At $10,000, Is This 2015 Mini Cooper S A Lot Of Car In A Little Package? – Jalopnik

No different retro-style carline has fairly captured its former glory in addition to Mini. Today’s Nice Price or No Dice Cooper S may pack loads into its diminutive dimensions, however is that sufficient to counter a not-so-small value?

When excited about legends, whether or not it’s a sports activities legend or a legend of stage and display, that title relies on previous work, not current expectations. That’s why Acura naming its unique marquee mannequin the Legend holds higher sway now than it did when the identify was first adopted. Because nothing in Acura’s present-day lineup is wherever close to as attention-grabbing because the fashions provided when the marque first launched.

That was confirmed final Friday with a 1987 Acura Legend Coupe that got here our manner. The two-door version was launched that mannequin yr, becoming a member of the sedan that arrived a yr prior. Nicely appointed and that includes appreciably low miles and a clear presentation, there was loads to love about that Legend. Unfortunately for its vendor, their pricing acumen wasn’t among the many Acura’s property. At $12,000, nearly all of you felt it was too costly to contemplate, and when the time got here to depend the votes, the Legend misplaced in a 76% ‘No Dice’ denouement.

BMW, the German maker of machines that finally drive, has lengthy had a tough time with its acquisitions of British automobile builders. The firm has, to date, tried possession of Land Rover, Rolls-Royce/Bentley, and the Austin Rover Group. Of these, the corporate has misplaced Bentley to Volkswagen in an unpleasant authorized row, offered off Land Rover to Ford, and divested itself of the rest of the Rover Group, save for a few factories and the rights to the Mini Cooper model. Today, BMW’s British holdings are restricted to Rolls-Royce and the Mini Cooper marque. Talk about your broadly separated, bookend manufacturers!

Today’s 2015 Mini Cooper S represents the retro-styled mannequin’s third iteration since its re-introduction for the 2001 mannequin yr. Few different retro-modern automobiles (the New Beetle, Ford’s Mustang, Chevy’s Camaro, amongst them) have absolutely captured the essence of their earlier fashions in addition to the Mini. Yes, it is considerably bigger than Alec Issigonis’ unique masterpiece, however that is obligatory to satisfy present security requirements and buyer consolation calls for. The Mini continues to be one of many best-handling, most partaking, and enjoyable small automobiles on the planet.

This one, in Chili Red with a black roof and twin stripes, is claimed to be in glorious situation. It’s additionally claimed to have a 1.5-liter engine and ALL4 AWD, though neither of these options tracks with the S mannequin. Based on the manufacturing unit specs, this S ought to have the uprated 189-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder BMW B48 engine underneath its clamshell hood. That’s mated, fortunately, to a six-speed handbook, which, by all accounts, must be driving the entrance wheels solely.

Aside from the drivetrain discrepancies, the advert appears to test all of the packing containers for information on the automobile’s situation. It sports activities a criminally modest 35,000 miles on the clock, which quantities to a bit over 3,100 miles per yr if unfold out. It additionally, in keeping with the advert, has a reasonably contemporary set of tires on its gun-metal-gray manufacturing unit alloys. Everything on the automobile is claimed to be working because it ought to, and the vendor describes it as “Good dependable.”

It seems fairly good, too, though the images, shot in the midst of what seems to have been a spring rain bathe, lend an added little bit of drama and urgency to its presentation. There appear to be no points with the outside bodywork or copious plastic trim, nor any important clouding of its bug-eye headlamps.

One of the hallmarks of the Mini shopping for expertise (in the event you’re selecting up certainly one of these diminutive rides from new) is the prolonged checklist of choices Mini affords to personalize the automobiles. The vendor of this one would not tout any main choices, however does name out the navigation display and Bluetooth/aux-in stereo as notable cabin options. It additionally has a John Cooper Works “surfboard” badge on the boot lid, matching JCW license plate frames, and a spoiler that could be from a John Cooper Works automobile as properly, so there could also be some mechanical monkey enterprise that got here from the manufacturing unit on this automobile as properly — or the proprietor is an enormous JCW fanatic.

On the draw back, the rear glass has had a heavy tint utilized, and, like numerous tint, it has failed spectacularly over time. There can also be a pair of ground mats (additionally JCW-branded) with a dizzying Alice in Wonderland sample that could be an excessive amount of for the simply unbalanced. Aside from these points, there appear to be no complaints within the cabin, because the upholstery and all tactile surfaces present little to no put on. A clear title closes the e-book on the automobile’s bona fides.

The most attention-grabbing factor about this automobile’s advert is the obvious discrepancy between what is predicted of the mannequin and what’s presupposed to be current on the automobile. AWD? With the smallest engine? Cooper S with all of the JCW badging and elements? It makes you ponder whether the vendor has had a fundamental misunderstanding of the mannequin’s specs all through their possession. Or possibly that is some bizarre mashup that Mini truly made out there. I could also be unsuitable, however I believe it is the previous.

Regardless, there isn’t any confusion surrounding the $10,000 asking value for the automobile. That will get what seems to be a strong, low-mileage enjoyable automobile that additionally laughs within the face of these extremely tight “compact” parking areas that city planners like to torture us with.

What’s your tackle this Mini Cooper S and that $10K value? Does that appear truthful given the automobile’s situation and package? Or is that too most a value for any decade-old Mini?

You determine!

Sacramento, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.

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