I wasn't too crazy about the new MINI when I first saw one.The only thing I knew about it was that it was a redesigned vehicle from the sixties.My girlfriend was crazy about them,every time we saw one(which wasn't very often)she would point it out.Fast forward to the beginning of February this year...
The 1995 Toyota Camry that my girlfriend drove needed more and more,and I just got tired of having to fix it,the oil pan gasket was leaking now and I just didn't want to do it.I work in the parts dept of GM/Hyundai dealer so I can use a lift if I have to,but I just didn't want to do it.I started looking for a MINI.I found a couple on eBay and contacted one seller in Albany,NY.It was a 2003 Cooper S,dark silver with light gray stripes going straight up the hood,and loaded with low miles.It was getting close to Valentines day,so I thought it would be pretty cool to get it for her.I wasn't looking forward to having to drive to Albany,but I was ready to go.A day or so later,i'm driving to work,going past the Ford dealer that is across the street,and what do I see on their lot parked near the road??A dark silver Cooper S with light gray stripes going straight up the hood!!I could not believe it, the car looked exactly like the one in Albany!! It was loaded with only eight thousand miles!I pulled in cause a salesman was showing it to the DentWizard guy and I asked how much they wanted for it.It was only a little more than the one in Albany,can you believe it?!! No more trip to Albany!!woo-hoo!!When I told him that I worked across the street the price when down a little.I traded the Camry for the MINI the next day.Two days after Valentines day,I guess it was close enough.I found out who traded the MINI in from the salesman,it was a local guy who owns Camaro Signs and he's the one who striped the car!!How cool is that?!! My car is even more unique because it has custom stripes that you won't see on any other MINI Cooper S on the road.
Needless to say,we both LOVE this car.I have been a sponge for MINI info ever since!
I have even thought about trading my 2004 Dodge Dakota QuadCab 4x4 in for a 2005 John Cooper Works edition,but we need one vehicle with room.I'll just have to make the MINI a little faster.Pretty crazy story,huh?

 

very cool story, it's amazing how the MINI bug just sneaks up on u

 

Welcome to NAM PARTSMAN109. It is a great story and I hope you have many happy miles on the road motoring about in it.

 

Wow - that's great! So we'd love to see some pictures - especially because it's got "one of a kind" stripes. And by the way - Welcome Aboard.

Donna
02' CR/W MCS (gone to MINI heaven)
05' Cool Blue MCSC "Ariel"

 

Welcome to NAM, PARTSMAN109! Great story of catching the MINI virus! Please post pix of the custom bonnet stripes! Bet your girlfriend is VERY pleased! Um..does she get to drive the MINI very often?


Clover

 

So was the MINI a surprise for your girlrfriend??? What was her reaction??? Did she faint??? I swear, by giving her that MINI you should be good to go for quite a few Valentine's Days!!(...but then what do I know about Valentine's Day ) Still, way to go!!!

 

Whoo hoo, another one bit by the "Mini-bug" Definitely wanna see pics of this baby - sounds hot!

 

Man!!! You folks sure hit the nail on the head with that "mini bug" thing. Sort of the same story here, my wife saw one and really liked them and I didn't much care for them...Until we went to trade her gas hog off and I test drove an '05 Mini S convertable. Liquid yellow, leather, loaded. I just cant get enough of it. We went motering through the Ozark mtns. Sunday ,75 degrees, sunny, top down, what a blast. I can't wait to get another one

 

Go to the gallery and click on "p" for PARTSMAN109 and check out the stripes.More coming soon.

 

it looks great. congratulations on the MINI.

 

Wow! You got lucky finding exactly what you wanted! Those stripes are SWEET! I love that they go all the way onto the roof... do they continue onto the bonnet?

Congrats on the MINIs and welcome to NAM!

 

 

I did get lucky finding this car the way I did!!
The stripes go behind the sunroof on either side of the antenna,UNDER the spoiler around the third brake light and down the boot behind the license plate,onto the bumper where they end.The spoiler is wrapped all the way around too!!The guy did a awesome job!!

 

I knew it would be a hot car - boy did I nail that one - it's a BEAUT!!!!

 

PARTSMAN109-

Nice find and great looking stripes! I have an '04 MCS Works and was considering selling my Toyota Tacoma after getting the MINI last July.

After three camping trips and helping several friends move around town the Tacoma is remaining in the stable!

Enjoy your MINI-ing!

Aloha!

JCW04

 

That is a great story, and I saw your pics, really cool...I had been planning to purchase a MINI since November...even test drove an '02 S model and had it home for 24 hours which was great. I never went through with the purchase and instead went through about 3 months of going through different models of cars I thought I wanted (SRT-4, WRX STi, Tacoma X-Runner, Mustang GT, GTO, and a Tacoma 4x4)...ultimately though, I was swayed back to the MINI, and I'm picking mine up next week...funny how people sometimes get into the MINI, even when it's the last car they think they'd own

Dave.

 

Dave you are so right about thinking it's the last car i'd ever own!! I only looked at it because she has been wanting one for a long time,after checking them out for a couple of weeks I ended up buying this car without even driving it.I was blown away by not only the uniqueness of this vehicle but the following this little car has.The mods are endless no matter what your taste.Sarah knew it was cool right from the start,I guess I should have listened to her a long time ago!!We will be MINI owners until we can't motor anymore!!