I have a question for those of you who have owned a Mini for a little while now.

I know that alot of you have more than one car in the household. But would you still think the Mini would be a wise choice for someone who will only have a single car, and a 6yr old to put in the back?

But that is pretty much my situation. And I was deadset on getting a 2011 Mini, but this past weekend I had to pick a couple people up from the airport and it got me thinking that I dont' think I coulda done it if I owned a Mini cause of the luggage, and I couldnt' put down both seats since my 6yr old would be in one of them. So that made me start thinking about whether I could live with a Mini in my situation.

It seems like a lot of people who own Minis have 2 cars in the household or they don't have kids yet. So they are in very different situations.

So yes, I know the Mini is super fun and I know I'd love one, but I'm looking for honest opinions here. If its a car that from your experience, you guys know I would find impractical for my situation in ~6months and would have to trade it for a bigger car, I'd like to hear. I'd be looking to test drive a 2011 WRX or WRX STi hatch if I had to go bigger and more practical.

 

One word...clubman.
Or maybe the upcomming Countyman.
Both bigger than a regular mini....
Having a min is like the opposite of having a pickup truck...folks won.'t ask you to do car chores
My 3yr old loves the mini...thinks it is the best car in the world!! Then again, so do I!!

 

Well, If you have two tall people in the front, then it is not likely you can fit someone with legs in the back of a standard Hatch. I am about 5'9, and can get someone in the back seat, as long as they have small legs.

If you want a MINI that can hold more people, get a Clubby or wait for the 2011 Countryman.

 

I haul a 3 and a 6 yo around in mine (2005 MCS) all the time, but....

My wife is 4' 10". As Agarwaen said, the front seat passenger needs to be small(er). I'm 6' 2" and our 2 yo barely fits behind me (I'm constantly "please stop kicking my seat"!).

There is also not enough room in the "trunk" for a weeks worth of groceries for the 4 of us...definitely not enough for that luggage.

We did drive a 2010 Clubman...it had more room both in the back seat and in the trunk.

 

The Countryman doesnt' really appeal to me. And for some reason, I think the Clubman looks kinda funny cause its like a stretched out regular Mini. Part of why I liked the Mini was cause it looked so small. So if I have to go with a 'big' Mini (clubman or countryman), I might just go for another car since its only the MCS body that really gets me excited about the Mini. I cant' buy a car I don't really like the look of. Like my friend loved his original M coupe, but I thought it was ugly and looked like a giant clown lost his giant shoe...lol.

But funny, all my friends that say its fine...go with the mini cause they are fine with a miata or s2000 or whatever...they all have a second bigger car or SUV that I know they use when they have to carry stuff or drive other people...lol.

I just dont' want to end up 'stuck' with car that I can't use for my normal daily needs cause I bought with emotion instead of thinking it out first.

 

This is the kinda feedback I need to think about. I know I would love love love driving the Mini, but....

I'm a single parent and cant' leave the kid at home for anyone else to watch if I need the room in the car to haul something. So he goes where I go, whcih means the seats can't really be folded down for more room.

And I need to be able to carry him and anything else I need to haul. Not to mention, I'm not one of those guys that will trade in a car every few years. I have to keep what I buy for probably 8yrs before I get another car, so I have to really think about this logically. But the emotional part of the car selection process is making this sooooo hard!

 

Depends on how many passengers are in the car when making trips to the airport I guess. The rear seats are split fold. So one side can be down while the other able to seat one passenger. A child or small adult can sit on that one side while other side is lowered for groceries or luggage......I do it all time.

You can also add a rack to the top to take the youngin out for canoe rides, surfing or snow boarding or snow skiing.

My kids saw the clubman and fell in love with all that extra room back there. So it's on my radar for a second MINI purchase once this one is paid off....2 MINI's are better than One !

Good luck your decision.

 

I hate to say it (because everyone should drive a MINI), but if this were our only car it wouldn't be workable. Even a Clubman would probably not be enough for all of us on grocery day.

 

In your shoes, I would either buy a Clubman or a different vehicle. When it came time for my wife to get a new car, I "convinced" her to get a Subaru Outback so we would have something big enough to haul dogs, camping equipment, bikes and kayaks (not to mention other adults). Yes, I know the MINI could do all of this, but the Outback can do it all at the same time.
My advice to you: wait until your life situation changes before buying a sporty, impractical, little go-cart.


PS I'm impressed that you're not only thinking this decision through, you had the guts to pose this question to a bunch of obviously obsessed MINI owners. Good for you!!

 

Thnx for the honest feedback, I appreciate it. Its tough for me to hear, but its somethign I really need to hear so I dont' make a mistake I'll regret just cause I'm all 'caught up' in the Mini right now.

But I still ahve time to think it over so I haven't ruled out a Mini yet. I'll just have to see what tradeoffs I can deal with and make work for me.

 

The plan a couple years ago was to have the wife have somethign practical and me get seomthign fun. But...a divorce changed things.

So I only have the finances to buy myself a new car sometimes soon, and thats it. It'll be my only car and hopefully last awhile, so I have to be careful about what I pick cause I really don't want to toss money away by making impulse decisions.

But I figured there's some on here with kids and families that would already have experienced what I want to get a feel for. So I figured what the heck...I'll just ask away and see.

 

Another option or two exist to expand the cargo capacity of a Mini. The factory roof rack system is apparently well designed system with a good weight rating (150+ lbs... forget the specific rating). There are also a couple of rear mounted carrying systems making use of a tow hitch.

 

i think a mini is totally sufficient as a car with one kid.
people used to get around with much smaller cars in the 50's and 60's
and it worked back then too

 

I showed my 6yr old pics of cars, and he likes the clubman..lol. I showed him pics and he thinks the door that opens 'backwards' is so cool...haha.

 

Get a clubman or something else, if you need lots of room or think you will a MINI is not the car for you. The WRX might be the better choice for you.

 

I drive my MCS daily, but when I take trips involving people and lots of luggage, I usually rent a mini van. I realize this might not fit your budget, but renting a car from time to time is a nice way to fill in gaps when small cars are, well, too small.

If I was going to pick up people at the airport, I would either use my Buick (rarely driven) or rent a mini van. I find myself driving my MCS about 95% of the time, because I really don't need a bigger car most of the time.

But maybe you do. I think you have to stop and think how many times you will need a bigger car. The more you will need the extra space, the less practical the Mini would be as a daily driver. I think the Clubman is a better choice over the coupe for getting in and out of booster seats and the like. It has all of the fun, handling and performance of the coupe too.

Whatever vehicle you buy, don't make purely an emotional or logical decision. Instead, balance your logical needs with emotional needs so that you will experience long-lasting satisfaction. JMHO

 

I have for a few years now been using the MINI several times a week to shuffle my four younger sisters(ages 11-15) around to their schools and various activities. Haven't had any complaints about lack of leg room as of yet. They always run to the MINI and right past mom's swagger wagon

 

I would look at the '11 WRX. Four doors, AWD, and a trunk/hatch depending on what style trips your trigger. As much as I love my MCS, I have already told myself that when it comes time to starting a family, the MCS will not be practical. I most likely will be looking at an '11 WRX or a nice CPO 3 series.

 

About every huge SUV I see at the shopping centers is always driven by a soccer mom, and they shop alone....... 9 out of 10 times I see them on the highway they have no passengers either..go figure.

Guess my point is this. For the few times one carts around luggage, camping gear and alike, why would you buy a huge vehicle to use every day of week for these short lived tasks ?

Get a roof rack or better yet, a MINI trailer. I built one. Has a huge chrome diamond plate box in the front for weekend gear, and a 4 place bike rack on the back built in. Rack slips right out when not hauling bikes and I can load my second set of rims/tires on here to take them to be balanced ect.








When it comes to stuff like this my philosphy has always been, adapt and overcome obsticles. Not overcompensate....My 2 cents.

Good luck.

 

You sir are my hero. My MINI is my BIG car, my other is an '07 M Coupe two seater. Why anyone NEEDS a big boat of a car is beyond me unless you've got a family that fills up ALL the seats. If you think you've got too much stuff for a MINI, well you probably have too much stuff period. My hauling needs center around going to bike races around the state (and country) and a MINI easily carries two-three humans along with their bikes and gear. I've got some friends who have had to learn not to bring a bunch of extra unneeded crap when we go on a trip, if you buy a Suburban or the like, you will fill it up. The trailer here is a good idea, the idea of renting something for the special occasion when needed is great too. Life's too short to drive craptastic vehicles.

 

Agree completely!

Really a Clubman seems like the best way to go! Get a Clubbie you won't regret it... after all it is a MINI!

 

Another vote for the clubman. It has a real backseat.

 

Our family of 3 survived for years with just a Ford Escort 2-door hatchback. Get a Clubman.

 

+1 for a Clubman. Not sure how often you have the scenario of airport guests with luggage etc but my suggestion is to try to buy something for your everyday needs and not the exceptions. I miss my truck every year at Christmas when I want to go get a tree...but that didn't justify keeping the extra vehicle. Good Luck to you!!!

 

I drive with my 6 year old and two year old in the back of my '06 MCS. There is enough room in the back before and after a certain point! I.E. it depends on their leg length - when they are really small they fit just fine obviously, but that period between when their legs don't reach the seat back and their legs aren't long enough to bend and touch the floor results in some whining . I'll be looking at the Clubman in about 5 years when I pay off my current car...maybe.