2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible

This German-engineered, British baby-car's Go-Kart-like agility transforms even a short drive into an autocross. Carving up winding roads and diving through switchbacks in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, it was hard to believe the MINI is a front-wheel-drive car. The equal-length half-shafts and strong structure virtually eliminate torque steer. Factor in MINI's precise steering, fade-proof brakes and taut, rock-solid road feel, and you'll think you're in a sports roadster, not a 2+2. It's a hoot to drive.


Cooper S MINIs are very well equipped. The basic ragtop comes with a fully automatic power top, tire pressure monitoring system, Park Distance Control, tilt steering wheel, central remote locking, standard front seat and side-impact head/thorax airbags, four-wheel-disc brakes, ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), all-season traction control and sport suspension with chubby 195/55R/16 V-rated tires on 16-inch alloy wheels. A 6-speed Steptronic automatic transmission with steering wheel paddle shifters is $1,350. We prefer straight stick.

Al Fresco

If you want to option up more and make your MINI even quicker, there's a 200-hp John Cooper Works Tuning Kit, available for installation at MINI dealers, and a long option list that includes Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Xenon headlights and a wind blocker. A fully loaded Cooper S ragtop, with the works upgrade, plus comfort, cold weather and convenience packages, DSC, LSD, 17-inch alloy wheels and Sirius Satellite radio, stickers below $35K—still a good deal.


Summing up, the MINI ragtop's smartly engineered combination of a rigid chassis, razor-sharp steering, oversized brakes (10.9-inch front, 10.2-inch rear) and peppy, supercharged SOHC 16-valve four that winds cheerfully up to 6,000 rpm (with a muted shriek from the blower is highly entertaining. This cute-looking cabrio will actually outperform many more powerful models and, if you pass on the wind blocker, there's room for four happy campers. (www.miniusa.com)