Hot in the Lot
George Moore’s 2009 Mini Cooper
NEIRAD enilno editionThe Mini Cooper is an icon that is instantly recognizable almost anywhere in the world. The unmistakable shape, size, and sound of these zippy hatchbacks has paved the way to carving a place for 50 successful years of esteemed Mini motoring heritage. Many people refer to these cars as miniature Aston Martins, the British supercar brand, because of shared design allusions in the face and front grill. But whether miniature Astons or purely Mini Coopers, these small cars carry an essence of tradition, elegance, and sophistication, a trademark of the Mini brand.
The day senior George Moore received his driving license he knew exactly what car he wanted to get. In fact, Moore had his heart set on a Mini for more than a decade.
“Ever since “The Italian Job” I have wanted a Mini because that film made them so impressive. Since then I looked into Minis more and more, and they were so perfectly English, I figured there was no way I could not represent my country.” George said.
Having lived in England for most of his life, George was accustomed to small cars with small engines, and the Mini, like its name, is no exception. Actually Mini Coopers were the vehicles that set the stage for small cars all around the world, the epitome of the segment that all car brands have been trying to match, making Minis one of the UK’s most prestigious contributions to the automotive industry.
George got his Mini Cooper in Jan. 2010, shortly after getting his license. He had little trouble persuading his parents the lightning blue metallic Mini Cooper was the perfect car for him; George’s father had a Mini in England, and being built in the United Kingdom, it was a testament to their British heritage. To put it simply, his whole family loved it.
George stumbled upon this brilliant 2009 Cooper slightly used at Mini Cooper at Mini of Fairfield County, right on the Post Road in Darien. He found it with less than 20,000 miles; equipped with white racing stripes on the hood; full leather interior; power sunroof; and USB-ipod integration, all for a low price of around $19,000. His Mini would have been in the $26,000 range new, so George got a great deal for such a pristine vehicle. However there are always drawbacks about getting a used car, and George’s Mini has a serious one.
When the Mini and its price caught George’s eye, there was only one problem – it was automatic. George would have loved to have the six- speed manual transmission offered standard in the Mini, but the particular vehicle he was getting such a great deal on was a six-speed automatic. Reluctantly, George had to accept the stolen clutch pedal in a quite bittersweet moment – he got the car of his dreams but he couldn’t exploit the full performance and pleasure involved with a stick. On the contrary however, the six-speed automatic is anything but sluggish. Having six- gear ratios with Formula One style paddle shifters is nothing anyone should be ashamed; it is the closest one can get to a genuine manual with decently quick gear changes in manual mode.
George’s 2009 Mini Cooper has a 1.6 liter four cylinder engine that makes 118 horsepower and 114 ft/lbs of torque. This small, peppy engine developed by BMW is very efficient and does a good job of propelling the little faux Aston around. Although 118 horsepower does not sound like much, it bears a small load, the curb weight of the Mini is only 2,568 lbs, so acceleration is ample, and so is its thrill to drive. The suspension and chassis arrangement is very stiff giving the Mini its reputable go-kart like handling.
“It handles like it’s on rails,” George said when we were going for a spin around the school. Despite being front wheel drive, it corners very well. “Rear wheel drive would make this car incredible,” George said.
When Mini Coopers were brought to the United States in 2002, two models were introduced, the Cooper, and the Cooper S. The Cooper S was the enthusiast’s option, which featured a supercharged 1.6 liter engine that got around 50 more horsepower than the regular Mini. Superchargers are additions to an engine that work by running a turbine off the engine’s spinning accessory circuit that forces more air into the intake manifold and combustion chambers of the cylinders. The result is increased oxygen in the chamber to help burn more of the injected fuel, giving a greater explosion and therefore more power.
Since then the tradition has continued with a base Cooper and Cooper S for every year. In 2007, the Cooper S changed from being supercharged to turbocharged, giving it a little further power and fuel efficiency. Convertible models were introduced in 2005, and were well received by Mini aficionados.
European roads are mostly filled with compact hatchbacks with four- cylinder designs. It is a less common to find six-cylinder engines and a rarity to hear the raspy growl of an eight cylinder. If you think gas prices in the U.S .are high enough, consider the prices of gas in Europe. There fuel (or petrol as they call it) is sold in liters, but when converted to dollars per gallon, we see how outrageous it really is. The average price in Europe is in the mid $6 range. As of June 2010, gas was $6.60 in England (the country of origin of the Mini), and as high as $7.41 in Scandinavia. This double in price is why there are so many turbo-charged small block four-cylinder engines and diesel-powered vehicles in Europe. Fuel efficiency is key for European car manufacturers. Growing up in England, George was used to small cars, a very different attitude than what we see here in the US. The Mini has incredible fuel economy, getting 28 miles per gallon (mpg) city and 37mpg highway.
Mini is a car brand that exudes heritage and soul in every vehicle. The Mini Cooper is arguably as much a part of the United Kingdom’s culture as is the English Crown. Mini redefined what was possible from a small car and has since stolen the hearts of drivers around the world. The little enviable hatchback is something that can only be described as purely Mini. For George, all of this captured him, but most importantly it is a little piece of home he will never travel without.
