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:: The Story ::
First, let me get this out of the way: I hate driving. It's a necessary evil. So, I've been trying to find a car
that will help lessen my driving hatred. Something I can get excited about in the hopes that driving will be tolerable, if
not enjoyable.
I'd known about the original Minis for a while, and was intrigued by them, so looking into the new MINI was a
natural progression. I like the car's looks, and the MINI-owning community is quite passionate about their cars. So, I
read up on the MINI, saved my pennies, and ordered a Cooper of my own. His name is Severus, as he's British, (Slytherin) green, and greasy. Plus, if he ticks me off I can kick his tyres and shout things like "You greasy git!" ^_~
I put down my deposit with my local dealership mid-October of 2003, on April Fools Day 2004 I received my production
number (no joke!), and took delivery on June 19th, 2004. It was a long eight months, but definitely worth the wait. Everything's going well with him so far, and this is a car I intend to keep for a long time.
Now that he's here, check out Severus' gallery. :D
:: The Specs ::
Model: '04 MINI Cooper
Color: British racing green with black roof/mirrors and chrome bumper inserts. (Yes, I've heard a billion times that the color isn't
"real" British racing green, and I don't much care.) I like pretty much all the MINI colors, but BRG was really the
only choice for me. The bright, playful colors are quite lovely, but they most definitely aren't me. The MINI's
lines are eye-catching enough and I want something more subdued. Black and silver are nice, but a bit too common for
my taste. So BRG it is. Black roof because I like the subtleness of it as opposed to the flashiness of the white. Once I
picked out a color, the name followed naturally.
Options:
CVT transmission
cold weather package
dynamic stability control
15" 8-spoke wheels
sensing wipers & auto-dim mirrors
panther black kaleido cloth w/black door casing
anthracite dash/door bezel The silver would fit better with the Slytherin theme, but I've read it's more
prone to scratches than the anthracite, plus I like the look of the anthracite better. The patina color looks nice, but
it's only an option on the S.
on-board computer Since the name is kinda misleading, let me clarify that this is not the expensive nav system.
sport multifunction steering wheel (NOT the hideous new 3-spoke styling)
Accessories:
white side turn indicators The white tail lamps look nice, but they're kinda spendy and people who have them
seem to get hassled more by the cops.
auxillary audio input Gotta be able to hook up the minidisc player!
Future additons:
bonnet stripes - These will be added later. Not completely decided on color/style, but possibly silver to fit with
the Slytherin theme.
:: Further Resources ::
The following websites I've found helpful in my search for MINI info:
MINI2 - the number one independent new MINI site
North American Motoring - the independent North American community of MINI owners and enthusiasts
MINIUSA - official MINI site
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