The Iconic Mini Cooper is Everything It Should Be – and More
Story by Kara Schweiss // Photography by Bill Sitzmann
The MINI Cooper has long been lauded as a city car, and former downtown Chicagoan Lisa Garcia certainly sees the advantages in her 2021 hardtop two-door from the urban dweller perspective.
The famed car is rooted firmly in history. In 1956 Great Britain lost control of the Suez Canal, which in turn triggered an oil crisis. The British Motor Corporation tasked Alec Issigonis with engineering a car that would feature ample interior space with seats for four passengers, minimum exterior dimensions, exquisite driving, and superior fuel economy—all at an affordable sticker price. In 1959, drivers were introduced to the Morris Mini Minor and the Austin Seven, later called the Austin Mini.
Issigonis had accomplished more than designing a fuel-efficient, economical car: he created an icon.
Garcia agrees. “It’s quick, it’s nimble, the gas mileage is perfect,” she said. “You never have to worry about a place to park, that’s for darn sure. And it’s roomier than you would think.”
But Garcia doesn’t make her home in a major metropolitan area these days. Quite the opposite, in fact: she lives on a Nebraska acreage. Garcia and her husband had intended to purchase an Omaha condo in 2016 after 20 years in Chicago. They were in the process of purchasing an Old Market condo when they received news that the building, which also housed M’s Pub, was heavily damaged by an explosion and subsequent fire. So, the Garcias remained in Chicago for a few more years until a Nebraska real-estate agent told them about a very different kind of property outside Omaha.
Garcia said she was doubtful at first, but the house and acreage were gorgeous, and the peaceful setting was appealing. It’s been a significant lifestyle adjustment, but the Garcias are happy with their new home, she said.
“We moved here when we decided we wanted more quiet; it was at the time of COVID when we finally got all settled into this house. It was perfect. It’s a new-built home, it’s on one level, it’s wide open, it’s modern,” she said. “It’s beautiful, but it’s literally in the middle of nowhere.”
Garcia’s 2021 MINI hardtop two-door has proven to be just as suited to life outside the city, she said. The fuel efficiency is great for drives into Omaha. And when you live in the middle of nowhere, it’s doubly important to have a reliable vehicle. Garcia said she also likes the car’s interior ambient lighting and overall practicality.
“It has its big-car features and its little-car body,” she said. “Everything’s where you think it should be. It’s very, very well thought out. I love that. It’s easy to maneuver and they paid attention to where everything’s set; it’s just well thought-out design… you feel really safe in it.”
— LISA GARCIA
The MINI is fun in a rural setting, though. “We’ve got all these big toys. It’s going to zip around them,” Garcia said.
It’s also important, she added, that she likes the vehicle’s looks. “It’s gray, like a flat matte gray. It’s insanely adorable,” she said, adding that the Mini fits her personally, too. “I’m a project manager. I really like things to be concise. I like them to be tidy and neat, moving quickly. I don’t know, it’s just packaged perfectly; it’s like this little bundle of everything you need, and it’s perfect for my PM brain.”
The MINI has also been fun for vanity plates: one past plate for Garcia was “ME,” as in “Mini-Me.” Garcia’s enthusiasm for the Mini brand has even influenced an entire family; a friend and her husband and children now have five Minis among them. As Garcia put it, “I was like, ‘See? I told you it’s the best.’”
Garcia’s husband purchased his BMW through ONYX, so the couple naturally turned to ONYX for the Mini. It was a great choice, because the sales experience led by client advisor Dean Johnson was nothing but positive, Garcia said.
“He’s so knowledgeable. There’s no pressure,” she said. “I don’t want to be sold a bunch of features…my husband and I are no spring chickens, and we don’t want the whole spiel. Dean ‘got it’ right away. We said, ‘Look, here’s what we’re here for, and here’s what we want.’ And that’s exactly what he did.”
Garcia said ONYX works well for clients like her who know exactly what they’re looking for.
“I am stubborn. Whenever I have my mind set on something, it’s because I’ve done all my homework,” she said. “I just know what I want. And I know what I don’t want. Without hesitation, I would recommend ONYX.”
For more information, visit onyxautomotive.com.
