THERE have been many times in my life that I’ve been hugely and pleasantly surprised, and greatly disappointed with a variety of cars that I’ve had the opportunity to drive. I’ve driven quite a number of so-called supercars which felt disappointing to drive, hybrids which returned no better fuel economy than a regular b-segment sedan or hatchback in real-world driving conditions, and of track-oriented and modified cars which performed far worse than their stock-condition brethren.
Admittedly, I was very cynical about the MINI when it came out. But knowing the people behind British United Automobiles who are themselves, car-loving folk, I knew there was something good to be had driving the MINI, aside from the feel-good feeling, cute, look-at-me looks and all the heritage and history, culture and pedigree behind the nameplate.
That’s just me I guess. I never dwell on past glories. I try to get these behind me as soon as possible to keep my feet on the ground, keep focused on try to work harder, better, unfortunately without too much success but that’s another topic for discussion. In fact I tend to dwell more on past failures and mistakes so that I can live a better tomorrow, and worry about it happening again. Cynics argue paranoia has helped the US of A, the most powerful country in the world shape its policies.
I can only appreciate something’s past glories, legacy, pedigree, culture and tradition if the current condition, or in the MINI’s case, the new 2nd generation MINI and all its variants, perform as well as people say they do, living up to its past successes.
My first drive of a grey-market MINI was disappointing but still showed promise. The next time I drove one, I wasn’t expecting much, but right after leaving the showroom, was hugely impressed by how well it drove in every aspect: fun, playful, hyper-active yet refined enough to be a decently comfortable long-distance tourer. It also looks inoffensively cute and friendly. Drive a supercar and onlookers will label you a dirty old man. Drive a modified Japanese rice-rocket and people think you’re a hooligan, a registered sex-offender. Drive an SUV and girls fawn over the image of strength and stability you project. But drive a MINI and immediately, everyone smiles and wants to be your friend. That’s the kind of car we should all be driving!
So thankfully the MINI has kept all its performance related DNA while keeping the car as realistically small as possible while at the same time loading it with the latest creature comforts and safety equipment. Even the Countryman looks small, narrower than most Compact SUV’s albeit pricier and less versatile given its limited space. But it is enough for most people really. Five people inside any car smaller than a 7-seater SUV or a large luxury sedan is just impossible, four people is more realistic especially for long drives. And peering at Edsa traffic during rush hour, most cars only have a single occupant, the driver, inside. So why get a huge vehicle when most of the time, there’s only a single occupant inside?
If I continually say that the Honda Jazz is the best car you can buy given its versatility, space and driving dynamics, the MINI is all the performance car one can ever realistically unleash its full potential on our roads and even our two modest race tracks in the country.
The MINI feels good to be in, feels good to drive, feels good to be seen in. Unfortunately, most people who own one focus on the first and third feel-good attributes of the MINI. Ladies and gents, you’re missing something great here. The MINI feels good, really good to drive. So to the lucky people well-heeled enough who own a MINI, any MINI, even the non-S variants, please do the following: Wake up at the wee hours, slip out quietly and take a drive up to Tagaytay or anywhere that will give you a 200-kilometer round trip. Drive its wheels off, drive long and far and drive it like you stole it. Your life will never be the same again.