whomakesminiicooper

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Driven: 2013 Mini Cooper S Paceman: The Goldilocks Mini

who makes mini cooper , Florida. Hard. The kind of rain that shows up as a big purple blob on satellite weather maps. The kind that makes the inside of your car sound as if you're taking flak in a WWII fighter plane. The kind that wakes windshield-wiper manufactures in the middle of the night. I'm not sure if this is a terrible day to test out MINI's new sport ute the Cooper Paceman or the best day possible. I mean, the Paceman is supposed to be sort of an SUV-type thing, so a little (okay, a lot) of rain should be a good thing, right? I guess we'll find out.

For those who don't know, the Cooper Paceman is a two-door MINI representing their second foray into the world of higher ground clearance. And, apart from the two-door vs four-door setup, it's not that different from their first, the MINI Countryman, at least on paper.

They both come in non-S, S and John Cooper Works variations. They both come with MINI's ALL4 all-wheel-drive system as an option. They both have 102.2 inch wheelbases. They both have an interior center accessory rail with wacky LED color-change lighting. You get the picture.

I've driven the Countryman in pretty much every variation out there, non-S, S, JCW, whatever. It's pretty good. In the case of the JCW ALL4, it's great. So, is the Paceman good enough or different enough from the Countryman for MINI to justify adding another car to, what some consider to be, an already bloated line? Is there anything more to the Paceman than what is on paper? That's what I'm standing in this absurd amount of rain to find out.

The vehicle before me is a front-wheel-drive Light White 2013 MINI Cooper S Paceman (or Paceman S). I didn't know you could get lighter than white, but whatever. It's an S, so that means this particular Paceman has a turbocharged 1.6 liter inline four-cylinder engine good for 181 horse and 177 pound-feet of torque. This is the same engine MINI puts in all of their S-level cars. It's incredibly efficient (29 mpg combined) and usually provides enough power to have a little fun. In the case of the Paceman S, it will propel the mini-SUV to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds with a six-speed manual and 7.4 with a six-speed auto and hit a top speed of 128 mph. This one has a six-speed auto trans with adorable little paddles behind the three-spoke steering wheel and a shift lever that looks like a helmet.

The Paceman S starts at $27,500 with a fairly decent amount of kit, but you can easily option the hell out of it into the mid-$50,000s. The one we're driving today is modestly accessorized at $33,350. In addition to the standard features, our Paceman S has:

Black Headlamp Housings with White Turn Signals: $100

Sport Package (18" 5-Star Double Spoke Black Wheels, Bonnet Stripes, Xenon Headlamps): $1,500

Auto Dimming Rear-View Mirror: $250

Automatic Climate Control: $500

Dual Pane Panoramic Sunroof: $1000

Harman Kardon Sound System: $750

Two-PartCenter Rail: Included

Multi-Function Steering Wheel

Carbon Black Leatherette Interior

Piano Black Interior Trim

Seven Airbags

Runflat Tires

Personally, I like heated seats, but that's not a big option in Florida. Speaking of seats, the Carbon Black leatherette is actually quite nice. It looks more than sort of like leather. I've spoken to some people who like it more than the leather since they say it doesn't get as hot in the sun. This car, and all Pacemen, have two bucket seats upfront and two in the back. The ones in front are comfortable and have good bolstering for your thighs and back, as do the ones in the back.

The front seats have adjustable positioning, height, seat-back angle and severity of lumbar support. But, that's about it. To get the right driving position, you need to make use of the tilt and telescoping steering wheel. There's no power adjustments which means there's no memory. So, you have to re-adjust you seat and re-find your position whenever anyone else drives your car.

There is a surprising amount of leg room in the back. Rear head room, at only 37 inches, is a bit low if you're above 5'10". I'm 6'1", so I had to slouch to fit. If you need it, the back will fit two adults in a pinch. I get the feeling the rear seats are meant more for dogs, purses, shopping bags and kids or to fold down for more cargo storage. With the back seats folded down, maximum cargo capacity is a massive (and unbelievable) 38.1 cubic feet (13.5 with the seats up).

Not normally a big part of my usual road tests, I can, with absolute certainty, attest that the MINI Cooper S Paceman's windshield wipers (both front and rear) and window defoggers (both front and rear) are stellar. With the amount of humidity in the air and the amount of rain hitting the windows, I had no problem seeing where I was going or where I'd been. The automatic climate control works well too. The inside quickly cooled to a brisk 68 degrees from the ambient 80.

Whenever I drive a MINI automatic, I chuckle at the gear selector's racing helmet design. It's the kind of quirky addition that makes a MINI a MINI and not just another small car. Squeeze the helmet's visor, put the Aisin transmission in drive, and you're off. Today, the road is slick. Very, very slick. Hit the go-pedal too hard and the power going through the front wheels will have a bit of an issue getting to the ground. The front wheels will spin for less than a second until the traction control can intervene. I can see where the ALL4 would come in handy.

Once you're moving, though, it's hard to upset the MINI Paceman S' sport suspension without being really irresponsible even in the tightest of turns. In the rare (or not so rare) case that you are (or I am) irresponsible, the Paceman S is very easy to get back into line with a quick blip of the throttle and a bit of counter-steer.

Where the Countryman S drives more like a bigger car and less like a go-cart than the regular MINI Cooper S. The Paceman feels lighter than the Countryman. More nimble. It feels more like a MINI, even though, the Paceman S weighs about the same as the Countryman.

Acceleration is good, even in this abysmal deluge. Braking, too. The gear shifts in drive are quick and smooth. Put the car in Sport and it shifts later in the RPM range for better power delivery. The steering is stiffened in Sport, too. Surprisingly, the Sport mode actually feels sportier. It's kinda' nice. If you really want control, the paddles offer fast shifts at your command. Unlike most cars where one paddle upshifts and one downshifts, each MINI paddle does both. Pull for down and push for up. Why don't more cars do that? It makes so much sense.

After this test of the MINI Cooper S Paceman in rain that would make Noah nervous, I can attest that it operates very well in less than ideal conditions. I am honestly rather impressed. I wasn't expecting to say this, but there is a place in the MINI line for the Paceman. It drives better than the Countryman and has way more room that the Cooper or Clubman. It's not too big. It's not too small. It's just right. It is the Goldilocks MINI. Now, where's my umbrella?

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5 Reasons to Love the New Mini Cooper

who makes mini cooper of the Mini back in 2001 by BMW, the classic vehicle has undergone transformations that boggle the minds of Mini fans while still maintaining its status as a cult icon - the happiness evoked by the iconic front grille and headlamps is unchanged but under the hood, the newly revamped Mini is packing a much greater punch with 200 horsepower replacing the 1960s original 34 horsepower engine of the first Mini Cooper.

Most people can spot one on sight, in large part due to its "cutest car ever" status. Its classification as a compact doesn't seem to hold the same vomit-inducing powers as the Toyota Prius.

The "new" Mini - Not Just a Pretty Face

However, this car is not just a pretty face - the German brand BMW has ensured that the tiny little vehicle can hold its own in its original arena as a racing car. They marketed the brand "new" Mini Cooper as a compact car that drives similar to a go-kart. And they weren't messing around - the S model is a car that driving enthusiasts and road devils would be proud to have in their "cars that go zoom" arsenal.

If you don't own or have access to a Mini, some car clubs offer non-owners the opportunity to ride along with them during their driving events so they can see first-hand how the car handles and talk all about the fun-size road monster.

This vehicle's fan base is probably one of the most quirky and interesting groups out there - they aren't shy about proclaiming their love for the tiny terror and some have even taken it as far as compiling lists of their favorite things about the Mini Cooper!

Reason # 1: Face it - cuteness is, and forever will be, the deciding factor

The Mini is cute without looking like a chick car. Sure, the female fan base is out there too - but men don't look less manly behind the wheel of this teeny-tiny compact. If cars could be classified as urbane and metrosexual (ie looks good but is straight) then the Mini Cooper would win hands down.

On a side note, the car's "cute" facade is hiding some powerful surprises. The famous "happy" grille is topped by a hood scoop that inhales refreshing air for the hyped-up engine. If you think it lacks junk in the trunk - the dual exhaust pipes would prove you wrong. And forget about having to purchase aftermarket wheels - the 17-inch alloy tires are so integrated in the Mini's design that handling the Mini Cooper at breakneck speeds and harrowing hairpin curves has never been so easy!

Reason # 2: The Mini Cooper is beautiful inside and out!

Most cars feature a dashboard with a speedometer, mileage and fuel gauge behind the wheel, leaving the center dashboard free for the GPS, A/C controls and entertainment system. The Mini Cooper, on the other hand, features a huge (some would say oversized) centrally-located circular speedometer (with some designs featuring a GPS in the center).

And talk about owner customization! The Mini Cooper actually has mood lighting installed that you can switch on and change at the push of a button. Forget about two-tone interiors and seat covers - you can have all that with the Mini, of course, but the things that set it apart from others - that's what makes the Mini Cooper one of the best choices for the car owner looking for something unique and fun.

Reason # 3: The advertising campaign may read as the "New" Mini Cooper - but it's still true to its roots!

So many "classic" cars have tried and failed to reinvent themselves. Either the manufacturer failed to innovate and appeal to the new market or strayed too far away from the original design and alienated the existing fan base.

The "new" Mini Cooper has stayed true to its racing roots but has also been able to gather a big cult following due to its mass market appeal. The racing car roots may not be for everyone but the Mini Cooper's sleek curves and old-school-meets-new-school design set it apart from others in the racing world. You also still get the "vintage" street legal vehicle without compromising on engine power and actual running parts.

Reason # 4: Whether You're Driving Around the City or Down a Deserted Highway - the Mini will take you where you want to go!

The Mini Cooper was built for practicality - you can go for about 400-plus miles on a single tank of gas - which, by the way, won't require you sacrificing your first-born since the tank can hold about 13.2 gallons.

Of course, It wouldn't be fair to not mention some downsides to driving the Mini Cooper - the trunk, for example, won't hold much if you pack like you've been evicted. But if you pack light and want to go on an extended road trip - there aren't many compacts that will feel as comfortable transitioning from city to highway driving.

The Mini Cooper unibody and chassis design also holds up pretty well in case of accidents due to its torsional rigidity. The same asset that helps lessen unpleasant "settling" car sounds like creaking and rattling of parts also helps protect drivers from the brunt of impacts.

This doesn't give owners a license to drive recklessly - but its just impressive to see something that tiny able to face an F150 and say "you should see the other guy".

Reason # 5: You can go really, really fast

The newer models of Mini Cooper S with the John Cooper Works (JCW) package can take us up to speeds of 200 mph - not that anyone would actually use this for driving to the office or in hopes of beating rush hour - but it's nice to know you have that option.

The engine has been upgraded on the Mini Cooper to a 1.6 liter, 172 horsepower engine that allows for 177 pounds per foot of torque at 1,600 rpm. Not bad for a tiny little compact. The Mini packs all that power and yet also manages to fit into the tiniest parking spaces. No more cussing out insensitive fools who can't park to save their life.

Also - remember BMW's claim that the Mini Cooper drives like a go-kart? All true. It's tiny enough that you feel like you're in a makeshift box car fashioned in your father's garage and the little speed demon in you will revel in karting around the "obstacle course" of the streets of whatever town or city you find yourself in.

Oh, by the way, if you're the proud owner of a new Mini Cooper, take a gander at the stick shift. There's a tiny little button there marked "sport" that you might want to engage when you need help maneuvering those hairpin curves. Come on, you know you want to!