My week with the 2009 Mini E electric car has come to an end. It was not a bad companion for my staycation. We had fun driving around on short trips together.
Now, it's time for me to state the obvious. Until electric cars can operate for a longer range, cars like the Mini E would have to be your second or, possibly even, your third vehicle.
Besides the 100-mile limit (which is an optimistic range estimate), the car has no storage. You can see in this picture how much I fit in the back after a trip to the supermarket.
Sure, you can use the passenger seat for those times when you have no passenger. But you can't use it for short trips that involve other people. For example, you couldn't drop the kids off at school because it has no back seat.
As fun as it is to drive, I wasn't able to do everything during the week that I wanted. If I hadn't made an unexpected morning trip to my Acura dealer, I may have been able to make the 50-mile trip to the mall. But I couldn't do both in the same day.
Now that the week is over, I am surprised by how little it interfered with my plans.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
louiswei says:
02:16 PM, 08/31/09
Glad that someone in Edmunds IL finally took my advice and did the more "real-world" test on the Mini E.
Now the week-long test is over it's time to find the unlucky intern for the "month-long" test...
louiswei says:
02:17 PM, 08/31/09
By the way, is that the Albertsons on PCH?
dderosa says:
02:21 PM, 08/31/09
Yes, it is.
blueguydotcom says:
02:35 PM, 08/31/09
Should be called the Mini F for Fail.
altimadude00 says:
04:32 PM, 08/31/09
I'm sure it's just fine for an urban run-around car, as you've demonstrated. However, because it relegated itself as the second or third car, I see it as more of a novelty rather than a viable solution for inner-city motoring...like the Smart. Its not enough of a car to be an all-around car. And for people that have only one parking spot or can't afford two cars, then it isn't even on the shopping list.
subytrojan says:
05:06 PM, 08/31/09
What clunker is that to the left that didn't get cashed in?
stephen987 says:
05:42 PM, 08/31/09
You could always use that '68 Cutlass S for longer trips.
cwc1 says:
05:44 PM, 08/31/09
That's a '68 Olds Cutlass next to it. I haven't seen one of those in years. Too bad that one looks to be very rough.
subytrojan says:
05:47 PM, 08/31/09
Hi-yo!!! Good one, Stephen!
azggjones says:
05:55 PM, 08/31/09
I'm sure the Mini E would look just as rough when it's 41 years old.... If it's still on the road
stephen987 says:
07:14 PM, 08/31/09
Nah, back then rustproofing was pretty much nonexistent, unless you count "thicker metal" as rustproofing. It's the bad wheels from a '70s Trans Am that really bother me about the Cutlass.
The Mini will still look pretty decent, sitting there in someone's front yard as a planter. . .
sealclubb3r says:
09:37 PM, 08/31/09
Luggage space isn't the point of this car. It's an engineering and data collection exercise. As a regular mini that's been (hastily) converted to a pure EV, I wouldn't expect it to be too space efficient. If Mini were to actually build an EV from the ground up, I would expect it to do much better in the practicality department.
carluvr1 says:
10:00 PM, 08/31/09
Ive seen that car one too many times at that albertsons i wonder why the owner hasnt gotten rid of it... might be the same reason i havent gotten rid of my old truck... that is by the way is tiny for groceries.
louiswei says:
05:19 AM, 09/ 1/09
@ sealclubb3r,
Then please tell us why BMW is charging $930/month for an "engineering and data collection exercise"? So "paying to be a lab rat" is a new trend?
someguyposting says:
06:02 AM, 09/ 1/09
@louiswei:
Why is BMW charging a bunch for a testing exercise?
Simple - because people will pay it. In other words - why not?
In addition to getting data, they are also getting publicity by moving it to market early. Personally, I think too early, but they didn't ask me.
dougtheeng says:
06:21 AM, 09/ 1/09
"Then please tell us why BMW is charging $930/month for an "engineering and data collection exercise"? So "paying to be a lab rat" is a new trend?"
If someone is willing to do it, why not? Isn't that basically the idea behind the Honda FCX Clarity as well?
brn says:
08:08 AM, 09/ 1/09
"If someone is willing to do it, why not?"
Louiswei (I think) is bringing up the absurdity, not necessarily blaming BMW. It is absurd that people are willing to do it.
inkycat says:
12:21 PM, 09/ 2/09
I thought The Dude shopped at Ralph's.