I've had quite a few conversations/encounters/observations since I got this car.
People will stop and check him out (El Toro, my MINI of course), peek in his windows.. or point, but most of all people smile. I love that I (or he) can make people smile just by 'being', and I totally understand, cuz I actually enjoy my Conway/LR commute a LOT more since I got this car.

So.... I thought a thread of little stories of your encounters would be fun.

Here are a few one liners I've heard:
1. That car go fast?
2. That thang get good gas?
3. That's one of those italian cars isn't it?
4. Is that made in Bulgaria?
5. Geez, why don't you get rid of that thing and get a real car (coworkers, joking around, while driving their huge gas guzzling pickup).
6. (girl at taco bell window) Oh my god, I love that car, come here guys look at this car (3 coworkers join her), uh huh, cute, I like it... (and as one guy walks away) "thats a chick car."
6. dang that's small, how do you fit your purse in there (i have a big purse, lol)
7. I want one of these, cuz my last name is cooper and I have mini pinchers at home (?? what the? lol)
8. how much do those things run? about 15k?
9. how much do those things run? about 35k?

.. and last but not least "Is that car in the bug family"

 

Prior to my '06 MCS, I drove a sweet '69 Camaro RS.

Best one liner? I rolled up to the gate and the guards says, "Wow, you don't see a car like that every day!"

"Actually," I answered, "I do."

 

"Those are really cute little cars, but can they keep up on the Interstate?"

(I took him for a ride.)

 

both good ones

i think people ON the interstate are always testing to see if i can keep up, silly boys

 

i have had a few off the wall statements.. my car is blinged out in the union jack....
1.) Did you buy that in france? FRANCE????
uh no, i bought it in germany...
1a.) Are you British?
No comment with my american accent.
2.) Repair tech at mini auto body after it got hit:
Are you the owner of this car?
yes
Aw Man I was hoping this car was going to be abandoned...
me: glaring at him
3.) Different Repair Tech same auto body shop: THE BRITISH ARE COMING
me: again no comment, trying not to laugh
4.) Military police officer on post as he is getting out of his car in my driveway: Ma'am I need to look at your decals to make sure nothing is offensive..
me: your kidding right??
Him as he walked around my car: No, I am not kidding.
( no decals were harmed or injured that day)

 

I have a new job and this one guy says it looks like a turtle. I tell him, turtle! let's go for a ride boy and I'll make you think turtle!
I've had people say it looks like a chick car, I tell them they obviously know nothing about the MINI or would know how much power and how this "chick car" can corner better than quite a few sports cars.

 

Some chicks drive sticks. Fast ones.

 

"What's that, one of those European cars??"

And the classic:

"You must get great mileage in that thing"

 

My standard reply: "Not the way I drive it!"

 

One of the funniest questions I've gotten: as I was pumping fuel into Wanda somewhere in the South on one of my annual road trips in 2003, a fellow asked me "is that thing electric?"

 

I was asked if that is "one of those cars that takes that special fuel?"

I answered "Yes....premium!"

 

That's pretty cute but it doesn't look safe!

 

A neighbor comes over and says (about my MCS), "nice car". "A friend of mine has one, but he got the deluxe model ... you know the one with the sunroof" .... (mine doesn't have sun roof, guess it's not "deluxe").

 

After 2 years driving in this town, If I get out of the car I still get quizzed as I am sure we all do!

My personal favorite is the one from my friends: Will it run?.........Me: Get in & let's see what you think! They get in, I say "hold on" & they laugh . After a few minutes of cruising, showing them a little, I take that HARD 90 degree left at about 60....once they peel their face off the window, from not holding on like they were told, their faces are worth a 1000 words when they realize they are still on the pavement .

Now the exclamations I get after that are a little more serious!

 

After hearing several rude comments by some of my good old boy, pick up drivin' friends, I loaded three of them in Popeye and took them for a little late night ride. As I hit 90 going in about a block, I heard from the back seat, "Damn, this thing is fast!"

They've never made another rude comment and now they brag about it all the time.

 

Sounds like we have the same friends.

 

Yep, I've heard that one, as well as: "Is that one of those new Hybrids?"

I guess people think if a car is small it must either be electric or hybrid...

Don't you all find it strange that there is a relatively small pocket of the public that know about the MINI and just love it...while a significant majority don't have a clue what the car is...

 

4.) Military police officer on post as he is getting out of his car in my driveway: Ma'am I need to look at your decals to make sure nothing is offensive..

Very funny... LOL

 

these are all great! i totally forgot about this thread and hadn't been getting email notifications. Keep em coming..

 

Are you a dark haired guy? I saw a car like yours in SWLR near the Cat dealership a few weeks ago... and the driver waived.

 

Sorry Tess, not me, I live in Hot Springs. If you make it to Toy 4 Tots, I'll meet ya there!

 

"Where's the rest of it?"

And one day at Heartland Park, from a Corvette driver "Damn, those MINIs are fast!"

 

a pickup pulled up next to me and the redneck driver said to me "What's a cooper?"

 

So the other day one of my students made the comment that my car reminded him of a PT Cruiser. I mistakenly replied to the effect that he shouldn't 'insult my car like that' (joking, of course). Now, I have students from all over the school, that I don't even have in class, asking me how I like my PT Cruiser. Grrr.... lol Ah well, I have just as many students and teachers alike talking about how much they like it and asking to drive it!

 

About a week ago, while waiting at a light, the driver of a commercial truck next to me said "that seems like the right color for a car like that".