CAR GAZING
Mini drenched in personality
Cute car a reminder of how fun driving can be
By Derek Price
Personality is something most cars lost when they became cogs in a global industry.
A century ago, you could drive a car at 4 mph and would be screaming, "Wow! This is the most exciting thing I've ever done!" But today, you can drive your Toyota 70 miles in a single hour while thinking about things like how to keep your shirt clean of Snickers crumbs or how much you like your new Ray-Bans more than your old Oakleys.
That's a shame. Today's cars have gotten so perfect and predictable that we think of them as mere appliances rather than the miracle machines they really are. We drive down the Interstate so plugged into our iPods and out of reality that we never realize how thrilling it is to have concrete roaring by at frightening speed just inches below our bottoms.
That is, unless we're driving a Mini Cooper.
This small car never lets you forget how exciting the simple act of driving can be. While other cars try to separate you from the road with layers of insulation and cushioning, the Mini embraces the pavement with a big bear hug.
That's not to say it's uncomfortable. It's actually fairly nice on the highway, especially in the roomy front seat. It communicates just enough information from the road to say, "We're driving, buddy. If you want quiet and smooth, go sit in the living room."
Everywhere it goes, the Mini oozes personality, both from how it drives and how it looks.
Even the base Mini – while not very fast with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that makes just 118 horsepower – is far more fun to drive than more expensive high-performance cars. Its wide stance and firm suspension let you take corners at unbelievable speed, while the little engine pulls with an adorable roar.
Yes, adorable is the best way to describe many things about this car, especially the styling. Its clean lines are a modern interpretation of the classic Mini that symbolizes British motoring for many people around the globe. It's a car that you just want to cuddle.
If you want a car that's a bit more frightening, you can pick the Cooper S, which adds a turbocharger that boosts power output to 172 horsepower. And if that's not enough, you can choose the John Cooper Works version that pushes the horsepower all the way to 207, enough to turn the cute Mini into a snarling rocket.
Inside, the Mini's cabin is dominated by a giant speedometer in the center of the dash, perhaps to remind everyone of Big Ben. The front seat is surprisingly roomy – you won't believe it until you actually step inside and shut the door – but the back seat, as expected, feels cramped for adults.
Cargo space is very limited, considering the Mini doesn't have a trunk and the back seat headrests almost press against the rear glass.
Still, for moving bigger items, you can fold the back seat down to accommodate fairly big loads. If you need more space, Mini makes a slightly larger four-door version called the Clubman.
Pricing starts around $19,000 for the Cooper, $22,600 for the Cooper S and nearly $31,000 for the John Cooper Works rocketship.
Notable options include a navigation system for $2,000, a power sunroof for $1,000, and a sport package for $1,500 that includes upgraded wheels, a spoiler and racing stripes on the hood.
All the personality comes at no extra charge.
(Derek Price is a newspaper editor and freelance writer living in Texas.)
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