Mini Me

Lesson Learned #1:  Do not buy a car that you think you can “air out”, particularly when you live in a high humidity place. 

I made the very incorrect assumption when buying my hardly-driven Volvo, that a slightly musty smell was no big deal…and an even more incorrect assumption that I could do anything about it.  After more cleanings, detailing, disinfectants, home remedies, and sinus infections (seriously!) than I’d like to think about, we called it a day and sold it before the next year’s taxes were due.

Lesson Learned #2: I really need to stop saying (or thinking), I’d never do XYZ…because I seem to just find myself doing XY and Z.

When my neighbor in Kansas City brought home a new, tiny Mini Cooper I thought it was crazy.  Who would voluntarily drive something so small, so strange looking, and so British??

Well, that person would be me.  After the Volvo was sold (big kudos to Dave for selling it, musty smell and all, for 10% more than the price we paid), we were on the hunt for a new car.  In addition to not smelling, the key criteria was being easy to park and navigating narrow, windy roads.   Once you eliminate all the Maseratis, Ferraris, Porches, and other unattainable luxury cars on the road in Hong Kong, you’ll notice the Mini Cooper is one of the most common cars here…  

Here’s my new Mini:

 

(I also once said that I’d never own a green car…see what I mean?  Fortunately, my “I will never own a Mini that has a British flag or racing stripes” did not come back to haunt me!)

I think it’s kind of ugly and find it a bit like driving a go-cart.   It’s so small there’s not even a glove compartment.  Dave practically sits in the back seat when he’s in it.  But I must confess that I love it.  It really is the perfect Hong Kong car. 

That said, I’d still never own one in Kansas City.  Really.