Personal Picks: Sporty cars

The October 2007 issue had two test groups, the "Small Wonders" economical cars and a "PeeWee Sports" trio of sporty cars. These all-new and redesigned models provided a dramatic contrast to the recent full-sized pickup trucks Picks from the staff.

We'll  explore the editor and engineer opinions for these two groups, as the team shares their personal insights and picks. For this installment, we'll focus on the sporty cars. In the coming days, we'll continue our Personal Picks and expand to consider the affordable, small cars.

For more perspective, view the video reviews of the sporty cars.

Eric Evarts: Making a single pick each month can be tough, and I know picking a single car to buy and own for years can be even tougher. Therefore, I don't take this task lightly. That said, as much as I like the Scion xB, what I'd really like to have in my garage is our Screaming Yellow Zonkers Mini Cooper S. So many cars today are bland and boring that it's easy to lose track when you drive different ones every day. The Mini stands out, both for its looks, razor-sharp steering, and turbocharged power.

Sure, like all our testers, I hate its controls. And I find it somewhat annoying when the stiffly-sprung front end crashes through bumps in mid-corner. But having grown up on old Hondas, Saabs, and front-drive VWs, its torque steer doesn't faze me as much as some of my colleagues. And I found I don't usually have to drive the Mini hard enough to encounter it.

What I love is the slot-car handling, the tiny size that adds to its agility, and the resulting 30 mpg that takes the sting out of my commute. I also love the big double sunroof.

Other testers will sing the praises of the Mazdaspeed3, and I share their respect. It is a much more capable car. But it struck me as overkill. I found that I had to be wailing well above the legal limit to notice the Mazda's great grip and raucous power - a feat my insurance policy won't tolerate for long. At ordinary speeds, the Mazda struck me as, well, ordinary - only louder (and hotter inside).

By contrast the Mini demonstrated the validity of two old automotive saws:

• It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow, and
• No boring cars!

There's nothing boring about this Mini Cooper S.

Jeff Bartlett: Fun, reasonably affordably cars with personality... Sign me up. The October 2007 test groups were eagerly anticipated by this auto scribe. Particularly, since my family has been enamored with the BMW-reinvented Mini Cooper. In fact, as my young son's first word was "Dada," as it is for many kids, his second was "Mini."

I had a long-term Mini Cooper in my previous life that I drove coast to coast, twice. And I commuted in it to the Detroit Auto Show from Florida. I knew this car inside and out (not difficult given that you wear it like a glove), and welcomed it as part of the family for months.

The latest Mini has been received with some disappointment. The dreams of buying one faded on the first outing with our test model. Egregious torque steer and a skittish ride made my Connecticut-to-New York commute an overly exciting, white-knuckle experience as the wee machine fought to hop around in its lane on the sometimes bumpy and imperfect Saw Mill River Parkway. The baffling interior controls accomplish neither artistry nor elegant function. For example: The window switches are by the six-speed manual shifter--often a useful tool when approaching and departing toll booths. But the switch does not have an auto-up feature, making the inconvenience downright unpleasant in the rain or snow.

The real deal breaker was the rear seat. Naturally, an adult should expect to find the bench snug in one of the smallest cars on the market. But, my four-year-old son, who now has a much larger automotive vocabulary, didn't have enough leg room. If he can't fit without his feet twisted sideways and the driver NASCAR-close to the steering wheel, who can?

The Mini has changed some over time, and perhaps, so have we. The family love for this adorable car has faded.

Fortunately, we found an enticing option in the Mazdaspeed3. It delivers more room, more power, better ride, excellent interior and tremendous driver satisfaction. I've driven a Mazda 3 cross country, too, and can attest, even in more basic 2.3 form, it is a rewarding car that could bring a smile to my face on even a simple commute. Eric can have the Mini.