MINI COOPER 1.6 [122] 3dr [Media Pack] (2010)

The Mini Cooper- style before substance?

I bought a Mini because I'm a sucker for classic Englishness. I pictured myself on the white cliffs of Dover eating crumpets with a top hat on in my Mini or something and thought - yes. That has to be done. What I neglected to consider was that a car is a massive purchase and I should consider more than just marketing when deciding which one to buy.

It's not that the Mini Cooper is bad, it's just hideously impractical, and I'm annoyed with myself for not noticing this before I bought it. In fact I did notice it, of course - it's called a 'Mini' and it's about the size of a matchbox; I just chose to ignore it. I can barely fit a week's shopping in the boot, and I've got a big family. It's just not big enough.

If you're on your own, though, and don't mind putting a bit of shopping on the back seat, the Mini Cooper is a great car. Oodles of fun, it actually drives like it's presented as driving in 'The Italian Job', and it's well-built and reliable, too. But don't buy it if you want a sensible, practical car.