The MINI has recently been voted 4th best handling car out of 100 cars in the UKs Auto Express magazine 2007 survey, as you can see it is in pretty good company:-

Category : Handling
1 Porsche Boxster 97.22%
2 Mazda RX-8 97.06%
3 Subaru Impreza 96.60%
4 MINI 94.57%
5 Nissan 350Z 94.3%
6 Honda S2000 92.74%

Auto Express Quote: "Five of the top six are sports cars, for which handling is a priority."

 

Impressive. I'm wondering what the selection criteria were, since, it seems there are some very impressive (but expensive) cars absent from that list.

 

Does it mention what years of the cars listed and the models? With the Boxster and Mini there are real differences between years & models. Also, whenever I see a survey I wonder how many voters have actually owned the cars and wonder if it is skewed by people 'ballot stuffing' per se..

 

True, considering how few people own or have driven certain cars that could exclude cars that probably be up there.

 

Good point. It sounds like one of those surveys where ppl just vote.

Also interesting that the don't include the MINI as a sports car.

Its not that much out of line with the MT article. I dont understand the Mazda in there (guess its just popular there) but substitute the Evo for the STI, throw in the Exige, and basically you got the exact same results as the MT article.

 

Drivers have to own the car to vote (registration details, recorded,etc.) normally cars up to 2 years old, minimum numbers of owners have to report in which is why some low volume cars don't appear or maybe not sold in UK. Similar rules to J.D. Power survey I think.
Full survey is here but may have to register.
Auto Express

 

Whoa ... that doesn't read well at all R56s dropped 16 places from last year

 

i wonder which one they don't consider a sports car?

 

According to the article this does not include the R56 at all and it specifically said the R56 numbers will not show up until the 2008 survey.

 

is that a serious question among that group of cars or rhetorical

 

Well, is it the Mini or the Impreza that's not a sports car? The Mini, with due respect, is a "hot hatch" - nothing more than a great-handling practical small hatchback. The Subaru in WRX form is a hotted-up small sedan that's faster and more capable than the Mini (stock-to-stock); in base form it's just an AWD small sedan.

Hmmm.... interesting that the Mini made the list as an understeering front-hooker. Don't get wrong, fun to drive and at 8 or 9 tenths is fabulous, but just plows relentlessly unless modified...

 

Ahh, my old eyes just jumped right over the STI as being non-existing MT chose the EVO over the STI.

Good question then. Sedan or hot hatch?

 

A MINI on any survey showing well is good enough for a MINI owner!!! Cool!

 

Irregardless, I'm glad to see MINI up near the top.

I know I stack up against the other cars on the track. Don't laugh!