Faults:

The boot release is intermittent and will need to be repaired. Apparently this is a common fault and is easily rectified.

General Comments:

This is a lovely car to drive. The handling and performance are excellent, but the engine is still very smooth and easy to drive around town. The supercharger provides the performance without having a highly-tuned engine.

The Chili package was a bargain, although you still don't get essentials like the glove box.

The Sports Suspension Plus and 17" wheels on the Chili package make for a hard ride, so watch out for pot-holes.

17" run-flat tires are pretty rare and expensive, and can't easily be repaired. Expect to pay £140 for each one. That thought keeps you from throwing it around corners as much as you'd like to.

Rear space is limited, for passengers and luggage. However you can fit a 28" television and packaging in the boot with the seats down so it has some practicality.

Faults:

Excessively stiff gear change (6-speed)

Annoying and dangerous dip in revs soon after pulling away.

Far too many squeaks and rattles.

General Comments:

I plumped for the Mini Cooper S after a test drive in a Cooper convinced me it handled superbly.

In the right gear the Cooper S can really fly!

Mine had 17" wheels and Sports Plus suspension - this is really far to hard for poor UK roads, and the constant reminder of this made me decide to sell the car.

I loved the interior, even though the centrally positioned odometer was something I never got used to.

Faults:

There is a rattle in the passenger side door.

The airbag in the steering wheel has had to be replaced, and the replacement was dented.

The exhaust 'blows' when I accelerate.

The drives door is not flush with the car. I've been back to the dealership twice since March and both times the door has been re-hung. Its now out of alignment again!

The dashboard seems to be off centre - the gap between the dash and drivers doors is 3 times bigger than the gap between the dash and passenger door.

The dealearship have always been reluctant to solve the problems - They tell me everything is within the spec of the car. When I said I wanted to complain they just gave a phone number to ring.

General Comments:

The car is fun to drive, and has good acceleration.

The interior is always commented on by passengers - they all love the big speedometer!

However, the problems I've had outweigh the positives, and I'm now wondering why I bothered buying it!

Faults:

Misting rear light clusters.

General Comments:

After reading all the favourable car magazine reviews I had to try the Mini Cooper.

Its good, but not as great as the reviews would have you believe.

It creaks & rattles from the dashboard & the seat belt mechanisms. (never a problem in my previous Honda).

The handling is good & winding country roads are a blast.

Also, it has good levels of equipment & the brakes are great.

Faults:

Only issue to date has been a battery light that blinked once, for 30 seconds on pulling off... otherwise the car has been a joy.

General Comments:

The MINI isn't a car for the shy, especially here in the home of the Hummer - the USA. We may be half the size of anything else on the road, but we're twice as cute and it shows in the reaction you get.

Everything about the car reeks of class - from dashboard plastics that put VW to shame to the stiching of the two tone Cordoba leather...

The Cooper is no pocket rocket, but work it hard and it will zing along at a fair old clip. You won't have to slow much for corners either - the car rides almost dead flat and there's plenty of grip from the 15" tyres (the 16" made the ride just a little TOO firm for my commute) so you;ll find yourself hurtling around bends with a smile on your face and the blood pumping in your veins.

It's well specced too - cruise, climate control, air conditioned glove box, wheel mounted radio controls - so you don't have to skimp.

You may have guessed - I love this car. It's fun, it's well made and it fees as though it's hewn out of granite.

Go on - try one.