I've had the same thing happen to me in drive-thru windows...yes, more than once!

I totally desired my 1988 Isuzu Trooper before I bought her new...I dreamed about her! Of course, I had nightmares, too, because I'd never owned a 4WD, nor a vehicle with such a high center of gravity. I had a recurring nightmare that I was driving South on the 405 from the Valley to West L.A., and the Trooper would just tip over on its side like a cow tipped over.

 

be glad people aren't saying (like our relatives) "It's a death trap!!!"

 

That's when you go into your safety spiel and describe the 6 standard airbags, the huge number of weld points, and the nimble handling that allows one to avoid accidents.

 

If he's packin' heat , give it to him !

 

It's a death trap! :LOL:

 

Or how bout "It's a death trap... you deserve it!"

 

"Sorry, Death... you lose!"

 

I think my dad was the first to use the phrase "death trap" to describe my Mini. I didn't bother to correct him. He's old enough to be from the school that bigger is better and safer. Try telling that to people who drove the Ford Exploder -- I mean Explorer a few years ago. As for the Corolla's desireability, as someone who just put 160,000 miles on a Corolla (the car before the Mini), I can tell you they are dependable, efficient, run forever, and about as fun to drive as a lawnmower. I guess if desireable means people buy them, then they probably are desireable. But if it means that it is the car that people show up to the lot filled with anticipation, wait for months to get after ordering, just want to drive for hours on open country road, look forward to each and every commute, then not desireable at all. I guess everyone has a reason for buying a car. For me and the mini, it was more the mileage (I still have to make the commute) and most of all, the joy of driving it. I would have bought it if I was driving it in the middle of nowhere and it would never be seen by another person ever. For me, the attention has been a necessary evil, not a plus.

 

Ah, but you must have realized that your MINI would be a major head-turner, Blazermaniac!

 

Gives you an idea about how much I loved to drive it. Doesn't it?

 

In honor of opening weekend, I think if the mini S were a football player it would be a kick returner.

 

Millions of them

Absolutely. Everytime I went to the lot to pick one out, I couldn't wait

No need too. Unlike MINI, Toyota has massive production capacity and fills the lots with all kinds of colors and options

Drove around the country twice in a Corolla ~ 10K miles each time and love it.

That was about the absolute best part, commuting. Loved the gas mileage, loved that it was quiet, loved that it used regular gas, and loved the quality built-in.

This is making me teary eyed just thinking about how much I miss owning a Corolla While the V6 RAV4 rocks and is fast as a MCS (although not as good cornering) the I misse thd Corolla's gas mileage for commuting. Sigh, now if I can only convince Ken to get one, life would be good.

 

Chows...please have wifey up the meds. You're a bit too giddy about your Toyotas.

 

Oh yeah Toyota love

 

Yesterday I was getting tires mounted (third set in 30k miles) and the car was brought around after completion, viewable through the waiting room window. A very nice woman, also waiting, saw the car and said "Wow that's a cute car. I'd be afraid to drive it though - it's so small". I understand what they are seeing. It has a certain appearance. Oh well. This is one common MINI persona.

This happens with other smaller cars - Miata, Subaru - until the Commenter rides or drives the car in question. Then there is a different story... The first time my good friend accompanied me for a ride he said. Says he, "Hey! This thing is a f**king sports car!" Says I, "Yeah, sometimes its okay".

To the OP: They don't understand and they never will. Nothing wrong with that. You, OTOH, understand.

 

Behave, Chows.

 

Wow! Solid response. Mr./Mrs. Chows ... I'm not quite sure how to say this ... but a new Corolla only costs around $15,000-16,000. You could have had mine .... still running strong with all of that gas mileage and "quality built in" for the bargain price of $1,600. That would have saved you at least $10k and possibly 24k (if you bought my Corolla) over the price of a new Mini. Money possibly better spent on a down payment for a Winnebago. You could have even put the T-Bar on back and towed that quality built in all around the country ... spent winters in Arizona. It would have been grand. Sigh ....missed opportunities.....

 

Yeah....the "cute" car comment is a popular one. Not sure how I feel about that one. I have only heard women use that one ... I suspect the amount most male Mini S owners are bothered by that comment is directly proportional to how good looking the woman is.

 

Hoo boy...the "cute" factor has been discussed at length since 2002. All the dudes need to get over it. YES...it is a cute car. And yes...women are attracted to it. WIN/WIN.

 

Atleast you do not get the "You in a mini? You sure that's a good idea?" - makes me want to punch them in the face. This is how it went.

Tiny boring friend: What?! A mini? You in a mini?
Me: Yes, it's roomy enough for big guys like
Tiny boring friend: But you! in a mini?
Me: Yes, me in a mini
*growling and cracking fingers*
*Tiny boring friend leaves*