Yeah, I want one...but I also want my bike...a sweet and lightly used BMW R1200 GSA. Problem: the bike does not have A/C. Where I live, that's nice to have almost all of the time.

So I'm looking at the Mini as a commuter, and if I get hooked on a new one with all of the good stuff, I'm going to have to throw the GSA at the dealer and let him have his way with me.

Test drove a used base model (2009) and an '11 S. The performance of the S has me thinking I might not need a bike any more...but that'll change with the weather...it always does. There's an itch that only two wheels can scratch.

So if I'm smart, I'll lurk Craigslist and the web and come up with a juicy used one with low miles and a low price, keeping my cake and eating it too.

But then, no one ever accused me of being smart. Or wealthy.

I'll be kicking around.

 

For what it's worth, I gave up my CBR600 for a non-S first gen cooper. A few mods and I have just as much fun as I did on the bike, taking the same twisties faster in the car than I could on the before.. no risk of lowsiding on rough pavement

 

Coopers make great commuters. I've had my share of bikes and cars. I've always used the bikes for real transportation (commuting, etc). I'd say, be patient, and find a used Cooper or S that you can afford to have along with the bike.

 

I've been riding for years and years. Sometimes I think it would be tough to give it up, and sometimes I think, "been there and done that". The bike cost nearly as much a base model Mini just a year ago, but I had a Honda Insight on the side, then.

Gave that up to my daughter just out college, paid for by you-know-who.

Haven't had to rely on a bike as a commuter for over 30 years, and mine just returned from a two week stay at the dealer that I do not want to repeat. And by the time I get home these days, the Beemer's beginning to ping from the heat (been 110 around here, generally) and I get to thinking...

Anyhoo, it is fun to dream. And the Mini was the most fun thing I've driven since a Mustang GT that I had 25 years ago.

Not sure I'll get anything soon enough to escape the summertime here, but if the heat gets the best of me, I know where to find "cool".