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