More and more MINI Coopers are popping up around campus this semester. There is the charcoal MINI with a black roof parked in the stadium lot, the pure silver one with a black roof and the red one with the white roof that circles the Union a few times a day.
These retro automobiles hit the Baton Rouge car market in March 2002, and they are catching attention.
“I like the MINI’s fun European look,” said Mark Ponter, a political science and biochemisty senior. “I love British cars.”
The MINI Cooper redefines compact cars. According to The Book of Motoring, the MINI is the shortest car on the road at just under 12 feet long. The book said that proportionally, it is the widest car on the road.
This Revelry writer took the MINI for a test spin around Baton Rouge to see if the rumors were true.
Proportions or no proportions, this car is snug.
There is head room to spare, but the seat feels sandwiched between the door and the center console. On the flipside, the tight fit brings an air of sports car sophistication.
MINI is the sporty non-sports car bringing the world back to 1959 England.
According to www.miniusa.com, the British Motor Company designed the Classic Mini as a result of a fuel shortage. The car gained popularity after the Queen Mum was spotted driving a Classic Mini.
Mini Coopers entered the scene in 1961 when racecar driver John Cooper redesigned the Classic Mini. He installed a more powerful engine, better brakes, wider tires and other features to create a racing version of the Classic Mini.
Both versions were sold in the U.S. for only 7 years during the 60s. They were pulled from the American car market in 1968 due to its failure to meet new Safety and Emmission Regulations.
Thirty-four years later a revamped New MINI Cooper made its way back into the hearts of American drivers.
MINI manages to hold onto its retro roots by incorporating special touches. The center mounted speedometer the size of a head gives the car a vintage feel. There are classy chrome toggle switches for the windows, fog lights and locks.
Unfortunately, MINI does have a few style setbacks. The internal trim looks like cheap plastic. Also, the large tacometer pops out the top of the steering column like a tumor.
But everyone knows the worth of a car cannot be measured by looks alone. A person must test drive the car to experience the modern British invasion.
When hopping into MINI take full advantage of the seat adjustment tools to ensure the perfect fit. The steering wheel invades the driver space, so push the seat all the way back to maintain full steering capability.
With the driver seat so far back there is no room for a driverside passenger. But if the front passenger scoots up enough the car can fit three people fairly comfortably.
MINI drove like a zippy sports car. With decent pick-up the car glided through lanes of traffic and effortlessly made turns.
Driving down Airline in the MINI is like speeding down the Autobohn.
The wind came crashing into the car with hurricane speeds due to the fast driving and extremely long windows.
People stared at the car during the test drive. But it may not have been due to its uniquely attractive design. The stares were most probably due to the car’s awful paint-job.
This MINI was glittery gold with two black racing stripes across the hood.
It could have been appropriately named the “New Orleans Saints MINI.”
The MINI Cooper is an original look for cars in Baton Rouge, and many people are taking full advantage of the foreign appeal.
“We sell about 40 MINI Coopers a month,” said Brian Harris MINI Motoring Advisor Brian Sisco. “Right now we are completely sold out.”
People who want to buy their own piece of history really need to try out the MINI before setting their hearts on the retro car. The tighter fit may not feel as comfortable as a luxury sedan.
But for those who like a sports car feel and secretly want to be British, this car is perfect.