GRM Review: Mini Cooper S Coupe

Yep, that little backwards-hat oddball. Driving dynamics are great, but the looks are divisive.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/new-cars/2012-mini-cooper-s-coupe/

Sweet. I personally love the looks of the little goofy bugger. Good to know it drives swanky too.

"Swanky" is now the official word, motto, mantra, and lifestyle of MX6 Mafia.

LIKE A SIR!

We gon' roll in all swanky LIKE A SIR.

While not personally a fan, I love that MINI is releasing so many bodystyles. Back in the day every car had multiple forms (usually coupe, hardtop, sedan, convertible, and wagon) and now we're lucky to get two. The normal Cooper now comes in hatchback, convertible, clubman, roadster, and coupe forms. Bravo!

And a soft-core SUV too!

Goofy

I don't quite understand the business case for this one... Will MINI actually sell more than a handful of these? Who is going to buy these except for people already shopping other MINI models?

I still want a Mini Cooper S pickup.

no LSD, no care.

$33,400 minus a discount (a generous $2,000?) plus Will County, Illinois Sales Tax = $34,000.

It seems like a LOT of money for this little car. IF I had that kinda cash to burn; I would be getting myself a 6-speed hemi and living on gas station credit cards.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/12-5-7L-HEADER-ORANGE-6-SPEED-SUPER-TRACK-PAK-SOUND-GROUP-II-SAT-/300678379826?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4601d3f932

I kinda like the overall profile of the coupe, but the trailing edge detail of the roof makes it look like a cheap toupee.

For some performance-per-dollar perspective, the same money will buy a new Mustang 5.0 or a used Corvette C6. The niche who is interested in buying this car is razor thin.

Pretty sure it is the answer to a question nobody asked.

nderwater wrote: I don't quite understand the business case for this one... Will MINI actually sell more than a handful of these? Who is going to buy these except for people already shopping other MINI models?

Same business case as it took back in the '60s to make a 2 and 4 door sedan , 2 door coupe, and 2 and 4 door wagons out of the same basic body. As was said before, it used to be the norm to get more than one or two bodystyles for the same basic car. It's good to see the variety coming back.

I could almost like these but for 2 "small" details:

At 6 ft 4, I don't think I would be comfortable getting into this car or seated driving it. And while they are somewhat "practical" I don't care for cars with rear spoilers that extend once you reach a certain speed...Porsches being the exception to the rule.

Oh, and I really don't care for the 2 colored stripes, (one color on the hood to contrast, and a different color on the top to contrast) tho I would think they are an option?

It reads to me like the looks were not divisive in the least. It's pretty universally regarded as "fugly."

Chris_V wrote:

nderwater wrote: I don't quite understand the business case for this one... Will MINI actually sell more than a handful of these? Who is going to buy these except for people already shopping other MINI models?

Same business case as it took back in the '60s to make a 2 and 4 door sedan , 2 door coupe, and 2 and 4 door wagons out of the same basic body. As was said before, it used to be the norm to get more than one or two bodystyles for the same basic car. It's good to see the variety coming back.

But this is no Rabbit to a Scirocco. The key is making the coupe look better. Otherwise you just have an inconvenient ugly car more money.

Otto Maddox wrote: Pretty sure it is the answer to a question nobody asked.

That pretty much sums it up.

Do most people even realize that the Cooper has 4 seats to begin with out of curiosity? All the non car people I know think they only have 2.

The0retical wrote:

Otto Maddox wrote: Pretty sure it is the answer to a question nobody asked.

That pretty much sums it up. Do most people even realize that the Cooper has 4 seats to begin with out of curiosity? All the non car people I know think they only have 2.

Most people who shop one realize that. They're not having any trouble selling standard Coopers.

Alan Cesar wrote:

The0retical wrote:

Otto Maddox wrote: Pretty sure it is the answer to a question nobody asked.

That pretty much sums it up. Do most people even realize that the Cooper has 4 seats to begin with out of curiosity? All the non car people I know think they only have 2.

Most people who shop one realize that. They're not having any trouble selling standard Coopers.

Yes but Coopers are cute, at least according to the wife. This looks like it's targeted at a group that will slip a roofie into your drink while it's playing Modern Warfare and scream horrible your mamma jokes four octaves too high. Divisive seems to be the correct word.

Edit: Did they at least shave a bunch of weight dropping a back seat?

That thing is hideous.

I want to like it, I really do, but there is just something amiss with the styling.........

It's kinda like one of those supermodels that when you first look at her you go "Whoa!".......but the more you look at her the more you think that, while not hideous, she's just not really all that and a ham sammich.

And the pricing is too expensive. The MINIs can get expensive when all optioned up/tarted up, but this one is spendy right out of the gate....for a teeny little thing.

If I had mid 30's to spend on a car, I'd want more cylinders.