The last few days have been a time of mixed emotions. I've said goodbye to my beautiful Mini Cooper S. I took delivery of it on the 20th December 2020 so last Friday I had owned it for 5 years less one day. It has been a fantastic car. Not a single problem and its handling and performance certainly lived up to its esteemed name. It had only done 50,300 kms when I said goodbye and it was in beautiful condition. It had done a few long trips. The first was a 3,000km road trip into western NSW and Queensland. Then twice to Noosa, once to Canberra and the wonderful trip down to the southern most tip of Tasmania at the end of 2021.
Every time I drove it I smiled but it was time to change. It was just too small for me now with my back problems. I have found getting in and out of it increasingly difficult and I have barely been able to walk after a long drive. For months Rosie has been telling me that it was making my back worse and finally I relented when I realised that she was right.
To replace it I have chosen another Mini but this one is a Mini in name only. It's significantly bigger than the Cooper S and it's an EV. It's a Mini Aceman JCW which is made in China and sold by BMW. The Aceman was developed and is produced by Spotlight Automotive, a joint venture between BMW Group and Great Wall Motor, at a manufacturing plant in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu.
I took delivery of it on Friday and I am delighted with it. It is actually faster than the Cooper S and it is more comfortable and the electronic driver aids are superb. However the Cooper S lives on as I had the ELF 09F registration number transferred to the new car.
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