Getting ready to head back to California for the holiday. Of course I’ll be driving. More because I need a car when I’m there, less because I’m afraid of being groped by a rogue TSA agent. Before I leave, Roxy needed a little work to ensure that she would stop when I asked her too.
Rear brakes this time around. Oil change would be nice, and a new rear wiper blade, just in case. Since all of my tools are still in California and I didn’t want to spend the money buying new tools that I already have, I bit the bullet and made an appointment at MINI of Tempe.
I provided my own brake parts that they gladly installed! Oil change, new cabin filter and rear wiper blade installed too. I had a loaner even (although it was not a MINI) and had my car back by lunch. Not too shabby, not too shabby at all. I’m once again a stopping fool with a clean boot window and fresh oil. Ahhhhhh.
Did you check your oil this week?
1 commentNot MINI related, but podcast related, I had the chance to present a session at PodcampAZ this weekend. Of course I recorded it.
If you are interested in hearing what I think about podcast consistency and listener building, you can check it out here or listen below.
Later this week I’m going to tell you how I think the designers of the Greater Phoenix Area freeway designers were, quite possibly, race car drivers.
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1 commentCome on, don’t lie. Who’s going?
If you are one that still hasn’t seen the Countryman but are curious, this is a great opportunity to check out the latest MINI. I believe the location is directly across the street from the LA Convention Center, so it’s easy to get too. Sound off below if you are going or thinking about going.
If you are going, take a quick minute to let let Deneen know. It’s always polite to RSVP.
(3) comments
Pictured above is a pre-production R60 Cooper, otherwise known as the Countryman Cooper. Cooper as in normally aspirated. Normally aspirated as in no turbo charger under the bonnet. Would you buy it?
I wouldn’t.
The problem with the Countryman Cooper is that it is just too slow. I’m not saying this from an enthusiasts point of view, or from a modder point of view or even from a I-want-to-put-this-MINI-on-a-track point of view. I’m telling you that this MINI is just too danged slow. I have actually had the chance to drive this car, with an automatic transmission no less, and it’s horrible. I’m not the only one that feels this way. From MotoringFile.com.
Slow cars are not something that the car buying public are very used to anymore. There was a time that a 10 second 0-60 time was considered sporty. Clearly that time has passed. Anything over eight seconds is usually looked at with raised eyebrows and certainly dismissed by driving enthusiasts. This has always served MINI well with the base Cooper model (in the US of course) coming in right around that mark and always feeling just frisky enough. The Countryman Cooper does not. It is a slow car in the modern sense of the word. Motivating nearly 3,000 pounds of metal up and down the hills west of Austin was both physical and mental work. I drove the manual this time, but even rowing the hell out of the gears didn’t solve the problem.
Sure the price is right, coming in at a base of $US22,350. And it’s got the mileage. And the extra doors that the hard top lacks. And it’s still a MINI, with all the great things you love about the MINI except performance. We talked about this a great deal on past episodes of White Roof Radio too. And it’s sad for me to actually say, but I can’t recommend this MINI.
Instead, opt for S. Sure it’s base price is $US3,600 more, but you will get a few more options and the extra power. Sure, nicely equipped pushes the $US30k barrier (and beyond from what I am reading), which is way beyond my budget. But that’s the price you pay for power.
Me? I’m sticking to an R56 or R55 Cooper. As soon as budget allows.
Comments are open. What are your thoughts on the Countryman Cooper?
(6) commentsThis is something that has been bothering me for some time. So much so that I actually said something during one of the episodes of White Roof Radio. And quite recently at that. I know there are many of you out there that get confused on what your MINI should be called, and while this is by no means meant to be a difinitive guide, I certainly hope it’s a start.
If you have a 2002 – 2006 MINI Cooper without a supercharger, it’s called a MINI Cooper (or R50)
If you have a 2002 – 2006 MINI Cooper S, it’s called a MINI Cooper S (or R53)
If you have a convertible version of either of the above listed MINIs, call it a MINI Cooper Convertible or MINI Cooper S Convertible.
If you have a 2007 – current MINI Cooper without a turbo charger, it’s called a MINI Cooper (or R56 Cooper).
If you have a 2007 – current MINI Cooper S, it’s called a MINI Cooper S (or R56 S)
If you have a 2007 – MINI Cooper Convertible, it’s called a MINI Cooper Convertible or MINI Cooper S Convertible (or R57)
If you have a 2007 – current MINI Cooper Clubman, it’s called a MINI Cooper Clubman (or R55).
If you have a 2007 – current MINI Cooper Clubman S, it’s called a MINI Cooper Clubman S (or R55 S)
If you have a MINI Cooper (any variant), please stop calling it a ‘base Cooper’ or ‘base MINI’ or (here comes my twitch) ‘justa. None of these are correct and MINI has spent a fair bit of money in advertising to make sure that you know what the car is called.
Also, once more for good measure, if you would be so kind as to spell MINI with all capital letters for the current, BMW produced car and Mini for the Rover produced car of old (also called Classic), I think that would be pretty nifty.
Your time, as always, is greatly appreciated.
(7) comments
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