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Breakout the handbag!
The ‘05 MINI Cooper S (MCS hardtop for the uninitiated) - went in for it’s latest modification - a John Cooper Works cold air intake and also the addition of the missing-at-the factory rear fog lamp.
The nearest MINI dealer is about 20 miles from my house in Annapolis - fortunately I’m not on a first name basis with the service department. Chris from the service department decided that I needed not a boring Malibu Classic from Enterprise - but rather a service loaner - specifically a 2005 MINI Cooper CVT (automatic) Convertible - cool blue with a blue roof.
“Uhm Chris… I drive a MCS, I can’t be seen in this!! Besides I forgot my handbag and cosmetics at home!”
“All we got - deal with it!”
So deal with it I did. It is a gorgeous day in Annapolis - 64 degrees, sunny - perfect day to put the roof down and well deal with the fact that everyone on planet earth is going to think that I’m celebrating my graduation from Hair Burner University with the purchase of a MINI Cooper Convertible (MCC).
The CVT of the MCC lends itself to the laidback unfrenetic qualities of casual motoring - hardly anything a bonafide car enthusiast likes to see. Additionally, this MCC with a price tag of more than $27,000 was still endowed with a minimum but yet very noticible cowl flex when I did manage to get the CVT to cooperate with my leaded foot.
While waiting for the Advag to show up with some offering to give me - two rather frumpy matrons burst out of their office building and declared, “OHMIGOD! IT’S SO AADOOORRRABLE!!!” Evidently the vagissations of these two confirmed that MINI achieved it’s target demographic. All Advag could do is giggle at how ridiculous I looked in a topless MINI and suggested that I stop at 7-11 and pick up some Capri cigarettes.
On the JCW intake, Scott my MINI motoring advisor who consults with me on matters MINI - duly noted “Holy Crap! This thing sounds like the world’s loudest but coolest dentist drill!”