What Is It About MINI Coopers?
- 3
- Add a Comment
- No Related Post
You’ve seen them scooting around town, but you’ve never quite gotten it. Perhaps you’ve asked yourself, “why would someone want to drive such a tiny little car?”
Until I drove my first MINI a year ago, I never fully understood.
Sure, I’d heard that they’re wickedly fun to drive, that they handle like go-karts, and are quite fuel-efficient. But having not actually driven one, I didn’t get it.
Despite its diminutive appearance, the MINI is not a clown car.
Jimi Hendrix’ timeless question, “Are You Experienced?” fully applies to the MINI. You have to drive one to understand.
Over the course of the last year, I’ve had the good fortune to have test driven (and reviewed) three MINIs: a Euro-only MINI D (clean diesel), a MINI Clubman (the stretch version), and earlier this month, the latest MINI S Convertible.
I get it.
It’s about the joy of driving, of fantastic handling, of fitting into the tiniest parking spaces, of getting more out of a tank of gas then you ever though possible in a conventional car.
For those pluses, there are minuses: a limited amount of passenger and cargo space, along with a pricetag that’s significantly higher than then the competition (although some may say that there currently is no competition for the MINI here in America).
3 Comments
Danny Minick
June 30th, 2009
at 1:12pm
I have always been fond of the Mini Cooper. Would be great as a second car to drive around town to do errands and such. :)
David
June 30th, 2009
at 1:47pm
Ah well, you folk across the pond are not used to tiny cars. :-)
We in the UK have had ‘em for years, as our fuel prices are……..er……..somewhat higher! I believe that around 90% of the retail price of fuel in this country is actually tax. Can you believe that? Despicable.
the oracle
July 3rd, 2009
at 10:41pm
Handling is cool, but power with handling is king. The easiest way to get it when I was growing up was to make a Kelmark GT, which was a melding of a classic Volkswagen Beetle and a 327 or 350 Chevrolet small block in the back seat.
The weight balance was about 49/51 and handling, with the right suspension was amazing. Gas mileage was something no one was talking too much about, but, due to the low weight of a Beetle, when not putting your foot in it, it was not that bad.
Kelmark was the name because they made the complete kits, you simply supplied the Beetle and the Mouse motor.