‘My favourite car has always been the old skool Mini’.

I had one for my first car and still have one for fun on weekends. When the opportunity to review new cars came along, the new MINI Cooper was my first choice.

The MINI is a quirky, individual car for people who want more than just another hatchback. There are countless funky colour and trim combinations so you can tailor the MINI to your own individual style. Also, the MINI comes with a choice of wheels, various levels of performance and countless options and extras, to make the MINI “yours” personally. No more being told you can only have a grey interior. You can pick the type of seats, the upholstery and the trim on the doors. “Your” MINI can be built in just three months. Or if individuality is less important to you than having a new car now, you can choose a MINI from the dealership’s stock.

You can select from three body styles too — the MINI , The MINI Cabrio, offering open top fun, and the practical MINI Clubman, a small wagon version. There are also some new variants on the way this year, including a diesel version, which will use less fuel than a Prius.

If you fancy a weekend away there is the John Cooper Works version with high performance.

Or if it is zipping down to Bunnings so you and the girlfriend can stock up on power tools, you might prefer the Clubman model, a small wagon version. And for those who like to be seen there’s the MINI Cabrio that offers open-top motoring — and the possibility of more positions when you are “parking”. There is also a twin sunroof option on the hatch and wagon, surely for the same reason.

Some cool features are the in-cabin “mood lighting” that, depending on how the night is going, allows you to select feature lighting in a variety of colours. The stereo is speed sensitive, and turns itself down as the vehicle slows and increases the volume as you speed up again. So you don’t sound like a wanker going doof doof doof at the traffic lights, but can belt out your latest Wild Nights CD on the highway through the ten speaker sound system.

The interior is very comfy for two adults, though back-seat passengers might prefer the roomier Clubman version. MINI has plenty of storage compartments for all your “stuff” (we don’t want to know what that may include) and a handy net on the passenger’s side for your gym pass or house keys. Each sun-visor has a lighted mirror, so you can perfect your makeup on your arrival.

The MINI Cooper ate the road up quite nicely and the instant fuel readout told me it was doing it on minimal fuel too. It felt very solid, and sat nicely on the road too. The new MINI has captured the spirit of the old style Mini, providing sporty handling and braking that will please the Fangio in all of us.

You can practice building your own MINI on MINI.com.au with all the options and colours you like, this also gives you the RRP of  “your” MINI, and is a lot of fun. Or go in and see Brad, Nick or Ron at Rolfe MINI Garage in Botany St Phillip, who generously supplied the vehicle for the review.

They can be contacted on 02 62084111 or rolfeclassic.minigarage.com.au Don’t forget to mention FUSE when you visit!

Stuart Poole, local gay boy and car enthusiast (yes I know it's an odd mix and not very stereotypical) is busy zipping around town test driving all the latest cars so he can tell just what he thinks about them. Stuart has been a car enthusiast as long as he can remember and greased up more moving parts than one can possible imagine. Look out for Top Queer in our launch issue of FUSE Magazine.