2007 MINI Cooper S

Pros

More power, better milage, improved interior, more choices!

Cons

No dealer discount, may have to order and wait to get what you want

This is my third MINI. I had a 2003 base, a 2005 S, and now a 2007 S. I must say that the '07 is by far and away VERY much improved over the '05, and THAT was an awesome car. The interior is less toy-like and more refined, even if the center console looks rather odd with the bigger speedo and the wing-shaped A/C and radio buttons. There are LOTS of interior options to choose and most of them look nicer than what was available before. The stock options still look plastic, so pony up the extra and get Piano Black or Brushed Alloy. VERY nice. Seats are more comfy, interior space feels larger, and the back seats have a vertical lock now, so you can make the boot space bigger without having to fold the seats all the way down.
But here's the best part: The new turbo engine is lag-free and it ROCKS. It has a regular mode for daily commuting and boffo milage (I'm averaging almost 39mpg!)... but at the push of a button, it becomes even more MINI than the supercharged ones before. Hit the "sport" button and the steering tightens, the accelerator becomes VERY sensitive, and the acceleration will stick you to the seatbacks with no effort at all. This car is FAST.
The new softer suspension isn't the handling-killer we thought it would be. It actually is a nice compromise between the go-kart feel and the need for a smoother ride. If you just can't stand the thought of a MINI with a comfortable ride, however, you can get the sport suspension upgrade as an option.
All in all, this is absolutely the best MINI model BY FAR. I was really afraid that everything I loved about my '05 would be compromised... and I'm glad to say that I've been proven very, very wrong.