For The Cooper S has a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine that provides strong and punchy performance, and is happy to pull from low revs. It’s well priced and relatively cheap to run.
Against You have to put up with lots of wind, road and engine noise, and the engine’s power can occasionally cause the steering wheel to tug in your hands.
In Cooper S form, the Mini Roadster is a fast and flexible performer that’s well worth considering.
The Mini Roadster range doesn’t really have trim levels as such. Instead, there are four models that feature different engines, but the same basic kit.
All models get a part-electric roof as standard and this folds neatly behind the seats without impinging on boot space. As a bonus, it can be operated at speeds of up to 20mph, although it takes a bit of muscle to clip it to the top of the windscreen.
Whichever version of the Roadster you buy, consider taking out one of the two low-cost, fixed-price servicing packages: tlc and tlc xl. The first of these covers all scheduled servicing for five years or 50,000 miles (whichever comes first) and the second for eight years or 80,000 miles.
I've had this car, with auto box & chilli pack, for a month. It looks great & the handling is excellent especially in sport mode when the steering…