Car Stalker - Minneapolis-St. Paul

It's true, when I see a cool car on the road and either I'm driving and the wife has the camera or vice-versa, I'll go miles out of my way to stalk my victims until I get a few choice shots.

This vintage Mini drove by us and since we were in our (new) Mini it just felt right to tag along for a few miles. It still amazes me how small the original Mini is compared to the modern version.

First they go by in the outside lane, should we follow? Of Course we should.

We almost lost them at this junction...

...but thankfully traffic slowed the nimble Mini down.

Then we got the money shot...it seriously felt like we were in a SUV compared to the older Mini, staring down at them from the towering heights of a Mini Cooper!

Then we let our prey go on its merry way, they went left, we went right.

So, if you were driving your beautiful vintage Mini back in June in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and a blue and white Mini Cooper followed you for a few miles with a giant camera lens poking out the window, I apologize, but your car was just too awesome not to stalk.

1982 Mini

Here's the perfect way to follow up the post about Linh's Mini. I saw this great looking little Mini in the gravel parking lot at the back of O'Malley's Pub in Weston. I saw it out of the corner of my eye from the road. Not a big fan of the color, some BRG would be much nicer.

Standing beside this car makes you realize how big the New Mini is compared to its forebearers. This was one of those cars that made you feel like you could have picked it up and taken it with you, like when you see a Smart Car today.

My brother went through a phase of grass-track racing Minis in Northern Ireland and for a few years our driveway looked like a Mini graveyard. With mad young fellas like that around, it's a wonder  there are any old Minis left on the road.

This is the perfect cheeky little Mini in this video to go with these images:

Mini Me - 2008 Mini Cooper

Linh's blue and white Mini Cooper fits her perfectly; small and tons of fun. We ordered this car new from Baron and got to go through the whole Mini delivery experience. They make it so you feel like you are having a child. They give you updates like "Your Mini just rolled off the line in Oxford," "Your Mini just arrived at Customs in Baltimore and we changed its diaper."

Our previous two cars had been Nissans and the customer service difference between them and Mini is just not even comparable. We've had a few minor problems with the Mini since it arrived, but for the most part it has been a wonderful experience being in the Mini family. 

You often get that wink and nod from other Mini drivers and once when driving over the Pig Trail in northern Arkansas we got the full flashing lights, horn honk, hand out the window and yell from a fellow Mini driver. Put a big grin on our faces.

Our dog Apollo gives his sniff of approval

See, the Mini is huge, the guy on the left is 6' 2"

I love taking the Mini out and making it remember its Rally Heritage

The Fiesta is Back

Most people will think the Fiesta is a new car to the US market when they see the new Ford on the road later this year. It was sold here from 1978-1980 as a 1.6L with several trim levels. It was then replaced by the Escort, which sucked balls. Ford have had a few demo models driving about the country for the last year and it's certainly creating interest.

Here's some photographic evidence that the original Fiestas are still here and still on the road. After living in the US for 10 years this is the only Fiesta I've ever seen.

The new Fiesta is a pretty sexy looking car and to meet US market needs there will be a sedan offered too. This option I'm not too excited about, all I'm gonna say is Yaris sedan...gross. All right, while I'm on my sedan rant, who the hell made the decision to NOT launch the new Focus hatchback in the US? Who? I want to know.

 

Photos sourced from 1 2 3

A Fiesta like this will have Ken Block behind the wheel in WRC action this year. Now if we can only get one that looked like this on the road.

Ford are heading in the right direction in offering a small car of this quality to a market that right now have the option of a Mini Cooper or a Mini Cooper S or wait for it a Mini Cooper Clubman (S)!

This 600BHP version will not be available at your local Ford Dearlership

M3 Not Going Anywhere Fast

When you buy a BMW M3 convertible, you imagine cruising at speed along your favorite back road in July or August. You love the way the semi-slick tires slide the car's arse out at even a dab of the loud peddle. Then you remember you live in Kansas City and it's been sh*tty since Thanksgiving and you can't even get your car out of the drive way.

 

 

 

So, you have to borrow your wife's front wheel drive Mini and leave the sad Bavarian frozen like a block of ice, in the hope that next week the sun will come out...cue orphan Annie singing.