This time from frequent MF contributor Josh Wardell. Here’s an excerpt:

One year ago today, I received my MINI. It seems almost unbelievable that it’s been that long, as it often still feels like I just got it; the excitement is still as strong as ever. Looking at the accomplishments, in one year my MINI has had more experiences than most cars have a lifetime; MINI events, competitive motoring events, an accident, and a ton of new friends made.

Let’s rewind the clock a bit. I previously owned a Ford Focus. I was not much into cars when I bought it, but a combination of its great suspension for the price, along with a great online community quickly got be interested and modding things in ways to improve it. I created a web site with guides for others to follow which quickly became popular. After paying off the car, I by no means needed a new car but the desire grew to move things up a few notches. I really enjoyed autocrossing and loved the styling of the MINI, and frequent visits to miniusa.com’s excellent build-your own site I constantly had my favorite MINI specced out and growing on me.

I didn’t seriously consider buying a new car till the beginning of 2004, and honestly a big reason was simply because almost everyone I knew was buying great new cars. Still without much intention to buy, I made the mistake of taking a test drive just for fun. We all know at that point it’s all over. Within one week, my order was placed! In addition to my impatience, impending exterior changes to 2005 models drove me to place the order immediately to avoid them. I followed what seemed like an infinite number of recommendations and went to MINI of Peabody.

I was so tired of having a silver car, which in my eyes never stood out, never looked dirty but never looked clean either. My next car was going to be black no matter what it was, after already knowing the power of Zaino I knew it would look its best as often as possible. The MINI works great with the black-and-white theme and that is what I went with. I’m a big fan of a ton of power out of a small engine (having your cake and eating it too), and after reading the first review of the JCW kit I knew all along it was exactly what I wanted. Being a gadgetholic I naturally ordered the comfort and premium packages. I did not get the sport pack only because I wanted 16-inch rims to deal with the Boston potholes, and DSC was added separately.

While friends had blindly ordered their cars and waited months with nothing but vague statements from their salesman, I went through MINI’s industry-leading ordering process. Calling every day for the nine days of production, tracking the MINI for nine days across the ocean, then a quick trip to the dealership where it spent a few days with installs… as we know it is one of the most suspenseful times there is! But 41 days after ordering, on June 15, 2004, I was finally driving away in my own MINI!

Just in time, too-three days later was the biggest event of the year: MINIsOnTop. What a way to introduce a MINI to the world, among 161 of its fellow family members. Although not exactly what is recommended in the MINI Owner’s Guide, apparently ascending a 5,000-foot mountain is perfect for break-in, that tank mysteriously remains the best milage I’ve ever had. Ironically, here I am a year later, again looking forward to MINIsOnTop 2005 in three more days.

You can read the entire article on Josh’s weblog below:

[ One Year ] Josh Wardell’s MINI Cooper S