In my previous blog, I declared my love for the 993-generation Porsche 911 Turbo, and concluded that its status as a collector’s item has pushed up its value to the extent that it is simply out of reach for mere mortals. And that’s a shame. But I have another dream car which I know can provide endless smiles, is well built and has a classless appeal which transcends the passing of time. Oh, and it can be bought for a fraction of the price of that Porker.
Launched in 2002 to add some extra spice to the reborn MINI (don’t forget the capitals!), the Cooper S was an instant hit. A supercharged 1.6-litre motor helped make the most of the MINI’s kart-like chassis, and road testers found it compared very favourably with the likes of the Renault Clio Renaultsport 172.
A power output of 163bhp may not seem like much today, but thanks to a low kerb weight of a little over 1.1 tonnes, it propelled the S to 62mph in around 7 seconds. Even more of a thrill was that addictive supercharger whine as the bonnet scoop sucked-in air to the engine. At the time, the Honda Civic Type R was arguably the best hot hatch on the market, but its 197bhp was not that far above the MINI’s, and besides the supercharger helped the Cooper S deliver its power in a less peaky, more eager fashion.
It was through the corners, though, that the Cooper S truly earned its bonnet stripes. I’ve driven a regular Cooper, so can attest to the wonderful chassis. Sharp, direct steering, unflappable body control and a wheel-at-each-corner stance come as standard, so I can only imagine what the extra grunt and further suspension sharpening of the S does for such sound foundations.
The gestation of the ‘New MINI’ was a long and complicated affair, owing much to BMW’s selling of Rover in 2000 but keeping the Mini brand to itself. It’s no secret that its German origins upset a great many fans of the original Mini, to the extent that many of them considered the new car a shameless rip off of the original and emphatically ‘not a real Mini’. That acrimony has long since subsided, though, and most people just love the Cooper S for what it is: an immensely fun car to drive.
The days of long waiting lists and estate agent associations when the car was new are long gone, and values have now passed their ‘rock bottom’ phase and are firmly on an upward trajectory. You’ll need around £2500-£3000 for a decent, presentable R53 Cooper S these days, with really immaculate examples commanding more than £5000.
Bear in mind that those figures can only rise, there has never been a better time to go on a MINI adventure!
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