This article is from page 42 of the 2010-02-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 42 JPG
RECENTLY I drove a cream version of the new Mini First. It’s very like the Mini One, only cheaper.
It was lovely, but at this stage of my life I’m probably too old for a Mini. The cream colour, did attract many envious glances. But then the curios onlookers could have been saying to themselves ‘what’s that auld fella do- ing driving his daughter’s car?’
However, it’s said that you are never too old for anything in life. The Mini has always been a bit pricey, but this Mini First is very affordable, with starting prices now reduced to at €18,180. And if you want to take ‘to- tal loving care’ of your new Mini, for a once-off payment of €250 you can buy a service and maintenance pack- age called “TLC’ covering the car for five years.
Since taking over Mini nine years ago BMW has retained all the old features and added a few new ones. Now they have introduced their auto stop/start technology where the car cuts out if stopped at traffic lights. You simply start it again by press- ing the clutch. BMW say it definitely saves fuel and C02 emissions are only 128, which equates to €104 road tax.
Those front headlamps seem to be smiling at you as you approach the car. Inside the seating is natu- rally a bit lower than your normal family car. Once seated you cannot but notice the massive speedometer
which dominates the dash. And if the speedometer is not big enough you also get a digital speed counter just above the steering wheel. So no excuse for breaking the speed limit.
The dash is very busy and at first the area could seem like the cockpit of a small airplane, there are so many toggle switches. The controls for the windows are included on the dash, which takes a bit of getting used to. The radio on/off and volume is con- trolled by one simple button and it’s easy enough to scroll up and down the wavelengths.
In the back there is room for two small adults, or maybe three chil-
dren. The leg room for the back seat passengers will depend on the size of the people in the front and how far back the front seats are pushed. The boot is naturally small and no spare wheel, just a repair kit.
You probably remember the old tel- evision ads where they crammed sev- eral people into a Mini. I think the world record is 21 and it was set in Malaysia a few years back.
According to independent UK ex- perts the Mini First should retain 50% of its value after three years or 30,000 miles. Also I think people are always on the look out for a good second hand Mini.
You get a six-speed manual gear- box, but it takes 13.2 seconds to get from zero to 100/kmh. Still on the open road the car can certainly move with the best of them. I drove the 1.4 petrol version, but if you have extra cash to spend there are lots of extras available. The only complaints I got were from family members, who hate two-door cars and the hassle of getting out to allow other passengers enter and exit the rear seats.
So no matter what age you are, have a test drive. If you are young and fe- male you will love it. If you are older like me it might help to bring you back happy memories of your youth.