My first car was a Jeep Wrangler. The test drive irritated me. I felt cramped inside. I bought the Wrangler anyway. I adjusted easily. Over the last 8 years, I've learned to live with the small trunk and lack of space. I carted my 2 girls around in it but it was not considered the family truckster. Our Jeep Grand Cherokee was dedicated to that. But, I logged more miles on the Wrangler then the Grand Cherokee.

I don't think you really need all that space inside a cabin. It's nice but just not necessary unless you haul stuff for a living. Just enough and no more is good enough. When I test drove the Mini, dimensionally inside, it felt the same as the Wrangler only a little bit more plush . I'm on the smallish side of girth. I'm 159lbs and 5'6" so I do better then the average American when it comes to fitting in smaller things.

People adjust. You'll do fine. Just make sure you take a nice long test drive.

 

We still have our Liberty, but I never drive it anymore. I take the MINI grocery shopping. We're no longer near a Costco, so I don't have to figure out how to make that happen... But, I get everything into the boot or front passenger seat. My son is usually in his carseat in the back seat. We bought a roof cargo box for family trips, but I'm been surprised by just how much I can get into the MINI without feeling strained. We'll see what happens next trip when hubby comes with us.

It's all about being aware of your environment-- but you have to do that in any car. I don't feel THAT much lower in the MINI, ironically.

 

jobsori - I'm going from a V8 2006 Toyota 4Runner Sport Edition, and I know it will be a challenge not being able to cram everything into the "trunk" area (especially my dog's crate which weighs like 100 lbs. and I transport it around every day twice a day...
but...
LaserMini- I totally agree that I will LOVE not being everyone's transportation! I'm usually the designated driver or something because we just HAVE to take my car so everyone can fit...or especially on road trips because the 4Runner could tow the boat and have aneough room for 5 people comfortably along with all their cargo! Yea, no more being everyone's ride...but I will look forward to many a road trip in the MINI

 

+1

Yea Roof Wart! It is a "gota have" when you have "stuff". It has followed us from the Passat to the Highlander and on to the Clubman, whenever it gets it's VIN, and gets built, and shipped...oh well.

 

Never having a SUV for myself, the transition was not really there. I have two pickup trucks (the newest purchased last year) which do the hauling and towing duties. I recently inherited my Mom's Dodge Stratus, which I keep as my general use vehicle these days. Despite the Stratus having four doors, a roomy interior and a fairly big trunk, I fond the MINI is able to haul bulkier stuff by nature of it's hatchback design. The hatch design alone is often enough to ease the transition from SUV to MINI, especially if the SUV rarely was used to haul more than two people at a time. Having the Clubman as a choice these days makes things even easier for those moving from a big vehicle to MINI.

 

Went from two (2) SUVs to two (2) Minis.
I traded a '02 Explorer for my wife's MS and sold my '99 Navigator to get my MCS.

We didn't need the room any more with both our kids being in college with their own cars.

No regrets! Especially with the price of gas continuously rising.

 

The MINI is as wide as most compact cars. There are many cars that have lower stock ride heights than the MINI.

Overall I think the MINI is a car that offers everything you will ever need on a daily hauler.

To me the SUV is going the way of the old American Land Yatch of the 1970's... Right into extinction...

 

I went from an 06 Subaru Tribeca to the MC. I actually loved the Subie. It was a great daily driver and the mileage wasn't bad at 19-20 miles per gallon but it requires premium and I was filling up twice a week at $68.00 per tank. I've had my Mini for one week and only topped off the tank since getting it. Needless to say I won't be going back to a big car anytime soon.

 

I went from a Jeep to a MINI and then after a month of driving the MINI I almost killed myself driving the Jeep.
The Jeep just doesn't have the cornering stabilties of the MINI, so I sold the Jeep and have never looked back.
Because what is behind me is not important.

 

I went from a very long, very high 4X4 pick-up truck to the Mini Cabrio Sidewalk JCW. In the trade, I only lost about 60HP...amazing! I do have an explanation. We moved from Anchorage, Alaska to Virginia and from pulling a 4-place snowmobile trailer all winter on icy road to our cabin near Denali National Park to commuting the Capitol Beltway and shopping at the Mall The truck made no sense down here...the MINI made commuting fun. I do miss the truck for weekend chores; hauling lumber and other building materials which the MINI does not do. However, I can always rent a flatbed for those rare projects while I commute everyday so the MINI is best in DC.
As fir the rest of the change in lifestyle between Alaska and DC...other than the fact it was near 80F here today and likely 20 or 30 degrees colder in Anchorage, I will take Anchorage. Between the outrageous taxes and socialist government k=local, state and federal government to nearly continual gridlocked traffic, give me that Alaska lifestyle any day!

 

Went from Denali XL to a mini, and love it.

Jack

 

We went from a Chevy Blazer to a MINI Cooper and even the ride was much better. When we need to haul something bigger we use our pickup and still get stared at quite a bit. If we can't haul it you don't need to move!

 

I went from a 98 Honda Civic hatchback to an 08 MC 10 days ago, and from small car to small car, I haven't noticed anyone riding my bumper any more than they did before, on my daily trek up the 405. It's definitely just a perception issue, magnified by how much closer your rearview mirror is to the ground in a small car, but you'll get used to it, promise.

 

Went from a Jeep YJ to the MINI. Wouldnt get rid of either. Both have their purposes and are so different.

 

Went from a 2000 Jeep Wrangler to my MCS. I miss my jeep like crazy but I love my MINI just as much

 

I don't miss my Jeep so much. I just think about the gas and the maintenance issues that my 2000 Wrangler was going through and I'm just looking forward to getting the Mini. Don't get me wrong. It was the toughest vehicle I've ever driven (both in drivability AND capability) but, it's really is overkill for the street.

 

Actually, I went from a '95 4-door Chevy Tahoe that had a Borola 3.5 in. exhaust, chip, shift kit, K & N filter charger kit, MT Wheels, BFG's, KC lights, 2000 watt competition stereo, and lifted to an '04 EB/W MCS.

Man I miss that truck sometimes. I had a lot of fun in/with that truck

 

I have a 99 Wrangler and am waiting for my MINI S Clubman to come over on the boat... I kept joking when I test drove the Clubman that I'm one of the few people who climb in and say "Wow, look at all the cargo room! Even space to have people and bags!" I'm still back and forth on keeping or selling my Jeep. If I keep it, I think he'll get converted over to the off road machine I have in mind...

 

I have a fear of what happens once I get use to driving a MINI and taking curves, bends, corners, quickly and then jump back into my Jeep to go camping...

 

Our old YJ was very good at reminding you that it was first and last a truck!

 

Yeah, my buddy had a YJ, and even that compared to my TJ was a big difference. (TJ-center of gravity more solid since the wheels sit a bit wider)

It's the ability to accelerate and merge in a blink with the MINI that set me back in the test drive. I had to laugh when I kept waiting to merge in construction at a stop sign, and then remembered I wasn't in my Jeep!

 

After 15 years of driving suv's, pickups and a lifted/ mud tired/ ill handling Jeep, I discovered like to drive again. Double the gas mileage doesn't hurt either.

 

I went from a Miata to a Silverado to a MINI....talk about transitions!!!

Its not a hard transition at all....the Miata had NO cargo room, and the truck literally didnt have much more (interior) cargo room than my MINI!

It was hard to park the truck after driving the Miata, but now parking is super easy again!

 

I am going from a 1992 Mercedes E class to the MCS.
I know what you all mean about feeling like cars in my backseat! When we test drove, I kept thinking 'why is everyone so close back there!?'.
It will take some getting used to - especially since my inaugural car crash involved a big old Plymouth rear-ending my BMW 2002 way back when. Took me a while to get over that one.

 

We bought our Mini but kept the Jeep Cherokee. What do we WANT to drive? The Mini of course. But not in rain, sleet or snow or to Lowes. When we bought the Jeep, just 2 months later hail made $5k in damages. So if it rains the Jeep gets to go for a ride. AND, you don't have to wash the Mini as often.