So I traded in my 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid on Wednesday for a 2007 Mini Cooper S and just wanted to say hi!

I'm not used to (1) a car with a legitimate engine, (2) a car that turns heads, (3) and a manual transmission - this is my first! I'm so stoked.

My old Honda was the butt of a lot of my family's jokes (buncha motorheads) but I pulled my MCS into the driveway on Wednesday night to show it off and my dad and little brother grabbed the key and sped off down the street! They came back with very satisfied looks on their faces.

I don't think that they ever thought that their "overly-practical" daughter/sister would ever own a car with a respectable engine.

Here she is in all her Chili Red glory just before I drove her home:

 

Congrats and welcome! Nice looking ride, have fun ripping up the road and turning heads. Motor on.

 

Welcome to the obsession from MAD-Town, WI. I predict many smiles in your motorin' future.

 

Great choice, congratulations! It's totally different world here. REAL MINI WORLD. Check MONJ thread often lots of things are planned there.

Enjoy,

 

It's cool to see this car attracts both sides of the car world. I've seen plenty of people cross-shopping with boring stuff and plenty of people who used to have(or still do) a high-power car.

If the car wasn't so much fun, outsiders might start to think it's a compromise or something

 

Nice looking Cooper ! Enjoy your new ride

 

Nice ride! I sold my 01 Civic and got a 2010 MCS and have never been happier. Before I was a miserable driver, but now I'm an ecstatic motorer! Have fun!

 

Thanks everyone! I never, ever thought that I would be excited to get up and go to work in the morning...

 

Hi and welcome to the forum, I see you have named your MINI Amelia, nice name and good looking car, have fun.