 Click Image to Enlarge |
The Mini certainly is a small car; trying to find it in the airport parking garage was quite the challenge this afternoon. I do not see a panic button on the remote and pushing the lock and unlock didn’t sound any alarms (although perhaps this can be programmed to do so). When I parked the Mini, it was next to cars, but when I came back it was SUVs and the Mini was invisible!
My frustration ended quickly, though, when I started it up and started to drive away. Then my frustration level rose quickly as it began to talk to me, so I quickly shut off Mission control and headed home. There was no pushing the car in rush hour traffic, so I got a taste of everyday driving in a Mini.
 Click Image to Enlarge |
Road noise is a what you would expect of the compact car class, which unfortunately is much less expensive than the Mini, but on-road feel is much more substantial. Despite the Mini’s miniscule stature it feels incredibly solid and planted on the road, and you can sense you are driving a well-built machine.
The clutch is a little heavy in stop-and-go traffic but very easy to use and modulate; I’d rather the heavier clutch than a rubber band feel even though the rubber band clutch may be lighter on the calf muscles. The steering is very precise, though this can be construed by some as “darty” as any slight movement of the wheel causes the car to change directions, but this also really adds to the fun factor.
Perhaps some drivers do not get it: if you look at purely the specifications and price the Mini does not make much sense, especially in a country that’s next to a country that is in love with excess. But get in and drive one of these little machines and you may quickly become a convert.
