I was looking for a new car for over a year. I was looking for something sporty, unique, good fuel economy, cool tech, and superior handling. I did a lot of research online before I moved on to the test drive phase.

I test drove the following vehicles (full dosclosure: I'm from a Ford, hence all the Fords):

Ford Focus
Ford Festiva (turbo version wasn't available in the US)
Ford Escape
Ford Mustang
Lincoln Mkz
BMW Z4 (loved the look, style, but the drive wasn't as sporty as I wanted)
Audi TT (liked it, but the styling turned me off)
BMW 3-series
Audi A5
Lotus Elise (loved it but totally impractical to drive daily)

The Mini won me over shortly after I got behind the wheel. The car is just plain fun to drive and I really enjoy the Mini-Connected system. It looks sharp and unique. I felt the handling was superior to most of those I drove (the Z4 was in the lead until I drove the Mini). I ended up going with a 2013 JCW Coupe and ths far I love it.

What made you decide to go with a Mini?

 

I wanted a convertible but did not want to give up my sun roof.

 

My mother...

she said hey why dont you look at mini coopers they're cute cars....ya okay mom. being a guy i want a cute car??

so after searching ebay i ended up buying my first mini. a 2003 jcw in chili red. traded it in recently on my black r53 and i dont think ill ever own something other then a mini

 

I'm coming from Europe and liked small cars, but they were almost entirely missing from the US market. My wife isn't from Europe, but agrees with me. At the time we were driving a Civic, which was larger than I'd like. We were very interested from the first time we heard about the MINI, but as it was so portly (2600lb), I thought it wouldn't be particularly fuel efficient. Our criteria were "small, fuel efficient, hatchback" and we looked at everything we could find which fit.

Toyota Matix (nasty, drove like a truck)
Toyota Celica (I liked this one, wife thought it had the wrong image)
Scion Xa (uncomfortable seats)
Acrua RSX (boring, still too big)
Civic Si (we liked this one, but a bit big, came a close second)

We bought the 2004 R50 and liked it a lot, though its fuel efficiency did suck. We've hardly considered anything else ever since. Though I would have been tempted by a Porsche Cayman R instead of the JCW, my wife wanted to stick with MINIs.

 

I needed to replace my aging daily driver, an 02 MB C-coupe. It was loaded so I was spoiled.

My criteria was navigation, keyless go, small, as high end finish out with as much technology as I could get in the US while staying small. And I wanted to love it as much as I did my old Ccoupe.

I looked at the previous generation SLK but they are hard to find loaded.

I looked into importing a used Aston Martin Cygnet, but was worried about registration problems.

I also looked t the Smart fortwo and really wanted one, but the 2 year drive train waranty turned me off.

I also looked at the CT200h but found it kinda boring on the interior, but they do have lots of technology.

Considered the CRZ but never seriously enough to test drive one.

I considered the MINI when I purchased my MB so I went went with it. I am still a little disappointed as I was spoiled by my old cat, but it is what it is now. I love the styling.

 

It was super funky.

 

My preference of smaller cars and watching The Italian Job a decade ago and realizing that they mean little cars.

 

I was just like you when I was 17. I was looking for a new car and I looked at a 05' Mustang GT, 07 Chrysler 300 SRT8, and a Volkswagen GTI. In the end I ended up with an 08' Justa. After a two years I decided to look for a new car an 11' Mustang, BUT I ended up with another MINI, which is my 11' MCS. So the moral of the story, I'll choose anything that is a MINI. When I go car shopping first it'll always be a MINI unless I make my dream come true and buy my Nissan GT-R.

 

I was looking to get that BMW feel for less. My MINI hasn't disappointed. In fact I liked it so much I ordered another one exactly to my spec, and it should be here this week.

 

The need to get rid my crap box wrx. And my desire to have a car like my first car, an 88 Mazda 323 GTX. Loved that car. Love my MINI.

 

I've driven a few WRX's (2008, 2012.) and I love the way they drive, but the interior is so awful... really a shame. I'd buy one if it didn't feel like a base model Toyota inside.

 

Oh, and for the whole reason I came into this thread...

After too many brushes with death, I was ditching my CBR600 and getting a car. I had no idea what I wanted. I looked at some random stuff, prelude, mustang, tiburon. A salesman at a used lot convinced me to try out the MINI. I didn't know how to drive stick yet but he gave me a quick lesson and let me give it a go. It was fun, I liked it. I let him take the wheel and he drove it like a bat out of hell, 100MPH down the highway, swerving in and out of lanes... I thought, "I can drive this thing just like I ride sport bikes, but it has doors and airbags!"

I did a little research on reliabliity, etc, the R50 seemed like a safe-ish bet, so I went for it. Still love the car, love that I can drive it hard and keep it on the ragged edge without going TOO fast... but I also wish it was quicker in the straights.

 

Yep. It's also a huge gamble buying a used one as most drivers of them think they're instant rally drivers once they get behind the wheel.

 

Yeah, I'd be very wary of buying used... the odds that it was abused by a teenager are pretty good. When I test drove the 2008, I noticed the clutch was REALLY heavy. I mentioned this to the dealer, "Oh, yeah, the PO put in a racing clutch."

NOT INTERESTED.

 

The fact that when I was first, apprehensively, sitting behind the steering wheel, it took 20 feet of driving before a smile appeared on my face. And it still hasn't left...

On the subject of used...it is indeed a gamble. Mine had a PO get in a bit of a parking lot scuffle with another car causing a bad tie rod end I had to replace. This little brush up didn't show up on the carfax but I found the receipt for the repairs stuffed into the manual all in all I'm perfectly fine with the way things turned out. I despise and love modding it at the same time. Its like nothing I've ever worked on. The first time I do ANYTHING it makes no sense...then when I put it back together with the new parts it makes perfect sense...hmmmm

 

I was finally in a situation to make my first car purchase. I wanted something small and sporty to replace the aging Cherokee that was handed down to me and the car had to be a manual since I had always wanted to drive stick. Minis were at the top of my list, but were also going for more than I wanted to pay at the time. The Mazda 3s were my next choice, but I had a hard time finding one with exactly what I wanted. RSXs were rare and pricey, VWs left me underwhelmed, and Hondas and Toyotas are boring. I kept checking eBay and other online listings periodically, then made the mistake of test driving an R50.

I became obsessed. I decided to go check out an R53 I'd been eyeing online for a few weeks only to arrive at the dealership just in time for it to be sold right in front of me. I kept looking around until I found the perfect priced and specced R53 two states over. I made the call sealed the deal, and have been happily motoring ever since. Of all the cars I've looked at, I think the Mazda may have offered the closest amount of enjoyment that I've gotten out of my Mini and I still wouldn't mind driving one for a month or two. However, I think I made the right choice with the R53.

 

I looked into Mini's because of it's character and uniqueness and like Harleys, it's endless possibility for customizing.
In Las Vegas it's too hot to ride in the summer and its to cold to ride in the winter so the Mini is an excellent alternative.
And just like a Harley, I can't leave it stock.
So far I've done the intake, exhaust, went to 17' wheels and tires (Cooper S), tinted windows, oem alarm (installed by the dealer), sway bar and adjustable links are next.

 

My criteria was simple:

200 HP
Cheap
Good mileage

And thus by chance, I happened on a 05 R52 JCW for less than $6k. Grabbed it.

When I pay off the car and the associated repairs on it, I'll be selling it and going back to chasing after my dream.... 1988 190E 2.5-16V. Too bad those cars were never imported to the US, and the CA smog pretty much kills it. I'll have to be content with a 2.3-16V.

 

I just picked up my Mini this week. I've been driving a very nice Mazda3 Hatchback AND a nice Miata to sweeten the deal. I won't miss either of them...well the Miata a little bit.

The Mini makes a decent daily driver which the Miata wasn't but also makes a fun sports car which the Mazda3 wasn't in the same league. And just so I don't miss my Harley's too much (since I don't get too many weekends to ride anymore) the Yamaha Road Star is an excellent compromise there. If you loved your HDs but don't want to tie up too much money in a bike, pick up a cheap used Road Star. Great bike! Highly customizable.

 

The FRS was no fun when stuck in traffic, and my wife did't like the GTI. Admittedly, the latter is downright ponderous compared to an MCS.

 

I have kind of a long history with buying MINI's. My first experience was helping my then 73 year old mother buy an R50. Back in 2005 She had fallen in love with the MINI and wanted one with an automatic and Nav so I helped find her a 2003 on eBay that was totally loaded with about 25K miles. She still drives the car - she's now 80 - and still loves it. She's now starting to think about buying a newer clubman.

Next, I started looking for a car for my youngest daughter when she turned 16 - about 2 years ago. I have several criteria for first cars - great handling, xenon headlights, great breaks, standard transmission and all wheel drive. I also wanted the car to be less than 3 years old with fairly low mileage as I expect each daughter will own the car through college and grad school - at least 10 years - and I had a budget of about $20K. I had gotten lucky with my two older daughters and found first an Audi A4 Avant and later a BMW X3 that met my criteria and budgets. But 2 years ago used car prices were higher on the Audi and BMW's so I compromised on the need for All Wheel Drive which opened the door for the MINI Clubman's because of the extra room they afford.

After searching for a month or so I found an 09 Clubman S that was well equipped with a CPO warranty to 100K miles that fit my budget. I then taught my daughter to drive the car and fell in love with it at the same time.

My daily driver at the time was a Porsche Cayenne S that I had been driving for 8 years and still loved but I was getting bored. I discovered that every time I drove the MINI I liked it even more so after about 18 months I gave in to my desire and I started looking for a used Clubman JCW with Nav. After a few months I found one on NAM that was owned by a MINI enthusiast living on the West Coast - we are in the Boston area - that I trusted enough after searching his posts to take a chance. I have no regrets with either the car or the decision to move away from an SUV. I have been driving the car for 6 months now and even though the car is an 09 I still regularly get comments on what a nice car it is.

There is something about a MINI that transcends culture, class and age. Young, old, rich or not almost everyone seems to think the MINi is a cool car. I can't think of another car that has achieved this same affect. Most cars carry and image of the driver but the MINI doesn't seem to carry this stereotypical baggage. In any case we love our MINI's and thoroughly enjoy driving them everyday.

 

A huge discount, tax free, and the option to configure it.

We love the mini though.

 

I loved the Classic Mini and also the new MINI when it came out...always wanted one. Last summer I saw a Coupe and wondered what the heck it was. I went onto miniusa.com, saw the new Roadster, and I was hooked. Reminded me of my old A/H Sprite and MGB from years ago (both were white with black tops). Went into the dealer the next week, took a test drive in a Coupe (no Roadsters in stock) and placed my order for Rupert Roadster. It was an impulse buy and probably the most enjoyable car purchase I have ever made.

 

Before the Mini I was driving a '07 Dodge Charger R/T. I have always been sort of a Mopar nut and loved the Charger, but it was time to get rid of it. It was fun to drive with a few mods but it was impractical anywhere but the highway. That plus it was getting up there in mileage and I had a feeling things were going to start breaking. I knew I wanted to go with something small and efficient, but it had to be fun at the same time. I am a gearhead, so it also couldn't be slow. I thought about a WRX, but the gas mileage didn't look any better than my Charger and no local dealers had one. I didn't want to order one without being able to check it out and test drive it first. Then my brother suggested an R56. Turns out it was the only car I could find that was small, fast, fuel efficient, and I could afford to buy one brand new. I had a strict budget of $25K so finding one just how I wanted it wasn't easy but when I saw this one on Hendrick Mini's website I knew it had my name on it. I live a few hours away from them but they basically worked the whole deal out over the phone and bent over backwards to help me out in any way I needed. One year later I am still grinning everytime I get in it.

 

I had to replace my long-serving Miata, a 1996 M Edition with 180k+ miles.

I commute 75+ miles each day, 2-3 hours total, and targeted a wide variety of cars.

I drove a CTS-V 3.6, going for comfort with some level of competence. It had both, but didn't "hook" me. "Just a car", a good one, but not "it".

The VW dealer was next door, and they had the new Beetles, just in (October 2011). They looked *great*, very iconic, drove one and loved it. Drove a Turbo when they got one, really loved it. But 6MTs weren't available, and further, they wouldn't build a Turbo in either of my two favorite colors: Denim Blue (that mimic'd the 1960's Zenith Blue) or Yellow.

Hmmm.

*Really* wanted to test drive a Fiat Abarth, not available yet. Drove a Fiat 500, enjoyed it a lot, and pondered how it would be with 60% power boost (it would rock).

Drove a Subie WRX. What a blast, with AWD and all that power, like being launched from an aircraft carrier. But two things: inside, it was sorta plain, generic radio, etc. Outside, just sitting there, to most folks it looked like any other mid-sized car, nothing special.

That made me think an "iconic" car would have to be it, Turbo Beetle or Fiat Abarth. I remembered MINIs, and went to test drive one just to cross it off the list. Well. I had a blast with the MCS that I drove. Built like a tank, so solid, handled so well, visually interesting inside and out. Could be built to order anyway you wanted*. I visited 3-4 more times to work things out, etc. But I was hooked.

*anyway you wanted, almost, but you can't order a JCW Hardtop in Ice Blue :-)