Is this like AAA? Hello my name is Scott and I am a car addict. While people I know continue to urge that I get help, I simply don't want to! I love cars and I swap them around rather often. That is my "normal". I think it's insane to buy one car and drive it for 12 years at a time. No thanks!

Never thought I would end up in a mini, but somehow a 2008 Cooper S followed me home yesterday and I must admit it's a lot more fun to drive than I expected.

Let me start saying I am not a fan of FWD. That said I've owned a few FWD cars including:
- 78 Accord hatchback, manual
- 90 Taurus SHO, manual
- 89 Legend
- 93 Camry SE

I guess that's it. I've had a lot more RWD and a few AWD cars:
- 89 Camaro IROC Z28, manual
- 91 Corvette, manual
- 04 Z06, manual
- 07 Z51 Corvette coupe - manual
- 06 Evo
- 05 S4 Avant, manual
and a few BMWs along the way:
- 98 M3 sedan, manual
- 02 330i sport, manual
- 99 540iT
- 03 X5 4.6is
- 00 740i sport
- 00 M5
- 03 M5 (current daily driver)

That's most of the interesting stuff anyway.

So how did a Mini end up in my garage you ask?

Long story, but I was looking for a smaller manual car to teach my daughter to drive stick shift and as a share car for myself, wife and daughter to drive. Ideally I wanted something that would be decent for autox. I got heavily into autox about 15 years ago and migrated into open track events and then full out spec racing in the NASA CMC series in a 83 Camaro. I gave that up a few years ago due to time and budget. But now I'd like to dabble in autox again and maybe even get my daughter to try it out.

So her dream car for a couple years has been a Mini. I never thought much about them as FWD was just not my cup of tea. But in this latest search I looked at a few options including a few select FWD cars: E36 M3, E46 3 series, Z3, Z4, Miata, GTI, WRX, Mustang V6. So I decided I should at least go drive a Mini while I was out shopping over the weekend. I had also pretty much ruled out the roadsters because that just seemed too unsafe for a teenage driver. So I was leaning towards the WRX or a E46 3 series. Wife and kids were not keen on either choice btw. They all liked the GTI quite a bit - almost leased a new one.

So after driving both a 2008 S and a new 2012 base I decided this was probably a pretty good way to go. First it would provide maximum incentive for both my daughter and wife to drive a stick. Wife knows how, but generally prefers to drive an AT. Her car is a 2003 Mazda Protege5 which the car our daughter drives when she needs to drive. We have a Mazda SUV as well. There are times when I need the SUV but they both need a car and my wife will not drive my M5, so that creates problems. This should solve that issue. And gives me a fun to drive second car to the M5 that is completely different and that gets much much better mpg. From what I understand the car is quite competitive in D-stock for SCCA and I also like that I can run in BMW CCA events!

So there you go - never thought I would be making this post on a mini forum, but there you have it!

I was quite impressed with the Mini - very strong BMW DNA shines through - great chassis, steering feedback, etc. I was very surprised to learn it has electronic steering, as I normally prefer a manual rack. The brake feel is also very good in my view - if that is electric I am really shocked!

Adding a pic - sorry it's the only one I have so far.

 

Very nice looking car .

 

thanks - I really fell in love with the color combo. Sure reminds me of my departed Estoril Blue X5 4.6is!

 

Welcome and congrats
It looks great. Your daughter must be thrilled!!!!
They are really fun to drive and I understand the addiction well.
At least this addiction is good for your soul.

 

She doesn't know yet - it will be a surprise when I pick her up from the airport tomorrow evening - she has been with her grandparents doing some college tours and internship work this week.

BTW - I love the new Mustang too - even as a die hard Chevy guy, that is a well done car. And glad to see I'm not the only one that will be parking my Mini next to a 400hp RWD car!

 

Congrats on the new ride and welcome

 

adding a few more pics!!

 

and to follow-up, I picked up my older daughter at the airport and told her I bought a car. she almost didn't want to go to the parking lot because she thought it was a Subaru WRX and she really doesn't like them. I told her she would like what I got. And she spotted the MCS out in the parking lot and asked - wait - did you get a blue Mini Cooper??? She was beyond excited about it!!

Now comes the task of teaching her to drive a stick so she can actually drive it. I made it very clear it wasn't her car and she was very much fine with that and just so happy she would get to use it sometimes.

 

She's a lucky girl!
I love that Blue & White color scheme.
It looks so crisp and clean.
The star wheels are cool too.
Your daughter must be over the moon.