Mini Cooper, when you don't want it Super Sized

[disneydj]

So continuing on my never ending saga of test driving random cars while my Vibe sits in the shop waiting for parts (i.e. that shift cover lock we all know and love). I decided to saunter down the block to the Orlando Mini Cooper Dealership. Now I've seen more of these around town then Vibe's or Matrix's so I figured I'd see what all the hoopla, and clever marketing, is all about. First impression of the dealership? Well let's just say I know where all those computer geeks went when all the Tech jobs disappeared... it was like walking into Apple. As I walked around the many Mini's I began to notice one thing. At 6"0' I tower over these very tiny cars. So I tried sitting in one... and it brought me back to the days of tooling around town on my Knight Rider Big Wheel. That Big Wheel was the Sh*T! Remember it was time to get a new one when that front tire split... anyways I'm getting off topic. My girlfriend wanted to take a ride, but as I looked in the back I realized that hey, there wasn't one. The Drivers seat literally hit the back seat... and as I climbed in, I needed to move the seat back a little. I joked to the dealer and asked him if this was like a backward SUV where you could remove the front seat for extra room... he didn't think it was so funny.Time to drive... I turned the key and was suprised at the growl. I guess the gerbils must've been hungry. Actually it sounded a lot like my old boss's cheapo BMW. So we take it out on the streets. The five speed was surprisingly fun to drive, and it shifted much like a sporty compact... suddenly behind me appeared one of Orlando's finest. How fast was I going I wondered? I looked down... pause... where the hell is the speedometer? My math skills aren't fast enough these days to multiply the gear by the RPM... that's when the dealer pointed to the center of the dash. What in the world is THAT doing THERE! I thought it was some kinda stupid looking clock when I first got in. So as we came to a stop at the stop light I looked around to find buttons everywhere they shouldn't be. Why are we putting more and more buttons in the dash?The cop pulled up along side us and I felt really small. As I looked out at his driveshaft, I figured it was time to call it a day. We cruised back to the lot and the dealer chatted about the Mini community, and I ignored him wondering what my Vibe was up too? Did she feel abondoned, would she be mad I was "driving" other cars? I just hope I get her back soon, because driving this car reminded me of heading to the 'ole Malibu Go-Cart track... with a much heaftyer price tag. The price of the model I test drove... 23,200.Good Luck Kids and until next time.... Hammer Down and Look Out for Smokey...

[AKLGT]

that's a great post. I always wondered how they drove. Thanks for the info.

[pmh013]

Good to know that my impressions were correct: I don't want one.There was a Mini at a local movie theatre a few weeks ago. I can't explain why it was there, other than it's a new theatre, and you can't help but miss that Mini when you walk in the door.Anyway, I thought the dash was a really poor attempt at making a car that is both LH & RH drive. It looks like the engineers couldn't be bothered to come up with a better design. I wouldn't want to haul anything home in it (OK, well I couldn't because there isn't the room like there is in my Vibe). And I sure wouldn't want to sit in the back seat (because there is no leg room if anyone in the front is over 4'8").Well, that's my $0.02!

[ragingfish]

The only good thing I will ever say about a Mini is that their safety design is very smart -- the engine is designed to break away and slide under the car in a front end collision. Very smart.

[Chris]

Well, in defense of the Mini, the dash (at least the speedo) is designed the way it is to mimic the original. My old CJ7 had a central speedo and i liked it. 'Course I didn't pay the price of a new mini for it either!I guess it's like the new bugs, you love 'em cuz you always wanted one... not necessarily because they are amazing cars.

[slbpsi63]

quote:The only good thing I will ever say about a Mini is that their safety design is very smart -- the engine is designed to break away and slide under the car in a front end collision. Very smart. Same as the vibe.

[ngilbert]

I dunno, I kinda like the thing. I suppose the layout of the dash is not something I'd be used to, but it would become familar soon enough. There's a mini cooper S at the movie theatre in my town helping to promote "The Italian Job" in which it is featured prominantly. After seeing it flying around on the big screen, then seeing it live after the show, almost wanted me to pop over to the BMW dealership and take one out for a spin! Just for educational purposes of course I did agree with the others, it's really a 2 seater with a nicely upolstered (sp?) rear package shelf.

[GT_03]

I got to drive a Cooper S yesterday, and i loved it. It handled very well, and was pretty darn quick. The guy who let me run it has changed the wheels and installed a Borla exhaust. I must say, if i did not need a little more room, i would consider one. Anyways, if you get the Nav system, it puts the speedometer back behind the steering wheel where it belongs. Here's a pic of the car.

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