SecondHandSense:Of the cars that have been re-invented to cash in on the fashion for retro, by far the most impressive is the Mini - largely because it is so faithful to the original, yet is still a thoroughly modern car under the skin. The car seems to transcended gender barrier in a way the VW Beetle could never do.
That sense of originality about the Mini is probably best felt with the Cooper S version (Cooper was the man who originally transformed the Mini from small family car to world rally-class competition car by souping the engine up beyond recognition). The Cooper S is very powerful for such a small car, it grips fantastically and you will seldom feel as close to the road as you will in this car.
Producing the Cooper S was a logical progression from launching the Mini itself. With the basic car you can have lot of fun in a chic little car full of character, but with the Cooper S you can follow in Paddy Hopkirk's tyre tracks as he hurled through the hairpins of the Monte Carlo rally all those years ago. The car produced for five years from 2002 has a 163bhp engine (it has since been upgraded and you can now get 175bhp from it) and you will marvel at its performance and handling.
Along with the driving experience, the most impressive thing about the Cooper S is its interior finish. This is a cockpit in every sense of the word, and the combination of retro dials and chrome finish is a work of art. The car is filled with original character and every detail is smartly finished. It will take two and you can squeeze two more in for a short journey. The boot is big enough to take a day's rather than a week's shopping.
The Mini itself has a very good crash rating and reliability has been very good recently. BMW managed to iron out a lot of the Mini's teething problems fairly quickly. A 2005 model with traction control, ABS, cornering brake control, the distinctive bonnet air intake, multiple airbags and lots more and with 27,000km up is on offer for €29,995. A 2006 model with the same kit and leather upholstery and sports suspension and with 40,000km on the clock is on offer for €28,500. The Cooper S does not come cheap.
STAR RATING: 8/10