The Mini Cooper S is a really fun car when it's operating properly. It really does handle like a go kart and has nice pickup and gets good gas mileage and looks nice. The interior, at least the front seats, is roomier than would be expected and it is possible to fit people in the back seats, though probably not for a particularly long drive. The kicker, though, is that it would often have mechanical problems. I've had many more issues than I would've expected from a car with its supposed quality and certainly for the price. Many times these issues will be expensive, too, as it is a foreign car owned by a luxury brand (BMW). So, in the end, it is fun but expect problems to occur. Be sure to take into account the likely expense of pricy repairs, perhaps more often than you'd expect and certainly more often than you'd like, when considering buying a Mini.