- An early 2000s Mini is the purest expression of the Mini idea, with a truly compact size and sloppy handling.
- This one is almost new, with only 3600 miles on the odometer.
- It’s the supercharged Cooper S version, with decent punch, and it’ll be exuberant fun in the corners.
Pity the poor engineers who had to reboot the Mini brand in the early 2000s. You have a beloved icon, with over forty years of heritage, and you have to create a modern version that doesn’t lose its charm. You could end up with the equivalent of – to use a random example – hiring Mark Wahlberg to take over from Michael Caine in a rebooted company. The Italian track.
But come on Self-preservation society theme song, because they somehow managed to pull it off. If you’ve driven one similar to this 2003 Cooper S on Bring a Trailer (what, like Car and driveris part of Hearst Autos), you know these cars offer outrageous charisma, villainous cornering performance, and enough raw fun to blow almost everything else off the damn doors.
These Minis are not without reliability issues, but this one is in near mint condition, with only 3,600 miles on the odometer. And despite the low mileage, it appears that the old owner has maintained it well.
Later, hot Minis got turbocharged engines, but the shrill sound of this car’s supercharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder is part of the experience. Power is reasonable at 163bhp and 155Nm of torque, and you get a six-speed Getrag manual gearbox to get the most out of it.
The OG Mini has become quite collectible, but those cars are also extremely basic and have about as much crash protection as a motorcycle. This reboot is thoroughly modern in terms of safety equipment, airbags, stability control and so on, but still offers a much more direct driving experience than you’d get from the current Mini range. Today’s Minis are much bigger and more complex, but this car sits right in its own little spot.
The silver and black exterior and interior aren’t the most exciting colors Mini offers, but should hold up well as the years go by. Find a specialist mechanic, stay on top of maintenance and enjoy one of the best turn-of-the-millennium driving experiences available.
The auction ends on January 21.
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Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, BC, Canada. He grew up on British cars, came of age in the golden age of Japanese sports compact performance, and started writing about cars and people in 2008. His special interest is in the intersection between man and machine, whether it concerns the racing career of Walter Cronkite or the half-century-long obsession of Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to constantly buy Hot Wheels.
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