I scoured the Internet
to get a lowdown on what I will be in for. It didn’t seem right to step into a
MINI without knowing how this brand had evolved over time. We jolly well know
that this icon of a car can stir some serious emotions and tickle even the
weakest of senses. The amount of appeal it oozes can make any gender go weak on
their knees. I’m sure you’ll be very familiar with this British go kart with a
roof, which is why I’ll not dwell on quantitative information that can be
Googled within seconds. Instead, let me pen my thoughts on my driving
experience with the MINI Cooper S.
Settling
into the cockpit was never as simple as it seems, and don’t get me wrong. In
terms of driver practicality, it was never a problem. What I meant was that
your mind will be working overtime to absorb all the minute details that goes
on inside John Cooper’s car. Ranging from the nostalgic central speed display
to the logo on the steering wheel that stares right at you, everything about
this car prompts the driver to be emotionally attached to it, and its tough to
wriggle your brainwashed mind out of it.
Now
let me move on to the Cooper S’s drive, and this is where the magic starts to
unfold. As I eased into traffic for the first time in this car, the only
thought that went through my mind was the brilliant weighting of the leather clad
steering. It was so well weighted and precise that I could almost navigate the
turning radius with pinpoint accuracy, with any amount of traffic distraction
thrown at me, at any speed. It would be a waste if you drive it with only one
hand on the steering wheel, because I dare say that half the fun will be lost
if we do not drive this special one like how a proper driver should, with the
appropriate techniques. Anchor your thumbs in a proper 9-to-3 position and pay
attention to how it steers. To be honest, not many cars come close in terms of
steering feel (at least the ones that I’ve tested) as the MINI.
I’ve
always overlooked the quality of the “Prince” engine ever since the day VW
released their twincharged 1.4 powerplant. Both engines boast numerous awards
in their trophy cabinet, but VW will definitely have the upper hand in terms of
technological leap. Who in the world would have thought of squeezing two forced
inductions in a puny 1.4-liter motor? I have to indicate that the “Prince”
lacks the high-end poke during freeway overtakes and you’ll have to drop a few
gears to really get it going convincingly, and this brings me to mention about
the auto transmission. My friends have been telling me how a gearbox can numb
the entire experience of a good car. Pass me a stick shift, and I wouldn’t
complain. In all honesty, there is truth in the statement, but how MINI manages
to conceal its flaw in the relatively slow shifts astounds me even further. It
almost seems that MINI engineers foresee customers complaining about the boring
and somewhat incompetent (with dual clutches entering the fray) autobox, and
strived to engineer something else special enough to bring us back to the basic
joy of driving. Yes, I’m talking about the MINI’s chassis. Tear the bodywork
apart and we will be able to notice a rigid skeletal structure that has taken
countless man-hours to perfect. How it manages to work in tandem with the
gearbox and engine just amazes me. Not only was I in complete control of the
car, the confidence to take it to the limits had reached an unfamiliar
territory. Corner entry speed was a whole lot faster than many others that I’ve
driven. This car deserves way more than just my praise.
The usual
tossing and turning in bed didn’t feel entirely uncomfortable that night.
Incoherent flashes of information kept popping up in my mind, which was still
filled with “mini”ature spurts of adrenaline rush. How did MINI manage to
construct such a wonderful piece of mobile art that so many petrolheads can
relate to? How did MINI surpass the horrors of modern day regulations over the
past 40 years to engineer such a distinctive machine? I applaud what MINI had
contributed to the automobile industry. The automobile fraternity needs to give
some serious credit to them for creating a car that shouts “Fun” at any moment
in time. Thank you, MINI designers, for putting your heart and soul into a car
that can be truly called an “engineering marvel”. Your efforts have not gone to
waste. It had been, and will be, enjoyed by millions around the world.
