Mini Cooper 2005 Review

It is a car with charisma. A car that makes the occupants feel like they are the centre of motoring attention.

Unfortunately, however, other motorists weren't the only ones paying attention.

The scumbag with the knife did more than look – he (or she) decided to enact every soft-top owner's nightmare and cut the roof open. Not that it was worth their while ... the only thing in the car was the owner's manual, which they elected not to steal.

But the sheer embarrassment of having to return a damaged car slightly dampened the enthusiasm I felt towards the zippy black Mini. (The price tag may have been the only other subduing element.)

Earlier in the week – along with a couple of girlfriends – I discovered a few important points of the Mini on a trip to the Barossa Valley.

The weather was perfect, the leather upholstery divine and the stereo pumping.

The first issue which became apparent was the squeezy leg room in the back seat. The front-seat passengers have ample leg and head room, but I would recommend only short-legged passengers such as small children attempt to spend too much time in the back.

With the roof rolled back, the modern Mini showed it was comfortable on the road – and as we passed an example of the vintage original, it became apparent how much larger and chunkier the new version really is.

The emphasis on visual design is evident throughout the interior and the Mini's boot proved to be ideally sized for holding two cases of wine, although with depth and limited access to the area it was a bit tricky to get them out again. The Mini also comes with a rear sensor which goes beep if the driver should be about to reverse into an object – kind of like the noise trucks make.

When details of this device were explained to me, I thought it was very fancy but, with the roof up, discovered it was, in fact, essential. Rear vision in this cutie is not good. Coming out of an angle park, cyclists beware.

However, overall the feel-good factor of this car is hard to deny. So, the final advice would be pack light, park securely, only go forward and enjoy ... actually that could be a motto for life, not just a Mini.