Hello NAM. My name is Michael, and I am 16 years old. I have been (I guess) in and out of the MINI family since I was 6.

My father was a car enthusiast all his life. He was a rally-er, an SCCA member, a pit crew chief, a race car driver at Summit Point, WV, a Ferrari Club of America member, and a MINI owner.

He fell in love with MINIs in the late 1990s and early 2000s, just in time for them to come to the states. He registered on many waiting lists to get himself a MINI. Well, in 2001 he finally got his MINI. The first MINI sold in the Washington DC area. There was a small party when we got it at MINI of Sterling in Northern VA. It was a 2002 MINI Cooper in silver with a black roof. He loved that car, however with a growing family and the birth of his third child (I am the oldest of three) in 2003, he was forced to sell it as you could not fit 2 car seats and 3 kids in the back.

He got a Saab 9-5 wagon that was riddled with problems, and as I remember stranded us a couple of times. We also moved to Central PA in 2004 and there were not Saab dealerships close to us.

He then got a 2005 Dodge Magnum. I do not remember much of that car as it was not used much.

In 2005 he was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer after having much abdominal pain and bouts with Pancreatitis. Before going into surgery after many months of chemo and radiation he said to my mother, "If I survive this surgery, I will be buying another MINI." And he made it through the surgery.

He purchased a 2002 MINI Cooper S also in silver with a black roof (even though he said his favorite colors were British Racing Green and Chili Red). He looked as if he was starting to go into remission and recover. He went to rally events and I remember going with my dad in this MINI down country roads 'racing' his friend in his Porche Boxster.

In late 2006 things were going down again. He was not doing well at all. He passed away in January of 2007.

Behind was a manual 2002 MCS that my mother could not drive. We had my dad's friend drive it around to keep it running to hopefully keep it for me to drive, however this was looking less and less possible. We sold the car, and we put the money towards my first car, which I told my mother will be a MINI and she agreed.

So here I am, five and a half years later, 16 years old and looking for a car. And of course it will be a MINI. I am in the looking process for an automatic R53.

Anyways, thanks for this website, and Keep Motoring!

 

What a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing and wish you the Mini you deserve.

 

Yep, good story ! Your Dad would be happy you're going to carry on his love of MINIs.

Can't wait to see the MINI you pick out for your first car !

 

Thank you for sharing your story.
Although I have tears in my eyes, I just know your Dad is smiling on you and is very proud.
The right MINI will come your way.
Please keep us informed!

 

Hello Michael,

My R53 was my first car as well. I lost my mother to cancer when I was 7 in 2001 so I know exactly how it is...

My suggestion to you is to go with a manual R53. I learned how to drive stick on my MINI and it was very easy with these cars. The pre-2005 CVT automatic transmissions in MINIs are time bombs....so if the only thing that is holding you back is learning stick, I would say go with that or else you may have an $8,000 transmission bill on your hands.

Look around on here, craigslist, other forums, etc. A MINI will come up, let us know if you have any questions about a potential purchase.

I wish you the best,
John

 

I'm looking at this MINI. It is a 2006, and from what I've read, the MCS's don't have CVT transmissions and should be fine. And my mom doesn't want me to have a stick for my first car, although I will be learning to drive stick on a family friend's MINI.

 

As Dad as your co-pilot, you'll be fine with a manual. Usually better gas mileage too!

 

Looks like a nice find. CR is an awesome color, too.

You live near Westminster??

 

You will pay less for a stick, you'll become a better driver with a stick, you'll get more driving enjoyment with a stick, and odds are you'll have lower repair costs with a stick. And the Getrag is one of the better sticks.

I also believe (my opinion) that youth drivers are safer with a stick because they're more in tune with their vehicles (they drive them rather than vice versa).

Not to argue with your mother as she is the final authority, but did she say why she prefers an automatic for you?

 

Maybe mom isn't thrilled with the idea of having a car in the driveway she can't drive.

Either way, you sound like a pretty good kid.

 

I live in Central PA, but I have family friends who live in Westminster. She went to look at it last night and the salesperson said that there was another person coming back to finalize the sale :(.

My mom says that I should definitely know how to drive a stick but she doesn't want me to have the "challenge" of driving a stick and learning how to drive, even though I've told her plenty of people learn on sticks and plenty my age have them.


I'm sure thats a part of it. Thanks.

 

aww. that's nice. haha

 

Mtorio83,
Thanks for sharing your story. Your mom knows you better than we do (obviously). However, if it's your youth she is concerned with -- I learned to drive a manual "three on the tree" (shift on the steering column) at 15. Trust me, if I can drive that arcane auto, you will rock the six on the floor. Look forward to hearing how it all goes. All the best.

 

Good luck. You're right the MCS automatic was never CVT.

p.s. my ride is an automatic Cooper. I'm sure several here will tell me my car sucks, etc. As far as I'm concerned, any MINI is tops in my book.

 

I've determined that I want an '05 or an '06. My mom wants less than 40K miles, so the search is a little tough. I've found a couple in pepper white or pure silver, but i would much prefer a chili red, hyper blue metallic or british racing green.

 

I know how good red looks -- that's why I ordered mine in red, but that pepper white grows on you -- it was my second choice.

 

Just thought I'd update. I get my licence on Tuesday and about a month ago I got my Mini! A British Racing Green Cooper S with all the options both I and my mother wanted!

 

Awesome ! Great color... glad you found just what you were looking for !

 

Awesome-tastic!

 

Nice! Thanks for letting us know you got your Mini. It's a beauty.

 

That is great, you will enjoy it.
Share some pictures of the inside, and all the things you go and do with it.

 

Awesome ride man!

I have to say you're story really got to me. I bought my Cooper back in 2010 new at the age of 21, a birthday present to myself. Being a college student and on a budget I had to go with a non-s so that I could get the payments low enough for me to afford on a month to month basis. To be honest though I didnt care about it not being an "s"....I was just so glad to finally be apart of the Mini community.

Well anyways, shortly after I bought my Cooper, I began having some serious health issues. It got to the point where I had to come home from college and park the Mini in the garage. As time went on, and after numerous surgeries and tests, my doctors finally diagnosed me with stage IV squamos cell carcinoma, which is oral cancer. Never smoked or was a drinker....just super unlucky.

While I was going through chemotherapy and radiation, I liked to go out to my garage, and just sit in the drivers seat of my Mini, too sick to even drive. I made a promise to myself that I would survive my cancer and get back behind the wheel and drive that Cooper for many years to come.

Here I am, 23 years old and currently in remission. I lost 85% of my tongue, the "floor" of my mouth, and 55lbs in the process (which I've put back on ). But the one thing I held onto was my Cooper. Me and "Herman" have an inseperable bond. I can climb in and motor off and forget about everything thats on my mind. The car means so much to me that I doubt I'll ever sell him. In a way, he gave me some motivation to keep on moving when things were at their worst.

I didn't know if there was anyone out there that had as strong a connection with their Mini as me, but after reading your story I have no doubt. Thanks so much for sharing!

 

One of the first things I did at the dealership was to make sure my golf clubs fit as I am an avid golfer. Here's a pretty funny picture of my clubs in the car.

 

Funny, friends of mine did the same thing, but with their Roadster. They found out one set fits great, but two not so much. :-)

I really like the tan seats you have.

 

Bag Boy Revolver in my Justa. Initially worried they wouldn't fit.