The Richmond Times Dispatch has an article which despite some incorrect facts gives overall good view of the MINI world. Here's an excerpt::

Men are after them because of performance,” Bowman says. “Women, because of appearance. They have curb appeal.”

There's that, and then there's history. Baby boomers, says Bowman, remember how the Mini revolutionized autocross racing in the'60s.

But that doesn't explain all the Xers who view the Cooper with lust in their eyes.

Or why Crown Mini had an eight-month waiting list when it opened. And why people are still willing to wait two months for their own special Cooper or three months for a Cooper S.

The other issue I have with the story is how the story infers several times that the Cooper S is the only one to get if you're concerned about performance. Otherwise it's a good read. You can check out the entire article here.

Thanks Ansel for the link.