http://autos.msn.com/advice/article....c=msn&GT1=5472

"The popular MINI Cooper took the top spot in the Compact Car segment for the third year in a row."

"The popular MINI Cooper continued at the top of the compact car segment since replacing the New Beetle in 2002."



The 18 APEAL vehicle category winners for 2004 are:

Compact Car
MINI Cooper

Entry Midsize Car
Chevrolet Malibu

Premium Midsize Car
Volvo S40

Full-Size Car
Mercury Marauder

Entry Luxury Car
Chrysler 300

Mid-Luxury Car
BMW 5-Series

Premium Luxury Car
BMW 7-Series

Sporty Car
Pontiac GTO

Premium Sports Car
Porsche Boxster

Compact Pickup
Subaru Baja

Light-Duty Full-Size Pickup
Cadillac Escalade EXT

Heavy-Duty Full-Size Pickup
Dodge Ram Pickup HD

Entry Sport Utility
Chevrolet Equinox

Midsize Sport Utility
Nissan Murano

Full-Size Sport Utility
Nissan Armada

Entry Luxury Sport Utility
Lexus RX 330

Premium Luxury Sport Utility
Lexus LX 470 Compact Van
Toyota Sienna

 

Thats great to hear about the Mini, I was a little shocked to see the Marauder win. I had read that its dohc head and 302 horsepower was barely sufficient for its weight and purpose. It had very lethargic acceleration before it came into its cam. This however i guess this has nothing to do with the variables the service used for the study. Just my two cents on one of the last large bolt on frame vehicles


Cheers,
Jonathan

 

Yay us!!!! I'm delighted (and a bit surprised) that MINIs are still so highly regarded and making press. The hype would have worn off years ago if that's all the whole thing was about, but the fact that we're still considered #1, imo, says volumes to potential buyers about the real-world value and performance of our little cars.

 

Great news:smile:

 

These are results from the J.D. Powers survey of owners. What owners of "compact cars" are more fanatical about their cars than MINI owners?

I mean, come on - have you ever driven a MINI Cooper?

 

I couldn't agree more - the MINI is still the coolest, most fun small car out there. Not to mention it just plain hauls the mail

 

I like to think that some of us buy these cars cause like the classic,it is a car for the common folk.AND FUN

 

At least15,05, unsold MC's and MCS's are sitting for sale at my dealers lot right now.
And two cabrios.They will be gone in no time.
The daily drive is a good motor
The gravel back roads are the most fun.
Lateral moves are what make's this car special

 

gotta agree about the lateral moves, I love on and off ramps, letting off the gas and feeling the car rotate. Especially when it leaves your friends far behind, cause they had to slow down.


Cheers,
Jonathan

 

And, Rye, it hauls the MALE, too! Tee hee! YAY, MINI!

Clover

 

I agree...IF you know and appreciate the classic, today's MINIs are supremely tempting.

I have to admit, when I was last in the market for a new car, I was squarely set (go to work each day, 2 kids in college) in the practical daily driver/commuter car mode. Mighta bought a Honda or a Toyota...some of the today's people cars (...but getting WAY too huge!). In the end, I wanted something that MINIs always offered, some good cheeky fun mixed in with that daily drive. So I set out with the firm objective in mind to design a Cooper with a few critical options in mind so as to compete well price-wise with the above mentioned daily drivers. I succeeded...at just around 18K...which, frankly, makes the deal so much sweeter. I'm quite certain I'm having WAY more fun than the other commuters I share the streets with, while at the same time significantly upping general roadway aesthetics for one and all. YAY!