In the summer of 2004 I decided it was time to buy a new car. My two-wheel drive Ford Ranger, purchased in 2000, did not deserve to be tossed aside—overall, it had been a fine truck—but I had become bored with it. The way the back of the truck fishtailed on February, Minnesota roads (even with bags of sand piled in back) had grown old. The lack of space in the cab irked me whenever I went to the grocery store. On a spring day, with the air crisp and filled with promise, I detested the fact that I had to manually roll my windows down. Not to mention, it grew old having people call you to “get together” when really they needed something hauled somewhere.
That summer, I sold my Ford and bought myself a Mini Copper. To date, it is the best purchase I have ever made.
In August of 2004, when I first sat on the dark grey leather seats that I had custom ordered, I fell in love. My 2005 Cooper was shinny and new (cliché, I know, but true): perfect with all ten little fingers and ten little toes. Now, six years later, she is only beginning to show her age: the gas millage is not quite what it used to be. Nonetheless, I adore my little car.
Those of you car nerds out there may want all the specs that make me love her, but I don’t love my car because of her horsepower or the fact that I can make a U-turn on a narrow street. I appreciate those things, yes, but they are not what make me love my Coop. I love Mini because her seats are heated and welcoming each winter morning. I love that my stereo can fit any of my many moods, allowing me to blast my music in the Mini custom mode, the Festival mode, the Instrumental mode… On days like yesterday, I was reminded how much I love being able to roll down my windows and my open my sun roof and make my ride feel more like a convertible than a car. I love that I can fit five grocery bags, nestled perfectly side by side, in my boot. I smile whenever I have to lean to my passenger side to pop open the bonnet of my British love.
I know some day I will get rid of my Cooper, just as I did my Ranger. However, I am thinking I will not stray as far from my current car as I did when I decided to sell my Ford. Possibly my next car will be the Mini Countryman or Crossman (Mini’s not-so-mini versions)... I simply think once you are in the Mini family you don’t want to leave it.
Photo credits:
http://www.cargurus.com/blog/2008/10/31/here-are-the-top-5-concept-cars
http://www.automotive.com/2008/102/mini/cooper/base-hatchback/324/photos/colors/astro-black-metallic.html
1 comment:
That was a pretty good trade up, I think I would also have a Mini Cooper over a Ford Ranger. Especially after watching The Italian Job, Mini Cooper's really grew on me. The way the car was able to perform that well with tons of weight in the trunk was pretty amazing. I remember when my dad had an older Ford Ranger and how it would always get stuck in the snow if their wasn't anything in the back and it was also pretty hard to fit other people into the cab. A sunroof is the one thing I wish my car had, I wish I could feel that breeze, but I cant.
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