2006 MINI Cooper S

Interior The enormous center-mounted speedo makes the MINI the Flavor Flav of car interiors. Some will love it, others laugh at it. The neo-retro styling is perfect in some places,
like the toggle switches, but a lil’ loud in others.

Exterior The John Cooper Works MINI looks real tough, thanks to its 17-inch black rollers and the supercharger hood-scoop. The JCW styling and color schemes erase any “chick whip” stigma the MINI may have had. Though there might be a few too many JCW badges—we get it, it’s cool.

Floss Factor The JCW kit makes the MINI look and feel like it just rolled out of a speed shop…with a warranty. Oh, and you can park this whip anywhere.

Flaw Factor Like 911, the back seats are a joke. No normal human could fit in them.

Extra-Extra The car handles like a go-kart. Swing it in and out of traffic like it ain’t a thing. The tweaked supercharged engine puts out 200 horses; while it’s not blistering super-car fast, as you approach triple-digit land you can’t help but think of how small the car actually is. The interior isn’t as cramped as you would expect—granted, the back seat should be omitted, but the low seating position and high ceiling make the MINI feel kinda big. Don’t let it go to ya head…

Brian Scotto

Specs

Rating 4 /// Damage $29,500

Power /// 200hp, 177 lb.-ft.

0-60 /// 6.2 seconds

Top Speed /// Not so mini

Gas Cash /// 20 city, 32 hwy

Miles Driven /// 262

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