| Introduced in England in 1959 and first
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| | there's also a small, digital miles
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| available in the United States
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| | per hour display above the steering
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| from 1960 to 1967, the Mini-Cooper is
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| | wheel in the center of the
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| back. It's been a unique sight on
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| | tachometer.Yet, the large speedometer is
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| American roads for the past three years,
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| | the centerpiece of the dash, and it also
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| thanks to unique BMW
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| | features one of the car's
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| business savvy.The Mini-Cooper wasn't
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| | instrumentation drawbacks. A small
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| the top priority when BMW purchased the
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| | digital clock
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| Rover
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| | is positioned at the bottom of the
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| Group -- Land Rover, Rover, MG and Mini
| |
| | speedometer and just to the left of the
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| -- in 1994. BMW was more
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| | digital odometer. It's hard to
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| interested in the luxury SUV market. But
| |
| | differentiate the time of day from the
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| six years later, Rover was sold
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| | miles
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| to Ford and BMW adjusted its plan.The
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| | driven. Also, a swiveling cupholder,
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| new Mini-Cooper is among the results. For
| |
| | positioned to the right of the radio,
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| 2005 that includes my
| |
| | just seems to get in the way.As a petite
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| test drive for the week, the
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| | convertible, there are few other common
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| S-convertible with a six-speed manual
| |
| | concerns. Consider:* The seatbelts are
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| transmission.Like other retro vehicles
| |
| | too-snugly positioned and hard to reach.*
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| in recent years, the Mini-Cooper has
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| | The rear aluminum roll hoops drastically
|
| found a
| |
| | obscure the view through the
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| market some 40 years after its first
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| | small, rear glass oval.* The convertible
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| success. What drivers enjoyed in the
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| | top, which remained up during my test
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| 60s -- an affordable, quick, efficient
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| | drive, has
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| and fun-to-drive car -- is what they
| |
| | "blindspots" between the front and rear
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| get now.I've never driven an original
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| | seat side views.* And even by small-car
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| Mini, but friends who have driven both
| |
| | standards, the Mini-Cooper has a small
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| generations, say the new version is much
| |
| | trunk.Yet, the Mini has many more
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| the same as yesteryear's
| |
| | positive attributes than issues.* There's
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| model. Yet, it's also quite
| |
| | plenty of front seat foot and head room,
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| different.The Mini Cooper S convertible
| |
| | at least for a 6-foot,
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| is a first-time offering for 2005, and
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| | 185-test driver.* The cabin's tubular,
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| the
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| | metallic trim is sleek and modern, and
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| combination has vast appeal -- and a few
| |
| | the
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| less-than ideal
| |
| | glovebox cover and other interior areas
|
| considerations.Foremost, anyone who
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| | are painted the same color as
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| likes to drive can appreciate the Mini.
| |
| | the bulk of the exterior, in my instance
|
| One of four
| |
| | "Chili Red."* Windows and other automatic
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| available models -- the Mini-Cooper S
| |
| | functions are engaged with bullet-style
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| has a 16-valve, four-cylinder,
| |
| | toggle switches on the dash, They're
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| 168-horsepower engine. That's
| |
| | separated by hip-looking black,
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| substantially more power than its
| |
| | metal rings.The Mini-Cooper S has a
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| predecessor.As such, the car "jumps"
| |
| | suggested base price of $24,900. Several
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| from zero to 30 mph, particularly
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| | individual and packaged options are
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| considering its
| |
| | available, which in my test vehicle
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| supercharged, 1.6-liter overhead cam
| |
| | included: 17-inch alloy wheels ($600),
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| engine. Consumer Guide testers
| |
| | white bonnet body striping
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| clocked the S model in the standard 0-60
| |
| | ($100), interior chrome ($200) and a
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| mph in 7.6 seconds, while the
| |
| | Harmon-Kardon sound system
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| base model took 9.1 seconds.Perhaps the
| |
| | ($550). Add the $550 destination charge
|
| Mini's finest attributes are its steering
| |
| | and the final tariff is more than
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| and handling. The
| |
| | $27,000.That's not inexpensive for a
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| response -- maneuvering through parking
| |
| | vehicle that might not get seen on the
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| lots or zipping along the
| |
| | freeway in the side mirrors of an
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| freeway -- is impressive. The
| |
| | 18-wheeler. And it's not cheap for a car
|
| Mini-Cooper is among the smallest cars in
| |
| | that can't hold more than a workout bag
|
|
| |
| | in its trunk.But the Mini-Cooper is an
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| the United States -- its wheelbase is
| |
| | enthusiasts' car, and its appeal is its
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| 97.1 inches and its overall length is
| |
| | personality.Whether the driver is
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| 143.1 inches. But driving the car on
| |
| | envisioning motoring along on a
|
| freeway surprisingly didn't include
| |
| | back-country road
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| any notions of inferiority. It's more
| |
| | in Britain or Germany or competing in a
|
| like a cocky terrier who can hold his
| |
| | sports rally in the desert, it's
|
| own among big dogs.The Mini-Cooper has
| |
| | easy to understand why the Mini-Cooper
|
| more than once been called a go-cart for
| |
| | has retained a loyal following.
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| adults.
| |
| | It also fares equally well in Anytown,
|
| But its craftsmanship and unique
| |
| | U.S.A.2005 Mini Cooper: The Weekly
|
| features quickly catapult it into the
| |
| | DriverSafety features -- dual front and
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| all-
| |
| | front-side impact airbagsFuel Mileage
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| too-real class.Beyond its swift
| |
| | (estimates) -- 25 mpg (city), 32 mpg
|
| acceleration and sturdy handling, the
| |
| | (highway).Warranty -- Bumper-to-bumper, 4
|
| Mini has a good
| |
| | years/50,000 miles;
|
| supply of funky features.Consider the
| |
| | Corrosion, 12 years/unlimited mileage;
|
| huge speedometer in the middle of the
| |
| | roadside assistance, 4 years/
|
| dash. It's as big as
| |
| | 50,000 miles.Base price -- $24,900.
|
| wall clock, and it's cool, for sure. And
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| |
|
