Driving a Mini makes you happy
11/01/2019
The Mini, the classic, genuine and only true Mini, is turning 60 this year. And it's not a bit tired, as I was able to test extensively in everyday life and on weekend trips. How does a Mini feel when it becomes your daily companion? The first thing that comes to mind is: driving a Mini makes you happy! Not just the driver, but everyone else too.
You have to be able to suffer
The "special" ergonomics of the Mini require a certain ability to suffer. And I'm just looking at the driver's situation. On the left, the kneecap is slowly but surely being destroyed by the window crank. On the right, the car radio console is constantly massaging a hematoma into the shin. The seating position feels like sitting in a Tripp Trapp chair for children. Every bump in the road squeezes the spine a little harder, making you inevitably think about a subscription to a physiotherapist.
The effect of the Mini on outsiders
The external effect of the Mini: women find it "yay, so pretty". Children climb out of their parents' oversized SUVs and realize in amazement: "Look how small this car is!". And men immediately think about how much effort it would take to get 100 hp out of the engine.
Parking the Mini
Due to the Mini's tiny dimensions, it is always a good idea to park it diagonally in a standard 5-meter parking space. This not only looks cheeky, it is also practical.
Roof line at the navel
Before getting in, you notice that the roofline is roughly at navel height (if you measure 1.85 cm). If you fold yourself into the driver's seat, your knees just touch the steering wheel. You feel like a giant.
Off we go - on the road with our cheeky little colleague
When setting off, the carburetor needs to be fed with the choke for the first 1-2 kilometers. After that, the little powerhouse roars merrily out of the exhaust and is a joy to drive.
On winding roads, the Mini is then really in its element, courageously throwing itself into the first bend it finds, you hardly need to think about braking and it is already rushing towards the next corner like there's no tomorrow. Like a high-spirited punk dancing pogo, he jumps over potholes, always on the lookout for the next adventure. Being out and about with this cheeky little dwarf simply makes you happy!
