Hello
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1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14
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Hello
Hi everybody.
In April 2002 my girlfirend (eventual wife) bought a chili red base model cooper in NJ. She drove it back to the midwest and it eventually ended up with us in Little Rock AR. It was the only mini, I swear, for 500 miles. People walked into signs as we drove by...stumbled for a moment, then kept on staring. There was general disbelief that I, a 6 foot 1 man could sqeeze into such a vehicle and, often times, a faint look of disappointment that my egress wasn't immediately followed by a clown, and then another, and another...and then maybe a bearded lady.
We loved that car.
Then we had a kid. And we did the rational (?) thing and moved onto a four door Acura TSX. Great car too. Then I screwed up and traded in the TSX because I was convinced that an SUV was the answer...well, a Honda Element anyhow. I should add here that MY car throughout this evolution (de-volution?) has been an Acura NSX...not...too...practical. Anyhow, after two years of my wife driving the soul-sucking element (no disrespect intended for any Element owners...it's just not for us,) and after 4 years of hearing my wife sigh EVERY TIME she saw a mini, we...
wait for it...
here it comes...
dumped the element and moved back into a cooper!
Long story. Happy ending. The new mini's a 2005 Pepper White S with pretty much every option. She loves it. My girl loves it. I'm happy as a clam.
So, with that introduction, I'd like to say hello to everybody. I look forward to delving into the wealth of information presented herein and maybe meeting some interesting and friendly folks too.
Nate
In April 2002 my girlfirend (eventual wife) bought a chili red base model cooper in NJ. She drove it back to the midwest and it eventually ended up with us in Little Rock AR. It was the only mini, I swear, for 500 miles. People walked into signs as we drove by...stumbled for a moment, then kept on staring. There was general disbelief that I, a 6 foot 1 man could sqeeze into such a vehicle and, often times, a faint look of disappointment that my egress wasn't immediately followed by a clown, and then another, and another...and then maybe a bearded lady.
We loved that car.
Then we had a kid. And we did the rational (?) thing and moved onto a four door Acura TSX. Great car too. Then I screwed up and traded in the TSX because I was convinced that an SUV was the answer...well, a Honda Element anyhow. I should add here that MY car throughout this evolution (de-volution?) has been an Acura NSX...not...too...practical. Anyhow, after two years of my wife driving the soul-sucking element (no disrespect intended for any Element owners...it's just not for us,) and after 4 years of hearing my wife sigh EVERY TIME she saw a mini, we...
wait for it...
here it comes...
dumped the element and moved back into a cooper!
Long story. Happy ending. The new mini's a 2005 Pepper White S with pretty much every option. She loves it. My girl loves it. I'm happy as a clam.
So, with that introduction, I'd like to say hello to everybody. I look forward to delving into the wealth of information presented herein and maybe meeting some interesting and friendly folks too.
Nate
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 200
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From: NJ-Blairstown
Welcome and congratulations! Great choice of color I must say
.
Being 6'2, I can relate to people's wonder how we fit in these cars - I am actually tired of hearing the question "how do you fit in that car?!"
.Being 6'2, I can relate to people's wonder how we fit in these cars - I am actually tired of hearing the question "how do you fit in that car?!"
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,369
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From: Bryan Texas
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Congrats on the purchase. My wife and I are planning to have a child in the next year or so and the thought had been crossing my mind on just what exactly we are going to have to do with a child and our vehicles. I think I will give up my truck for a "family" car before we are willing to give up the Cooper.
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 393
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From: San Francisco, CA
Congrats and welcome! Can I really welcome someone even though I don't have my Mini yet? But I digress - a Mini and an NSX sure must make for one fun garage
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,782
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From: San Diego, Ca
Welcome back 
Great story! Once a MINI lover, always a MINI lover....or perhaps it was the cult's brain-washing, calling you back after all those years? 
Regardless, have a glass of Kool-Aid, kick back, and catch up. There tons to read about here within the NAMily!
Great story! Once a MINI lover, always a MINI lover....or perhaps it was the cult's brain-washing, calling you back after all those years? Regardless, have a glass of Kool-Aid, kick back, and catch up. There tons to read about here within the NAMily!
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14
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Thanks AndyCoop, IsAMini, Silverbuilt, Dix, MINIdave, 4xAAA, shankrabbit, bart5467.
Fentos: good plan. Things improve greatly once your child reaches the age where he/she can get into the car and get into his/her child seat or booster. Reaching back from the front to buckle him/her in is a snap. You just gotta get over the loading em in hump so to speak. Even so, it's do-able.
Gromit801: I would have dumped the NSX had my wife said to me, "I think we should sell the NSX." She'd never do that. She's far too nice. And I bet the Element IS great for camping...only we don't camp. Well, we did in college back when I thought a futon mattress was comfortable. Now, not so much.
ygblat: You're a member of a community and I welcome your welcoming me. And yes, an NSX and a Mini S do make for a fun garage.
tigwantstoplay: I don't remember any brain washing per say...I do however recall a bright light, a swinging pocket watch and a pair of gypsies...one who looked vaguely like Sir Alec Issigonis...does that ring a bell? And a strange chant, mantra, if you will, that finds it's way into my consciousness: "Mini, mini, mini, mini, mini for me...Mini, mini, mini, mini, mini, you see...Mini, mini, mini, mini, mini, for me..."
Fentos: good plan. Things improve greatly once your child reaches the age where he/she can get into the car and get into his/her child seat or booster. Reaching back from the front to buckle him/her in is a snap. You just gotta get over the loading em in hump so to speak. Even so, it's do-able.
Gromit801: I would have dumped the NSX had my wife said to me, "I think we should sell the NSX." She'd never do that. She's far too nice. And I bet the Element IS great for camping...only we don't camp. Well, we did in college back when I thought a futon mattress was comfortable. Now, not so much.
ygblat: You're a member of a community and I welcome your welcoming me. And yes, an NSX and a Mini S do make for a fun garage.
tigwantstoplay: I don't remember any brain washing per say...I do however recall a bright light, a swinging pocket watch and a pair of gypsies...one who looked vaguely like Sir Alec Issigonis...does that ring a bell? And a strange chant, mantra, if you will, that finds it's way into my consciousness: "Mini, mini, mini, mini, mini for me...Mini, mini, mini, mini, mini, you see...Mini, mini, mini, mini, mini, for me..."
