MINI love

Jamie Lewis isn’t the only MINI fan in his household, with him and his wife both representing the brand and owning three MINIs between them.

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My MINI story starts back in January 2015, when I felt it was time to start seriously looking for a MINI. I had been looking at what was available and doing my research for quite a while, hoping to find something special with low mileage that had that extra something.

Months went by, with me sifting through all the usual car sites looking for a MINI that really caught my eye – it was taking so long I was beginning to wonder if I would ever find one. Finally, in June 2015, I found everything I’d been looking for. A late 2004 R53 Cooper S, it was a John Cooper Works (JCW) converted car in dark silver, with just 42k on the clock. After travelling to London for a test drive, I decided it was definitely the car for me and agreed a price and a collection date. Even a bad back couldn’t stop me dragging myself to London – I didn’t want to lose this MINI!

I have fond memories of the drive home; loving the go-kart feel, the scream of the supercharger and the addictive pops from the exhaust. I thought to myself, this is the most fun you could have on four wheels and knew it was going to be a keeper. It was already a high-spec car, with an aero kit and lots of other JCW extras. I named the car Woody because of his rare wooden steering wheel.

I’ve since managed to get a photo of when the car was new, in MINI Park Lane’s showroom, and he looked exactly the same then as he does now, 13 years on. During my ownership, I’ve had all four callipers refurbed, braided brake lines, plus new discs and pads all-round – but I have no desire to change his look at all.