i had that one and i sold it (damn me!!)

yoyo man!

well you mean the John Cooper Works? or the Cooper GP?

If you're asking if they're built well, the answer is yes. But why would you want to go from a WRX to a Mini?? Wouldn't the logical move be a WRX to an STI?? Plus I've driven my friends, it drives nice, but it feels like you're sitting in something the size of a golf cart!

If you like zipping around corners without slowing down car is great.

i have SOLD the wrx years ago and now well i want a small car

I've owned a MiniS for a couple years. I use it mostly on the track. It handles better than any of my other cars. The brakes are amazing on it. I went with the 17" wheels.When the car is driven *normally* it gets near 30 mpg.

The best thing about having a mini is that if I ever mess it up on the track it's no big expense down the drain.
I've read a few opinions about comfort.. If I had to drive the MiniS across the country I would survive it. It's roomier inside than it looks like it should be.
It does have it's quirks. One of them is to open the door from the inside you have to pull the handle twice. A couple of the HK speakers were replaced because of rattles..but overall,good car. If there isn't anything better for tracking out next year,i'll probably get another one.

I used to race a Cooper S (the original) back in the late 60's. Particularly on tracks like Snetterton with lots of curves, it was fun blowing away Mach 1 Mustangs and BMW CSI's...

Mind you the time I went straight into an armco barrier at near full speed wasn't so much fun. I ended up eating the steering wheel :)

I would love to spend an afternoon with an original. It was that car that originally fueled my enthusiasm for racing. They looked like TOO much fun.
I've taken the Porsche's out on Road America a few times,and I didn't have anywhere near as much fun as I do with the Mini. I am going to take my Lambo up there this summer for a few laps just to see. But I won't push it hard. Smacking that car would not be my first choice.
Funny,I got the mini because I wasn't concerned at all about damage on it.So far this will be the 4th summer and there is not a single scratch on the car.