2014 Mini Cooper First Drive

Edmunds.comEdmunds.com Member, Administrator, Moderator Posts: 10,316
edited September 2014 in MINI

image2014 Mini Cooper First Drive

We test-drive the 2014 Mini Cooper and Cooper S to see how much Mini mojo remains in this all-new third-generation compact hatchback.

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Comments

  • bankerdannybankerdanny Member Posts: 1,021
    "The window and lock switches have been relocated to the doors where they should have been all along." Halle-freaking-luja. This was a stupid affectation in gen 1 and I never understood why it stuck around in gen 2. For my part I would have been happy to find them relocated to the center console. I really likes them in that location on my old Saab and e28 BMW.
  • GypsyAtEdmundsGypsyAtEdmunds Member Posts: 0
    I've been longing for a Mini Cooper. Maybe it's time.
  • glossgloss Member Posts: 150
    I hate this new front end.
  • camrydriver69camrydriver69 Member Posts: 54
    Not loving the low roof-line.
  • jeffinohjeffinoh Member Posts: 156
    Is this a German thing to make paint colors optional? There really should be a model ya can just buy in pretty much any color. The Mini is more than ever a Rube Goldberg car. Overly complex and pointless. I'd never want to sit next to a Mini owner on a plane. Yawn!
  • sharpendsharpend Member Posts: 177
    Get a base model into the long term test fleet and put the turbo-3 through the paces. Yes please.
  • stovt001_stovt001_ Member Posts: 799
    Does anyone else get the impression that the led light ring around the center display is Mini's way of saying "Oh fine, you didn't like this special, retro, rally-inspired, heritage location for the speedo? You want it somewhere more sensible? Fine, I guess we'll just put THIS here instead. Do you like THAT better now?" But that big red toggle switch for the engine start? Now that is pretty cool. It needs a big red safety cover over it, like you're going to launch a missile.
  • darthbimmerdarthbimmer Member Posts: 606
    Most of these changes (notable exception for the gaudy, lighted pie plate) seem like they will improve the Mini's everyday driveability and comfort. Two years ago my wife and I were looking for a small car to serve as a commuter 5 days a week and a sporty road-tripper on the weekends. We crossed off the Mini from our list because it was just too tight to spend a few hours each day in. We bought a 1 series instead. With these changes the Mini will go back on our test-drive list for whenever we get tired of the 1.
  • patinthecitypatinthecity Member Posts: 40
    Still sounds like the suspension will beat you up too much; and increasingly so as the runflats wear down, which doesn't take long.

    I'll wait for the new GTI with the electronically controlled mechanical front diff.

    Although both could never claim Japanese reliability, the VW has been much better than the always-at-the bottom-of-the-JD-Powers-list-MINI, and I speak from experience.
  • cbrandi_cbrandi_ Member Posts: 40
    These sound like great improvements especially on the Base Mini. But have they done anything to improve reliability? i sold my Cooper S once the warranty expired because it was constantly breaking. They talk about "fix-it-again-Tony" Fiat reliability, but my Mini was no better. BTW I've read that Fiat is now reliable.
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