I have owned my car for a full 365 days. Here are some things about my 2002 Mini Cooper S. I purchased the car with 129,827 miles on it. The car already had some things done to the engine including, 15% pully reduction, aftermarket skid plate, new coil pack and plugs, strut tower, and performance clutch.
From then I added, 4 new speakers and a new radio, custom exhaust, sticky tyres, mudflaps, and sticker bombing.
So here are some pros and cons about my cooper.
Pros: Being a sporty little car, getting around town isn’t that hard. Tight parking spots are no longer tight, fitting in most spots you wouldn’t think. Despite being from 2002 34 mpg is not that hard, highway and city will get you about 29mpg and constant highway will see above 30. The looks are timeless (from current generations). Unless you know lots about the difference between gen 1 and 2 (2002-2006,2006-2013) you won’t look like you are driving a 13 year old car. The power keeps coming. The Powerband of the Cooper you hit max hp at about 6500rpm with a top rpm of 7,000 from factory. The engine is quite torquie despite being a 1.6L, starting from 3rd gear is possible even with tall gears. 1st gear tops at 45mph. Yes you can pretty much cruise around town in first, though I can not due to just drone out the whole town. The chassis and suspension is quite stiff from factory. This is great if you do not have a big budget for parts, slap some rubber on and pretty much ready to go for the track. The car is rather light being mostly metal (2300Lbs). The only plastic on the body is the front bumper, rear bumper and side skirts. This is great for little bumps, until you get smacked in the side and have to deal with metal work. The car is really forgiving on the track. If you are getting into autocross, or racing this is a good learner car. The chassis is stiff, the brakes are powerful, it is light (2300Lbs), quick get up and go, agile and responsive, yet if you dip too deep into a corner or turn too hard it will not throw you into a wall. The clutch is a small activation but firm, no play or travel. Adding a short throw shifter, banging gears is fast and fun. Despite being a small car, the cabin is very open and roomy. The rear seats are not something you’d want to be in on a long trip, but are much more roomier than a mustang’s. From front to back the car is 12 ft. fitting in any spot you could want, with fordable mirrors you won’t have to worry about them getting bashed off in that tight parking spot. The turning radius is excellent despite being a FWD. 35ft, this is not something to gawk at or say “that’s really good” But being in America, it does excellent. Unmodified, people wonder how you are so successful at such a young age, and father’s want you to date their daughters if seen in a mini. The non threatening looks, tiny little Italian looking car says “he’s someone who waits.”, when really it just means we go fast and love excitement. ;) Modified people just wonder why you ruined a mini, and what kind of drugs you sell to afford a mini and mod it.
Cons: The engine is limited to around 230 whp before taking serious extensive and expensive modifications. Being relatively low in the wrong places. This is my personal opinion but the fender gap is so bad you can double stack your shoes comfortably inside, This would be fine if not the front being 5” from the ground. They are very light in the rear, under hard braking and cornering, the rear tends to lift up becoming virtually weightless with little to no stability, if you are not paying attention it will come around from behind you. Labor is not cheap. I have on record the previous owner payed $1000 to remove a nickel from his foot well heater. hour of work cost him $1000. Stiff suspension from factory. I did say that it was a pro, and it is, but it is also a con. Driving around a bumpy city with potholes is a nightmare or if you have ever been on I-5 in Seattle, you wish you never had the car and had some comfortable Toyota. Modifications will cost a bit more, being a car that is not highly sought out to be modified, parts are expensive, or don’t exist at all. You are limited to 4x100 bolt pattern. This is fine if you want to have some BBS’ or Works but are limited by size (15” and 16”) 17s are rare and 18 doesn’t happen. If you want another manufacture’s rim say audi’s on a VW you need a converter, and now cannot push the car so hard in corners.
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