2004 Mini Cooper Review

Specifications

The Ride to Eternal Youth

Another week is another experience in an automotive journalists world, with some experiences unfortunately more forgettable than others. But whenever I hear the words “MINI” and “Cooper” followed by an “S” in the same sentence, I anticipate good memories.

My second time with the Cooper S proved to be just as grand and mirth-provoking as the first (May 2003). It was yet another week of city driving, going to and from work, plus running errands; the same routine as always but at least this time carried out in sophisticated style. The S makes doing all my monotonous musts a joy, somehow transforming repetitive tasks into new adventures. It weaves in and out of traffic so easily, fits into those oh-so-small parking spots, and gets me wherever Im going just a little bit quicker than in any other car.

West Coast weather is forever changing, but the sun did peak out several times when the S tester was in my possession. This gave me the opportunity to open the optional glass sunroof and let the brisk mountain air flow through the intimate interior. I also powered down the windows, turned up my hip hop CD on the awesome AM/FM/CD player with 8 premium Harman/Kardon speakers and let the good times roll. If the name Harman/Kardon sounds familiar to you, its possible you have a set by the same name if youre a Mac user. I know this because my boyfriend has a Mac complete with H/K subwoofer and speakers. The Harman/Kardon Hi Fi digital sound processing system costs a little more, but it can make even the poorest quality CD sound good.

Speaking of letting the good times roll, the Cooper S is very unlikely to - at least from side to side. With its stiff body, short wheel-base, superior safety features, and upgraded Dynamic Stability control which is part of the Sport Package (DSC III, compared to last years DSC II), the precise handling S is highly unlikely to tip over. Come to think of it, it hardly even leans when in a corner. Also introduced this model year is the Sport Suspension Plus, creating a more refined and tighter drive along bumpy and jumpy roads. Minimal body roll is felt in even the trickiest of turns. My favorite part of the week was taking a high-speed turn to demonstrate to my girlfriend beside me how well the MINI handles. The shock on her face was all I needed to “hear,” she too became convinced.

The Sport Suspension Plus definitely feels more aggressive in comparison to the regular Cooper, which has the Sport Suspension. Still, I have no complaints when it comes to ride quality. Steering too is stiffer, delivering more accurate turn-in, useful for weaving in and out of traffic.

Having a decent set of brakes makes the S even safer than the regular Cooper, with front ventilated and rear solid discs combining with ABS and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) to enhance control in panic situations. Furthermore, dropping the short throw 6-speed manual transmission down a gear or two allows the engines 155 lb-ft of torque to slow the S down in a flash, ideal during downhill driving.

Of course, the 6-speed manual is even more enjoyable when shifting upward, letting the engine loose to show off its strong pulling power. The S didnt get any performance upgrades for 2004, but nevertheless its still a peppy little supercharged 1.6-liter. Together
with 16-valves, the SOHC inline-4 develops 163 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 155 lb-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm.

As fun as this engine is, more power is now available in an engine upgrade kit. The John Cooper Works engine kit will hit dealerships later this year that will boost the 163 horsepower engine to a whopping 200 horses. I think this may be my downfall!

Aiding the sports car ride is a set of 205/45 R17 all-season run flat tires with 17-inch S-Spoke rims and fog lights, all part of the optional Sport Package. But standard sporty features like an air inlet on the hood, body-colored bumpers, chrome grille, fuel cap and surround for front headlamps and rear lights, xenon headlights, rear roof spoiler, chrome side air inlets with red “S” insignia, twin chrome exhaust tips decorating the lower rear fascia, all enhance its irrefutable style.

The interior is just as fashionable and funky as the exterior fascias and fenders. The cabin houses the trademark tachometer placed above the leather-wrapped steering wheel, and speedometer above the center instrument cluster. The front heated sport seats (optional) are dressed in leatherette (a no-cost alternative to the standard cloth), and extremely comfortable. Their 6-way adjustability benefits the bum and back, while leather is optional.

But as with every car, I have some beefs. The S has completely useless cupholders, just like the base Cooper. In addition, because the S is a ground-hugging vehicle, I noticed that when driving at night on the highway headlights from on-coming traffic are blinding. The same situation occurs with vehicles in my rear view mirror. I found this to be particularly uncomfortable because my eyes can be sensitive to light when driving in the dark.

On the positive, above the supercharged engines flirtatious purr is a whine that all will enjoy. I, for one, never tire from the sound, coupled with a sassy exhaust note that inspires regular blips on the throttle. Its an experience, just like so many other attributes of the MINI Cooper S that will never grow old.