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MINI Named to Winding Road's Top Ten List

Winding Road is chock full of MINI related info in this latest issue. In the past several issues Winding Road has been counting down the top 50 driver’s cars and in this latest issue they’ve finally revealed the top ten. In a move that recalls a similar ranking by Evo a few years ago, the MINI has come in at a lofty 3rd. What’s ahead of the Cooper S? Well that would be a sleek little coupe from Stuttgart and some mid-engined monster from Modena. Here’s what they had to say about the MINI:

In a world where colossal SUVs rule and boys dream of decadent Maybachs or 600-hp supercars, it would seem there is little room for a diminutive hatchback with about a quarter of an Enzo’s power. The explosive little Mini, however, can hold it’s own in today’s daunting world of automobiles. It’s backed up by a heritage of conquering Goliaths, and after driving one it’s not hard to see how the little Brit could win rally stages.

The unbelievably nimble chassis is easy to chuck around in ways that don’t seem healthy for such a tiny object, and the lack of power can actually add to the fun because momentum and smoothness become more important than all-out speed. The steering and chassis fuse beautifully to reveal the car’s limits and communicate what the wheels are doing. Efficient, cheap, and light is a simple idea, rarely done well. The Mini pulls it off with stunning results.

For the full rundown of the top ten and to download the entire PDF magazine visit Windingroad.com.

Jason K Aug 29th, 2005 Link

Thanks for the blurb, Gabe. One tertiary point: you made a minor error in your first sentence. I believe you mean “chock” rather than “chalk.”

Ciao,

Jason

Nathaniel Salzman Aug 29th, 2005 Link

Wow, everybody’s an editor lately.

Shep Aug 29th, 2005 Link

Our favorite lil’ car does pretty well here! Not only #3 of all cars, regardless of price, but also #1 (MCS) in comparison with 2 other “pretty” sports cars and #1 (MC) vs. 2 other “efficient” cars. I particularly liked the comment “Deep within its little soul, the Mini wants to be a sports car. Actually, deep within its soul, the Mini is a sports car”.

Steve Aug 29th, 2005 Link

It’s not the Top 50 cars of out time, it’s the top 50 Drivers cars of 2005.

Steve Aug 29th, 2005 Link

Oh and the cars are only cars sold in the US. There are alot of cars that did not make the list, because you can’t buy them here.

Greg W Aug 30th, 2005 Link

The accolades just keep on comin’. Those of us who drive MINI and live MINI know what’s been written is the way we see it and feel it. The Mini Cooper was the death knell of the sportscars like MG, Triumph, and Sunbeam which could not compete in club racing events. Today’s MINI Cooper is a sportscar in hardtop or soft-top versions, with the bonus of two extra seats (try squeezing into the back of a Mazda RX8). And I agree with Steve, unfortunately the USA market excludes a lot of other competitors in this class from Europe and Japan and therefore MINI has the jump in the USA. To contradict this though, the car is selling well in Germany (100,000th car sold this month) and 70 markets around the globe.

Nicholas P Aug 30th, 2005 Link

remember, Automobile also put the MINI as #2 overall and that is a European magazine…

Gabe Aug 30th, 2005 Link

Are you talking about the Automobile mag that is on US shelves? That is actually a US magazine.

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MINI Named to Winding Road's Top Ten List

Sections: Awards | In the Press Aug 29th, 2005 10 Comments

Written By: Gabe