by Holly Glaspey
Parallel parking has never been this fun. In case driving around in a convertible didn’t make one feel smug enough, pulling up to spaces 95% of cars can not even consider, and swinging in one-handed on the first try is a big perk for me with this little gem. So long as the top is down, changing lanes is a lot of fun too–I confess that behind the Mini wheel, I became a bit prone to “darting.”
There doesn’t seem to be much gray area in Mini public opinion. Most people who saw me in the car were dying for a ride, but those who weren’t didn’t want to touch it with a ten-foot pole. But I’m really on the fence: if you have to describe the Mini in one word it’s easy—FUN. This car made me more excited about “the driving experience” and “the journey” than any other I have ridden in or driven. However, I am not running to the nearest dealership. I felt plenty of “go” moving from second to third or third to fourth, but from a red light or up a steep hill I was disappointed. I was also uncomfortable driving with the top up because of the horrible visibility out the back window. One more note on the convertible top: I never used the half-way open, “built-in sunroof” setting. With the heated seats and the visibility issues, it just seemed like I might as well go all the way.
Style trumps usability on the interior control panel of the Mini for sure. Several features are not where you expect to find them, such as the speedometer, gas gauge and window controls. However, as a designer and student of branding, I appreciated the attention to symmetry and personality in this area. The driver’s seat has a great “cockpit” aura. After the first moment of confusion, for the most part I did not have a hard time adjusting to the unusual layout. I was thankful that the small digital display just above the steering wheel could be customized to show my speed however, as I never did get used to looking at the HUGE speedometer in the center of the dashboard. The buttons on the steering wheel did not have the nice attention to tactile feedback and material finish that the rest of the car displays.
The price on this convertible, leather model was $27, 000. For this price, and the size of the car (don’t kid yourself, no one with legs can sit in the back), I would like to see it get better than 35mpg on the freeway. If they could give me 42, and knock it down to $22,000 you can call me Ms. FUN.
