So I look on the list of available 'pods' and a new one is listed for a Mini Cooper and a Toyota Matrix. Well thinking it was probably gonna be like my brother in law's matrix, I select the Mini Cooper and get on my way.
When I reach the location where the 'pod' is, I notice hey, both cars are brand new (now i'm thinking, why didn't I take the Matrix, it was the 2009 model!). So I use my transponder and get inside the Mini Cooper. First thing I notice was the fresh new car smell, looking at the odometer this car has less than 200 miles on it. So I put in the key. The key is like a round key chain, in fact its a two part key and remote (the key can be detached). Press the engine start button and the Mini roars to life.
Before I drive off I notice many interesting things. The seats have quite a bit of range to them. They can change height to a large degree and are quite comfy. Not as comfy as I like though, apparently this trim didn't have the lumbar support adjustment. The speedometer is this giant clock like fixture in the middle of the car. The only instrumentation that faces you is the tachometer and the trip/information computer display. The climate control switches and dials are quite basic and they're fully electronic (although they appear to be a mechanical or manual system). The audio controls are also basic and they rely on the display above them to determine the functions (the buttons have dynamic functions). This radio also has bluetooth built in, as there is a button for telephone. This allows the car to connect to your bluetooth cellphone for speakerphone capability. Its also interesting to note that the window switches are below the climate control and so is the central locking switch. This car also comes with a electro chromatic mirror for automatic dimming at night.
The shifter is a tip-tronic type. Once its in drive, you can manually change the gears via the steering wheel mounted paddles. Unfortuantly I didn't get to play with this feature. There is also a sport mode and a stability control disable button.
Now for the drive.
I lightly pressed the gas pedal.... there is a delay... and BAM it takes off. I'm thinking in my head, aww crap, its just as bad as the Scion xD I reviewed a lil while ago...lol.
. The turn signal stalk is a toggle type. It doesn't click into place or sticks like a regular car. Once you push it down or up to indicate direction, it automatically returns to the position and starts blinking. The turn signal stalk is electronic, and it has the blip blip blip sound thats pretty familiar to the BMW 3-series. Driving this car for the first few blocks was quite a challenge. The brakes felt very grabby and the gas pedal was soft and very jumpy (the unwanted peppiness that I experienced in the Scion xD). I can't express how much i don't like the electronic throttle body feel (soft pedal). The brakes were initially very grabby and I felt like that student driver all over again, making sudden stops trying to learn the feel of this car. 
Amazingly the car has the ability to adapt. After a few blocks, I suddenly felt the car get down to my level and we felt like we were made for each other. The unwanted peppiness turned into a nice wanted peppiness and the braking was nice and smooth. After getting onto the freeway to get to school, I got to take this car for a high speed run. Took the car up to 70, the car still felt smooth and steering response was very good. I'm quite impressed with this car's handling. Very sharp, precise and responsive. Took the car up to 90 for a little while, felt a bit edgy, but none the less still good and responsive. The car didn't struggle too much to get up to this speed, but hey, can't have everything right? Acceleration is quite good for small engine that it has (and probably because of its weight), sure it cannot match my Volvo, but its quite good and i'm impressed. The braking is quite impressive too (again weight), had to make a sudden stop on the freeway and it stops very quickly and with the minimal amount of distance too and the braking feel was good (a bit too quick tho, but good tho).
Driving the car around on the streets is quite fun. Coupled with good acceleration and quick impressive handling, this is a fun car to drive. It might not be terribly fast, but I like it. Putting the car into sport mode is quite interesting. This mode changes gear shifting (keeps it in lower gears longer), removes a RPM limiter (which is defaulted for economy) and blips the throttle open quickly (through the electronic throttle body). This makes it really fun to take off from a stop. Hit the gas, there is a slight pause (lag) and BAM the car just takes off smoothly and briskly. This isn't like the way the Scion xD that I reviewed takes off, this feels much smoother and quicker, next thing you know i'm up to 30 already and gotta let go off the gas (for block to block driving). This is quite fun to do at stop signs or taking off from red lights.
I should take a moment to express a few things I don't like. One thing is that the interior trim is plastic and the switches that have a nice shine to them feel like semi-cheap plastic. If they used aluminum and real metals, oh man, i'd be all over it! The radio controls are quite odd. The volume control itself is straddling between the climate control and the radio itself. Its a single lone knob in the middle of the center dash. The car's radio and information displays are menu based. This makes it hard to adjust or change stuff without looking over. This also reminds me that the center speedometer is something quite odd. Its not really visible to the driver. I have it in the corner of my right eye and really, most of the trip I cannot really look or focus on it unless I look over. The glass or plastic that covers the two gauges are very reflective and they glare under sunlight. The factory radio sound is not as good as I would expect...
Overall, even with the negatives, I still find this car quite appealing to me. Sure it doesn't have much space, in fact the rear passenger seat only has 6 inches or less of room (when my driver seat is in a comfortable position) and with the dinky trunk, I find this car quite good as a daily commuter. Personally I will seriously consider this car as a possible commuter car once I finish my radiography program and if i'm required to drive to work everyday. The biggest plus of all to me, is the compactness and the overall length, which makes this car parkable in many spots in San Francisco that most normal cars can't.
Ironically when I got home and checked my email, I got a email from CityCarShare. This was their monthly newsletter and they were saying that the new Toyota Matrix has arrived and that they are opening a new 'pod' soon. Apparently that 'pod' that I rented from today was actually the one mentioned. Judging by the miles on the car and the fact that even today they still say that this pod isn't available yet (even for the Mini), I was still able to drive the car and I got a strong feeling that i'm the first one to drive it!
I actually had a chance to drive the Smart (smart for two) car (the extremely small two seater car) and be the first one to drive it. Unfortuantly due to schedule conflicts I was forced to cancel my reservation. I would've been the first to drive the first smartcar in the City CarShare fleet.
I got a feeling that my next review will either be the smartcar or the Toyota Prius. The Prius i've been driving the most of the CityCarShare fleet, but I like to write about interesting cars I encounter.
