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I've lost my mind! Does anyone remember life before MINI?

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Old Aug 16, 2007 | 09:08 PM
  #1  
Charlie Croker's Avatar
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From: San Antonio Tx.
I've lost my mind! Does anyone remember life before MINI?



Hi, I'm Doc.......... I'm new here...........I was out waxing my tire lug nuts on my MCS.... "Butch"... tonight............I think I need help...............Is this the right place? I've had it two weeks.............and I've washed it 7 times..............! I leather conditioned my cloth seats................ My counselor said I need to let the rain making the car dirty.......... go............!

My son and daughter came home from college this summer.............I can't walk through my garage...........2 beds and a refrigerator.............sub woofers..........3 guitars...........and a golden lab..............which goes with the other 3 dogs cohabiting our back yard...............wore out my second poop-er-scooper this afternoon..............and Butch is alone............in the driveway...........unprotected...........by herself! ( I named her after my youngest daughter)

My support group mentioned something about NAM. Is this the place to get help?...........I took a nap in Butch today.............I'm a little concerned..............Any suggestions?
 
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 03:14 AM
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Your safe here... we will protect you ! Actually, I think your fine. Sounds like most other MINI owners!
 
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 07:04 AM
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I step into my garage before I call it a night....folks, this is every night.
 
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 07:16 AM
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welcome to NAM. I see that you also have OCD when it comes to car detailing Check-out the detailing section and you will be hooked.
 
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 08:35 AM
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From: West French Camp, CA
Life before Mini, was (and still is) MG!
 
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 08:45 AM
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On days I have to drive my truck, before I leave the house, I still make sure there are no bird droppings on my MINI & then check it again when I come home......Do I have a problem?
Jeff
"Dorothy" '06 MC BRG/W
#151 in the GWRR
 
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 09:16 AM
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That had better not be considered a problem, or I've got some serious issues!!! I havent been able to drive my MINI for 4 days. They chip sealed the road in front of my house. It's been sitting there, waiting. Despite this, I have washed it twice, and conditioned the seats.
 
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 12:20 PM
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Welcome to the NAM hotline, Charlie. One suggestion, move all of the kid's stuff out into the yard and put that MINI in the garage where it belongs!
 
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by rhawth99
One suggestion, move all of the kid's stuff out into the yard and put that MINI in the garage where it belongs!
Since I don't have a garage, is it OK to move my wife out and move my MINI into the bedroom?

Jeff
"Dorothy" '06 MC BRG/W
#151 in the GWRR
 
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 01:02 PM
  #10  
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Gromit801
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From: West French Camp, CA
Originally Posted by jefflaw
Since I don't have a garage, is it OK to move my wife out and move my MINI into the bedroom?

Jeff
"Dorothy" '06 MC BRG/W
#151 in the GWRR
I tell people that I wished I'd sold my ex-wife, and kept the MGC and MGC-GT I had.
 
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 01:17 PM
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Gromit801,

What the heck are you talking about? I understand the ex-wife woes, but what's an MGC? It's not a typo, as you've written it twice. Boy, just when I thought I knew the basics of MGs.

Charlie, it's a weird world out there. Embrace it! It's also a weird world in here too. Don't believe me? Go check out the sixth gear lounge. Those NAM vets are a pretty strange breed.
 
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 01:24 PM
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CC, no problems here as you can see by the replies.

I suggest you send the kids back to college or put them to work. Call 1-800-GOTJUNK and get your MINI back into your garage.

All of us have to work it out someway. Peace in the family and winter comfort, my Alfa is going into storage so the wife's Jeep can come into the garage. The MCSa does not sit out in the driveway, it does get pulled out for a wash and hydro.
 
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 05:06 PM
  #13  
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From: In a state of confusion....
Originally Posted by dimini
Charlie, it's a weird world out there. Embrace it! It's also a weird world in here too. Don't believe me? Go check out the sixth gear lounge. Those NAM vets are a pretty strange breed.
The Lounge rocks! Welcome to NAM Charlie! Have no fear you are completely normal and among friends here!
 
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 09:35 PM
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From: San Antonio Tx.
Thanks all for the welcome. I was one of the few here that purchased their vehicle right off of the lot. I really didn't know all that much about Mini's until I saw the Italian Job. I noticed that there were different cars used throughout the different scenes. I was fascinated to see if they really could perform the way they did in the movie. I had always pictured them as a screwy little British Car.

However, I ran into this really attractive lady getting out of her MCS. It was silver with a black top, leather........ etc. It was at a grocery store. Normally, I wouldn't be so bold to start a conversation with a total stranger, especially one as attractive as her, but the car really made her look "special" and I had to know more. I made the fatal mistake of asking her how she liked her Mini. 20 minutes later, she was all but asking me to take it for a test drive.

I decided not to take her up on her offer, as I am happily married to two women. But the enthusiasm from this Cooper-ette really peaked my interest in the MCS.

I started to look around for information on the MCS and landed in the "BUILD YOUR OWN" section of the Internet. I spent more time playing with that toy and built some of the most outrageous cars, that I had to test drive one. I couldn't believe the experience. I figured it would be quick and nimble, but OMG!!!! When the MA said "go ahead and push it" and I did........!!!!!!!!!!!!

All of the cars on the lot were either Verts, or fully loaded. They had 3 Silver with black tops and leather, but I really wanted the cloth version and I didn't want to wait 3 months or however long it would take. Then the MA said he had a relatively base model with the cloth seats and the premium package, which is what I wanted. I want to do my own Mods. It was the dark silver with matching top. I know that the red MCS's go the fastest, but so do the cops. (had a red Miata a few years back and too many traffic stops.)

At some point, I wanna mess with the audio. I've installed numerous systems on my various vehicles and at some point want to explore the interior to figure out how to put a custom install. This ride might be a bit challenging. Any here interested in this arena?

Thanks again for the warm welcome.

CC
 

Last edited by Charlie Croker; Aug 17, 2007 at 09:44 PM. Reason: misspellings.
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 10:25 PM
  #15  
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From: Trabuco Canyon, CA
Originally Posted by Charlie Croker

I decided not to take her up on her offer, as I am happily married to two women.
CC
Obviously you DID have a life before MINI! Care to elaborate????
 
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 05:36 AM
  #16  
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I have owned my MINI for a little over 2 1/2 years (32000 miles) . I still get excited driving it, hate to drive it in the rain and forget the snow and ice. When I look at other cars I wonder I wonder if their owners know what they are missing. And when you compare it to other proformace cars you have to consider how much "Bang for the Buck"

The week before I took delivery I spent the whole day cleaning out the garage that had collected junk and other useless stuff for over three years. The night I took delivery I went right out and bought a car cover to cover the MINI in the garage.

3 months after taking delivery I had to go in for an operation and could not drive for 6 weeks. I would go out in the MINI and sit in her to listen to the radio. (I think that was more to get some peace and quite).

Went to Fla for vaca and rented a Mustang Convertable, (for the daughters to ride in) I was not impressed. While we were there I would pass a MINI and almost want to reach out and touch it.

Well I gots to go, its time to go for a drive.
 
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 05:45 AM
  #17  
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Life before MINIs... seems soooooo very long ago. Maybe because at the same time my fiance and I took delivery of The Twins, we also bought a house and moved in together. Life has changed in MANY ways and all for the better.

Life before MINIs. One car and a rather plain and very sensible one at that--a 2003 Nissan Altima. Washing the car once every three weeks or so, no Prima products, no PC buffer, no Monster Fluffy Microfiber towels. Just a bucket, water, some Mequiar's carsoap, and a chamois.

Speaking of which, I just washed two of the children. The other is getting jealous. Must go.
 
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 06:33 AM
  #18  
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CC, you sound just fine to me. No worries.



(His absorption into the collective is going as planned. All signs of transformation nominal. Continue programmed reassurances of normalcy.)
 
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 07:32 AM
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From: PA
^
 
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 07:38 AM
  #20  
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welcome to NAM
 
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 07:52 AM
  #21  
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Life before Mini.....Life before Mini......

Hmmmm.... I seem to recall something that had to do with moving your legs and balancing on two wheels.....

No clue..
 
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 08:59 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by Charlie Croker
At some point, I wanna mess with the audio. I've installed numerous systems on my various vehicles and at some point want to explore the interior to figure out how to put a custom install. This ride might be a bit challenging.
That is indeed a challenge on the 2007 model. Here's what it takes to get to the stereo: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=105178. Search through the threads in the Nav/Audio forum: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...play.php?f=201
 
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 10:23 AM
  #23  
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Yes I can remember life before the Mini. It was back in the mid-50s and I was running around in diapers. When the first Minis came out, they were just the right size for me.
 
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 10:51 AM
  #24  
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I remember life before MINI (and Mini). It was a time when I didn't obsess about all cars made small. I thought that classic Minis had been extinct for several decades and while traveling in Europe I would gawk at a newer classic Minis, all the while thinking they were well-preserved 60's vintage cars. Gawd, if only I had taken a closer look and noticed the driver's airbags...
I spent more time sleeping before MINI/mini. Now, my wife comes out at midnight and catches me perusing the internet on my laptop... and it's not Miss July that I'm drooling over--it's some Italian variant known by mini nuts as an Innocenti.

During ownership of my first MINI, I had no intention or clue that I would get sucked into a "lifestyle" involving/revolving around these crazy machines. I didn't expect my craze to go retro and augment the experience with a classic mini as well. I think the diminuitive size encourages us to own several. Just like wristwatches. Who owns just one?

Aw, life before MINI.
 
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Old Aug 19, 2007 | 08:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Scoopmama
Obviously you DID have a life before MINI! Care to elaborate????
Scoop, you really don't wanna know!
 
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