We receive fleet cars at MotoBullet, and enjoy driving them to give official reviews. There are only two problems:
1. We only get them for about a week, so we can’t assess long-term value.
2. They are usually loaded with more options than the average consumer would not purchase.
This is where our friends at Dealer Auto Exchange have come in. They are allowing us to pick late-model cars from their selection to give an honest review. These are cars that were bought and used by real consumers.
Now we can mix our impressions of how the car was when new, and how it behaves after being used by actual consumers. We can measure results of what can be expected after a few years of real ownership, and/or what you can expected to find on a pre-owned car lot. THE CAR This is a 2008 Mini Cooper S with
Astro Black Metallic paint and black leather interior. The Cooper S comes standard with a 172 hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, and this one has a six speed automatic transmission. Just like the Mini
we drove back in March, Dealer Auto Exchange removed the fender and lower panel trim so it could be painted the same color as the body. This car currently has 26,500 miles and is being offered for $21,985
OVERVIEW The Mini holds an interesting place on the car market. What was once the car that put Britain on wheels has now been transformed by BMW into a concentrated form of the ultimate driving machine.
In North America we don’t even get the base Mini (called the Mini One,) instead the image is focused on making sure that we think fast things come in small packages. That’s why we’ve always had a soft spot for the manual transmission cars. There was a night and day difference on the first generation of Minis when it came to the gearbox. The standard transmission maximized the fun of economical engine, but the continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic zapped all the fun out of the car.
The CVT transmission has an infinite number of gear ratios, which in plain English means it holds in an optimal power band without revving high or giving a jerky shift motion. They are both comfortable and efficient, but one key element is lost with this technology: feeling. The first generation automatic cars we good drivers, but it didn’t make the car feel like a hot hatch. The BMW/Mini camp must have agreed, because when the second generation of the new Minis were introduced 2007, they installed a gear-based automatic transmission. So we were not eager
to have some time with this step down in technology, especially after it had been broken for a few thousand miles (more on this later.)
What makes this car really special is the paintwork. We like it when
Dealer Auto paints the fenders because we find it a nice way to add distinction to a Mini without having to use a boy-racer bodykit. This is probably best illustrated by the picture on the left from when we tested another one back in March and borrowed a standard Mini for a side-by-side comparison.
DRIVELINES The largest point of contention on this car is the automatic transmission. Minis are nimble little cars that are best used during spirited driving. These kinds of vehicles are best served by manual transmission, right? Well as much as we like rowing our own gears, we have respect for the lazy-man’s way in our Cooper S.
The automatic is quick with the shifts and will even chirp the tires through a few gears if driven competitively. The “Sport” mode goes well beyond just a more aggressive shift pattern. As the Mini is doing its own downshifting, the Sport will hold the car at about 1,000 rpm higher than in most cars. This holds the car in the power band, so there is no lag time or jerky downshift when the driver gets back on the accelerator.
Just like every other automatic transmission of the last decade, the Mini’s auto comes with a side gate to simulate manual shifting. Unlike most other auto stick features out there the Mini will take it to the redline. The paddle shifts on the steering wheel has been engineered to BMW-like ergonomic standards. Anyone who is gripping the wheel properly will find the flaps are just the right distance away from the hands so that they are easily used but don’t get in the way of normal driving. Plus, both paddles encourage different hand placement for the actions (thumbs for up, index/middle for down) that the whole set up becomes intuitive very quickly.
The rest of the car is standard issue Mini. The 1.6-liter engine is best described as economically sporty, and the no-lag turbo that comes on these second generation cars make them a blast to drive. The suspension and upgraded 17” wheels melt the car to the road. This all adds up to go-cart fun for two adults and a good bit of room for their stuff (there is room for four, but the back two better be good friends.)
MINDFUL ITEMS 
Make sure a Cooper S car that has had two or three owners gets thoroughly inspected. Although these cars are bought many times for their fun image and ease of use, they all eventually end up in hands of someone who will know how to throw it into corners. The high build quality means all Minis feel solid, but there may be a few unexpected repairs early in the ownership experience if the car was used by a teenage racer. Our Mini only had one owner and is still under warranty, so we’re not too concerned about this one.
BMW has done a good job of making a premium small car, but it must be remembered how small a Mini is. All Minis fit a wide range of people – from the executive who needs a premium car that’s nimble for the city, to the person who needs an economical but fun car for the hour-long commute. The only person this doesn’t fit is the one who carries four people and luggage every day…that’s why there is the Clubman.
PRICING Current retail price ranges for similarly equipped vehicles (whithout painted fenders) averages $22,700 – 24,500, this car is currently being offered by
Dealer Auto Exchange for $21,985. For more details on this specific car visit
Dealer Auto Exchange's website.
