Quick story. So had MINI about a month. Love it, look forward to getting into the car and driving to work...

So I pull into my office, park by the door (handicap plates). As I am walking in, I hold the door open for a women.

She says, "I love your car"
I reply, "Thanks, love it!

Here is where it got ugly (in my mind, not outwardly).

She says, "I love mine too"

Given that I did not see what car she had come out of, I said, "Oh you have a MINI too, that's great"

"No, I got its less expensive cousin" as she extend her finger and point to her car..." to my horror, she points to a lime green KIA SOL!!!!!

I said, without cracking, "Oh nice..." and walked away...

 

Hahaha.. Yikes.

 

It's funny how they tried to market the sol to young kids and all you see is old people driving them.

 

Same can be said for MINIs. Most owners I know fall into the "old(er) fart" category

 

Maby the KIA is that relitive at the family reunion that nobody talks to, and the kids are afraid to go around.

As for the marketing VS age of buyer for both, I think it kinda reversed on both of them. I see a lot more older beople driving both cars, when they where marketed to the younger croud. I dont mind being 28 and driving a car that is mostly owned by people over 40, it keeps the fuzz away.

 

HAHA- nice!

It's crazy how much KIA copies other companies. I saw a commercial for a KIA Soul- less than $9,000 for a new one? HOW?! (besides extremely cheap parts, of course...)

Would never be caught dead in a Kia..... never.

 

Truth! I'm 28 as well. Lots of retirees here with minis, so it's easy to stay below the radar.

 

Under 9K I havent seen but youd be surprised at the quality of them. I used to think like you, then Kia snagged one of Audi's design engineers and their cars now look a lot better (the Forte and the Optima) and have great fuel economy and power. Being a German car guy through and through I could still see myself driving one of them because you cant beat the price or that freaking warranty.

 

It's really MINI's father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate..........

 

Lol! I love how some people think that MINIs are just like their cheap sub-compact cars.

Your car is small right? Well, it must be exactly like my POS then!

I wish MINI would advertise more! I mean, they really don't need to from a revenue point-of-view, but it would be nice to not have to explain to everyone I meet that MINIs are sports cars and could easily destroy all of these small domestic cars.

 

lol, I like the look on peoples faces when I tell them that my car was 31k when I bought it in 09......

 

I agree. All I could do was smile and walk away.

@ballandchain I WISH! I loaded my bad-boy UP, the MSRP for mine (I did not pay that mind you) was exactly $39,000

 

Shoot, I wish I could afford to go all out like that......

 

I'm pushing 60 and it's pushing back hard. I'll have you know all my farts are produced fresh daily.

Kevin

 

Should have punched in her in the mouf.........nah j/k. Yeah I give it to her for creative response.

 

vs

 

LOL, don't let it chap your ***.

 

I've found that people either equate "small" with "expensive sports car" and are surprised to hear that mine was "only" 36k, or they equate "small" with "cheap econobox" and are absolutely shocked that someone would pay that much - there's not much middle ground.

 

Though this might sound bias it is not. If I did not own a MINI I would still take one over the KIA. KIA has gotten a lot better in their quality and reliability but every time I see one I still think to myself cheap *** Korean car that is going to fall apart before its 100k mark from the owners lack of compitence in owning a vehicle. And I know there are MINI owners that would fit in this category to.



Until last weekend I have been looking for a used car under $3k and out of everything I searched all of the KIAs that came up were less then 10 years old and looked like they had been on the road for almost a million miles.

The sed vehicle I got was a 93 BMW 525i Touring wagon with 193k on it for $2200. It runs like a champ.

 

And why wouldn't she love her car too. I'm personally glad we all like other things, what a boring life if we all liked the same thing. She was being very friendly complimenting your car, take it as intended. lets not become "mini snobs". I spent enough time in that type of world when I owned a fiberglass car!

 

I say it's like wishing a "Merry Christmas" to a non-Christian...take it in the spirit with which it was intended.

 

When I told my 19 year old daughter that I ordered a Mini, she said, "Woe, those are like $50,000 right?" I think a lot of young people have looked at the MINI, or have friends who have, and found they they couldn't afford it so they have a pretty good idea that they're expensive.

 

I wholeheartedly agree... The world would be a terrible place if the only flavor was Vanilla, and that's my favorite flavor.

Though I'd have to venture to say that it wasn't the compliment that set the OP off, but the "cousin" comment she made. As if MINI and Kia are related. Which makes no sense at all

Obviously a BMW would be a cousin, or maybe even a VW... But a KIA?!?

 

Congrats on the E34 Touring. Now start working on a 5-speed swap.

When I was shopping for BMWs a few years back and ultimately got my 330i, I saw an E34 touring for sale with a swapped 3.2 liter S52 - with a supercharger - from an E36 M3 + 5-speed. It sold before I could get to it.

 

My mom gets that all the time but she drives a jeep wrangler. Some lady goes how do you like your jeep? I love mine and she points over at a geo tracker. She just stops talking to them