Yeah. That story probably would have been better if you were walking at the time.

 

About a year ago, when we were picking up one of those queen size memory foam mattresses from Costco for a friend we took the MINI. This thing comes in a big rectangular box, which is about the length of the cargo area with the seats pulled all the way to the front.

In the loading area a guy with an F150 looks at me and says, "You're gonna get that into your car?" I load the car up and shut the boot and he says, "Amazing". Made my knees touching the parcel shelf all the way home totally worth it

 

Hahaha, can I quote that for my profile??

F1 > Nascar

 

Yesterday, as I was getting gas, a homeless man walking down the street and pushing a shopping cart (and it was well below zero outside ) stopped his progress to come over to me at the pump. After complimenting me on my Mini's good looks and asking if it was fun to drive (I assured him it was very fun to drive), he told me how much he loved the cars since he saw them in "The Italian Connection"....then he asked me several questions about gas mileage - was it good? how good? what did it get in town? on the highway? etc. etc. I was a bit surprised that a homeless man was that concerned with the gas mileage...but I never turn down a compliment on my Mini.

 

Wow. That one made me sad. You can kind of tell that this guy once had a life, and something knocked him flat. It doesn't take much.

 

It was sad. And it was so cold here yesterday. He was actually excited to see a Mini and ask some questions about it. Like you said, he once had a life but his interest in cars remained even after getting knocked flat. I started to offer him some money or something but he kinda waved me off and said goodbye before I could even get it out really. I'm hoping it was enough that he could talk to someone about the Mini. And I'm really hoping that he recovers from his current situation very soon.

 

You never know, he could have had shopping bags full of cash in that cart.

 

I pulled into a gas station in a very small southern Oregon coastal town, and the gas attendant (who happens to fit your description from up above) does not look like the kinda guy who digs a mini, but proceeds to tell me that he just watched the Italian Job and how much he likes these cars. I became instantly friendly towrds him!

 

From a trucker: "that's the perfect color for a car like that".

 

Not really a compliment, but today while I was getting gas a woman sitting in the passenger seat of a Mercedes CLS550 was starring at me/ the car. I mean staring. I don't think she blinked once. After I finished I sat down in my car just as her husband started to drive away. She whipped around in her seat to continue staring, practically climbing over the head rest of the damn thing. I gave her a little wave, at which point she realized I saw her the whole time, turned bright red and slumped down in her seat.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people with high end premium cars are fascinated by MINIs. Its funny because I've been driving my girlfriends BMW X3 for the last week while I waited for my new tire (another story in itself) and I blended in with everyone else. I'd forgotten how badly MINIs stick out! (but I love it!)

 

You're sure it was the Mini she was staring at?

 

You caught me... I guess what they say about women loving a man in uniform is true!

 

I was filling up the MINI at the gas station running late for work. This guy comes over and talks about how cool the MINI is and all of that. Next thing you know he asks me for gas money! He was holding an oil stick so I knew he wasn't a bum but maybe a little bit of a drunk. Those him $2 and noticed he was driving an old Mercedes SL320 convertible. Kind of shocked me but he was so nice and was the first stranger to talk to me about the MINI.

MINI's are a dime a dozen here though.

 

Depends on the uniform though!

 

I had to do some vinyl lettering for a client of mine on his Rig at a concrete mixing plant. while i was there, ide say no less then 8-10 construction type guys during the course of the day came over to look and comment on the car, there was one point where 4 guys were looking at it at the same time! (all positive).
the main words seemed to be, nice car! looks fun! or nice car! looks real fast. this car is amazing to say the least!

 

I came out of my chiropractor's office one day to find 4-5, clean cut young guys surrounding and admiring my car. I approached and said, "I know.... You were hoping it belonged to some hot chick." Not missing a beat, one said, "And we aren't disappointed." (I could be their mother!) LOVED THAT!
We had a nice conversation about the MINI before I took off.

 

"Dear Penthouse Forum, I never thought it would happen to me, but..."

 

I got a pretty good one yesterday.
Walked out of my apartment building and am getting into my MINI when this guy says, "It that one of those 50 miles per gallon cars?" I laugh and say "closer to 40". He says, "Well that's pretty damn good" and walks off.