February 10, 2009Easthampton Weekend: The Mini Cooper
Easthampton is a June, July, August destination; and that is precisely the reason I jumped at the chance to go there in February. I needed a reprieve from the city and my good friend, JT, was offering it with her invitation to EH.
Four of us set out on Saturday morning. The trip began at 9:45 with some Alice’s Tea Cup scones (about the best I’ve ever tasted) and a 2008 cream-colored, hard-top Mini Cooper.
You may cringe at the thought of four people embarking on a 2hr trip to the Hamptons in a Mini Cooper. I, for one, had never ridden in a Mini and envisioned a cramped and uncomfortable ride. Much to my surprise (and pleasure), the Mini’s backseat offered a plush and very comfortable experience. The double-paned sun/moonroof and ample backseat windows offered superior backseat visibility - better than any other two-door four-seater that comes to mind - and practically eliminated any real feelings of claustrophobia. Supple leatherette seats and attractive but also sturdy hardware made the backseat ride feel (dare I say) luxurious and even comfortable.
But the backseat wasn’t the only place where my expectations proved wrong. I had always thought Mini’s idea to put an oversized speedometer in the center of the front dash was a strange (and bad) one. Yet, somehow, my mind was changed upon riding in the Mini. Given the car’s compactness, the oddly located, oddly sized speedometer actually provides an anchor point for the entire interior cabin. The situation and size of the speedometer seems deliberate as it successfully captures what - I came to find when I took the wheel later in the weekend - this car is all about: speed and balance.
The Mini is no joke. While it may be cute and adorable, the Mini is also a veritable speedster with superior handling abilities. I learned this first-hand when AD turned the car over to me in the parking lot of the local Easthampton farmer’s market and let me take it for a spin. I have to admit, keyless ignition starts do little to wow me, but as far as they go, the Mini’s is done nicely. The rounded non-key that opens the door and enables the ignition button is sleek and simple. Fire up the engine with a simple button press and the roar that comes back at you is modest when compared with the ride you are in for. For such a little and an unassuming vehicle, the Mini has a surprisingly commanding presence on the road. In automatic, the Mini maximizes each gear before transition to the next, an effect which produces a sound that I can only liken to the satisfying grunt of a champion tennis player. Throw the gearshift into Tiptronic mode and the tennis comparison’s applicability remains. The Mini’s exactness on the road is like a tennis ball that’s been struck in just the right way and rips through the air with topspin to reach a definitive location on the opponent’s side of the court. Tearing around the curves on Bull Path, the car elicits an adrenaline rush which results in a practically involuntarily depression of the gas pedal. Steering feels firm and a little racecar-like (this is no 7-series BMW, you actually have to use force to turn the wheel) and the three-spoke steering wheel offers comfortable hand placement, making turning facile.
The car is not without its drawbacks. The ride - especially in the back - is a little bumpy and the back seat is a bit challenging to exit from (read: a few embarrassing disembarking efforts). I didn’t get to play with all of the radio, HVAC, and adjustment controls, but they appeared a little mal-planned from what I could tell, though I really shouldn’t comment having had no experience testing them. Cargo space is virtually non-existent, though we managed - miraculously - to fit 4 adults’ overnight stuff plus a few purchases (everything is on sale in Easthampton in February) into the back (emphasis on the “miraculously”).
Overall, the car was a lot of fun to both drive and ride in. The car has its own, distinctive personality and sings its own humble and unobtrusive tune. I, honestly, can’t imagine getting better performance, better feel, or nicer appointments in a circa $20K car than you will get in this one.
