I love Mini's, but they're crap really
My favourite car must by the Focus ST170 until it started giving me faults. If it wasn't for faults, and the tax going through the roof, id still have it. They're cheap now too, but finding a good one is like finding hen's teeth.
I love my current BMW Mini, if it was a little quicker it'd be better than the Focus.... its a 2002 Cooper.