There's a lot to be said about Mini as a company, and what you will see most are articles on why Mini is kind of terrible. Sadly, there is a lot of truth to that, which we will touch on later, however, we think it's worth taking a look, if possible, at what they do really well.

More specifically, we will take a gander into the Mini Cooper S cars that have been in production since around 2000 and what they have done in recent years to keep such an old brand fresh.

These 21st-century cars haven't changed much over the years, which makes it easy to describe them in general. And yes, there are some key differences in how the year-by-year models work. So... here we go.

Related: Matt Farah Tests Out The 2021 Mini Cooper JCW GP

Taking It Back

Brown MK1 Mini Cooper
Classic Driver

1959 is our golden year for the dawn of Mini, a very small car in a big world. But it's trademark petite figure wasn't an issue at all, in fact, it attracted people. Throughout the '60s especially, it reigned as a key staple of European simplicity and attitude and quickly became a huge hit around the world. Even early on in its lifetime, the original "Classic Mini" found success in this new fangled thing called rally racing, you may have heard of it.

It two-peated wins at the Monte Carlo Rally Championship in '64 and '65, and then won another in '67, cementing its legacy early on. This was where the Mini Cooper S was born. A tiny, yet potent car that could turn on a teacup and scream like a drunk Englishman.

The legendary Mini Cooper S rallycar that won the Monte Carlo Rally 3 times
via Supercars.net

But why talk about the old car? Well, in today's age, the way cars are judged is very objective. How fast are they? How much power do they make? What tech dos it have? But those core rally roots are essential to understanding the Mini Cooper S driving experience because sorry to disappoint, they aren't fast and whatever computers control the cars shouldn't be categorized as technology. So what are we left with? How it feels.

Related: The Real Story Behind Mini Cooper

Why They're Great Drivers Cars

Mini cooper S In orange
via Maxton Design

Rather than focusing on every little individual topic, let's go through the motions of actually being behind the wheel all at once.

Right off the bat, the steering wheel not only feels good on the road, but it feels good in the hands, which is harder to do than you'd think. Its physically quite small, quick, and easy to turn in and you FEEL everything that is happening a the end of the tierods.

The good steering is a must in this car because of the FWD-front engine layout. And the S models have had turbos since the mid-2000s, so once you go to the gas, hold on for dear life. One of the many downsides of this car is the violent torque steer that can be induced by a mere blip of the throttle, but hey, at least you'll be worried about driving rather than your phone.

Press shot of Mini Cooper S
via 100% HD Wallpapers

Once you get past the first gear torque steer you reach for the gear shifter which has actually gotten better over the last decade surprisingly (usually it's the opposite). It feels a little cheap and rubbery on all models but the S(turbo) is slightly different along with the flywheel. They're both a little heavier which makes the revs drop faster and the shifter feel more mechanical, which are all good things.

If you're a heathen like some of us, you would be taking hard corners in 3rd gear by now, and boy does this thing grip. The suspension design and geometries didn't change like we've noted before so you can count on some very compliant suspension no matter the year model you drive.

The car feels rewarding because of its suspension. It's that mixture of body roll, control, and neutrality that boosts your confidence when demonstrating highly illegal stupidity. And high confidence in your car can turn a good driver into a great driver... or a dead driver. Just be safe.

Related: Check Out This 370 HP VTEC-Swapped Mini Cooper

As for the rest of the car, it's a bit of a toss-up. The build quality of Mini Coopers all across the board have never been of the highest standard. You would think the opposite of a BMW-owned company but that's just too bad. Things break before 80k miles that wouldn't even break on a Countach after 100k.

The engines are also hit or miss sometimes. The '07-'10-ish model years had timing chain problems that killed resale values and a lot of engine compression. But the years before and after have been better with alternative engineering, which is why it's a blessing BMW is in charge. If it's one thing they can do, it is refining their own engineering.

The Very Okay interior f the Mini Cooper
via Eurocars News

BMW also does stunning interiors, so why are the Mini interiors so not up to par? Truth-be-told, Mini was never that big of a company even when they were selling out the classics back in the day, so we get cheap-looking interiors and the big gimmicky speedometer on the dash. Secretly I love it, but do you really want your inlaws to see how fast you drive on city streets? I think not.

Summed up, the Mini Cooper S is just visceral enough to make you feel alive but also instill confidence for a long drive. It has enough room for a friend, a week's luggage, and a rather large set of tools for whatever goes wrong. We're not saying you have to commit to a Mini Cooper S now, but you should own one at least once in your life. It will keep you on your toes and most importantly, keep you on your favorite backroads.

Next: Swapped! AWD Mini Cooper With A Subaru Heart Goes For A Rip