‘Concentrated’ driving pleasure (Points scored: 9/10)

‘Concentrated’ driving pleasure (Points scored: 9/10)

When we first heard how much it would cost to buy one of these cars, we imagined that despite the two-seater arrangement, there’d be a load of fun toys to play with inside; sat nav, reverse cameras, electronic seat adjustments; the regular comforts of a RM200k plus price tag.

But we were wrong. The seats are mechanically adjustable, and the most fun toy in the car is its mood lights; almost a hundred different combinations of it, we’re told.

So where did the rest of your Ringgits go to? Yes, the interior is well decorated and designed with carbon-fibre in places; the Harman Kardon sound system is brilliant, as is the convenient iDrive; and all of it is very stylishly put together

The devil’s in the handling

However, what you’re really paying for when you buy a MINI Cooper S Coupe can’t be seen with the eyes, but is instead driven with the hands. The devil really is in the handling, and what a magnificent beast this thing is to drive fast.

The Coupe is uncompromisingly quick in a corner, and as MINI themselves tell us, it’s got the best ‘go-kart’ feeling of the entire line of MINIs on the market.

It may not be the quickest in a straight line, but the feedback and control you have at the wheel as a driver is phenomenally good and unmatched. Still, that 1.6l twin-scroll turbocharged engine is properly savage.

Unfortunately, the Coupe does suffer from its brilliant ‘go-kart’ handling when it comes to being an everyday car. The ride is very hard, and you’ll be sure to feel every bump on the road from your bottom to your neck; Not nearly comfortable at all for cruising. And then there’s the fact that it only has two seats.

Seemingly, what MINI has created is not a day-to-day vehicle, but a tyre-screeching, brake squirming, tarmac devouring track monster.