[Porchdog]

It's time for a new daily driver.

I have a half ton pickup as my primary/bad weather/hauling/ hunting/fishing rig but that's not what I prefer for just my daily driving around.

For years I drove a 94 Golf that was a good car. I taught my kids to drive in it and my boys drove it to high school. Eventually the pan was rusting and I got rid of it.

When the boys started monopolizing the Golf I got myself a 2005 Vibe. Great car, practical, trouble free but deathly boring to drive. Last year my oldest got a job in Missouri and I gave it to him.

I'm currently using a 2001 Jetta that my son picked up for $200 with a broken timing belt. He drive it for a year and I have driven it for a year. It's transportation but I don't like it - it has no soul.

So I'm looking for a commuter car. It has to be a stick shift, I prefer hatchbacks and it has to be sporty. It doesn't have to be crazy fast - my commute is 12 miles of twisty, hilly secondary road with a maximum speed limit of 45.

I am in no particular hurry and I don't want to invest to much. I started out looking at GTI's, Focus/Fiesta ST's and Mazda 3's

I am seeing lots of 2nd generation Mini's with low miles at reasonable prices - so i'm tempted. They are a bit on the small side, but I don't haul kids around any more. These always appealed to me but I always had an impression that they were prone to be broken down.

So give me the low-down - what can I expect from a 2007 - 2013 Mini?