unique colors.  You can top your MINI with an American flag, a Union Jack, or a checkered flag, and there are certainly more designs coming.  Don’t forget the available hood stripes, full-length sunroof or foglights, either.  Personally we’d keep it simple, but the power of choice is a wonderful thing.

The MINI Cooper S slips on like a comfortable pair of shoes.  The high, boxy form translates to lots of headroom and shoulder room, and although it’s a snug little car, it’s not claustrophobic inside.  The arty, multicolored seats look flat but are grippy and comfortable, the better to hold passengers in place during the inevitable high-speed turns.  There’s a choice of leather or cloth colors as well.  The MINI’s interior trim can be color-matched to the exterior for select colors.  The central pie-plate speedometer and steering-column mounted tachometer are the same as the base MINI, as are the neat toggle-style switches and weirdly futuristic but nigh-useless storage bins on the door.  There are four seats, but forget about putting good friends in the back; for all practical purposes the MINI Cooper is a two-seater with a big padded package shelf.  Luxury-car options like heated seats, headlight washers and a navigation system are also available.  Worried about being run over by a big SUV?  There are six airbags in the MINI’s interior.

Twist the key and the MINI Cooper S barks to life with a noticeably rortier sound than the Cooper.  I was surprised to realize that I didn’t particularly notice the extra 48 horses, though.  The MINI Cooper S is powered by a supercharged 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine that pulls strongly from standstill to redline.  The wonderful powerband is surprising from such a small engine, but allows great flexibility on the freeway.  The Cooper S has a six-speed manual gearbox, instead of the base Cooper’s five-speed, and I wasn’t particularly enamored with it.  The bigger gearbox had stiffer, less precise throws than the five-speed I drove.  It offered a bit longer legs on the freeway, but at the cost of around-town smoothness.  Both MINI models will run triple digits on the freeway without breathing hard, a tribute to their German breeding.  Some passengers complained that the louder exhaust on the Cooper S begins to drone after a while, but that’s a matter of taste.

The MINI’s handling is very much something to write home about.  A multi-link rear suspension mimics that of rear-drive sports cars, helping to keep the rubber on the road back there.  The MINI is stiff without being punishing, and handling is almost telepathic.  Thanks to the Cooper S’ incredibly light weight (2678 lb) and available 17″ wheels and tires, it’s almost impossible to unsettle the little buzzbox.  Tight turns and freeway off-ramps can be taken at breathtaking speeds.  It’s compliant enough to handle dirt roads too.  The brakes are also exemplary, as can be expected from such a small car with discs at all four corners.  Anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and Corner Brake Control (CBC) are standard equipment.  CBC balances the braking force on each side of the car, minimizing instability when braking while cornering.  Traction control and stability control are also available.  In a MINI Cooper S, racing through the airport parking garage at midnight is fine entertainment for the price.

Speaking of price, that’s the other great thing about this little car.  Like Volkswagen’s retro Beetle, the funky Scion xB and Chrysler’s PT Cruiser, this hip little ride isn’t reserved only for those with deep pockets.  Pricing of the MINI Cooper in S format starts at $19,425.  Our test car stickered for $24,105, even after a leather interior, cold-weather package, stability control, rain-sensing wipers, a noisy Harman-Kardon sound system and xenon headlamps were added.  Base price for the Cooper S is $19,425.  For the record, we had just as much fun in the base 115-horse MINI Cooper, which loses some of the Cooper S’ styling touches and the six-speed tranny but retails for about $3000 less.  I’ll take one of each–both of them yellow!

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2004 MINI Cooper S, which we tested.
Length:         143.9 in.
Width:            66.5 in.
Height:            55.7 in.
Wheelbase:        97.1 in.
Curb weight:        2678 lb.
Cargo space:        5.3 cu.ft. (seats up); 23.7 cu.ft. (seats folded)
Base price:        $19,425 (2003 pricing)
Price as tested:        $24,105 (2003 pricing)
Engine:         1.6 liter supercharged four-cylinder
Drivetrain:         six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Horsepower:         164 @ 6000
Torque:         155 @ 4000
Est. mileage:        25/34

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