BMW Mini Cooper S

...well this was an interesting one. After asking the guy at Barrons BMW for a test drive, he approved. So a week later I came back to drive it.

First impressions we of good build quality - this thing felt really really solidly built. The one I drove had the optional pack which included bigger wheels and extra things inside such as ASC (stability control) and Sat nav which was useful.

After being shown around the inside of the car quickly, I was allow out to play on the roads (alone!?).

Anyway when first driving out of the garage, it was instantly easy to drive, easy clutch and nice steering.

Fortunatly I didn't nail it out of the garage as after a few seconds I noticed a Barrons car following me...? Going round the devils punchbowl I backed off a bit to let a gap in the traffic appear, then gave it some stick! This thing handled really nicely on the flat surface.

Soon I noticed the BMW still following me...hmmm, so I nailed it big style and turned off (allways sticking below 70mph). Problem now was - I was lost. Where the f### am I? Oh yeah, GPS.

Being thick, I didn't know the address of the garage...so couldn't set it back to where I was meant to be going...Oh well.

After caning it round some rather nasty and unknown bends I started to notice the little orange light flashing at me. ? What is that? Oh ASC.

Anyway - I drove around a bit, picked Si up and went for a toast and gave it back.

Only thing I didn't like (apart from the £21k price with all the options) was the 'skipping' effect round corners which were anything but smooth, and it wasn't all that quick in a straight line.