MINIs I Have Owned
Since 2003 I have owned (or co-owned) three MINIs.
2003 MINI Cooper
When the new MINI came to the US in March 2002, I knew I had to have one. So when my girlfriend at the time needed a car, I convinced her to try the MINI. She loved it, but since she was a recent arrival to the US, I needed to be the primary owner until she established credit. So we bought this MINI in April 2003. Because it would be driven mainly by her, we chose a CVT (automatic transmission) in this car. It was a great car and a lot of fun to drive. When we split up, we agreed that she would keep this MINI and I ordered myself another one.
2004 JCW MINI Cooper
My next MINI was nearly identical to the previous one, with a few changes. Naturally I wanted a manual gearbox. I liked the white wheels, but went for a more retro look with the smaller 15-inch, 8-spoke wheels. Plus, I added white bonnet stripes for a classic Mini look. I bought this one in March 2004. In October 2005, I added a John Cooper Works Tuning Kit (No. 475). Later, the Accessories Manager at MINI USA told me that “fewer than 30” JCW Tuning Kits for the (non-S) Cooper were imported to the US, making my JCW MINI Cooper extremely rare. I will never sell this car.
Read more about the 2004 JCW MINI Cooper.
2012 MINI John Cooper Works Coupe
Here was a new MINI that immediately caught my interest. A sporty, driver-focused, two-seater MINI. Seen only in photos, I placed my order the first day MINI USA started accepting them. I went all-in, ordering the top-of-the-line John Cooper Works version in Midnight Black with contrasting Silver roof and matching Union Jack side mirror covers. It had a 208-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine and 6-speed Getrag manual transmission. It had an active rear spoiler. I upgraded to the 17-inch Black Star Bullet wheels. In July 2013, I added a JCW rear diffuser to make the car even more sporty. Even though I really enjoyed this car, I sold it at the end of its warranty period in mid-2014 to start saving for a house.
Read more about the 2012 MINI John Cooper Works Coupe.
MINI Clubs
In 2003 I was one of the founding members of Sunshine MINIs, the Mini and MINI club for the state of Florida. Sunshine MINIs has many local chapters including Daytona Area MINI Motorers and MINIS OF ORLANDO. I was an early administrator for the Sunshine MINIs forum and currently run the site.
 | Sunshine MINIs |
 | Daytona Area MINI Motorers |
MINI Websites
I was active online in the MINI community and founded (or co-founded) two websites and an online shop (now closed).
 | Library of Motoring |
 | The Daily Toggle |