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DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Chris In Downtown Rochester

"It's really fun to drive, if you like the way a golf cart drives."

The Ride
The Driver: Chris
Car in Question: Black 2011 Mini Cooper Works (John Cooper Works Edition)
Spotted at: Downtown Rochester, MI 48307
Odometer: 11,000
Car's Nickname: Carter

THE DEFENSE

Q: This looks like a really fun car! What can you tell us about it?

A: It's a 2011 Mini Cooper, John Cooper Works Edition. It's the high-end model. It goes Mini Cooper, Mini Cooper S and Mini Cooper Works. This one is more sporty. It has more horsepower as well as other options that aren't typically available.

Q: Did you buy it new?

A: Yup, I ordered it through the dealer Motor City Mini. I had to wait for eight weeks! I put the special order in about a year ago.

Q: That's a long time to wait for a car. How many miles have you put on it since you bought it?

A: Around 11,000 miles. I picked it up New Year's Eve last year. It's pretty average driving, about a thousand miles per month.

Q: You said your driving is pretty typical. What's your commute like every day?

A: Round trip is around 25 miles. I work in Troy, so it's not bad.

Q: What's the farthest you've driven in this car?

A: To be honest, I haven't had a chance to really do any trips with my Mini club yet. Probably out to Brighton or Howell to go visit friends out there, around 60 miles one way.

Q: A Mini club?

A: It's michiganmini.org. It's a gathering of different Mini owners. We do trips and events. It's a mix of different people and different characters. It's a good time.

Q: Sounds like fun. Can you tell us about the craziest place you've driven to in your Mini Cooper Works?

A: I was hoping to get it out to MIS, Michigan International Speedway. I did that last year in a different car and I wanted to do it with my car. Unfortunately, that didn't pan out because it's being resurfaced. It's one of those things where everything is a blast with this car. The more curves on the road the better.

Q: I have to ask because you seem to love your car so much: Does your car have a nickname?

A: <laughing> Carter. In the Mini community, the first thing you do when you see another Mini is you wave to each other the way Jeep owners do. Usually in the Mini community, people will name their car. It's almost like a birth given right to name your Mini. You try to come up with a name that you feel really fits the character of your car. Another option was Vader because it's black, but I stuck with Carter because I just think it's a badass name!

Photos and interview by John Cruz

View previous Defend Your Ride features as well as other great stories for people who love cars at CBSDetroit.com/Autos



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