I have always wanted a convertible, and preferably something that was quick. This of course severely limited my options, and most choices were well out of my price range. As time went on after I graduated, entered my career and started my family, this dream fell by the wayside, and my motoring enthusiasm was tempered by a series of very practical, yet still reasonably drivable cars.
More recently, it looked like I might be able to afford a car "just for me". We were able to set ourselves up so that my wife could have a car that meets our family requirements, and I could have something to drive just for the enjoyment of it, rather than simply a form of transport. Just in case this seems selfish with me having the fun car, and Hazel being lumped with the "sensible" car, please understand that she actually wants the family car. She likes her vehicles to be practical, safe and capable of carrying a small warehouse worth of stuff when required, especially when there are sales or bulk buying opportunities on the go.
I still had to work within a budget, and was starting to narrow down my choices to a Mazda MX5, Chrysler Sebring Convertible, Volvo C70, Volkswagen Eos, Ford Focus Convertible or a Mini Cabrio (JCW or Cooper S). If I was purchasing only with my heart and not my head, it was simple. The MX5 is the purist's choice with its classic lines, mechanical excellence and fantastic driving reputation. As soon as I started thinking about it though, the lack of rear seats ruled it out. I didn't plan the car to be a family carrier, but still wanted the option for us all to go out together for the odd short sunset drive or for dropping the kids off at school, sports etc. The Chrysler and Ford Focus didn't do it for me styling wise, and I wasn't going to be caught dead in a Volvo. I started narrowing it down to the Eos or the Mini.
Then other stuff happened. You would be aware from previous posts that I had a rough 2010, which included my mother falling ill and then passing away, leaving behind her estate without everything being well organised. Since then there has also been a legal claim on Mum's estate, and I've been distracted dealing with these various issues. The car topic came up again recently however, when I was transferred within my company and had to give up my company car in exchange for additional salary.
I was going to just go for another sensible car for now, but my wife thankfully suggested that I should look again for my convertible! I couldn't see how it was going to work, but I visited the local Mini dealer, and am now glad I did. They had a new Mini Cooper S Cabrio in stock and when I calculated the novated lease repayments, it ended up being the same as the cash equivalent from my company car, almost to the dollar. I took it for a test drive, but I didn't really need to, I knew it was going to be mine...
...and now it is.
It is hard to write about what I love about this new car without sounding like a pathetic fanboi. It's nimble and great fun to drive, with its go-kart like handling. The turbocharged 1.6L has the same horsepower as my old six cylinder company car, but with much less body weight, and it feels so much quicker. Being a front wheel drive, there is some torque steer, but nothing I can't deal with, and while the ride is quite harsh, it corners beautifully, with real point and squirt type motoring.
The Mini's are built now by BMW and it shows in the build quality and the well equipped feature list. Aside from having all the electrics, it simply does what it needs to do without fuss. There are gadgets galore compared to my old car, but they all work as expected without getting in the way.
My favourite bit though? Driving with the roof down. The whole opening and closing of the roof is completely motorised, and nothing quite draws a crowd of onlookers like arriving in a car park and closing the roof, or returning to your car later and opening it as you slowly drive off.
I smile every single time I drive this car. Should I really need a fun car or some other material possession to remind me that life is good? Probably not, but I am going to keep enjoying this car/big boy's toy anyway.
Later.
Den.
