2020 Mini Convertible Reviews

Having resurrected the Mini Cooper S Paceman 12 years ago, BMW is gradually morphing it into an entire range. In part, this mimics the variety of the original but BMW has gone further and faster.The German luxury leader set out to make Mini bigger, so to speak; it's now on the brink of realising that goal.So a measure of its success is this: it's difficult to imagine the revived Volkswagen Beetle or Fiat 500 being able to stretch as far, despite, in the 500's case, of following the Mini example into SUVs.It's there in the numbers; the Beetle has been around longer but Mini has outstripped it in sales -- 2.3 million against about 1 million -- and now reaches 100 markets. Last year was a record 301,000 sales.There was a danger that each additional Mini variant would add only marginal extra volume, while the Hatch remained the main game. But the Countryman shows signs of being able to stand on its own four wheels, with 250,000 buyers in just three years.It has meant Mini expanding beyond its manufacturing base in Britain, with the Countryman and Paceman built under contract in Austria. The latest move is to make Minis in Chennai, India, alongside BMWs.The eventual line-up will probably reach 10 or more, with concepts such as the Rocketman (a sort of city runabout), Beachcomber (a Moke-style buggy) and even an electric Mini scooter a window on its inventive thinking.There are signs the next generation -- the third -- is well advanced and this time BMW will reap economies of scale by sharing the underpinnings with its first front-wheel drive cars.Once drivelines and trims are factored in, there are about 40 Mini variants in the price list. The latest addition is a racy variant of the Countryman called Paceman -- a sort of SUV-coupe cross. It takes the model count to seven -- more if the battery-powered Mini E or track-focused GP version are counted.Parts commonality within the Mini line-up is already extensive, with Paceman sharing its cabin architecture and layout with the rest of the range. One exception is the (welcome) relocation of the window switches to the door from their usual spot low in the centre console.The Paceman starts from $44,100 and the ergonomics remain imperfect and there are familiar negatives: hard plastics, cheap ratchet-style seat adjusters, pointless push-in-key-and press-button start, gimmicky pizza-sized central speedo.Each additional Mini moves further away from the retro starting point. They encompass the Hatch, the new Mini with the complete suite of winning aesthetics, to the Countryman and Coupe which take Mini-ness a long way from Carnaby Street.The Coupe, for example, has an odd cap-shaped roof while the Countryman moves the badge into the booming premium small SUV segment. For the first time in a Mini, you get four doors and four-wheel drive.The ability to personalise your Mini has been vital to its appeal and it makes a habit of producing themed specials, from a budget version called Ray to an Inspired by Goodwood edition decked out in the Rolls-Royce manner.There's also a Monopoly Board of trim specials called Baker Street, Hyde Park, Bayswater and more. From the outset it had a companion go-fast sub-brand called John Cooper Works.Reportedly, the interior moves up a grade for the next wave and not before time. From the exterior, the Paceman is a sheet metal twist on the Countryman. Butch and bulky looking, it's a high-riding (and substantially heavier) version of the Hatch in effect, with raised ride height. It's one of the more appealing variants visually, with the darkened B and C pillars giving a wraparound look to the glass.Design has to win because it brings little in the way of extra practicality. Getting into the rear isn't the easiest despite long doors and the two seats are suitable only for short adults. The boot is deep and rear seats split-fold, but it's not all that capacious and cheaply lined.The engine and transmission line-up is familiar too. Petrol Minis employ a 1.6-litre four-cylinder in various states of tune, shared with Peugeot. It's naturally aspirated in the budget Ray and Cooper models and turbocharged in the Cooper S tested.This unit develops as much as 160kW in its highly tuned forms. Two turbocharged diesels offered elsewhere in the Mini range, of 1.6 or 2.0-litre, are not available in Paceman here.In the manual I drove it can reach 100km/h in 7.5 seconds, with the automatic adding 0.3s.The 135kW engine is feisty enough though, sounds good for a turbo and revs to 6500rpm, pulling with conviction. A notchy but likeable gearshift complements good pedals and the steering is also a strongpoint.It's a driveable thing with a terrific chassis. You feel its added height, but it handles sweetly nonetheless. Just like a Mini, in fact. In other words, the Paceman successfully translates the recipe into yet another shape.

The latest pret-a-porter for style seekers is the non-mini Mini Paceman that begs too many questions. It echoes the practice of eccentric European tailors who smile winningly while crafting clothes from the most ghastly coloured and patterned materials for sale to the rich and ignorant.Alarm bells should have gone off in the customer's head the moment he saw the checked shirt, paisley tie and candy-striped sports jacket with an outrageous price tag -- but he’s happy knowing nobody else will have the same outfit. The Paceman is the candy-striped jacket of the car industry's wardrobe.VALUEThis depends on how much money you have and by presuming you want people to know how much the car cost you. It's a status symbol. Style, as I have already established, is in the eye of the beholder.Creating an individual car from the base Paceman Cooper S leads to the creation of a new overdraft, with a toyland of options from $200 (the rail between the seats for accessories) to $2900 (19-inch alloys). The test car jumps from $46,450 to $56,800 with goodies including a sunroof, metallic paint ($900), clear indicator lenses ($250) and sat-nav at $1900.On-road costs add about another $3500. The downside is no capped-price service deal but the good news is a strong resale value of 56 per cent.DESIGNIt's no mini car and actually falls into the SUV category. The Pacemen is the Countryman without two doors, with a body top-hat of a raked roofline and wedged side-glass profile. The nose is a downturned grimace and the bonnet bulges awkwardly like an angry bulldog's face and, clearly, it's the rear end that is the most attractive.It's also big which contrasts to a small cabin and limited interior flexibility. It seats four on individual bucket seats and the rear seats fold forward for luggage but remain intrusive in the cargo area.Mini has moved the window switches from the crowded centre console to the doors - excellent move - but the dashboard switch arrangment remains confused. The imposing centrally-placed speedo is wasted - there's a digital speedo within the tacho ahead of the driver - and personal storage space is almost non existent. Basically, it's an ergonomic spotted shirt with a paisley tie.TECHNOLOGYThe Paceman doesn't share the Countryman's optional all-wheel drive system. It remains perfectly simple with the healthy 135kW/240Nm 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine and either a six-speed manual or, as tested, a six-cog auto with paddle shifters.It's an excellent engine, surprisingly responsive auto and a compliant suspension set on a wonderfully stiff chassis. Mini claims 7.5 L/100km for the auto - I posted 9.2 L/100km - and a decent 0-100km/h sprint of 7.8 seconds, only 0.3 seconds slower than the manual.It's affected by a portly 1405kg weight and the aerodynamics of a house brick. To save fuel there's a stop-start system and electric-assist steering.SAFETYThe strength of the car is reflected in the heaviness of the doors, the solid clunk when they close and the bit of paper that says it has a five-star crash rating. There's also some merit, depending on circumstances, in the extra height of the Paceman that may reduce passenger injury in an accident.To avoid an accident, the Pacemen Cooper S comes with electronic stability and traction control, brake assist and hill-start assist. It also has a $350 optional electronic differential to prevent a spinning wheel when cornering at speed.There's also rear park sensors and a tyre-pressure monitor. Run-flat tyres are a $250 option. For other tyres, there's no spare but Mini includes a puncture repair kit.DRIVINGFamiliarisation of the switchgear is a starting point. Even the key action - slide into a horizontal slot and press the adjoining start button - is different. Awkward, even. The central speedo is pointless and the information on its dinner-plate size dial is mostly obscured by the sun's reflection.But the engine is the Paceman's soul. It's aural, acutely responsive to the right foot while the steering is firm yet accurate and belies its electric assistance. There's some softening of the power flow because of the auto but it's not bad and can be sharpened by manually shifting through the gears.Though huge by Mini standards, the Pacemen lacks little of the brand's go-kart reputation. It points perfectly into corners, squirts confidently off the apex and delivers a pleasant and purposeful exhaust note. The ride is firm but it's not harsh - certainly less jiggly than the shorter wheelbase Mini hatch.The seats are small in width and cushion height and lack much lateral support. But they provide sufficient comfort even if the driver tends to use the steering wheel as a crutch.The auto transmission's paddle shifters are all wrong with up-down rocker shift action on both left and right sides - like the Porsche 911 - which is awkward. Again.VERDICTThe non-mini Mini with the dog's breakfast dashboard redeems itself with off-the-wall styling and a great engine and chassis combination. Would I buy one? No.MINI PACEMAN SPrice: $46,450Warranty: 3 years/unlimited km, roadside assistCapped servicing: NoService interval: 12mths/15,000kmResale: 56%Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, ESC, EBD, TCCrash rating: 5-starEngine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo-petrol, 135kW/240NmTransmission: 6-spd auto; front driveThirst: 7.5L/100km; 95RON; 175g/km CO2Dimensions: 4.1m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.5m (H)Weight: 1405kgSpare: Repair kit

The fastest Mini allowed on the road will be remembered for corners rather than flat-out speed. The Mini John Cooper Works GP Edition hammers to 100km/h in 6.3 seconds.It’s impressive, but not nearly as appetising as this car’s capacity on the twisty stuff. A reinforced chassis, race-spec suspension, massive brakes and close-ratio six-speed gearbox helping keep the engine on boost make this a back-roads or track-day weapon. Australia secured 55 of the 2000-vehicle global production run and there’s still a handful in dealers.The price is $56,900 with no options boxes to tick. That buys a track-day car fitted with xenon headlamps, foglamps, airconditioning, stability control with a ‘GP mode’ for bigger slip angles, and a Sport button to sharpen up the already acute response.Competition comes from the Renault Megane RS265 Trophy Plus at $51,640, the $56,990 Mitsubishi Evolution and Subaru’s $59,990 WRX, though they all at least pretend to take passengers in the back. A massive strut brace just in front of the rear wheel arches restricts the Mini to two-seater duties only.This hot hatch is track ready, courtesy of adjustable coilover suspension to adjust the ride height by 20mm and a set of six-pot vented front brakes with more bite than a cornered politician. The stability control’s GP mode takes advantage of the upgraded hardware by only braking the inside wheel instead of also cutting engine power.The 1.6-litre turbo engine is common to the JCW family and uses an alloy cylinder block and bearing mounts, stronger cylinder head, reinforced pistons, low-weight crankshafts and sodium-filled exhaust valves. Torque is rated at 260Nm with a 20Nm overboost feature. In this well-sorted chassis, that’s enough to propel the lightweight Mini around the Nurburgring in 8 minutes and 23 seconds.The bewinged Mini JCW GP edition started out life as a regular hatch so there’s nothing wrong with its basic proportions. The designers didn’t have much say on the inside, with the rear seat ditched to make way for the brace.A chunky steering wheel fits well with the “go-kart with a roof” ethos. The exterior enhancements are all in the name of aerodynamics (red stripes excepted). A front apron spoiler and engine undertray shield have cut front axle lift and contributed to a six per cent drop in drag.The rarity of the GP Edition means it is unlikely to be officially crash tested, but the Mini Cooper base car is a five-star vehicle. There are head, side and curtain airbags along with ABS brakes linked to traction and stability control. An electronic front diff lock is also part of the safety repertoire.This is the purist’s Mini, in the sense it tracks and handles with more authority than any Mini before it and is a point-and-go rocket without being a handful. The biggest gripe with the GP Edition is the way it copes with back-road bumps, when the combination of rutted bitumen, taut suspension and rapid acceleration can briefly leave it without purchase on the road.Even then it’s predictable: the suspension refuses to squirm to the point of unsettling the car on landing and the steering resumes tracking to the degree of steering lock. Settle the nose down into the corner and the GP Edition follows the white line like Road Runner. The windier the route, the better the GP does. Passengers tend to hang on and loose items need to be secured. At least the Mini gives a moment’s warning as the turbo alters the exhaust note, or the driver downshifts entering an approaching corner …

A new world record for the tightest parallel park has been set, with Guinness World Records confirming that the new distance is a gap of just 13.1 cm. The new record was set twice, initially by John Moffatt and then a second time by Moffatt’s brother Alastair. The brothers accomplished the amazing stunt on December 10, 2012, during filming of a segment for the British television program Officially Amazing. And since they accomplished it on the same day, Guinness officials were happy to enter both their names into the record books. At the distances we’re talking about, the only way to parallel park a vehicle is by spinning it into the spot, rather than the conventional way of reversing into it. And in case you were wondering, the brothers used an original Mini Mayfair for the stunt. They certainly didn’t mind smashing the car on some of the attempts, which does partially diminish the incredibleness of the stunt. Others have done it with zero damage.  Who will be the next driver to break the record? Considering the gap is just 13.1 cm now, realistically, how low can the margin for error go?     www.motorauthority.com  

The Paceman is built on the same platform as the more practical Countryman, but has a distinctive wedge-like shape, runs on sports suspension and is aimed mainly at young up-and-coming city slickers. It also lays claim to being the world's first SAC, or sports activity vehicle.THE RANGEPaceman come in two models, the Cooper and more powerful Cooper S, both running a BMW-built 1.6 litre four cylinder motor linked to a six-speed manual gearbox. A six-speed auto with paddle-shift is an option.THE WORKINGSThe Cooper has a 90kW/160Nm output compared to the 135/240 of the turbocharged S, which also has an overboost button that frees up an extra 20Nm of torque for a short burst. The bulldog-stanced car can get to 100km/h in 10.4 seconds with the 90kW engine while the S is three seconds quicker, but at 7.5litres/100km, it's a trifle thirstier. The non-turbo model averages 6.5litres/100km.PRICEParked in the premium compact nook of the market, the Cooper is $35,900 with the standard manual gearbox and the Cooper S is from $44,100.Mini expects most urbanites to opt for the auto shifter, which adds $2350. There's an extensive options list, from a glass roof and auto climate control to Sat nav, a 10-speaker Harman-Kardon audio and park distance control, plus a variety of alloy wheels, to customise the Paceman and adjust the price northwards.FIT-OUT AND EQUIPMENTLike others in the now seven-model range, the Paceman gets the dinner-plate sized central speedo with a rev counter in front of the driver, ambient lighting via switches above the windscreen and the full suite of electronics such as traction and stability control, hill start, brake assist and ABS. There's also an optional electronic diff lock that works when the stability control is switched off.The steering wheel is a multi-function delight and Bluetooth and a USB interface are also standard. Likewise front and rear fog lights auto-on headlights and wipers. The twin back seats can be folded nearly flat to expand cargo space from 330 to 1080litres. And that low sports suspension can be swapped for the regular set-up and ride height as a no-cost option.Seating is great, likewise visibility, and the sloping roofline is a bit of an optical illusion. The rear seats, which may appear to be squishy, can comfortably accommodate a couple of really big blokes.THE DRIVEWe spent time in a Cooper S manual and a Cooper automatic in the twisty terrain of Queensland's D'Aguilar range and on the freeways near Brisbane.The S is a potent beast, though the standard Cooper is hardly a slouch. Both have a razor-sharp electro-power steering, serious stopping power and provide a ride that's great for zipping along smooth roads, but fidgety on corrugations. The engine of Cooper auto, super-quiet inside at low speeds, howls at higher revs, whereas the twin-tailpiped turbo S provides much better music.VERDICTNeither sports coupe, nor SUV, the Paceman is more a fun package that separates the individual from the sheep.Mini Paceman/Cooper SPrice: $35,900, $44,100 (Cooper S)Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmService interval: 12 months/25,000kmSafety: 6 airbags, ABS with TC, ESC, EBD and hill assistCrash tested: Not testedEngine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl, 90kW/160Nm; 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo, 135kW/240Nm (Cooper S)Transmission: 6-speed manual; FWDDimensions: 4.12m (L), 1.79m (W), 1.52m (H)Weight: 1380kgSpare: Tyre inflation kitThirst: 6.5/7.6L/100km, 152/175g/km CO2 (manual/auto); 6.6/7.5L/100km, 154/177g/km CO2 (Cooper S)

Welcome to Mini edition seven. No one else on this planet can stretch one basic shape into so many different designs.When the Mini was revived in the 2001 as a follow up to the highly successful Mini first introduced in 1959 it came in a single body style. Amazingly the company has just introduced the seventh iteration.Think Mini’s cousin, the BMW X6 (Mini is owned by BMW these days) and the Range Rover Evoque to get an idea of the sales area occupied by the Paceman. BMW has come up with yet another acronym to describe the Paceman, wanting us to call it an SAC, for Sports Activity Coupe.Naturally, there’s a huge range of options and Paceman buyers seem sure to follow others in Mini land by trying to make their vehicle genuinely unique.Mini Paceman is sold in two variants in this opening phase, the $35,900 Cooper with a 90 kilowatt 1.6-litre engine and the $44,100 Cooper S with the same engine plus a turbocharger to lift its peak output to 135 kW.These prices are for the six-speed manuals, add $2350 for the six-speed automatic transmission. On-road costs also have to be factored in. Speak to your dealer for full details on the big list of options as well as the on-road price.Mini Paceman is its name and style is its game. Basically Paceman is a Mini Countryman with only two doors and a different back end. It’s a sort of a cross between an SUV and a coupe.Paceman is sold as a four-seater, but those in the rear had better be of modest dimensions unless the front seat occupants are willing to sacrifice legroom. Surprisingly, headroom isn’t a major problem because the rooflining is sculpted to make room for your uppermost region. Boot space isn’t too bad at 330 litres.Interior styling is right out there in a continuation of the Mini tradition, with a huge, but hard to read, central speedo and smaller instruments tagged on here and there. Ergonomic it’s not, so those who want function over fashion should shop elsewhere.A full-house Paceman JCW (John Cooper Works) Paceman edition, featuring all-wheel-drive, is scheduled for later in 2013. Having introduced the seventh edition of the one body shape are the guys and gals at Mini resting on their laurels? No way, the fun team has its sights set on at least one more.What that will be is secret, but chatting to insiders seems to point us in the way of a four-door sedan. Sounds boring, even the Mini stylists of the 1960s couldn't make a sedan (two-door) look like anything other than an afterthought – but who knows. Google Riley Elf and Wolesley Hornet to see what we mean.Another future possibility is the return of the Mini Moke, a vehicle that was hugely successful in Australia, being built here for many years. The rest of the world didn’t take to it, though, so who knows? The original Moke had front-wheel-drive like all Minis, but this time around Mini has the all-wheel-drive setup for the Countryman and that could be pushed under the new Moke. Here’s hoping...Paceman has a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, thanks to the use of front and side airbags and side curtain airbags for both rows of seats.We loved the feel and look of the Paceman’s interior during our 200+ kilometre drive from central Brisbane and up into the soggy hinterlands, where it looks as though it’s going to keep raining forever.Though some of the bumps and thumps caused by the roads being washed away under our wheels did cause the suspension to find its bump stops at times, the Mini always felt stable.The go-kart feel of the steering and the way the Mini responds to drivers’ wishes is second only to style in reasons given for buying a Mini, and the Paceman certainly doesn’t disappoint.

If you see someone driving a Mini Paceman, you can be sure they’re not on the minimum wage. Mini’s analysis has convinced the brand there is a pool of more than 270,000 potential Paceman buyers in Australia with an average age of 34, an annual income of $170,000 and a taste for trendy gadgets. In this case they’re shelling out for a lowered Countryman with two doors deleted and the same sloping roofline that’s made the Range Rover Evoque a best-seller. The Paceman was originally to be called the Countryman Coupe before a marketing type devised a more masculine moniker. The name may have changed but the aim is the same — attract more males to the brand.You can’t put a price on Mini’s appeal — you either appreciate the rock-solid build quality and retro feel, or you don’t. The Cooper-spec Paceman costs $35,900 with a six-speed manual and includes auto headlights and wipers, Bluetooth connectivity, rear parking sensors, front and rear foglights.Stepping up to the Cooper S adds a turbo to the engine and a Sport button to the console to tighten the throttle and engine mapping, 17-inch alloys and stainless steel pedals. Owners personalise their Mini and there are five pages of options to go for, from $2350 for the six-speed auto with paddle-shifters to $1900 for satnav.All the bits under the Paceman have been proven in other models. The All4 all-wheel drive system is being reserved for the quickest John Cooper Works variant due later this year, though product head Sue McCarthy says Mini may order it on the regular models if there is enough demand, in which case it will add $2900.The Paceman moniker on the tail — a first for Mini, though the Countryman will follow suit — is the easy way to spot the new kid on the street. The horizontal tail-light design is another first, and from side-on the tapering roof line is unmistakable.Inside there is space for four, with a centre rail running the length of the cabin and acting as a shift-and-lock platform for cupholders, sunglass cases, smartphone holders … whatever the Mini gurus can dream up. The designers have also relented on the window switches, which are now on the doors rather than grouped on the centre console.The Paceman hasn’t been officially crumpled yet. Given it is based on the Countryman, it will be a four or five-star proposition (EuroNCAP rates the Countryman a five, ANCAP gives it a four). Six airbags and the usual software nannies are in place.Call a car with Mini’s driving-oriented heritage a Paceman and you’d expect it to be just that. But it’s not -- at least, not when compared to the hatch. The extra weight dulls the performance edge by up to a second and makes the car more prone to understeer.You have to be trying to do it and at least then there’s the reassurance of a hefty set of brakes to quell the enthusiasm. The boot is practical enough for couples at 330 litres but a baby might have parents scratching their heads in terms of what pram to buy.

Two of a limited 55-car batch of the red-hot $56,900 Mini JCW GP Editions have set down in Australia.

We’ve seen quite a few outrageous car stunts lately, but they have all just been one-upped by the world’s first car backflip. French daredevil Guerlain Chicherit pulled off the feat overnight by flipping a Mini Countryman from a snow ramp in France. Chicherit is calling it the world's first "unassisted 360 degree backflip" in a car. Using a specially modified Mini John Cooper Works Countryman, Chicherit accelerated up a ramp and jumped to an estimated 12 metres during the stunt. The French driver reportedly spent four years training and preparing for the stunt, which saw him launch the Mini, flip through 360 degrees and land – right side up – on the eight-metre ramp. Details on the car modifications haven’t been revealed, but it was based on the JCW Countryman crossover powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that delivers 160 kW of power and 300Nm of torque, making for a 0-100km/h time of 7.0 seconds and a top speed of 225km/h.  

BMW was in the vanguard of the new-age nostalgia wave when it launched the Mini in 2002. The Mini was the first of a new generation of feel-good models, but few thought nostalgia would catch on.NEWOf the cars that were launched to cash-in on our need to tap into the good old days, the Mini has been the one that has cemented a place in the market. Others have come and gone, some even come again, but none have thrived like the Mini.BMW's success seems to stem from being able to capture the essence of the original Mini, whereas other carmakers simply made pale imitations of their classics. Park a new Mini alongside an original one and they are quite different, yet viewed alone there's no doubt about the new car's heritage.It still looks cute, and unlike some other nostalgia models, the fun feeling continues once you hit the road. The original Mini was noted for its go-kart like handling and the new one is just, perhaps even more, fun-packed.BMW released an update to the theme in 2010 when it added features and made some changes under the skin. The extra standard features consisted of rain-sensing wipers, auto headlights, Bluetooth, USB input, fog lights and velour mats.The major under-skin change was a new diesel, which was a larger, more efficient, BMW-derived 1.6-litre unit and injected the diesel models with more power and torque than the previous diesel. It also delivered better fuel economy.The other engines, the 1.6-litre normally-aspirated one and the 1.6-litre turbocharged unit, were unchanged. The petrol engines were available with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed auto transmission, but the diesel was only available with a six-speed manual.An auto stop-start function and a gear shift indicator were included to assist drivers get the best economy from their cars. For anyone who didn't feel comfortable with the stop-start function, BMW made the system switchable. Changes were made to the cabin as well, which were aimed at toning it down a little.NOWIt's early days as far as the 2010 update model is concerned, even the earliest ones will only have maybe 30,000 km on the clock, so there shouldn't be any issues to be concerned about.Earlier models did have their troubles with things like the power steering and gearbox, so it's important that you conduct a thorough road test, perhaps even get an experienced mechanic to do it for you. Make sure the engine starts and runs without any hesitation, that it revs smoothly up through the rev range and there are no vibrations to be felt.When you head out on the road check that the clutch engages smoothly and takes up without any hitches. Once moving run through all gears, listening for odd noises that shouldn't be there. There shouldn't be any odd clunks or groans from the suspension as you round corners or negotiate bumps.It's always a good idea to drive over speed humps, not too fast, but they are good to bring out any issues with the suspension. Operate all systems, windows, mirrors, air, sound, and anything on the car to see that it all works as it should. Previous models suffered from issues with the power windows, so checking them is a must.If it's a cabriolet you're looking at run the roof up and down a couple of times to see that it's smooth, also check for any sign of fraying, wear etc. Servicing is all-important with any car, so make sure yours has been through a workshop when it's meant to have.SMITHY SAYSNot for everyone, but driving one sure makes you feel good.MINI - 2010-2011Price new: $31,500 to $57,300Engine: 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder, 88 kW/160 Nm; 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder turbo, 128 kW/240 Nm; 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder turbo, 155 kW/260 Nm; 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel, 82 kW/270 NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, 6-speed manual, FWDEconomy: 6.7 L/100 km (1.6); 6.7 L/100 km (1.6T); 6.9 L/100 km (1.6TST); 3.9 L/100 km (TD)Body: 2-door hatch, 2-door cabriolet, 3-door wagonVariants: Cooper, Cooper S, JCW, ClubmanSafety: 5-star ANCAP