MINI (2001- TO DATE)
Reinventing a national institution is generally perceived as a mug?s game. It?s made even more difficult if you attempt to hijack another nation?s crown jewels. Sylvester Stallone?s attempt at remaking ?Get Carter? sank without trace, whilst watching Mark O?Shea getting bitten by every venomous snake he claps eyes on just reminds us that he?s no Steve Irwin. Sometimes, however, it can be done. Britain has a reputation for inventing things but never developing them to their fullest extent. The Lotus Elan was good but the Mazda MX-5 is better. Similarly comparing a ?new? MINI with the original is just cruel unless you?re the sort of dewy eyed nostalgist who falls asleep dreaming of steam trains whilst letting a half-sucked Werthers Original adhere itself to your hair. What?s not up for debate is that letting somebody else take the initial sting of depreciation has always been a sound policy and with used MINIs now starting to appear, it?s a good time to buy.
HISTORY
For a car that?s only been in production since 2001, the MINI carries a surprising amount of historical baggage, most of it brought about by the unedifying divorce between Rover and BMW. Built at Cowley in the UK under the auspices of BMW, the MINI was never off to the easiest of starts. Launched to hysterical public demand in April 2001 the MINI, through clever marketing and sound engineering, managed to exceed expectations. Two models were initially introduced, the 90bhp MINI one and the 116bhp Cooper. Both were priced aggressively and demand went through the roof with used examples initially trading at ridiculous premiums. In summer 2002 the Cooper S was slotted in at the top of the range, a supercharged 163bhp version with enough performance to answer the one criticism many observers harboured about the MINI ? that it was fun but not quite fast enough. With a CVT gearbox introduced and a 75bhp 1.4-litre diesel version available, the MINI?s star shows no sign of waning just yet.
The first Mini convertibles were sold in time for summer 2004 and at around the same time the rest of the range was given a mild facelift. Clear lens headlamps appeared at the front and the rear light clusters were restyled to incorporate the reversing lights.
WHAT YOU GET 
Despite its unashamedly retro appeal, the MINI has some reassuringly modern foundations. Clamber underneath and you?ll spot BMW?s Z-axle multi-link rear suspension. There?s a wrap-around glasshouse with glazed in side pillars featuring fully flush panes. This creates a ?floating-roof? effect which can be emphasised by the Cooper?s options of having the roof painted in black or white.
Like the original, the interior of the MINI is still somewhat cramped, and retro themes abound, from the chrome detailing to the cavernous door bins. The centrally mounted speedometer, winged MINI badging and honeycomb mesh grille on the Cooper all act as visual throwbacks to the Fifties. Other changes have a distinctly modern touch. The laughable boot of the original Mini has been replaced by a more practical hatchback arrangement. Some rather cheap silver-painted plastics are used in the interior, as the original aluminium fittings were ditched on the grounds of cost. Other proposed touches such as the sixties-style starter button and stalk-mounted hazard lights also got the chop due to pricing concerns, showing how tight profit margins are even in this potentially lucrative market sector. Certain items are must-haves, such as airbags and ABS-equipped disc brakes all round. In certain respects, the Cooper shoots wide of the mark regarding voguish Citycars. At a time when tall and narrow represents the state of the art, the MINI is more state of the ark ? unashamedly squat, with bulging rear wheelarch extensions and a raking, low roofline. Unless you place a premium on space and practicality, the design works beautifully.
WHAT YOU PAY
The first MINI One variants are currently changing hands from around £9,500 with £11,000 being the level where Coopers kick off. Cooper S models are still exceedingly thin on the ground and if you can find one for anything less than £15,500, consider it a good deal. Salt, Pepper and Chilli options packs add around £150 to the value of a MINI. Insurance is eminently reasonable ? think Group 5 for the One and Group 8 for the Cooper.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Practically all MINI owners paid the extra £100 for the five-year ?TLC? servicing option, and as such your prospective purchase will probably have had some main dealer attention. The unfortunate fact that is beginning to emerge is that it may well have needed it. Apart from a recall to modify some car?s fuel filler necks, many owners have seen somewhat more of their local BMW service bay than they would have expected. Many owners reported that the ball races at the top pivot points of their front suspension struts were lacking caps and exposed to the elements. This seemed to be the cause of left hand pull on some models, rectified by fitting new struts. Rattling dashboards and badly fitting roof guttering were also repetitive complaints amongst owners. Likewise a faulty sensor in the tailgate latch often flashes a warning to the driver that the hatch is open, requiring a few slams to disengage it.
REPLACEMENT PARTS
(approx based on a 318i) A clutch assembly is around £130. Front brake pads are around £40, a full exhaust about £360, an alternator around £100 and a tyre around £40. A starter motor is about £120. A headlamp is about £165.
ON THE ROAD
All MINIs serve up enormous fun behind the wheel. Quite how BMW have managed to preserve that rollerskate feel whilst endowing the car with the latest safety features is laudable in the extreme, but they?ve managed it. From the MINI One right up to the Cooper S, it?s tough work preventing a smile creeping across your face when you feel the heft of the steering and the lack of flab and roll in the chassis.
If you want the MINI experience at the lowest price, opt for the One, but if you can try stretching for the Cooper as the extra urge is well worth the premium. For a full-on no holds barred cacklewagon you need to inveigle yourself into a Cooper S. You?ll be gratified to find that the extra cash really does buy you a very different driving experience. For a start, there?s that noise. The exhaust system has been tailored specifically to produce a ?deep and meaty? bass note ? and it does. As you power through the gears, there?s additional music provided by the supercharger?s distinctive air intake rushing sound. In fact, it?s rather like the whine that original Minis used to have, which will make those who remember the very first Sixties? Cooper S feel right at home. It?s one of those cars that is quite impossible to drive slowly. The comedy value in hearing the manic supercharger scream may well have you accelerating up through the gears just for the sheer hell of it, but isn?t that what a performance car should be all about?
OVERALL
If you can accept the fact that your MINI may cause you a few mini adventures along the way, then there?s no reason why you shouldn?t dip your toe into this still rather volatile market. The Cooper probably represents the best compromise option and there are now a few about., Whatever model you choose, you?re guaranteed a good time.
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