My Daily Driver: @AeroJammin's Mini Cooper S JCW

1. How did you come to the decision of buying this car?

When I was in college, MINI released the 2004 MINI Cooper S MC40 special edition that celebrated the 1964 Monte Carlo winning Mini Cooper driven by Paddy Hopkirk. Until this point in life, I had a wide variety of cars that I was interested in and I had a short list of cars that I was hoping to purchase after getting my first job: E30 M3, an original Mini, Audi TT, VW Corrado, and 2nd gen MR2. I also had a weakness for old British cars thanks to my dad who specialized in building and maintaining old British SCCA race cars and street cars. So once I saw that MC40 edition MINI, I was hooked on the idea of getting a MINI and my fiancé, now wife, was also on board as well. However, during the ensuing two years or so, two things happened 1) MINI resale values were insanely good so buying slightly used didn't make much sense and 2) I found out the MC40 didn't have cruise control, which was a deal breaker as I did a lot of highway driving. My wife and I purchased dark silver 2006 MINI Cooper S convertible. 

Fast forward 11 years and more than 207,000 miles, the convertible was getting a little old and showing its age and mileage and we began the long (I am not a quick car buyer) process of replacing it. I drove a few different cars including the newer MINIs, but I simply couldn't imaging paying the asking price for a newer JCW MINI ($40k+) or buying a different car that didn't replicate the driving experience of that 2006 Cooper S Convertible.  After a few months of watching the market in Spring 2017, I saw that a perfect, red 2006 MINI Cooper S John Cooper Works had sat languishing for sale on a MINI forum for about 3-4 months mainly due to an ambitious asking price. This car had 60,000 miles on it and was almost exactly how I would have configured a MINI hardtop back in 2006 if I had $40,000 to spend. Also, it was Chili Red just like the 2004 MC40 special edition I had seen back in college that made me want a new MINI in the first place. After a few missed connections, I was finally able to get in touch with the doctor who owned the car and quickly made a deal, flew up to purchase it, and drove 700 miles back home. Ever since then I've been completely stoked to own my "affordable dream car". 

2. What has your ownership experience been like?

In a word, fantastic! I love the additional practicality of the hardtop versus the convertible. Plus, here in Florida it is actually too hot for a convertible most of the year. Most of all, I love the additional pep that the JCW package adds to the already fun Cooper S and I've come to enjoy having a car that stands out a little from even the other MINIs I see. For those who have never driven a supercharged MINI Cooper S, I highly recommend it as I think it is the perfect combination of "classic" and modern cars. 

As far as reliability goes (since MINI is known to be a bit lacking in that department), it's no Toyota, but with my convertible I averaged about $1300 a year in repairs, maintenance, and tires over 11 years of ownership. So far in the 3 years I've had the JCW, I've spent $2500 including a set of tires so to me it's not that bad and for the driving experience it is totally worth it. 

3. What is your fondest memory with this car?

Within a the first couple months of ownership, my wife and I decided to attend our first MINIs on The Dragon (MOTD) get together at the famous U.S. 129 "The Dragon" on the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. Prior to that we had gone on informal drives, but never a big car event. Since we are both from the east Tennessee area and we had recently found out we were expecting our first child, we made it a combination baby moon / car honeymoon / mountain vacation. 

For those who haven't attended an event like this, it is basically a festival of driving where you spend the day driving along some of the most beautiful roads in the US, stopping at local eateries and activities, and heading back to the central camp for a nightly event like a drive-in movie or brew swap all with other car owners who share your passion for driving. After a long weekend of "spirited" driving along scenic roads, we both knew this was a car to keep as long as possible. 

4. Why do you love cars?

Like many, I attribute my love for cars to my father who was a mechanic when I was little. As time passed, he got involved in SCCA racing and was eventually able to make that his full time job. This of course meant that most of my childhood summers were spent at various SCCA race events where my brothers and I would wander the infield, look at all the interesting cars, and of course watch the races. 

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If you would like to participate, just answer the above four questions and submit one to three photos of your daily driver to milhousevanh at geemail. Thanks and have fun!

Nauru, the richest country in the world (in 1976)

These photos are from a September 1976 NatGeo article about phosphate rich Nauru. Just look at all the money pissed away.

2016 Presidential Candidates' Cars: Jeb Bush

Though Bush has not announced his candidacy yet, it's all but assured. Here is his wife Columba driving their Mini Cooper S.

Tony Hawk Mini Cooper ad

Dude has an IQ of 144!

Mini v. CR-Z v. AE86

H/t rchen.

GoPro longest car jump attempt

Spoiler alert: He fails.

People get their kicks in different ways. Some are conflict zone tourists and go to Iraq. Others jump with 1,000 horsepower Minis.

1962 British motor show

These British Pathe newsreels are amazeballs!

Plus, it seems that 52 years later, the auto show industry hasn't changed at all with respect to its objectification of women.

Academy of Art car museum photo gallery

Ready? Here we go.

Did you know that Cisitalia "raced" in F1? It DNQ'd in 1952 at the Italian GP.

Australian-built Mini Cooper.

Microcars.

Matthew, our guide, offered to open the hood of any car there. We asked him to let us peek under this Autobianchi. Pictures are below.

The attention to detail of this Austin truck is incredible. Coincidentally, after Zach and I left the museum, we saw an Austin truck in Union Square!

V12 Lincoln.

Four Duesenbergs. The pink one is a "replica". It's built on a truck chassis but all of the other parts are originally derived from Duesenbergs.

Here's the Autobianchi.

I forget the make of this car. Zach? It's aluminum bodied and absolutely beautiful. The door hinge is so simple and elegant. About 10 were made and this is the only one remaining. The guy who created the car died when he was 28. It was our guide's favorite car in the collection.

Here is Matthew.

Aston Martin Lagonda.

Amphicar.

Huge but understated Daimler with unique New South Wales plate.

Strolling through two old Panama Cities

After my trek to the edge of the Darien, I returned to Panama City to relax. This is what I saw.

First up, Panama Viejo (Old Panama). This is the oldest European settlement on the Pacific. It was founded in 1519. For us West Coasters, where any structure from the 19th century is ancient, Panama Viejo is downright Methuselan (Is that a word?).

The museum was closed due to remodeling, so I just walked around the "town". Everything is well-marked, but annoyingly, a busy roadway cuts right through it.

The centerpiece of Panama Viejo is this tower, which I climbed.

In 1671, Captain Morgan raided and razed the settlement.

View from inside the tower. Modern Panama City is nicknamed the Dubai of Latin America. It has a lot of skyscrapers.

After my short walk, I came across this archaeological dig. I stood faraway, with a look that said: "Invite me over, explain what you are doing, and hand me a brush!" It didn't work.

I took a taxi across town to Casco Viejo. This is the second version of Panama City, which was built in 1673, after the sacking of Panama Viejo. The cab driver used to be a farmer from western Panama. He still dressed like one. We talked about Noriega and the economy. His daughter (or girlfriend) sat quietly in the front passenger seat, eating ice cream.

Even though it was only 10:30, it was already in the 90s. My camera phone had been in my pants and the lens was fogged up due to the humidity. I had to wipe it before I took this picture of the fishing dock. Behind me were the fish market, a bunch of outdoor eateries, and an indoor restaurant.

I walked around the narrow streets of Casco Viejo. I've never been to Havana, but I imagine it's very much like Casco. Everything is old and soaked in centuries of humidity.

The national theater was hosting an international film festival. This Mini Paceman, which I had never even heard of before, was featured out front.

The presidential palace was nearby and cordoned off by alert and conscientious guards. I tried to walk through the grounds, pretending like I was a tourist who didn't realize I was in a prohibited area. It didn't work. I saw this cool Peugeot a few blocks away. I think "CD" stands for diplomatic car. Is that right, Viva Chile?

It's noon, and I walked back to the fish market. This is the view of the Panama City III skyline from Casco Viejo (Panama City II).

The indoor restaurant next to the fish market was lauded by everyone, so I had to check it out. I'm not a big fan of ceviche, but this mixed ceviche was tasty, especially when it's washed down with a bottle or two of ice cold but weak local beer.

Everyone also told me that if I'm ever in Panama City, I should try the corvina, a type of trout. I followed my ceviche appetizer with this deep fried fish, cooked whole. It had an overwhelming smell initially, but was otherwise great. It didn't have a lot of meat.

What I should have gotten was the seafood stew. All the locals were coming in during their lunch break and consuming large bowls of the stuff.

After my big meal, I headed to the Miraflores Locks. The Panama Canal is next.