Sorry, I've had numerous minis - loved the handling.
1. Pick Up (1st car).
2. mini 1000 (2nd car).
3. mini 1100 clubman (3rd car) - new.
4. mini 1275 GT - new.
5. mini 1000 - new.
6. mini city - new.
7. mini cooper - new.
8. mini cooper sportpack - demo!
However, they are not very durable or reliable!
Would have bought the new MINI if it had been in MGR's hands and not *** (was ordered and cancelled for the first MGF). Still like it though, sorry guys. Saw a Cooper S near Cowley (*** Oxford) a couple of days ago in what I would call Persian Aqua.
Strange that the build quality is lousy, as the Cowley work force built high quality R75's.
Have to say I sat in demo and the drivers seat was broken as people were using the wrong lever to attempt to recline the seat and hence broke it!
However, for £15k the Civic Type R is probably the better bet!