Spotlight: 2002 - 2006 Mini Cooper

Nimble on crowded urban streets and agile of curvy county roads the cute little Mini Cooper got the same reaction on its re-launch in 2002 as it did back when it originally debut in 1959.

This first generation of the “new” generation Mini Cooper ran from 2002 to 2006. Although it looks small in size it comfortably sits four passengers, with just enough room in the boot to satisfy the majority of buyers in the economy sub-compact segment of the market. The model we think you should be on the lookout for is the 2005 Mini Cooper S. You’ll be able to tell that it’s not just any regular Cooper by the mail style grille, bonnet scoop, rear wing spoiler, dual exhaust tips and of course, an “S” badge on the side.

Instead of the standard 15 inch wheels you get on other versions you’ll find 16inch rims with run-flat performance types. However, the best thing about the Cooper is that they are so easy to personalise with numerous customisation scheme on the market. Very rarely will you find two cars that are similar anywhere on your travels.

Despite its small size there’s plenty of room for the driver and front passenger and visibility is good as well. The only downside is that there’s not a lot of boot space so if you’re planning a round of golf then it’s probably not the ideal car for you. Aside from the boot space there are a plethora of upscale standard features inside such as leather interior, tilt adjustable steering and air conditioning. You should also find examples with satellite navigation and MP3 capability.

The Mini Cooper is a front wheel drive car and although the regular models can feel a little pokey you’ll get a lot more zip out of it if you find one with a 5-speed manual. BMW’s engineering really shows in the super charged S model giving you a respectable 168 bhp. It looks like strapping a supercharger to the Cooper has increased performance to a level that most other road users don’t expect. Acceleration is definitely lively and the gearbox has the feel of a BMW 6 Series. Where this car really shines is fuel economy giving you up to 33mpg. It is also well equipped safety-wise with a full array of front, side and side curtain airbags.

Unfortunately, if you’re in the market for a 2005 or a similar aged Cooper then it will be out of manufacture warranty. Failure on the manual gearboxes is high so make sure you check the paperwork of a prospective purchase before you buy one.
You can find many examples of the 2005 Mini Cooper and the Mini Cooper S on the DesperateSeller.co.uk website with prices ranging from £4,000 to £8,000.