2004 Mini Cooper S

What carries a transmission from Germany, an engine from Brazil, and is assembled in Great Britain? That would be the Mini Cooper S, still a head-turner though it has been in production for two years. Kids love this car. Virtually every grocery bagger and fast-food worker we encountered during our week with the Mini gave it a thumbs up. Problem is, few of them can afford one. The suggested retail for the S version we drove is $20,449. That price includes a manual Getrag six-speed transmission and no options whatsoever, though the S carries a more powerful supercharged engine than the ordinary Mini. The list on a basic Mini is about $16,500, still out of reach for many younger car buyers. The Mini is shorter overall than any other car in the U.S., measuring just 142.8 in. One way the small size manifests itself is in the passenger compartment. Front-seat occupants have a decent amount of headroom and comfort, but the back is another story. With the front seat adjusted for my 5-ft, 8-in. frame, we measured just 5.25 in. of leg room for anyone sitting behind me. Anyone seated behind my slightly taller front-seat passenger would have gotten 3 in. of leg space. Our conclusion: Storage space constitutes a better use for the back-seat area. The tailgate lifts up to provide enough room for about five bags of groceries. With the divider down, storage space expands to 23.7 ft3. Drivers with big feet might also have troubles. With my business-casual shoe on the accelerator, there was just 3/8 in. of space from the left edge of my shoe to the brake pedal. That meant I'd occasionally touch the brake if I hit the gas without keeping my right foot firmly against the transmission housing. (This was less of a problem