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-   -   "Why is there British flag on your car if you're not British?" (https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/general-mini-talk/192698-why-is-there-british-flag-on-your-car-if-youre-not-british.html)

amberback Jul 14, 2010 07:42 AM

"Why is there British flag on your car if you're not British?"
 
I'm dropping my car off tonight to get a perforated sunroof done - a black/white gray union jack flag to match the black jack side scuttles I have...

But every time I tell someone, they keep looking at me and saying something like "shouldn't you get a US flag?" "don't you feel weird getting a British flag on your car when you're not British?"

I'm not going to change my mind, the car is British. My great grandfather was British. I like British culture/music/food. I see no problem having a British flag on it.

What are your thoughts? Does anyone else get these kinds of responses from people?

SiMPLE_SiMON Jul 14, 2010 07:51 AM

You like British food? Exactly how long have you lived in England?

Guitarfrk75 Jul 14, 2010 08:00 AM

I am English (granted an ex-pat) and the only food I crave when I go home is Indian... :grin:

I did figure out how to listen to Capital FM at work though which I'm doing now. A very nice taste of home.

amberback Jul 14, 2010 08:06 AM

Well, I've liked what I've had from British Pubs and the British Restaurant in Disney World. Perhaps I'll change my mind when I actually go there. But anyways, that's not the point!

IMAMINI Jul 14, 2010 08:21 AM

That has happened to me twice. I tell the questioning souls, "The car is of British descent", "I am crazy about the Beatles, aren't you?", or "my daughter went to college in Oxford, England". The usual reply is "oh" and that's that. :confused: All three are true.

futuremini Jul 14, 2010 08:22 AM

Who cares what EVERYONE else likes or says.....it is your car and if you want it and like it that is all that matters! :nod: :thumbsup:

Personally... I like it!
Next time someone asks that question ask them if they like Chinese, Indian, Mexican, etc. food.....if they say yes, say "That is weird that you like that kind of food since you are not ________(fill in the blank with your choice)". :lol: :grin:

AggieMini11 Jul 14, 2010 08:23 AM

Ive gotten that. Ive been called a Loyalist as well. Lol. In fact, I didnt ride in the 4th of july parade cause I thought it might be a little disrespectful. :razz:

I am a red blooded American but my car is a Red Coat Torry. Love transcends all boundaries i guess.

I agree if you were to get a Union Jack Tattoo, that might be weird, but for your car to get one, thats totally appropriate. However most people dont know Minis are british. I cant tell you how many people have asked about my italian car (cause they saw the Italian Job). :impatient:

IMAMINI Jul 14, 2010 08:36 AM

Shows the impressions that movies make on us. If the Italian Job had VWs instead (that would be strange), I wonder if they would think the VWs were Italian. :lol:

Guitarfrk75 Jul 14, 2010 08:36 AM


Originally Posted by AggieMini11 (Post 3089978)
I cant tell you how many people have asked about my italian car (cause they saw the Italian Job). :impatient:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

amberback Jul 14, 2010 08:56 AM


Originally Posted by AggieMini11 (Post 3089978)
I cant tell you how many people have asked about my italian car (cause they saw the Italian Job). :impatient:

HAHAHA! I haven't heard that one yet.

JumpingJackFlash Jul 14, 2010 08:56 AM


Originally Posted by AggieMini11 (Post 3089978)
I cant tell you how many people have asked about my italian car (cause they saw the Italian Job). :impatient:

That's a new one on me. I have not had that question yet. :lol:

amberback Jul 14, 2010 08:57 AM

Here's one I've gotten from people. "Well you don't see me with Korean flags on my Kia!"

(Because no one is proud to own a Kia?)

moodylewdd Jul 14, 2010 09:05 AM

I have a Black Jack on my roof (and used to have them on my mirror caps as well)...no one has ever questioned me about it. Not everyone knows my mother is British either.
I was raised on English food...some of it is great, some of it....well....(could just be Mums cooking too).:)
Do whatever makes you happy!

DneprDave Jul 14, 2010 09:17 AM

I say, "It's a MINI, It's supposed to have a Union Jack on it!"

Dave

rkw Jul 14, 2010 09:18 AM

There's an online interview with Vince Kung, MINIUSA Product Manager, and he was showing off a Countryman that had Union Jack mirror caps. It's a German car built in Austria! I wonder how MINI will play the British angle on this car that is not British at all.

Fatherdeth Jul 14, 2010 10:24 AM


Originally Posted by amberback (Post 3089967)
Well, I've liked what I've had from British Pubs and the British Restaurant in Disney World. Perhaps I'll change my mind when I actually go there. But anyways, that's not the point!

Don't get me started. Heading to Disney next month and will hit the Fuih and Chips stand up right away. Closest thing here in the states to authentic Fish and Chips.

Anyway, it's a British car, so there is nothing wrong with putting a Union Jack flag on it. Do what makes you happy.

Porthos Jul 14, 2010 11:27 AM


Originally Posted by AggieMini11 (Post 3089978)
Ive gotten that. Ive been called a Loyalist as well. Lol. In fact, I didnt ride in the 4th of july parade cause I thought it might be a little disrespectful. :razz:

I am a red blooded American but my car is a Red Coat Torry. Love transcends all boundaries i guess.

I agree if you were to get a Union Jack Tattoo, that might be weird, but for your car to get one, thats totally appropriate. However most people dont know Minis are british. I cant tell you how many people have asked about my italian car (cause they saw the Italian Job). :impatient:

Thats funny I have been to some small southern towns since owning my MINI and a lot of them were on the way to the Dragon. But every time I got a wierd look I would tell the people I was traveling with that they were probably saying(in the thickest southern accent) " Hey look there hun, it's one of them new fangled Japanese cars. With all of them new computers and such. I tell ou what!"

Tata Steva Jul 14, 2010 12:07 PM

I have an Union Jack/checker emblem on my booty:

http://sisoje.zenfolio.com/img/s8/v10/p931240449-4.jpg


I love Belgian Beer (Stelaaaaaaaaaa....), I like Thai Food, I emigrated from Serbia 18 years ago, I thought it's funny seeing Q parading Canada few weeks ago, but I am Canadian, eh...

What ever you like on your car, man...

NJ Mini Jul 14, 2010 12:14 PM

It's your car so who cares what they think.

And if they really annoy you, just tell them that you feel like you still live in a colony and enjoy tea in the mid-afternoon.

amberback Jul 14, 2010 12:54 PM

Thanks for all the responses guys. I know it's my car and I will do what I want. That was always the plan. I was actually surprised when I got those kinds of responses... especially 1 from someone who HAS a MINI! I thought everyone knew it was common for MINIs to have British flags on them! You can order them from the factory that way for god's sakes. haha.

ImperatrixPeyton Jul 14, 2010 01:00 PM


Originally Posted by amberback (Post 3090003)
Here's one I've gotten from people. "Well you don't see me with Korean flags on my Kia!"

(Because no one is proud to own a Kia?)


LMAO My dad tried to get me to look at a Kia Soul before I went to go get Peyton. I was like "uh...no"

cct1 Jul 14, 2010 01:07 PM

My car is dark silver--a nod to BMW and Germany (The racing color most associated with Germany).

I have a Union Jack on the sunroof (albeit in Dark Silver, Black and White) as a nod to the English heritage of the car.

I have been asked why not a U.S. flag on top; I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but it just seems out of place on a MINI. It's like putting mustard on french fries. It's just wrong.

ImperatrixPeyton Jul 14, 2010 01:20 PM


Originally Posted by cct1 (Post 3090212)
My car is dark silver--a nod to BMW and Germany (The racing color most associated with Germany).

I have a Union Jack on the sunroof (albeit in Dark Silver, Black and White) as a nod to the English heritage of the car.

I have been asked why not a U.S. flag on top; I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but it just seems out of place on a MINI. It's like putting mustard on french fries. It's just wrong.

:thumbsup: My dad's 128i and my German soccer jersey nod back :p
Little quiz: do you know WHY it's the color German racing?

psb Jul 14, 2010 01:53 PM

I have gotten this and i reply that the car is made in england. it is funny how some people think of every thing as a bumper sticker/expression of a person when it is on your car, rather than its own statement about perhaps ...... the car.

But then i have no bumper stickers:)

ImperatrixPeyton Jul 14, 2010 01:57 PM


Originally Posted by psb (Post 3090247)
I have gotten this and i reply that the car is made in england. it is funny how some people think of every thing as a bumper sticker/expression of a person when it is on your car, rather than its own statement about perhaps ...... the car.

But then i have no bumper stickers:)

The only one I have says "BACK OFF! I'm not that kind of car"
and it's magnetic and mostly because I'm learning how to drive a manual lol. So I want people to back off for real.


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