- hatchback 159,572
- 3,144 below average
- 1,999 great
- Waite Park, MN
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- autoshopper.com
- 3,144 below average hatchback 159,572 green
2003 mini cooper review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Adorable and affordable, quick and comfortable. introductionthe new mini cooper is more fun than a carnival ride. Both models handle like sports cars and the mini cooper s can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than seven seconds. It's adorable and affordable, starting at just $16,425. Engineered by bmw, it is executed superbly and looks and feels like a quality piece inside and out. the new mini cooper lives up to the promise of its bulldog stance, legendary performance, and enthusiastic press reports. Bmw has successfully melded the german and british car cultures, reaching back to the 1960s for the automotive icon of mod london. The new mini has as much in common with the british car americans loved in the '60s as the new beetle has in common with the old bug. The mini cooper has been reinvented for the 21st century and has returned to the u. Much bigger and much better than the original. mini cooper is the shortest car sold in america, but it's larger on the inside than on the outside. Like all bmws, it comes with advanced safety features and innovative engineering. Like the original, its uses front-wheel drive and a transverse-mounted (sideways) engine. But bmw employed a sophisticated suspension inspired by its rear-wheel-drive cars for superior handling, particularly on bumpy, curving roads. bmw priced the mini with an appreciation for real-world pocketbooks yet endowed it with a visual and physical opulence that ratchets up its value quotient. The engine is mounted transversely and drives the front wheels. mini cooper 16,425) comes standard with a high level of equipment, including a sophisticated anti-lock brake system and six airbags with head protection for front and rear passengers. Also standard: air conditioning, cd stereo with six speakers, power windows with auto-down, power locks, remote keyless entry, and a rear wiper. It comes standard with a five-speed gearbox and 15-inch alloy wheels. cooper s 19,425) adds a supercharged version of the same engine, a six-speed gearbox, stiffer front and rear anti-roll bars for flatter handling, 16-inch wheels, and a lot of special exterior trim. Color options outnumber those in a bag of jelly beans and can be topped with a roof that's either body-colored, black or white. (white is traditional.) checkered flags and flags of different nations are available as giant roof decals, including the classic union jack and the star-spangled banner. Wheels can be white or silver. Silver gives the mini a classy aston martin look. major options include a continuously variable transmission, or cvt 1250), automatic air conditioning 300), and a harmon kardon sound system 550) with eight speakers. Other options are grouped into packages: the sport package 1250) includes dynamic stability control, rear spoiler, fog lamps, sport seats, and larger alloy wheels. The premium package 1250) includes sunroof, automatic air conditioning, on-board computer and cruise control. The cold weather package 500) provides heat to the seats, mirrors, and windshield-washer jets, along with rain-sensing wipers and an auto-dimming mirror. Other options include leather seats 1250), xenon headlamps 500), and a navigation system 1600). Many of the features on the cooper s can be added to the regular cooper. Mini customers can build their car online (at miniusa. Com) with colors, options, and accessories. . walkaroundthe mini cooper's broad brow and challenging demeanor is tempered by an appealing wonder-eyed look. The distinctive body shape is recognizable even in black paper silhouette. Measuring 97. 1 inches, the wheelbase is longer than some small cars. But the mini is shorter overall, at 142. 8 inches (less than 12 feet). the hood is wide, but short in depth, the product of unique design and manufacturing techniques. The big round doe-eyed headlights (which go up with the hood) are partly responsible for the common reaction of 'oh-h-h, isn't it cute!' actually, this response was by intent, not chance. Mini designers also threw in what they consider to be some voluptuous feminine curves and some masculine muscular bulges to cover all the visceral reactions. Thus the mini is neither guy wheels nor a chick car. It is an engaging automotive device with an appeal that stretches across gender, age and economic status. That toaster-body shape of the mini is functional: it gives anyone riding in either back or front seats adult headroom, something that arch-shaped body designs (such as the beetle) cannot do. the rear is trimmed with an elegant fascia with one exhaust tip exiting below the sleek rear bumper on the right side. Bmw's attention to detail is everywhere in between. Big oval mirrors afford a good view behind, where all those other cars are located. cooper s comes with body-colored bumpers, aggressive side sills, wider wheel arches, a hood scoop, and a lower intake grille. Twin exhaust tips exit from the middle. A rear spoiler trails off the roof, chrome brightens the fuel-filler flap, and an s logo shaped like a curvy road spices up the rear badge. Even tall drivers find it comfortable. the standard seats are firm and supportive. The sport seats are more receptive, however, longer in seat bottom with higher bolsters. Leatherette is standard and it is superb. Cloth is optional at no extra cost. Leather 1250) is optional for both models. the front seats slide and lift out of the way to allow rear passengers into the back of this two-door hatchback, and they return to the original position. That makes loading to capacity quick and easy. The seats have recliner levers on both sides for convenience. The rear seats are surprisingly roomy. Legroom is tight, but with a little cooperation from those in front two adults can travel short distances in comfort. There's plenty of headroom and the rear seats are scooped out and provide good support. Rear seats are split and fold down for cargo versatility. mini's interior is stylish, modern, and exudes quality. Materials and shapes are as cheery as sunshine and balloons and as now as a new magazine. Prominent circles set the design statement. That large circle in the center of the dash, equally visible to anyone in the car, is the speedometer. The positioning was borrowed from the mini of old and might seem a tad precious to those who don't smile in recollection. A racy round tachometer is perched like an add-on immediately before the driver's eyes and tilts with the adjustable steering column. The optional automatic climate controls are shaped like the mini logo, for example. The standard hvac controls are attractive and work well, though the mode selector knob lacks the nice feel of the fan knob. Radio buttons are small, but are easy to understand and operate. the dash is neat and firm and has a high-quality leather feel to it. We like the trim on the front of the dash of the standard cooper, but we're not sure we like the finish on the plastic trim that adorns the dash and doors of the s model. Maybe we're not sunroof lovers. Cruise Control✔ Power Locks✔ Power Windows✔ Tachometer✔ Air Conditioning✔ Sport Package✔ Navigation System✔ Leather Seats✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Alloy Wheels
1,999 Waite Park, MNWaite Park, MN at autoshopper.com