Me! It's a loaner CR/B MCa, for our local Go Texan parade Saturday. I got a chance to drive it today, and will do a little more tomorrow--here are my impressions, based on my total inexperience with MINIs in general, and the '07 in particular.

First, the new car smell! Boy, I've forgotten how addicting that can be. Seriously, the interior looks nice and fit--I feel comfortable in the seats, and there are lots of features in the computer and radio complex. Since I don't have the owner's manual I can't remember half of what Aka told me, but this car can be programmed by the owner for a lot of things, rather than having to take it to the dealer.

The start-stop button is a little tricky. This MINI has the convenience package so it is keyless entry and start. In order the start it you simply sit down, put your foot on the brake (in the automatic) and hit the button! Finish the ride and you hit the button again. Without putting your foot on the brake, hitting the start button turns on the lights and radio. Neat, except that we couldn't figure out how to turn off the engine AND the radio when we got home. As I say, we didn't have the owner's manual available, which would have helped a lot.

The car rides and drives well. I've only driven demo MINIs for short periods, so you'll have to bear with me when I say the car is a little "darty" on the freeway. Is this a normal MINI trait? Clearly it wants to go places with lots of twists! Brakes are fine, and overall it drives nicely. Since it's an automatic and a Cooper, this would be more of a commuter car, but there's no doubt that it would be more comfortable on a nice country road--VERY country road, if you know what I mean. Too bad we don't live in Hill Country!

That's all for now--if you have any questions I'll try to answer them...

 

Lucky! We were trying to get our club in some New Orleans parades and will hopefully succeed next year! Did you borrow it to advertise something or for a school?

 

WOW you lucky girl, will you keep it untill yours arrives, or will you enter some sort of MINI withdrall?

 

WOO HOOO!

 

It has big (magnetic) MINI of The Woodlands signs on the sides--definitely will be for dealer advertising!

 

I'll have to return it tomorrow afternoon, but I should get mine Monday or Tuesday. Mine's a 6-speed MCS, so it will be like a whole new car for me! At least I'll get to sort out some of the quirks first. That one-off thing was sure one--we almost left the car on thinking it was just the radiator fan making noise!