[jjflash]

Originally Posted by Dave at Pelican Parts

If you like sharp handling, I would recommend checking out a 1st-gen Cooper S. Try one from about 2005 or 2006. Evidently the supercharger whine is addictive, and the handling is very sharp for a FWD car. They have issues with mushrooming strut towers, but those can usually be corrected without heroic measures. It won't be as comfortable as what you drove, though.

The usual advice for improving the handling of pretty much any MINI involves adding a good set of shocks and a larger rear sway bar. (H-sport is a popular brand for the latter.) Supposedly the shocks on the MINIs aren't the best, though I have no complaints with the ones on my Cooper with the sport suspension option. And most FWD cars can benefit from a larger rear sway bar anyway, since almost everyone sets up the car to understeer at the limit.--DD

Dave,

Thanks for taking the time to lay out some of the basics. Your comment/recommendation brought this local CL offering to mind. But it's from 2002--is that still "1st generation"? What do you think of the "Alta" mods he's listed. It's certainly cheap enough so I might go out and give it a test drive. Or the very early models to be avoided?

EDIT: Gone from Craigslist so I guess someone snapped it up. 2002 "S" with "extensive Alta tuning," including upgraded shocks, suspension and other stuff. Nice looking, too.

STP