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The best way to stay in touch with Car Coach reports is to sign up (above) for our monthly email news report. Then subscribe on YouTube for alerts when new video stories and car reviews publish!
Would you love an affordable, sassy sports car that’s fun to drive and gets high fuel economy? Lauren Fix, the Car Coach, brings you a closer look at the 2012 MINI Cooper Roadster.
The 2012 MINI Cooper Roadster is an affordable sports car that’s sassy and fun to drive. The icing on the cake is that this great ride has high fuel economy.
MPG — 27 city/35 hwy mpg
Engine — 1.6-liter inline-4 with 121 horsepower
Transmissions
•Manual Transmission
Price — starts at $24,350 for the base model. The turbocharged S model begins at $27,350. Adding optional automatic for either model adds $1,250. At top of the lineup, the hot-rod John Cooper Works (JCW) package starts at $34,500
Every Mini option list is exceptionally long and tempting, and the Roadster’s array of extra-cost features — many of them custom appearance items — is consistent with the brand. Navigation is offered as a stand-alone feature ($1,750), or in a package ($2,500) that includes Bluetooth, USB port and iPod/iPhone connectivity. Power top operation is $750, and a wind blocker, straddling the rollover hoops, is $250. Seat heaters are $500, and leather seating choices range from $1,000 to $2,250.
My test drive in the roadster was a joy. This vehicle is a tight little sports car that could be a daily driver for those of us who choose not to carry too much gear.
More information: www.miniusa.com
The top was easy to operate, even without the power option, and I found plenty of headroom with the top up as well. All this fun is backed by a 4-year/50,000-mile limited warranty.
•Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet
•Fiat 500 Cabriolet
•MX-5 Miata
•Genuinely fun-to-drive
•Distinctive styling
•Excellent fuel economy
•Surprisingly spacious for two people
•Limited luggage space
•Only seats 2 people
•Noisy at highway speeds
The new 2012 MINI Cooper Roadster is a sassy little roadster that is fun to drive and is highly customizable to add your own personal flair.
Remember, when shopping for a new car, test drive as many vehicles as you can in the class you are looking in to make sure you find the car that is best for you.
Courtesy of YNN/ Time Warner Cable
Aired: 4/26/2012
