08 Mini Cooper hardtop – A Car for all ages By CHARITY BOOZIER Automotive Journalist This is the car that I have been waiting to drive and it held up to my expectations.  I thoroughly enjoyed driving the Mini Cooper for an entire week.  I also learned that everyone loves it: at least everyone that I encountered. Daughter: She loves the sunroof.  This particular model was equipped with a dual sunroom both front and rear seats. This is included in the Premium package for $1500.  The front section of the sunroof opens fully, but the rear section does not open.  I have discovered that many of the newer cars have just a sheer net covering the sunroof.  Not my favorite design, but very modern and sleek.

She also likes the lights.  Near the end of the week, we discovered that the Mini has LED lights throughout the cabin.  This is a new feature for Mini.  They create an atmosphere of mystery and contemporary abstractness.  What she most enjoyed was the ability to change the colors from orange through red, yellow, green and then to blue.  She was severely disappointed that they only worked after dark.

High School Student: She loved the design.  A friend of our family, soon to receive her license, she dreams of owning a Mini Cooper.  Learning that I was driving one for the week, she requested that I pick her up from school on Friday so she could experience the Mini and look good to her friends.  I remember those days.  I will say that sitting in the high school parking lot, it attracted a lot of attention.  The green exterior paint (British Racing Green) with a bold stripe down the middle of the car, this Mini takes charge despite its small size. The striping is part of the Sport Package.  This car was redesigned this year and the focus of that was to go back to the original. 

The interior design was very unique and modern.  The speedometer is in the center of the dash and no driver could claim that they were unable to see it.  All the controls are in the center of the car leaving the doors free and uncluttered.  It took some adjustment, but I came to really appreciate this model.  After doing some research about the Mini, I discovered something that I had seen, but not noticed.  This car is designed in a circle.  Ok, not really, but most everything is round.  The speedometer, air vents, lights, even the key.  Many of the switches are round toggles designed to mimic racing designs.

College Student: He loves the gas mileage.  We all know the starving college student.  Another family friend is attending a local college and does not have transportation, so we take him to run errands.  He liked the Mini, but was a little big for the back seat.  As we spoke about budgets and fuel efficiency, we realized that this is a great car for people with a strict gas budget.  The 2008 preliminary ratings were listed at 28 for the city and 27 for the highway.  I drove this car for a week all over town and barely went past a half a tank of fuel.

Husband: He loves the engine and technology.  Equipped with a 1.6 liter high torque engine, the Mini delivers speed and control.  The 6 speed transmission allows the driver to quickly accelerate and easily maneuver through traffic.  The engine sports 118 horsepower and a variable valve control that generates 0-60 mph in 8.5 seconds.  I never timed myself and would not endeavor to be a race driver, but the power is definitely available.  The wide base and center of gravity make the Mini Cooper a very stable car with excellent control and road handling.  The turning radius is a small 35 feet. 

Technology is a big part of autos these days.  The Mini is now able to interface with your IPod.  Just plug it in and you can enjoy your own music.

Friend: She loved the safety.  My friend and I went out to lunch and talked about the safety of the Mini.  Her daughter dreams of owning one and as a mother safety is important, especially in a small car.  There are 6 airbags throughout the Mini, so any passenger would be protected.  There is also a roll bar, but we hope not to use that.  It adds to the sporty design and the safety.  Another new feature for this year is the Hill Assist start off assistance which maintains brake pressure for up to three seconds until clutch is engaged.  Young drivers stopped on a hill often roll back when attempting to move forward.  With the Hill Assist, this prevents that small backward motion. 

Me:  I just loved the car as a whole.  I was pleased to see the base price under $20,000.  The added packages (convenience $1500, Cold Weather $1500, Premium $1500 and Sport $500) increase that cost, but are optional and still the price is under $25,000.  Now I look forward to testing future models of the Mini because I don’t know how they will improve this one.

(Charity is an experienced journalist specializing in the automotive industry.  She is an active member of the Texas Auto Writers Association and a graduate of LeTourneau University  She can be contacted at Yelped50551@MyPacks.net.)