If you’re thinking about getting behind the wheel of a MINI, but you’re not quite sure what to expect, you need to listen to David Young - a man who’s enjoyed a 50 year love affair with one of Britain’s most iconic cars.
David is, as he admits himself, ‘just mad about all MINIs’. The three-door hatch is, to him, the ‘perfect car’.
He’s a local ‘Captain’ of the national ‘MINI Register’, which forms part of the BMW Car Club of Great Britain and which celebrates modern MINIs built since 2001.
(David Young, above)
And he’s also the ‘Registrar’ of the nationwide ‘Mini Cooper Register’, a club for anyone who admires Minis and Mini Cooper enthusiasts from 1959 and beyond.
So, what’s so special about these cars - and why is so obsessed with them?
Here, in an exclusive chat with Select Car Leasing, David - a retired 70-year-old telecommunications engineer and passionate photographer from East Sussex - reveals all:
(Disclaimer - the words below are David’s personal opinions and not the view of the BMW Car Club or the Mini Cooper Register. All pics copyright David Young)
So when did the Mini love affair first begin?
(David, pictured left, with this first Mini - a Cooper S)
The gateway into David’s Mini addiction came with the 1071cc Morris Austin Mini Cooper S - the original and ultimate ‘Pocket Rocket’ - which he purchased in 1971. It was white with a black roof. And it was a labour of love from the start.
He chuckles:
“I had it for about five years… and I rebuilt the engine six times! I sold it to my then brother-in-law for £200. And from what I can tell, it’s still going strong today, which I’m really pleased about. It was bought by a professional restorer who took it back to its original condition.”
After the Cooper S, David also enjoyed two other Minis - a standard 850cc and an Austin Mini Super Deluxe.
When did David first make the move into modern MINIs?
It wasn’t until around 2005, when David was looking to upgrade his company BMW - a powerful six-cylinder 3 Series. When he visited the BMW dealership, the MINI showroom next door began calling to him.
He explains:
“It was around the time of the second generation of the ‘R53’ models. They had a brand new, supercharged Cooper S, which was blue with a white roof. I took a seat in it, and realised there was actually more room in the front than I had with my 3 Series BMW. I took it for a spin down the A21 and after a 20 minute test drive, listening to the intoxicating whine of that supercharger, I came back and asked, ‘Where do I sign?!’ This was a driver’s car that went around corners like it was on rails. I fell in love with it on the spot.”
Since that point in time, David has owned five other modern MINIs.
R53 to R56 to F56
In 2006, the ‘R53’ models were replaced with the ‘R56’. Cooper S models got a traditional turbocharger, instead of the supercharger. It’s a move that David laments, but owners do get the benefit of much better fuel economy.
And David ultimately swapped his R53 Cooper S, which came with a desirable mechanical limited slip differential (LSD), for an R56 Cooper S with an electric LSD or DSG.
A full-fat John Cooper Works (JCW) MINI, in red with a black roof, soon caught his eye. He adds:
“I loved it to bits - it was gorgeous - and came with 210 bhp.”
Another couple of R56 JCW followed in quick succession, as David tried his hardest to explain his passion to his less-than-impressed wife!
And he then purchased an F56 JCW MINI - black with a red roof - in 2014.
Talking about the difference between the R56 and F56 JCW models, David explains:
“They’ve got totally different engines for a start. The F56 John Cooper Works is 230 bhp, so there’s lots of power. There are also very big, powerful brakes.
The F56 JCW is just a gorgeous car. Before I bought mine, MINI kindly let me have a go in one around Brands Hatch, which was a fantastic introduction. I think that particular vehicle was my favourite car ever. It’s just so easy to drive. You can thrash it, or you can drive it like a bubble car. Ultimately, it’s got everything you could possibly want in a vehicle.”
His current ride
Despite all of the above, David still had a scratch to itch…
Another F56 JCW came along in 2020, painted in ‘Starlight Blue’ with a red roof, which is now his current drive.
He adds:
“There’s power of 236 bhp, which is more than enough. With all that power and torque, I’m still amazed that people bother to tune them as well. I used to have the Sport exhaust but I had to give it up as it’s no longer homologated, which was a shame. But I’ve had the car for two years now and I still smile when I get into it.”
How do the old Mini enthusiasts feel about the modern BMW MINIs?
David laughs:
“It’s funny. Some of the Mini Cooper Register members don’t want to recognise the BMW MINIs - what they call ‘BINIs’. But all of them have been made in Oxford, at the old Austin factory at Longbridge, so they’re more British than a lot of the old Minis, which were made in places like South Africa and Japan. BMW themselves are interested in Mini classics, and have been restoring and rebuilding lots of old models in recent years.”
What about modern owners - why do they love BMW MINIs?
When David talks to enthusiasts, there are two words that stand out - ‘reliability’ and ‘pace’.
He says:
“Driving a MINI means you can experience a car that’s both fast and reliable. New MINIs are incredibly reliable. And remember that these so-called ‘new’ MINIs have now been around for more than 20 years. That’s enough time to iron out lots of potential niggles. And remember that if it wasn’t for BMW, the Mini brand might have died completely, so there’s a lot to be thankful for. And, for me, the three-door hatch is the perfect car, largely because of the brilliant build quality. With the last of the classic Minis, the build quality was absolutely terrible. The steel was thin and they all leaked water. But every single new MINI is road-tested on a rolling road to really check for any squeaks, and everything is done to make sure they’re quiet. They’re incredibly smooth, luxurious, comfortable and quiet cars. Even with the sports suspension, you can drive for three hours and not feel tired.”
How does a purist feel about the larger Countryman and Clubman variants?
(Pic above showing MINI family, courtesy of MINI Press Office)
As a family car, says David, there’s a massive amount of merit in them.
He adds:
“There’s room for four adults in the Countryman, easily, and they’re comfortable cars, even for elderly members of the family. It’s also got a longer wheelbase so they handle great.”
–
** The Mini Cooper Register has around 1,600 members, and 200 of those are new MINI drivers. (www.minicooper.org)
They’ve just held their annual National Mini Day at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hampshire.
** The BMW Car Club Great Britain is your place for all things BMW-related - including MINIs. (https://bmwcarclubgb.uk/series/mini/)
The BMW Sommerfest takes place on 7th August at the Donington Park Circuit, Leicestershire.
This interview kicks-off a new series of owners’ club interviews here at Select - so if you want to chat with us about your motoring passion, just drop us a message via social media one of our writers will be in touch.
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