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

 

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?!"

 

Welcome back to the world of MINI. I had a guy actually call my car a "clown car"....I almost decked him. Happy motoring!!!

 

Welcome to NAM 10blade!!I'm 6'2" 300+ and hear the same crap all the time. I even have to pull the seat up some to reach the pedals properly.



06MCS/DS/B/Bbonnetstripes/Whalen8ballshiftmachine

 

Welcome to NAM! My husband is 6'1 also and informs every disbeliever that...Yes, he likes my MINI and the ride is very comfortable. Glad to hear you came back into the MINI family!!

 

My best friend is 6'4" and just over 300lbs, he was amazed the first time he sat in my MINI, 1st that he could even get in let alone comfortably, and 2nd that he could stretch out his legs!

 

I'm 5' 6" and fit just fine.

Welcome home to NAM. Highway 7 must be calling you all the time!

 

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.

 

Should have dumped the Acura, and kept the Element. Fantastic for camping.

 

Welcome back to the Light Side and welcome to NAM!

 

Welcome Back 2 the loony bin

 

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

 

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!

 

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..."

 

Great story! Made me laugh. I used to live in Fayetteville Ark. I loved it.Wild and woolly.The heavy traffic was the insect population. Love your color choice. Happy trails.

 

Welcome to NAM, 10blade! Great story...nice cars! I'd keep that NSX, too....

 

Welcome back to MINIland! Congrats...

Donna