Hi guys!

I'm not currently a MINI owner, but I hope to be one by this coming weekend!

I'll start by saying a little about myself:
I am 20 years old, with my birthday passing by last month. I am studying Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I absolutely love to tinker with things, though I don't think I should try my hand at doing anything with a car My interests include games (video, board, other), engineering, and computers (my major fits me well, lol).

I've always loved cars, so when I turned 16, I made sure to go and get my license as early as I could. I was driving by noon on my birthday. A year later my dad gave me the keys to his '99 TL. The only reason he still had the car was because when he bought it back in '99, I told him that I wanted the car once I was old enough. Recently the transmission started dying, so we got it replaced. My dad didn't want anymore trouble, so he promptly sold it. That car was dear to me, but I knew that it was time for it to leave.

That brings me to now. As soon as the TL was sold, me and my father got straight to car shopping. We somehow had this unsaid agreement that the car had to be fun, but most of all, it had to be manual (We've always had automatic cars. I've always tried pushing for manual, but my mom and sister had to be able to drive the cars too. This time, this car is just for me and my dad.). The first car we decided to check out was the MINI Cooper S. We looked into other cars as well, but the MINI just stood out in every manner. I took my father to the MINI dealership yesterday, where he saw a beautiful pepper white Cooper S (w/ green sport stripes and green leather seats) sitting right at the entrance. Had the Cooper been manual, I probably would have started this post with, "Today I became a MINI owner ". We didn't have time for a test drive, but I'm sure when we drive it, we'll love it.

My dad and I plan to go back on Friday. We'll test drive one, and then (if we like it and if there's a color scheme that we like) we'll buy one. Judging by what I've already read on this forum, the MINI will not disappoint. I can't wait to be a MINI owner, and to get to know all of you.

Edit: I got one! More information lower down

 

Good luck. Hope you find one to take home!

 

I am happy to announce that we leased a Cooper S off our local MINI dealer's lot!

2012 Manual Midnight Black Cooper S
- Red Leather/Carbon Black Cloth
- Cold Weather
- Sports Package (17" blk conical spike)
- Black headlight housing
- Sunroof
- Anthracite headliner
- H-K Sound
- Bluetooth
- All-Season tires

I'm so excited. I don't have much experience driving manual yet, but my dad is a great teacher. We've also ordered Matte Black - Red Rule Sport Stripes for her (full body). I haven't been able to think of a name for her yet. I'm also hoping to get a vanity plate. Before I could say anything, the salesman put the license plate bracket on, but when the stripes get put on, I'm going to ask them to keep the bracket off. I'm going to be ordering a hideaway license plate bracket. I hate destroying the look of a car with a license plate.

Come morning, I'll be sure to take some pics and post them :D

Edit:
It's morning! Pictures! (Larger images are in my gallery)






I have never had as easy a time taking pictures of a car as I've had with this beauty.


I've been waiting for a long time for a manual! Slowly getting the hang of it.


Playground: Where I used to have fun.
MINI: Where I have fun.

Can't wait until next week to get her stripes on :D

 

So, just an update: My dealership called and said that they are waiting on an order for the matte black vinyl, so the stripes will have to wait another week.

 

congrats on the car

 

Thanks man. I'm thinking of getting a vanity plate along the lines of one of the following:
STCK MCS
STK SHFT
XS HP MCS (chemistry humor)
MCS STIG

Any input would be great ^_^