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CAP Blog > CAP Blog > Martin's Blog
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Aug
12
Written by:
Martin Ward
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
 The Mini First is the new lead in model to the ever popular Mini range and is the most attractively priced Mini so far. The First is priced at £10,950 on the road for the standard car but once you start adding on a few optional extras, then it can easily bring the cost up to that of the Mini One at £12,345. However, the customer audience that this car is aimed at will probably stick with the standard car, possibly adding the option of air conditioning at £650. Other options include a design package at £525, tech package at £855 and a salt package at £390.
 The Mini First, like the Mini One, is powered by a 1.4 litre petrol engine. The power outputs differ between this engine in the two models, with the First producing 75hp and the One producing 90hp. The 75hp engine will take the car from 0-62 mph in a leisurely 13.2 seconds. It has a top speed of 109 mph, the all important CO2 emission output is 128g/km and it has a combined fuel figure of 53.3 mpg. The First will not win any races but having driven it around Bedford on a variety of roads, I found it to be more than adequate in all conditions. It is not quick but it doesn’t pretend to be a hot hatch; it is just a good, honest, small car that is sensibly priced. On the roads it felt safe and solid; a car that anyone at any age would feel comfortable driving, from your 21 year daughter up to an ageing parent. This Mini should appeal to all classes and ages; a car to suit anyone and most peoples pockets.
Admittedly, there are plenty of other small three door hatchback models on the market that are better equipped and less money; many of them with exceptional build quality and a good image. However, there is just something special about a Mini. It is a car many people, for many reasons, dream of owning and driving. The image and appeal that this car bestows upon people is still sky high after all these years.
 With Mini being part of the BMW Group, nothing is left to chance in terms of mechanical engineering and high quality throughout the car. The Mini First has, like all Mini’s, technologies which include auto start stop, brake energy regeneration, variable valve technology and gear shift display. All this, and a six speed manual gearbox, all adds up to a good economy package. The handling on the First is similar to all cars in the Mini range. Although it isn’t a Cooper or Cooper S, it is still great fun to drive and still puts a smile on my face every time I drive one. The First has 15” steel wheels with plastic covers, which are not the best I have seen but they are acceptable. Some people may even prefer these low cost covers in preference to alloys because if they were to become damaged, the covers will be more cost effective to replace.
BMW has come up with a great idea with the First model as it is a good, cost effective way for people to be able to buy a new Mini.
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