- hatchback 96,215
- 7,995 fair
- Toms River, NJ
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- autoshopper.com
- hatchback 96,215 gasoline white manual
2008 mini cooper review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Sports appeal and fuel efficiency. introductionthe mini cooper is fresh from a complete redesign that was launched for the 2007 model year. To meet european environmental and fuel-economy requirements, bmw designed a completely new engine in cooperation with peugeot. It produces approximately the same horsepower as before: 118 in the mini cooper and 172 in the mini cooper s. But now a turbocharger in the cooper s, in place of the old supercharger, delivers 177 pound-feet of torque from 1600 to 5000 rpm, significantly improving the sportier model's performance. this second-generation version continues to generate smiles on the faces of passersby. That's an impressive feat given the first-generation models have been with us since 2000 and the current version looks very similar. the mini cooper brings smiles to the faces of its drivers because it's a lot of fun to drive. It's also a practical car, with comfortable seats, useful cargo capacity, and an epa-rated city/highway 28/37 miles per gallon. inside, it's large enough to accommodate all sizes of drivers and front passengers in comfort. Check too many options and the mini's price can rise quickly from economy-entry to near-luxury levels. It was roomy and comfortable. It was cheap to build, cheap to buy, and cheap to run. but the mini's fundamental cuteness lent it a sort of chic. Soon it was adopted by celebrities such as peter sellers, who drove one on screen as well as off. Jeep, the mini survived multiple corporate mergers and disasters; and by the time production finally ended in the 1990s, its pioneering transverse engine (mounted sideways, rather than longways, to save space) had been imitated by most automakers. The mini was sporty and fun to drive. of some 6 million original minis, the best-known were the high-performance variants tuned by race-car builder john cooper. Bmw now owns the mini, and revived the marque with an all-new car for the 2000 model year. Two trim levels are available, the standard cooper and the higher-performing cooper s. yet while the hardtop is a second-generation car, the convertible is still carried over from the previous generation. So they really are more different than they might at first appear. Standard wheels are 15-inch alloy with 175/65r15 all-season tires; 16- and 17-inch wheels are optional. the mini cooper s hardtop 21,200) is equipped with a 172-horsepower turbocharged version of the same engine, stiffer suspension, asct traction and stability control, performance exhaust system, and 16-inch alloy wheels with 195/55r16 all-season tires; 17-inch wheels are optional. The top is fully automatic and features a heated glass rear window, and park distance control is standard. Otherwise standard equipment is similar to the base hardtop. the cooper s convertible 25,400) runs the old-generation engine supercharged to 168 horsepower; and adds a sport suspension with 16-inch wheels, asct traction and stability control, body-color front grille, and other visual cues. the hardtop and cooper s convertible come standard with a six-speed manual transmission; a six-speed automatic transmission with steptronic controls is optional 1,250). The base convertible comes with a five-speed manual, and a continuously variable automatic transmission (cvt) is optional 1,250). It also features steptronic control. personalization is a big part of the mini marketing program, and the list of available options is far too long to repeat here, from electronics and amenities to aero kits, stripes, and chrome baubles. An extensive array of alternative trim features is available to customize the interior to personal tastes, in terms of colors, textures and materials. option packages include the sport package 1,500) with sports suspension, 16-inch wheels, stability control, and bonnet stripes; the convenience package 1,500) with rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, bluetooth, and multi-function sports steering wheel; a cold weather package 500) with heated front seats, power folding mirrors, and heated washer jets; and a premium package 1,500) with a panoramic sunroof, automatic climate control, and high-fidelity radio. Significant stand-alone options include sirius satellite radio 1,000, including a lifetime subscription), two different bluetooth setups 500-$1,000), and navigation 2,000). Many if not most of the items from the various option packages are also available as stand-alones. safety features on the hardtop models include six airbags, anti-lock brakes (abs), electronic brake force distribution, and cornering brake control. The brake assistant on both models detects emergency operation of the brakes, and builds up maximum brake pressure as quickly as possible. Dynamic stability control (dsc) is optional 500) on both models, and automatic stability control plus traction (asct) with on-off control is optional on the cooper and standard on the cooper s. Hill assist start-off assistance is a feature of dsc, activating the brakes when starting on an uphill ascent to prevent the car from rolling back. walkaroundalthough extensively redesigned for 2007, this second-generation of the modern mini cooper is still unmistakably a mini. Even while updating the car for safety, mechanical, and manufacturing considerations, bmw designers were reluctant to risk messing with a successful formula. Anyone who is not already a mini owner will have difficulty distinguishing the latest mini from the old one, unless the two are parked side by side. Turn signals are now integrated into the headlight clusters, and bigger foglights (when ordered) are set into a simplified bumper where the turn signals used to be. Around back, wider tail lights and a wider trim strip on the hatch echo the changes up front. The beltline rises faster, too, giving the rear end a more tapered look. In general, the latest mini seems broader-shouldered and more aggressive than the last, and so departs even further from the narrow and square original. It is a little larger, too, measuring 2. 36 inches more in length. One notable example is how the headlamp clusters are now firmly attached the front fenders while fitting through openings in the hood; where in the previous model the headlamps were built into the hood itself. interiorthe redesign of the mini cooper for 2007 brought more visible change inside the car than outside. The interior still has a sporty feeling, though now a bit less extreme, with the enlarged round speedometer in the center of the dash (as it was on the original), and the modern convenience of a tachometer mounted on and moving with the tilt-adjustable steering column. audio controls have been moved from the center stack into the bottom half of the speedometer dial, and the heating and air conditioning controls have been compressed below it. These changes reduce the width of the center stack, which increases knee and leg room in the foot wells, answering a common complaint against the previous model. for a car th.
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