An open letter to a MINI Cooper Cabriolet

MANILA, Philippines - Hey, how’ve you been? First off, thanks for the memorable couple of days. The experience was unreal and sublime – especially for someone not used to being the center of attention. It was definitely an ego boost – even if I had to pretend that people were looking at me – not you.

I know you must’ve heard the same sentiment over and over from your siblings the Cooper S and Clubman whom I had the opportunity to hang around with for some days as well. There were craned necks and double takes there, too, but none matched the kind of attention generated when I reached up for that silver overhead lever and folded your denim-blue soft top in 15 seconds. It’s a nice touch to have an “Always Open Timer,” keeping track of just how long I’ve been enjoying a top-down experience. The gauges, as with other Coopers, meld a classy oversized analog feel with nifty amber digital numbers and graphics. I am particularly taken with the dish-sized speedometer.

Anyway, back to all the attention. The stares were a bittersweet blessing – kind of nice and kind of distracting. I imagine if you were my girl friend and guys ogled you that way I’d probably be obligated to sock them right on the kisser. But don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining – at all.

When I revisited UP Diliman, it seemed the perfect ride from which to admire the towering trees and old buildings. I read somewhere that the drawback to you is that you’re a “girly” convertible. I must disagree. Pogi points surely abound for the dude who takes your wheel.

The low center of gravity and the short overhangs, coupled with the top-down experience made me imagine a go-kart – if a go-kart were this luxurious and fast and expensive. It was an exhilarating experience on the open road. When I gave you a nudge on the accelerator, you were absolutely willing. I thought you were going to gobble the car in front of us when I pressed the Sport button and gave you a gentle coax. The Sport mode clearly increases the steering responsiveness and accelerator pedal while reducing time to make gear changes. The acceleration was mind-boggling – even moreso because your resume puts your displacement at a pedestrian 1.6 liters that dish out an incredible 175 horses. Are you kidding? The miserly consumption of five to eight liters per 100 kilometers is much appreciated as well.

When I took you up to Tagaytay for a late-night hot choco and ensaymada date with Joyce, the drive was practically divine! The muscular note of your engine was no empty bark. We were smoking all comers left and right, and I was extremely confident even when overtaking at high speed, knowing that there were lots more hp’s on tap. I never came up short. Thanks for that!

The stability was awesome as well, it didn’t feel I was going 170 kph at one point. It was also good to note that you are one safe drive: aside from four airbags, there’s a sturdy aluminum active rollover bar just behind the rear seats – deploying straight up in 150 milliseconds to protect passengers in an emergency. Then there are all those acronyms like DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), EDLC (Electronic Differential Lock Control), and DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) that promise excitement and safety for every lucky driver.

I would have appreciated a little more luggage room in your boot but, hey, I’m not one to gripe. After all, you are a MINI – not an SUV.

No self-respecting motorist would turn down the chance to take you on a spin – just as no garage would begrudge a Cooper a prized slot within its arms.

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The MINI Cooper Cabriolet is priced at P3.05 million. British United Automobiles, Inc. is the exclusive Philippine distributor of the MINI brand. Call 856-7555 for details.