sorry, couldn't resist that one.
I got a used 2003 mini after my old car, 'the rolling dumpster' <1991 mercury sable> made a half assed attempt to burn up. It would have achieved self-immolation but there was nothing combustible (bustable?) in the vicinity of the windshield wiper governor module. If I had known aforehand it was fixable, I probably would have never gone car shopping. I thought it was a heater core <it did give evidence of being that>. Probably a metal cube now: I sorta feel bad about it: that car was a tough little son of a gun, it would not give up, it would not even be broken into (someone tried that once and failed).
I have always liked the look of the coopers, I did want a car with some type of storage, I did not want to go regular station wagon or minivan route, so the cooper was a choice imo.
I think I got a good deal. 2003 w/26000 miles, cold weather & premium package. base price $15,500.