If you go onto the 8L S3 forum this car has just been topic of conversation.....S3 vs Cooper....will probably give you a good idea, personally i'd like to have ago in one but thats about it !!
Until i drove one i agreed with most of the negative comments above... after driving a few of the Cooper S's (courtesy cars when the BM kept going wrong) my opinion changed immediately. Extremly fun when you want but also very usable day to day!
mother-in-law has one... she wants mine... I guess that gave me the cool or not answer...
I think she 62... so no.. not cool
Maybe if your a 18 yr old girl then yeah???
EDIT>> sorry, that sounds a bit wankerishy.... its not meant to be! P