Welcome to the Quirky World of Mr. Q
Mr. Q is my 2004 Mini Cooper S. No, I don’t normally name my cars, in fact for the most part, I think it’s quite a dumb thing to do. There are always exceptions, and for me, Mr. Q is just that.
How Mr. Q came to be is a bit of a tale. Yes, yes. Of course I am going to tell it.
It all started in 2002, the first model year of the new Mini Cooper. My car, a silver anniversary edition 78 Corvette, was in my garage, hood open, anti freeze spewing. My resident Bubba (this is Georgia after all, every girl has her Bubba), was giving her a look over. It was only a hose, but this was during a time when the car was regularly spewing stuff and pissing me off. I did what any girl would do in this situation. I ranted, raved, kicked the tire (scuffed my damn shoe on it) and might have even cried.
Bubba, being ever considerate of my fragile emotional state, laughed. It was after all, only an easy to replace hose. I smacked him. Perhaps the tears got to the guy because next we found ourselves heading to a BMW dealer to test drive a Mini for a laugh. See, we were both certain it would be funny to see Bubba try to fold up and fit into the car. Bubba is just shy of being a 7 footer.
It was difficult to get anyone to talk to us at the dealer. I thought we were invisible. Eventually we did go for a test drive. Lo n behold Bubba had plenty of room. Bubba even could drive and shift with no problems. I thought it was a fun little car, and certainly not ordinary looking. Definitely had potential to be my next daily driver … IF (and that’s a big ol IF) I was ready to quit driving a corvette every day. I wasn’t ready.
Nearly two years later, one water pump, timing chain, 2 upper radiator hoses, tune up, battery, door handle, Hurst shifter, and brake job later, the time had come. Unfortunately I no longer lived any where near a MINI dealer. I called Global Imports Mini in Atlanta, and spoke to HER. The MA that would get me into that Mini Cooper with no hassles, no problems, and no trying to talk me into anything I didn’t want. A Goddess of Motoring Advisors. 2 hours later I’d left Global with a bunch of booklets, brochures and paperwork. It was February 14th, Valentine’s day. I’d just committed to buying a Mini. Let the wait begin.
My MA Goddess quoted me a 6-8 week wait for my Mini. That’s a long time in terms of Corvette Repairs. I prayed my car would hold out. It didn’t, but that’s another story. I tracked the production of my car through the MINI USA Owners Lounge. I waited on a message board with other antsy soon-to-be owners whose babies were being built in March. Affectionately called “March Production Group”
A week into my wait, I named my Mini. It all just clicked into place, and his name just came to me. Yes, HIS, while my Vette is decidedly a SHE, the Mini was definitely a HE. The thought process went something like this, do try to keep up, OK? Valentine’s Day. Cupid. Qewwwpid. Q. Needs to sound more distinguished. Mr. Q! and there ya go.
Mr. Q is Indy blue with a white roof, mirrors and wheels. (IB/W). He has an American Flag on his roof. I picked him up on April 16th, 2004 and have been happily Motoring ever since.