11 Apr 07
The microGo can also be moved from car to car, which helps in my job. I spent some time in the new Mini this month, driving it back-to-back with the Focus. It was a fascinating comparison. The Mini was only a Cooper rather than the more powerful Cooper S, but for me the junior BMW's appeal has always been in its handling, rather than its straight-line gusto.
The Mini is more agile than the ST. This is not just because it's smaller, but also because it's more responsive. The steering is so rapid that it's hard to resist cliches about kart-like handling. It's also nice to be able to see the car's extremities. You can see the end of the bonnet from the driver's seat of the Mini, but the Focus's nose drops away so sharply that you're forced to guess. It was a hoot to drive, even at low speeds.
The ST, by contrast, is a car you come to appreciate. It's like the old friend who isn't quite as crazy as he once was, but can now eat properly and choose decent wine. I'd like it to be a little more responsive, a little more edgy, but the ride is better than a Mini's and it's easier to live with on a daily basis. And, on a twisty road, its superior damping would make it quicker, too. No less importantly, you can also fit four people and a decent amount of luggage in it, which is never something you can say about the Mini.
There will be those who point to the Ford badge and sneer, but that displays a level of ignorance. Fast Fords - even the rubbish ones - have always transcended their mainstream roots. The Mini, by contrast has become alarmingly ubiquitous in my part of London. Were I to die tomorrow, I'd much rather be remembered as a chav than an estate agent.
