MINI, The Ultimate Urban Car
Let’s face it. More of us live in cities than ever. According to Cars.com’s Kelsey Mayes, one in every 6.4 Americans live in one of the country’s largest 50 cities as of 2009. So for many people, owning a car fit for the city is a must. So Cars.com has compiled their list of top ten list of urban cars, and guess who’s on top?
The MINI Cooper refuses to release its grip on the title of Ultimate Urban Car. Yes, it’s short — just over 12 feet long — and it turns a fairly tight circle and offers rear parking sensors. But being the ultimate urban car isn’t just about parking. The Cooper’s wee size and nimble handling make it good for scooting around delivery vehicles or slowpokes, especially if you opt for the turbocharged S trim level. All Coopers have excellent brakes, too, so you’re well-protected against the indiscretions of others, such as cellphone-obsessed pedestrians who don’t know street from sidewalk. Consider the convertible if you live in a warm climate, but if you’re in a wintry city, think twice about the S trim level, which rides too firmly for pothole-ridden streets.
While we dispute their suspension diagnosis (Sport Suspension is optional on the Cooper S, just as it is on the Cooper), we can’t argue with their summary. For zipping ’round town with spirit and thrift, it’s hard to do better that a MINI. See the full list over at Cars.com.
<p>It’s only a matter of time before the Fiat 500 takes over. The smaller size of that car will help the voting.</p>
<p>I don’t think the Fiat 500 has the same handling and feel as a Cooper S, but then again it’s cheaper.</p>
<p>@Jon – do you really think just the smaller size will boost the Fiat over the top? It’s not “better” than a MINI in most other categories…</p>
<p>You guys are obsessed with the Fiat 500. Sure, the Fiat, like the Mini, is a small car but it’s almost an insult to consider them equivalent prospects!</p>
<p>Don’t know if the Fiat 500 will overtake Mini in the US, but as I understand, in Italy the 500 has surpassed the Mini in Sales. What it will come down to is value for the money. What has to be remembered is that most (majority) of people here in the USA (and possible in other countries) who buy a MINI are not driving enthusiasts. Heck I would same that atleast 40% of the people who visit Motoringfile are not track folks or strong driving enthusiasts either – they want MINI news and info.</p>
<p>MINI is that small car that as noted for the many who live in cities and parking is important. Then there’s the mpg, the 500 gets almost the same mpg as the MINI. Note: many people believed that the 2002-2006 MINI got excellent mpg for city and combined driving (which it really didn’t for it’s size The 2007 to present has improved mpg ). People vote with their pocket books and if the Fiat 500 is reliable and has good quality, people will seriously look at switching. MINI has also risen in price since the 2002-2005 years while currently the Fiat has a lower price and includes items that are standard that in the MINI are options. Again, the majority of folks who look or buy a MINI aren’t driving enthusiasts, they want a small car that is “cute”, fun, gets excellent mpg, is practical and easy to find parking for. The Fiat meets those need. We’ll have to see.</p>
<p>I didn’t say that they’re equivalent prospects. I actually agree that the MINI is the better car in almost every appreciable way, *(but then again, I am biased; I’ve owned my MINI since 2004).</p>
<p>The Fiat is the new kid on the block, he’s smaller and therefore some might argue better suited to city life and he’s cheaper. I’m just open to the possibility that it could do very well in heavily-populated, urban environments.</p>
<p>Where was the SMART Fortwo in that list? That’s the smallest one out of the whole bunch.</p>
<p>Oh, the SMART. That’s not really a car. It’s more of a moving coffin.</p>
<p>my prediction is that the 500 will not do as good as people think. from what I see from the local NYC dealer’s FB page … it’s selling … but so far all I see is mostly to nostalgia driven Italian ex-pats.</p>
<p>The SMART car is a horrible drive. Pending drivetrain improvement, the car could experience much greater success in the U.S. FIAT, as the new kid on the block, will most assuredly experience initial success as new launches frequently capitalize on their freshness in the marketplace. Consumers are generally eager to experience the excitement of something new and distinctive.</p>
<p>Although (politically incorrect) behemoths will continue to attract the well-heeled, most consumers are opting for more fuel efficient transportation that is generally packaged in smaller vehicles like MINI and FIAT. As the article states, there are vast numbers of people residing in urban areas that make vehicle scale a relatively significant factor for maneuverability.</p>
<p>I must agree with the observation that most MINI consumers are not “enthusiasts” and therefore the decision to buy MINI versus a competing small car may be focused on factors other than performance and handling. These consumers want safety, economy, reliability, and an attractive design. MINI meets their criteria … and presumably so will FIAT. In this race, marketing will provide the winning edge. For the enthusiast subset, like myself, that will buy MINI for less practical reasons, MINI will continue to capture our ego, at least for the foreseeable future unless a compelling CLIO SPORT and/or ABARTH appear. In my opinion, MINI needs to sharper its core enthusiast niche by creating successors to the R53 GP. If it fails to nurture the motorsport tradition that has given the brand its fame it will forsake its priceless mystique and perhaps become just another pedestrian motor car.</p>
<p>What is the deal with all the comments about the Fiat 500? Who the hell cares? Couldn’t care less if someone wants a Fiat instead–more MINIs for me.</p>
<p>I love my MINI for many reasons…both the practical and performance aspects it brings to the table. As a commuter to San Francisco, I can say that the car rewards me on a daily basis–mostly due to its size, but also because it squirts when I need it to. The parking nightmare for me isn’t completely resolved, but I love that I can fit in so many spaces that so many other cars would not. If I lived in SF, my car would also easily fit in the tiny garages that are so typical. So, I can see the 500’s appeal, especially for those who will be primarily driving just within city limits. Outside of that environment, I’m guessing that it will feel “lacking” (and that is a deal breaker in my book). However, if build quality issues become apparent, I would predict that most cities would rattle it apart.</p>