Peter Egan's excellent column on the Mini is online now.

Side Glances: The Great Mini Blitz

 

Thanks for the article. I think he gets it

 

Good article! I noted that the car basically sold itself to knowledgeable drivers, all marketing aside and ignoring "trends"

 

I like how the Mini and the Miata keep coming in positive terms in Road & Track (earlier they said the handling was the best this side of a Miata or Caterham 7). As someone said, he gets it. Now lets see if if he gets one.

 

:smile:

 

I think that might be my favorite of all the magazine articles/columns I've read on the MINI! :smile: Move over, Mary Schmich!

 

Thanks for posting this artical. The author is one of us already he just does not know yet. He should just go ahead and take the plung maybe sign up for a drop top so he can return the test drive favors to his friends.
John

 

It really is a good article in understanding the escence of the car, but I disagree on the interior been too german. I actually think the interior is very british. Compare it to Rovers, MGs and Jaguars and you´ll see the same "quirkiness" inside, things are in odd places, etc.

 

That article was so cool... it's just so true that when you see a mini, you can't help but look.... I even do it when driving my mini.... funny :smile:

 

The author is one of us already he just does not know yet.

I've read Egan for 20 years now. His writing personna is definately one rooted in past technologies, like accoustic guitars (Martin) and little farty things (MG, Lotus, Alfa, Motorcycles). I think that while the MINI appeals to his senses of scale and tribalism, its too "shiny" for his tastes. Kind of like how the Miata was when it first came out. Let the cars stay around for a few years and when they start to fall apart, there will be ol' Egan ready to keep the marque alive. Maybe if MINI were to offer a Lucas electric loomed version of the MC/MCS, Egan would get on board. Or if it was sold as a kit car, then he would most assuredly join us. How 'bout having him restore a totaled MINI? That might work also.

Just my $0.02.

 

Why do they alway's have to sell the Miata's?

 

>> The author is one of us already he just does not know yet.
>>
>>I've read Egan for 20 years now. His writing personna is definately one rooted in past technologies, like accoustic guitars (Martin) and little farty things (MG, Lotus, Alfa, Motorcycles). I think that while the MINI appeals to his senses of scale and tribalism, its too "shiny" for his tastes. Kind of like how the Miata was when it first came out. Let the cars stay around for a few years and when they start to fall apart, there will be ol' Egan ready to keep the marque alive. Maybe if MINI were to offer a Lucas electric loomed version of the MC/MCS, Egan would get on board. Or if it was sold as a kit car, then he would most assuredly join us. How 'bout having him restore a totaled MINI? That might work also.
>>
>>Just my $0.02.

Those are good points. In the interest of disclosure, he does admit his preference for cars that usually don't make it past the mailbox. A few years ago or less, he did a story about driving with one of his friends in a classic Cooper to a road rally event in Texas from Wisconsin and detailing the repairs along the way.

I have a disagreement with him on the interior. I tend to like deco styling so I love the interior. The doors might be a bit much so I got grey and black to understate the styling there, but it was the toggle switches that completely sold me on the car.

 

Nice write-up, really. It kinda plays into what MINI is all about - and the guy wasn't even paid to do it. To the folks wondering about the Miata, come on - it's a fun car too. I love my mother's - it's a total blast.

 

Thanks for posting this artical. The author is one of us already he just does not know yet. He should just go ahead and take the plung maybe sign up for a drop top so he can return the test drive favors to his friends.
John

 

There is also an article in the same issue about the JCW MCS

_________________
03 MINI Cooper S - Pure Silver/Black - Picked up 5/19!

02 MINI Cooper - Pure Silver/Black (SOLD)
02 Honda S2000 - Spa Yellow/Black

 

I'd never really thought of it this way, but (per Egan)

"It seems to me this happens only every five or 10 years. The Mazda Miata had that capacity to reawaken car enthusiasm among the faithful, and so did the Porsche Boxster in recent times. And now the Mini, which, I believe, passes the single most stringent test of good design: When you spot one on the highway, you are helpless not to point it out to others.

Your right arm levitates of its own volition and points at the passing car like a magnetized compass needle, and your voice automatically says, "Look, there goes a Mini!"

I am constantly made fun of for pointing out every MINI I see. Now I realize that I'm powerless, at the mercy of excellent design...I'm really just a victim here.

 

great article

i printed it out
and am gonna put it on my garage wall :smile:

 

My favorite is:What a testament to how fun a MINI is! I can't imagine wanting to drive a MINI over a Cobra, 289 or 427!

 

This sums it up
>>Your right arm levitates of its own volition and points at the passing car like a magnetized compass needle, and your voice automatically says, "Look, there goes a Mini!"
Forty-four years after their introduction, the old ones still do this too. It never fails.<<

WOW

 

>>This sums it up
>>>>Your right arm levitates of its own volition and points at the passing car like a magnetized compass needle, and your voice automatically says, "Look, there goes a Mini!"
>>Forty-four years after their introduction, the old ones still do this too. It never fails.<<

My favorite line was... "These people own micrometers."

 

:smile: :smile: Betcha he gets one, too! Now...which one? The MC or the MCS? Tee hee!

 

Great and much more to the point as a counter the the idiot column recently on why MINI's aren't 'trendy' anymore. I just spent 4 hours on Oregon's I-5, up to Portland and back. I saw a PT Cruiser about every 2 minutes or less, as well as mutilple other models (Miata's, etc) many, many times. I did see one noteworthy vehicle: a brand new Dodge Viper- what a rocket! MINI's sighted: exactly one, and it didn't even have plates yet. I guess in Oregon, we're still pretty trendy.