Even More Random Thoughts On A Friday

A lot of folks in my life have absolute loyalty to one car manufacturer or the country where it was produced but I never have. I tend to prefer American cars, my parents and grandparents were all in the union at one time and they tended to drive domestic products, but I have owned some foreign cars.

My list of former cars from foreign countries include:

1984 Honda Prelude
1987 Volkswagen Jetta
2014 Mini Cooper, my current car

Before the Mini Cooper I had a Ford Thunderbird, Chevy Impala, Chevy Blazer and then a Chevy Camaro. All great cars with low operating costs that I got a lot of mileage out of with minimal issues, but I dumped the Camaro and got a Mini Cooper.

I was a bit apprehensive on getting the Mini Cooper, but in time I began loving it. Specifically its handling ability, gas mileage, its diminutive size that makes it easier to maneuver in jammed spots and I can park it pretty much anywhere. Long story short: it’s just fun to drive.

I have a lot of love for Chevy, the ones I have owned served me well, and the Bowtie is a close to brand loyalty as I’ve ever had but the Mini Cooper stole my heart. Yes it can be an issue to go up steep mountains and it lacks the horsepower to make merging onto the highway easier but it’s nimble.

Today though my wife and I realized that a coupe is awesome but we need a four-door car because it’s kinda’ mean to jam a growing 12-year-old in the backseat of MIni Cooper for an extended amount of time. My wife has a mid-size SUV, but it would behoove us to have a Mini Cooper that we can all ride in without my kid having to be Plastic Man.

So now we are looking to trade in my Mini Cooper coupe for Mini Cooper four-door. Truthfully I should have gotten the larger Mini initially, as opposed to realizing the error of my ways quite a while later, but my current Mini does look pretty cool with just two-doors. So now the search begins for a larger Mini and I am leaning towards the Clubman S.

The Clubman is pretty dope with its split rear doors and the S model has a little pep with a factory-rated 192 hp engine. As the story develops I will keep you updated and if you have any recommendations on four-door Minis please let me know.

My beloved University of Nevada Wolf Pack starts their football season next week on the road against the Cal Bears. Perusing the schedule this morning I got the feeling that it’s going to be a long season, they have road games against Kansas State and Boise State, but it will be exciting to see how Carson Strong develops and if he can take the next step to becoming an elite quarterback.

More from Art of Gears

It can be tough when your school, I was Nevada class of 2005, isn’t too great at football but over the years we have had some success. In 2010 Colin Kaepernick led the Pack to a 13-1 record, Nevada finished 11th in the final AP rankings and knocked off Boise State and Cal in the process. It is undoubtedly the best season I’ve seen by Nevada and possibly the best ever.

Due to their lack of success on the field, 2010 aside, I have a tendency to look at Nevada’s football alumni to make myself feel better and there is some talent floating around, including:

Nate Burleson
Marion Motley
Charles Mann
Brock Marion
Colin Kaepernick
Charles Wright aka Papa Shango and The Godfather

Not exactly a Murderer’s Row of alumni but I love my school and it’s kinda’ awesome to have a pro wrestler in the Wolf Pack.

Now if you will excuse, I have an F1 and NASCAR weekend to get ready for and no I will not pull an all nighter to watch all of the racing action.

Home/Commentary