Since getting my production # earlier this week, I feel I've begun to officially think like a Motorer, so as with anything new, I need to become further acclimated. Please feel free to respond (or not) however you wish.

1) Is there such thing as just a plain' ol' MINI owner - as in someone who was just needing a car & MINI happened to fit their personal criteria?

1a) Regardless of initial intent, does EVERYONE eventually become a Motoring fanatic as a result of constant contact with the MINI contanimant?

2) Does anyone actually use the factory-supplied stereo? I'd imagine it would cover up the wonderful sound of the screaming SC & growling exhaust.

3) Could anyone imagine just walking into some drab car dealership (read:meat market), pointing at a car on the floor, and driving out in it? The entire MINI/Youifying experience has destroyed everything else out there.

4) How many Motorers plan on keeping their MINI for no shorter than for ever? It kind of bums me out to read of people who are spec'ing their build out according to what will yield the highest resale value. Isn't that contradictory to the tenets of Youifying? Isn't that more like TheNextGuy-ifying? I definately want mine to be a lifelong companion.

5) How many people use the Motoring ID as is available in the Owner's Lounge?

Thanks so much for being a great bunch of people - I'm psyched to be a part of the community.

thebill

 

I'll answer what I can;

1) Yes. They're called non-wavers.

1a) To a hopefully small percentage, it is just a car. They don't get us, we don't get them.

3) Personally can't imagine, but it happens. They're called Chevy owners.

4) A friend of mine thinks like that. He doesn't get me. He drives a Chevy.

5) I don't but many do. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

1. That was me when I first starting looking into a new car about 2 years ago (I've since graduated college and started my first "career" job, hence the long wait until buying). But after actually DRIVING a MINI, and then sitting in a whole bunch of differently configured ones at a car show.. I was slowly transformed into a MINI fanatic. It must be some kind of radiation..?

1a. see #1

2. I don't know. I ordered the H/K sound system... Personally I'm an audio fanatic and listen to the stereo in my car almost nonstop. But then again, I've been driving a POS cavalier with an awesome Infinity/Pioneer sound system for the last 8 years..

3. NO. I always walk back out. It's amazing the deals they offer you as you try to leave the building!

4. I was/am one of those. But not because I wanted my mini for only a couple years, only because I want to upgrade to the turbo mini in a couple years... In the end I just ordered exactly what I wanted.

5. Looks interesting.. haven't done anything with it yet. I need to think of a name for my MINI....

 

OT -
Squirlz - I've been wondering what the MMC number is??

 

There was a thread started months ago, Mini Motoring Club or something. You posted on the thread, you got a number. Meaningless really.

 

My miscellaneous thought " Wonder if I will win the lottery?"

 

Probably not. Those people drive "Aspires" or other sub-compacts. I don't think they'd like the ride.

Yes. But not as often as I would normally because I like the sounds.

Yes. I bought mine through the Internet. I got everything I wanted, sans JCW which I had added at the dealer. We thought about ordering but wifey didn't want to wait and Dinah was close enough (would have preferred factory JCW).
You want to maximize resale value only so it's easier to get into your next MINI I don't think there's a lot one can do that's going to affect resale that much...I'd think the depreciation rate would the be same across the board.
I'll use mine in my sig...which is now officially under construction My motoring ID is OPEN555.

Paul

 

Don't you know? You don't name it; your MINI tells you its name...

Paul

 

First - let me say Welcome to the MINI world..and yes we are very passionate about our cars...

Donna

 

Speaking as a former Chevy-owner in a VERY Chevy family, I must object to some of this. Lots of Chevy owners are just as passionate about their Chevys as MINI owners, and lots of Chevy owners go "youify" their vehicles in the aftermarket, not with factory choices. Mine was that way, it was personally more fun because there were so many more choices for a high-volume brand than for the exclusive MINI.

I understand what type of person was being described, I just wanted to defend Chevy in particular.

 

1. Plain ol MINI owners do exist. Nothing wrong with that option.

1a.No, MINI fanatasizm is purely optional and not totally contagious. There are some owners that remain totally normal despite driving MINIs.

2. I used the stock factory radio for a few weeks until I pulled it out with replacing nearly every audio part eventually. For most owners the stock radio will work fine. HK is another factory radio option that can work fine.

3. Customizing your MINI order is quite a complex process for many. Some buyers want an easy approach. Drab dealer and buy and drive is certainly possible when buying a used MINI. In Europe I saw there were many MINI dealerships doing sales of used (cherished) MINIs in this manner.

4. There are many owners that don't keep their MINIs. Evidence those MINIs for sale used. And there are many that are keeping their cars. Some will order options that allow for good resale value to keep their options more open but many will order what they really want. Even if you don't really think about resale value, the MINI has fairly high resale in any case- unless of course you go nuts on options.

5. Some do in my area but certainly not the majority of owners. Possibly more of the newer owners would. Many of the long time owners may not even know about it.

 

1. I dont think so. Thats more of a Honda/Toyota/Nissan/Mazda (you get the picture) thing.

1a. No. I knew a girl that sold her MC convert for a (ahem) Murano.

2. I dont have my car yet, but I do plan on using it alot!

3. Yes, they are (see 1) drivers.

4. I will keep mine forever.

5. I will as soon as I think of a good name for my car.

Thank you too! Lets Motor!!

 

1, Sure, look around.

1.a NO, look around

2. Only after you get an aftermarket exhaust

3. Yes, me. Just walked in and bought off the floor.

Dont confuse MINI marketing hype (youfification) with factory ordering a car. I've order cars exactly the way I wanted them optioned years ago ... nothing new here. Youfication is more like add a decal to your roof. Try than in an Accord!

4. Sigh. Many ppl say that but in the end, they all end up in a junkyard or Mexico

You dont know what you dont know and the time WILL come when you will have eyes for another sweet young thing hot from the factory ... you just dont know right now

Oh, and as others have said, wait until you have to pay for service

5. MINI marketing hype

 

Wow - talk about a downer on all counts! You brought this thread to a screeching halt! Or maybe you're just super pragmatic?

 

I gave you the short version but it looks like I can give you the long version since I killed it After all, its a fair question. So ...

I bet right now your so excited you can't sleep. Thats good. Have fun. Here a bit of reality ... just call it a reality check

1) Is there such thing as just a plain' ol' MINI owner - as in someone who was just needing a car & MINI happened to fit their personal criteria?

See http://www.gbmini.net/sales.shtml. 147,000 MINI sales in US. Now look at ALL the ACTIVE members of every MINI forum and every MINI club. How many? Maybe 15,000 and that is a stretch. That leave 90% of the owners who think its probably just a car. The point is, you cannot judge ALL MINI owners by several thousand active owners ... totally unrealistic.

BTW, yes MINI fit my wife's criteria. She read about it in a car mag and said buy it ... done. Fits her like a glove.

1a) Regardless of initial intent, does EVERYONE eventually become a Motoring fanatic as a result of constant contact with the MINI contanimant?

Of course not, Think about those other 90%.

2) Does anyone actually use the factory-supplied stereo? I'd imagine it would cover up the wonderful sound of the screaming SC & growling exhaust.

Fair question but of course ... Check the electronic forums, lots of ppl go aftermarket ... Remember, some people HATE the loud exhausts. Just because a small percentage of ppl like it, the vast majority may not.

3) Could anyone imagine just walking into some drab car dealership (read:meat market), pointing at a car on the floor, and driving out in it? The entire MINI/Youifying experience has destroyed everything else out there.

I think your confusing factory ordering a car vice youification. People have factory ordered cars since as long as there have been factories. I can think of two cars I've factory ordered just like I wanted them. No big deal. Your mostly forced into doing it by MINI because they dont have the production capacity to meet demand right not. Down the road ... who knows.

Youification, on the other hand, is making it unique to you ... some bling ... maybe some roof graphics, some stripes, maybe a mod or two so yours is different thant the guy down the street. That is MINI hype and marketing. MINI had an EXCELLENT advertising company. But, it suits the MINI well. They push that through selling factory roof graphics vice going aftermarket. Its all good but has NOTHING to do with factory ordering.

Could anyone imagine just walking into some drab car dealership ..., pointing at a car on the floor, and driving out in it?

We did. We did the car configuration thing, knew what we wanted. The dealer just happened to have the right color combo we wanted and drove away (well a few days later).
So lets see ... drive away immediately off the lot (with what we wanted) or wait 5 months? No contest.

4) How many Motorers plan on keeping their MINI for no shorter than for ever? It kind of bums me out to read of people who are spec'ing their build out according to what will yield the highest resale value. Isn't that contradictory to the tenets of Youifying? Isn't that more like TheNextGuy-ifying? I definately want mine to be a lifelong companion.

Sigh ... OK.People have also said that since as along as there have been cars. We did for sure. But that just isn't reality. Basically for three reasons:

1. Sh..t happens. Spouse dies, remarry, divorce, change jobs, you got to bail the kid out of jail, etc, etc, etc. You don't know what you don't know so you cant depend on the future.
2. You have eyes for another. Right now, sure you getting a new sweet thing, nice curves, perky, looks great. The fact is, they all get old and down the road is some new cute thing, nice curves, perky, looks great, FASTER ... BETTER. When that happens, its over. Real example ... we had a 1988 supercharged MR2, mid-engined, RWD ... handled sweeter than a MINI. Three years later out came the 1991 MR2 Turbo, MUCH faster, ... hmm. does this sound familiar?
3. MONEY ... the root of all evil. Right now, you have a free ride. But wait until your out of warranty and have to replace parts yourself. it aint cheap. A few years from now when your $25K MINI is worth $4000 are you going to pay a $3000 bill for a new head? As the car gets older, parts will be harder to find ...the cost of ownership eventual may be to much to bear.

Why spec out for resale. Well, you got to buy into the fact that sooner or later you WILL be getting rid of it. If you dont care about the money, then build a loaded one. Others, its more fiscally responsible to get a stripped car with the options that resell, like A/C ... maybe leather. But other options are fluff that nobody else cares about ... like automatic mirrors

Go and peruse the MINIs for sale here (and the complaints in the OL if you read there) where ppl have $35K loaded MINIs and get dump them. you got to remember that that $2K Nav and that LSD might mean a lot to you but the next guy could care less of Nav or LSD.

5) How many people use the Motoring ID as is available in the Owner's Lounge?

MINI marketing hype. If they were serious they would send you the stickers. For example, the welcome kit had little paddles in them for you to hold up to the window to welcome other cars. Yeah right, like who uses them?

From all this you might think its a downer. Not at all, I'm just putting it into perspective.

Yup, I bought right off the showroom floor. Have we "youifiied the car" ... look at my sig. Seen any MINIs looking like that around? Will we keep it forever? Of course not. Although my wife wants to keep it for now, she already knows the time will come ... tradeup ... who knows?

Good luck and stay excitied. Its a FUN car and FUN culture. I just wouldn't expect ALL MINI owners to share the same enthusiasm because you WILL be disappointed.

Oh, one last note. I belong to a VERY active MINI club. I bet I see no more than 50 or so ACTIVE members. Yet, in our Metro area, HIgh, density, High incomes (northern Va, DC, MD) there has to be thousands if not 5000+ MINIs around. I see LOTS and LOTs of plain MINIs driven everyday .. so much so now that its routine.

In anycase, have FUN with your car. Stay Enthusiaseed. WE ARE. Just dont expect everyone else to be enthused.

 

Heck, I hardly ever see any MINIs...I've seen 4 or so in the last 3 weeks.

I guess your club isn't that active up here

Paul

 

Dude .. its YOUR club too. You should check out DCMM, they are VERY active ... something going on all the time and it includes Baltimore!

 

Chows - by no means was this intended to be a serious thread - I was thinking more along the lines of questions an 8 year would ask at, say, a museum. They were partially meant to be rhetorical. You know, the way MINI is marketing their vehicle. Looking at the light-hearted, more fun aspect of the larger picture. Not to shoot you down, but you didn't get it.
But then again, you're dissecting the definition of my post, while I was interested more in the meaning - it's a case of semantics, really.

 

OOPS. And I was trying to be serious.

Sorry about that. Its old age, you know.

Actually you had good questions. Lots of time new owners get REALLY into their MINIs. We did and still do. Its old age that lets reality sink in

 

Actually, I know a few people that have done this. VERY boring. No excitement about picking out a car. And I know two other people that will go out on a Sunday afternoon and buy a house the same way. "Great house! I'll take it!"

 

pgifford, Love your sig. Those gals are from an old PSA (Pacific Southwest Airlines) ad aren't they? If not they are a great retro rendition of it.

SkateMom

 

Well I'll chime in. We have owned our 2003 MCS since 3/1/02. Here's my take.
1) Yes there are plain old Mini owner/drivers out ther that do not really comprehend the history of the Mini and really don't care. That's OK. I do remember when my wife and I got the car whenever we come across another Mini there was plenty of flashing of lights and waves. Now with so many on the roads around the Boston area most people look at you strange if you do that. They don't get it. A shame but it's OK.
1a) Instant motoring fanatic, well that's up to you.
2) I listen to the radio sometimes.
3) Walk in and buy. Only with the MCS or a Porsche. It's just a question of what you want or don't want on your ride.
4) I have zero interest in what my resale value is...as I have no intention of selling. We both love "Zippy", and when the time does come, "Zippy" will be replaced by "Zippy Two" and be assured it will be a MCS.
5) I have no motoring ID, don't know what it is. Do I need one?

Have fun with your Mini.

 

How can you say that? Did you do that with your MINI or are you "assuming" it wasn't exciting???

When we saw our car on the floor, right color, same stuff we'd order... You dont call that exciting? Boring?

 

I guess that would be ME.

I was shopping for a commuter car with decent gas mileage and looked at a Prius, a Civic, a Kia, and finally a Mini. What the Mini has that the others don't is the relatively large cargo area which makes it more practical for me. Also, the Mini holds its value better. Oh, and of course there's the styling - the Mini is definitely tops among cars in its class.

So I ordered a basic Mini Cooper 5-spd, cloth seats, with very few options, the most important of which are the Xenons for commuting in the early morning hours during the week. MSRP is only $18.95k. And I'm really happy with my choice!

 

I had a feeling it was just a misinterpretation. No hard feelings, no toes stepped on. Yes, I've got the new owner jitters. I don't think they'll go away, either.
Motor On!