So, I'm sitting in my car (top down as always) in the middle of downtown Baltimore in morning rush hour, and I get the..

"psssst! Miss! excuse me, miss!"

and I think to myself, here we go again...another person who's going to sit there and bother me with "how many miles to the gallon do you get in that thing?!" (I HATE getting that question- i bought this car because i LOVE IT, not because i get decent gas mileage)

and to my lovely surprise, the man in an Acura starts asking me actual questions about the car! "do you have the dash rattling problem? Do you have the sport button? What packages do you recommend? Hows the ride?"

I just want to say 'thank you' to that man- for actually caring about MINI's and not just how much [you] can save at the gas station

Does anyone else still get actual questions about the car? I had lost faith recently with this gas crisis....

 

i do get actual question still....all followed by "how's the mpg?" and yes i HATE it too. Big Daddy told me he always says " a little over 100" . i have to admit i have heard him say it ( and i use it too now)

 

Yes, I get remarks such as "I don't know if I'd feel safe driving it on the highway." to which I reply and give 'em chapter and verse about how its "bulldog" stance and balance and handling make it hold the road, etc., etc. Then I get the "Wow, do you love it?" remarks/questions and then they often ask me to show them the clubdoor on this version MINI I drive now...but they do usually ask about the mpgs these days, too.

 

i still get "MPG" question...

 

Now see, with all due respect, this is some shaky ground, seems to me. The number of people now waiting two and three months for their MINI is so great that, well, it just seems wrong to be encouraging even MORE people to want MINIs.

I think when posed with similar questions, I'll do just the opposite. I'll agree that safety's pretty iffy but the MINI's the best I can do for now. "Do you love it?" I'll say, "Well, not really, but an SUV's just out of my price range right now. I'm hoping to trade up when I can get the cash together." Something along those lines.

Meanwhile, it wouldn't surprise me if in reality, I'm waiting for a dealer slot for MNI #2...

 

I always say "I don't use gas".

 

A couple of days ago I was actually asked if my MINI was one of those 'New' cars that ran on water.

 

I always say that it isn't an economy car and gets somewhat poor mileage for it's size. I point out that I bought it for the handling and the 168 hp. I also add that the newer ones are rated at 4 mpg better than mine.

The recent great gas mileage concern people have escapes me as most of the cars that I've owned since the 80's have gotten 30+ mpg highway. Hence I don't consider the MINI's gas mileage to be anything exceptional - it's a fun car that handles great.

 

I usually just tell them, "about 15 mpg... but I drive very aggressively". It's only half a lie.

But yeah, I do get some intelligent questions from time to time from someone who actually knows about these great cars. They are rare though.

 

At a light the other day the kid in the car next to me rolled down the window and asked me "Do you get a lotta girls with that car??" But yes, I ALWAYS get the gas milage question, or "isn't that car really expensive??". Also I always get "Does it have a turbo??" and have to explain the R53 and R56 differences

 

yeah.. I've seen you drive

 

Right. So, how many miles to the gallon do you get? JUST KIDDING! <runs for cover>

Actually, the question I'm asked most often is "How do you like it?" The fuel economy eventually comes up, but I'm not tired enough of it yet to default to my natural cynicism. Eventually they will hear responses from: "100mpg" to "Gallons of what? I converted it to run on anti-matter." to "Fuel economy's down since I added the gun emplacement. Those rail-guns are heavy."

 

this is funny because today I just got the "hey how's the MPG in that thing?".
really couldn't answer safely since I was in the middle of negotiating NYC traffic so i didn't try to...but it did take me by surprise.

 

Ouch. That REALLY hurt.

 

Oh, I have no issue saying that I get about 30 mpg on the highway, and adding both that it drives like a mother-f**ker and that I've had it up to 145 on the autobahn. I just can't seem to say the first without the other two things falling out of my mouth.

On a good day, I find something other to drop than the F Bomb. But that's on a good day.

 

Hmmmm...can't say that I've ever been asked that.....don't know why.

 

In a parking lot a couple of weeks ago, a couple walking to their car stopped and asked me about mileage, then about the MINI itself because they were thinking of buying one.

They asked if I felt safe on the highways. I replied my MINI was solid and I never worried while motoring near trucks or the big rigs because it has superb handling. They noticed that the wheels are at the corners, and were surprised at how roomy the cabin is. So though their first question was mpg, topical what with high gas prices, they did ask some good questions. And the look on their faces when I mentioned my top speed so far, well, that was priceless.

CROC 411

 

I get asked about the MPGs as well. Unfortunately I only get 23.5 so people are pretty freaked out, but they usually don't get that I have some bolt-ons, plus all city driving.

 

I tell them 53mpg... then walk or drive away. Best when someone is asking that has a small car or Prius.

 

Leicaguy, nice signature graphic. did you make it?

 

No. NAM member COOPERation made it.

 

I give them an honest answer about the mileage, and qualify it with "Depends how frisky my right foot is feeling on a given day."

 

leicaguy - love your license plate!

 

90% of the questions I get start with mpg. My standard answers are "who cares? I bought it to enjoy driving" or are similar to Gromit's such as "depends mostly on my heavy right foot". I hate the mpg focus, so I just turn the conversation to how great it handles, the sweet sound of the supercharger, etc. etc.

Personally, I have no interest in discussing mileage and our perceived "fuel crisis". But that's another topic entirely. . .

 

No, I never, ever get intelligent questions asked about my car, except from my cubicle neighbor, who is also obsessed with MINIs.

Here's how every single conversation with people who approach me goes:
Them:"Hey, do you like your car?"
Me: Yeah I love it (wtf else would you say? no it's miserable?)
Them: "How's the gas mileage on it?"
Me: Oh pretty good, it gets 34 highway and 28 in the city.
Them: "Wow that's like twice what my [insert big *** SUV name] gets.
Me: No kidding, whoda thunk it?

Or they'll say it's a chick car. Or they'll say they could fit it in the back of their truck. Or they'll ask if it runs on gas. Or they'll ask if I feel safe driving it?!?!

I've come to the conclusion that 99% of our population is half mentally retarded.