My first mini was a pepper white '06 S; she was a high-spirited car with a super-active personality. Loved to turn (thanks to a rear sway bar upgrade) and to go fast (thanks to a 15% supercharger reduction pulley). And a great sound system (Harmon Kardon) So I decided she was a slightly manic redhead music lover, and (unimaginatively) named her Pepper. We had a hot, steamy affair.

Then my daughter was born, we became a single-income family, and I sold her. The car, not my daughter.

A couple years of driving a beater, and we were once again in shape to afford buying a nice car. I bought another MINI, an '09 Clubman S, also pepper white. So by default, I named her Pepper, after her predecessor.

Except... It doesn't fit! The newer Clubman is a gentler car. Softer suspension (did MINI soften the S spec or was I just used to that sway bar?). Poorer music (no HK and I haven't yet pulled the trigger on an upgrade). Friendlier to passengers, more flexible, less focused on performance-first. Stubborn, hard to upset, and gets **** done. Still female but a little more practical. Not crazy.

So the name doesn't fit.

It's been bugging me for a while... Then over thanksgiving, my niece -- who calls her dad's car The Panda for its two-tone black and white -- told me that my new car, with it's black bonnet stripes and black grill and white paint and black roof, looked like a badger.

Say what?

And I looked at my car with a five-year-old's eyes. Sure enough. Badger.

Tough, small, carnivorous, takes down animals larger than it is, hunts cooperatively with coyotes. Long nose, compact body... Yeah, she's a badger all right!

But... What's her name? "The Badger" isn't quite right. Possibly "Pepper Badger" (like a honey badger)?

Hmmm.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks!

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Ah, the tradition of naming cars. It's so tough. I have a Pepper White so Pepper would be a great name, but I'm trying to be original and that would be copying you . I was thinking British names would narrow it down and I'm settling a bit on Rupert. I found the factory on Google maps and thought the street names in the area would give me some good ideas.

 

I think honey badger fits. Pepper White is kind of an off white and she seems softer and sweeter than your last Mini from your description, so you could call her Honey for short. And she does look like a badger.

 

Just 'Badger' is great! Or the other name for a badger, I believe, is a Brock.

"The old Scots dialect for variegated, especially black and white, is brocked, brockit ... from the Old English (ge)broc (same root as broken, through Celtic), Gaelic brocc."

So Brock literally means black and white...

 

I kinda liked the last word in your thread heading 'dilemma' except if you say it fast it could be confused for a pejorative for cars with serious problems. Stick with Panda, little people are wiser than given credit for. Besides, some are convinced these li'l cars will disclose their names thru mysterious means.

 

PW/B 2013 S Coupe. Acquired 10/6/12. Was all set to name her Mischa Lecter (seen the prequel to SOTL called "Hannibal Rising"?) and now she's nudging me that she wants to be called Puffin. We'll see. She's not old enough to make her own decisions...yet.

 

I like Puffin.

 

Hey! Rupert is already taken. Oh, ok I guess there could be more than one.

 

That was my problem with naming my Mini. At first I wanted to make him Oliver or Winston, but those names are very popular among Minis and I wanted something a little more unique. I think I may have settled on Angus, since it sounds angry, just like my Mini. At least that'll be his name for the week lol.

 

Ah, the internet is a wonderful thing…

(via Angry Angus Guitars)

and

 

Ok, now I have to keep that name...

 

I bought a 2011 Mini Cooper S hardtop that is Horizon Blue Metallic. It is now named "Peppy Le Blue".

 

OMG, that made me lol. I'm thinking there aren't too many "Giggles McMini's" out there

 

Thanks everyone for all the great ideas and thoughts!

A few specific responses…


You're so right -- little kids are geniuses. Could I learn as much, as fast, as them? I doubt it!


Much as the idea of "honey" tickles me, I don't think I should call her "Honey badger". Real African honey badgers are bad tempered, nasty, insane monsters that make wolverines look tame.


I learn something new every day! Thanks Joanie! And your message along certainly encourages "Badger". Now I'm thinking vanity plates…


"Puffin" is awesome!


Your message did prompt me to think of another possible name… Emma. As in Emma Peel -- the ultimate kick-*** heroine, rescuing her man as often as not!

Still, thanks to you guys I'm now pretty sure she is "Badger" . If I go this way I'll have to modify her stripes a bit to be even more badger-ey… I wonder where I can find some color-matched pepper white roof stripes!

 

Find a good vinyl shop and see can they transfer this for the side panel. Driver's side only IMO.

 

Hah! Delightful! If I go that way I'd likely do something like this:



Nah, too serious. It would have to be http://weebls-stuff.com/songs/badgers/

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I haven't heard of any other Fenimores out there--I guess that means MINI owners (who name their cars) don't have that much of a literary bent?

 

I thought about Chingachgook but I figured I'd never remember how to spell it.

 

I traditionally name my cars after inspirational women from the manufacturers' country of origin.

For example my VW GTI is named Heidi, after Heidi Klum the german model.
My MINI is named Ellie, after Ellie Goulding the english singer.

My girlfriend hates this however, so your mileage may vary. good luck!

 

Sounds like something else to me, but then again I'm a doctor so my mind naturally goes to body parts.

 

Sounds like something else-else to me...whatever you do, DON'T look up the old SNL "Colonel Angus" skit...

 

I thought about Heidi Klum, too. I'm a girl and I think she's adorable and not flaky like a lot of her peers. She seems like a lot of fun and feisty, too.

Perfect for a mini monniker!

Mine is named Bindi after the town in Australia. And the fact that a Bindi is synomymous with feminine strength.

 

Just found this thread and thought, I really have to reply ( also first post on this forum!).

My wife and I have always named our respective cars, but now were together its a more considered art...
We bought a 2012 Touareg TDi last winter and, as it is grey and black, and looks like one, it got named "Badger", of Wind in the Willows fame ( one of our favourite books ). It fit, and it stuck. It was actually for my wife, but she found it a bit big for a daily driver, so lo and behold, she was back to looking for something small sporty and luxurious ( the badger spoiled her). Last month she found her dream car, a nice new MINI Goodwood, and of course, after looking at them parked together she thought "Toad" would be a fitting name, opulent, funny, and just a bit ridiculous at times, but eminently loveable.
So two new names added to our list, some of which were "Wasp", my yellow and black '61 mini, "Cholomondley", my '74 XJ12L, and "Roger" (Roger the shrubber, of Monty Python fame) my wife's '73 MGB, to name but a few.

So there you have it, I'm very glad to be part of a forum that recognizes the need to name ones autos!

 

Oh, and by the way, I get to use the "Badger" as my daily driver now ;-) !

 

Just a follow-up. Enjoyed some of the stories shared here, and the comments, quite definitely.

My mini's name finally came clear… Emma P. Badger.

Now I just need to update my sig graphic! Oh, and order a vanity plate…