I'm just like most of you, im in my twenties have a house payment and a mini. Plus to top it off im a victim of a big name factory layoff

 

Current Income: $0.00 Month
MINI Payment: $400.00 Month
Unemployment Compensation: PRICELESS !!!!!!!

 

People used to think that MINIs were really expensive cars for some reason...I'd imagine folks have figured that all out by now.

 

In my early 50's. Only a HS education but was blessed working for a family owned business for the last 15 years. (Another family owned business for 10 years before that.) A remanufacturing business both times. I was never keen on school but I think I have a decent brain, learn quickly and understand how to manage people, the P&L and can manage a balance sheet and make money for my employer. Kids are grown, no credit card debt, mortgage payment only on a tri-level home that we bought new 5 1/2 years ago.

My wife and I are each buying new MINI's and paying cash. We will still have a years worth of living expenses in the bank. We don't take long trips and don't live extravagantly. Rich, not by most standards. Middle class yes.

Am I worried for the future? I think I am to a certain degree because you see I'm in the car business. But I also won't live my life in fear and know that the Good Lord will always supply what I need as long as I work hard, am honest and know where the good things that I have come from.

Regards,

Pat

 

On the tatoo topic can I ask an old fogey question I can't ask of tatoo sporting people I know? OK, I will anyway. For you folks that like to change your clothes, hairstyle, cars (young doc) and other personal accoutrements every couple of years or more frequently, how can you be sure the tat you like today will be the tat you like in five , ten or twenty years?

 

Here, here!

 

Im nineteen, have an 03 min s, I make payments on it monthly, about 300 dollars a month, im also a student, pay about 400 rent monthly plus utilities. Now i am the definition of broke, but i dont have any loans other than my car loan which is what i pay the 300 monthly. I also do take a snowboarding trip that runs me about 1200 per year. So make you want out of that. I also have a tattoo on my chest for that tattoo inquieries. I didnt get my tattoo to be in style or anything, granted i think its badass, but it was something that my closest cousin and i did, and it has do to with our last name. Im not really worried about it going out of fashion, because a, it is not visible unless my shirt is off, and b i wil always love it cuz i designed it, and it has meaning to me. I think the important thin about tattoos is to make sure it has meaning to you, and is not just something u do.

 

definitely, that's a predicament for the intoxicated person who walks into a tattoo parlor or the ex gang banger. there's obviously a difference between the person with the meager ankle tattoo or tramp stamp and someone who is "sleeved."
most people who are passionate about ink have a story that goes with each tattoo - whether they have 1 or many on their body. in our society though, where many lack a sense of commitment or ownership, a tattoo is a constant reminder of your choice and at least, past beliefs (if they've changed in the future).

 

Funny thread for sure, I had never thought of it being a rich persons car. Just a cool little car that looks like fun to drive. No I'm not rich, make less than 50K a year. I do live in Marin County California though, doe's that count...?

Oh and Tattoo's, got them too. By the looks of where this thread is going you might want to change the title to: Tattooed Mini Owners?

 

There's already one of those.

Hard time staying on topic in this thread! Though I think the expense of (most) tattoos might also play into the 'well-off' conversation.

Speaking of, I also wanted to agree with those who stated that being well-off if often a matter of perspective. Personally, I think that anyone who can afford an 20k+ vehicle (payment(s), insurance, and registration) is comfortably middle class. But the middle class is a very swollen section of American society, at least, and that creates some problems with locating people appropriately. But I also grew up in 14' x 60' trailer house in a family of five with one working bathroom. So the perspective is a little different.

 

Im not well of but not a pov and have 2 coopers

 

I'm financially secure and own a Cooper Clubman. I feel destitute compared to many of my MINI clients though. My last client was from Rancho Santa Fe CA. He drives a Bentley and she drives a 2009 Masarati Quatroporte. They need a MINI for their desert getaway in La Quinta. My client before them, Orange County residents in a Bentley GT looking for a fun car for her to drive because she is tired of the AMG SL65. Numerous Ferrari, Porsche, and classic car afficionados are drawn to the brand as well.
This is a car that gets the respect of all automotive enthusiasts and, thank God, is affordable to a pauper like me.

 

I'm in my 60's and about to retire in March. I think of myself as comforable middle class. We have 2 mini's ( 66 Morris Cooper & 05MCSa ) 1 SLK350 and 07 Tacoma p/u all paid for. We do have a house payment but we can handle that the only problem I have is not being able to stop making changes to my car ( 05 MCSa ).

 

I paid less than 20 for mine used. I just figure that it is better to finance a car I love then make payments on an okay car.

 

Then you win!

 

Yes, can't imagine paying $300-550 for a plain boring Toyota. I wanted a solid performance car but nothing pompous like Benz or new BMW (I do like 135i) I considered Mazdaspeed 6 (sluggish), Subie WRXSti Mitsu Evo (both too boy racerish) and Toyota Camry SE (too boring) and E46 330i (no warantee), but all along I wanted a MINI. I guess people in US are not used to paying 20-30k for a small car, cause "premium" small cars did not really exist in US market. People that are "not well off" pay 20-30k for Accords, Camrys, Chrysler 300 not to mention SUVs and Trucks but because MINI is half the size, people assume you are well off for spending that amount of money for such a small amount of car.

 

Most people have absolutely no perception of what things cost. I'm in my 20's and own an 02 s2000. I get the rich kid comments sometimes. Most people don't even know what the car is and when you tell them it's a Honda they are either amazed or they are no longer interested (You would be amazed. You can go from being rich when they think it's a Porsche, BMW, etc. to poor in a matter of seconds as soon as they find out the car is a Honda.) They fail to realize that you can get an early model year s2000 for less than a new Civic, but they would never give a brand new Civic a second glance. I can afford the sports car because I made a sacrifice and drive a cheap beater as a daily driver.

 

Got into this arguement with some friends the other day... they claimed a MINI had higher maintenance costs and was much more expensive than a new Ford Focus...

I laughed cause they didnt know anything about the MINI... hell my wife has had her car for almost a year and we have yet to even have to change the oil... in a focus we would of needed 4 oil changes a set of brakes, and probably of had 5-6 TSBs or recalls by now...

no thanks!

 

Weird thread,

100K a year, mortgage payment, 3 car payments, insurance and a few very small debts. I do not consider myself well off! I'm not doing bad either. People in my area do think that people that drive a MINI are well off. I suppose that the reason is that for the price you pay for a MINI you can get a fully loaded Accord or Camry etc, which are more practical cars. MINIs are for fun! I love mine and my other cars too, but the MINI is a lot of fun.

 

Their claim is right. Mini does have higher maintenance costs.

 

Wow, I would consider performing some serious felonies for 100k/year.

 

I fully agree with this statement...

my wife and i bought the mini for a "fun" car... my wife saw it and loved it... and we "thought" we would be waiting at least 2 more years before kids... LOL unfortunatly nature didnt see to honor our plan...

BUT i had always loved the MINI, and now after having my wifes, im pretty sure i will always own one.. they are just so much fun!

My friends go for rides in (mind you they all make more than me)... and they call it the two person go kart...

but for some reason they see a New GT500 Mustang as a regular car, but a cheaper more fun to drive, better reliability, better resale value MCS as a waste only afforded by yuppies and those who have too much money...

its ignorance and a lack of appreciation of refinement...

 

You what they say, "the more you make the more you spend". The irony of it all is that I should be banking but I'm not. I'm a single dad living with my son and we are having too much fun. 2009 will be the year that I will try to save money.

Off course it will be after I get the wheels and a few others mods for my MINI and wheels for my Audi. That's it! I promised myself. I hope I can keep the promise

 

Good luck keeping that promise!!

 

Thats WHEN THE CAR NEEDS MAINTENANCE...

and thats if you go to the dealer...

maintenance once a year for my wifes's car at $150 plus some oil, is not as bad as what it would cost to maintain a Focus... the build quality of FORD is crap.. trust me i have ownd 5-6 ford cars and trucks over the years...

the MINI is leaps and bounds a better quality car... better quality means less maintenance costs over the years...