| The Bottom Line |
The 2006 Mini Cooper S is a ton of fun to drive and makes its mark with retro exterior and interior features. Besides an excellent-sounding stereo and an untested navigation system, cabin electronics are generally left to dealer options.
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Good-looking and one of the most fun cars on the road, the 2007 Mini Cooper S is well-engineered throughout. While we were impressed by the audio and handling, these can be made even better with an optional premium speaker system and a limited slip differential.
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The extra push from the John Cooper Works kit doesn't seem enough to justify the premium it adds to the price of the 2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible. We would have been happy to shave the kit and some other options off and just enjoy driving with the convertible top down, which is already part of the base price.
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Mini makes the 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman a bit more practical with extra cargo area, while preserving the things that made the relaunched Mini stand out in the first place.
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If you like a fun, fast ride, the 2009 Honda Civic Si will make you smile. With navigation, phone connectivity, and modern digital music sources, it also makes a practical daily driver.
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