i drove almost everything, i think. i was very focused on gas mileage and actually leaning towards a prius or camry hybrid, but i drove basically everything in that class from hyundai, honda, nissan (and currently own a nissan, waiting on delivery of my countryman), kia, and also looked at a camaro because i've always loved them. test drove a mini on a whim one saturday and fell in love.

 

Believe it or not, I was set on a Hyundai Veloster Turbo as I felt new Mini's were a bit out of my range. I test drove a 2012 Countryman R60 and bought on the spot.

Other cars in consideration were:

VW Golf Diesel
Subaru Impreza (including used WRX)
Volvo S60

 

I almost got another R56, but decided I wanted something slightly different this time so went with the R58. I was also considering the Hyundai Veloster Turbo, and the Subaru BRZ but the pull of another MINI was just too strong.

 

Since I was a new driver + being a teenager still, I was going nuts over AE86s and civic si's but as soon as i drove my granpa's mini I fell in love immediately. Euro is the way to go!

 

i was looking at:

lexus is250
lexus is350
lexus hs250h
volvo s60
infiniti g37 coupe
bmw 3 series

everything but the g37 coupe seemed boring, so i went over to mini. no regrets at all.

 

I almost bought a MKV GTI instead of the MINI... but the GTI didn't evoke the sort of emotions that the MINI did, which is why I bought it.


The part of me that likes straight-line speed occasionally regrets not getting the GTI (because of tuning potential). But that goes away on a good twisty road where the MINI's character shines through

 

Bmw 1m

 

I didn't even look at anything else :D

 

I originally planned on getting a brand new MINI, but since I had just started a new job at the time and my aging Cherokee was acting up, I thought I'd get a car that was cheap but sporty that I could later trade towards an MCS. I looked for 5 cars in particular: Mazda 3s, RSX type S, Jetta, Golf, and Scion tC. The tC was practical, but not as lively as I'd like. There were Golfs and Jettas all over the place, but they were either going for more than I cared to spend or were in pretty poor condition. The RSX was rare in the trim level I wanted and I could not find a Mazda 3s in decent condition with the options I wanted.

Then on a whim, I started searching used Minis. I found 2 perfect MCSs that were sold by the time I went to look at them. Then I spotted mine two states away with the right options for the right price. I'm really glad I decided not to wait to get a Mini.

 

Nice I'm not alone! What changed your mind? I couldn't ever find the one with the options I wanted and the salesmen were dismissive and non-committal about finding it for me.

 

I pondered a Mustang (still want one, have since I was 12!), actually test drove an Audi TT quattro roadster (don't recall the year on that one), and test drove a number of other Coopers before setting on my chili red 2005 Cooper, from what was at the time, the only Mini dealership in Colorado. Very glad I did not go for the TT - a year later I packed my cats, myself, and everything I needed for a summer away to haul off across the country for an internship. I'd have been lucky to fit me & the cats into the TT, much less my stuff! :-)

 

I took my wife's car in for service and walked the automall. Looked at all the cars I almost got over the mini and looked at all others. I couldn't find one car to knock out the mini. Too big. Not sporty enough. Wrong setup.

I still can't find a car that I take over the mini no matter what price. No buyers remorse.

Now working on my wife on her eventual vehicle replacement. Maybe I can get her to be a mini convert.

 

A JCW Coupe.

 

Wow, that would be a heckuva trick! Maybe you could just buy her a MINI convert!

 

Game plan is to have wife take the old Mini and I get to custom order again. And get to watch the build, ship, and delivery process.

 

I hear ya' . Especially about the emotions,

 

I almost got an automatic instead of manual but walked away with a manual. Wife was unhappy. Unhappy wife = hell for husband. Solution was to get wife her own automatic mini.

 

It's so nice to have a woman who loves MINIs as much as I do.

No debating about what the next car will be. No bitching at me about mod money as she gets it... even wanted a catback exhaust system after her first visit to MOTD. Goes to club events with me. Understands why I drive.... ummm... spirited... on occasions.

Yep... so nice.

 

Here is one smart man, fellas. Pay attention.

 

Excellent plan - but the build process may make you crazy!

 

Yikes - Have you ever considered cloning her?

 

No, because one has always been enough for me. And I like you and all, but it would be a little weird knowing you were having adult relations with a mirror image of my woman.

Seriously... yeah, I'm very lucky!

 

Ewwwwww ... Who said anything about that? We're talking about cars here, buddy!

 

Guess I shouldn't make assumptions about what you do and don't do with women. Especially pretty ones.

 

By the way, I am literally LOL !