Thanks for the video! It looks like it's the BMW 335i's first time on the track. The line in the beginning is very rough but his/hers second lap seemed to be better.

I can't wait to go to my local track, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, again for my second time. It takes a couple laps to get the jitters out and everything.

 

Not the greatest story, but it came down to compromise and necessity.

My 1991 Honda had become too unreliable as a daily driver, so I looked around for a suitable replacement. With my requirements in mind: fun to drive, decent looks, good gas mileage, utilitarian (was really interested in a 4door), I went shopping and looked really closely at the Mazda 3 (not mazdaspeed), GTI, Focus ST and MINI Clubman S.....Test drove the Mazda which felt like a slug and did not impress. Love the looks of the GTI, but didnt seem as fun to drive for me. Also I wanted xenons which would have forced me into buying a $30k+ VW. Focus ST, I couldnt get over the ugly design and didnt want a first model year car. Finally, the Clubman S....I liked the design and loved how it drove, but I had to give up the 4 doors. The interior never did it for me, but I've gotten used to it. So that's my story. Happy with my purchase so far. The build quality is not there and I am expecting things to go south as the miles pile on....I will most likely sell this car well before I retired my Honda.

 

You pay attention really good, it was his first time in a track. The owner of the BMW335i it is a friend mine and despite the first time tracking he was lapping faster than anybody else in the afternoon, that Bimmer is faster. But I am happy with my Mini, it provides me a lots of fun.

 

As I started to see more MINIs on the road, I was sufficiently intrigued to stop by MINI of Sterling. I walked through their new car inventory and spotted a grouping of Roadsters. I immediately recalled the three MGs I owned during the 1970's. I test drove a Convertible, then a Roadster. Immediately, I relived the thrill I experienced with my old MGB and knew I had to buy a Roadster. I ordered a Roadster S on August 17th. I feel like a kid before Christmas. I can't wait until my MG, uh, Roadster S hits the pavement from England.

 

Driving home from some trip one night in the family sedan, a bubble car of some sort when whizzing by, thought it was an Isetta. So, started looking on the interweb next day and came across the Smart version. Didn't like the reviews or the look of it and my co-pilot says: "Take a look at the MINI".

I would put her up as THE best MINI co-pilot on the road today, hands down. She's got 5 years experience now plus 4 years in the old XK-E from back in the '70s and tens of thousands of miles in between when family cars were required.

What inspired? Why my inspiration of course...

 

I was never crazy for MINI's. They looked so impractical, small, and seemed overpriced. I always wondered why anyone would pick a Cooper over a bigger GTI, Focus ST etc. Then I got the chance to drive my brothers '07 MCS for two weeks in place of my TL and Optima Turbo.

Two months later and I now have one of my own. The shifter is so 'click-y', the steering is razor sharp, I average 33.5MPG in a car that does 0-60 in 6.5 seconds, and it's pretty versatile to boot. Now I wonder why you wouldn't buy one.

 

It was the perfect car to serve dual duty as a daily driver and autocrosser on street tires.

 

I got a MINI because of the "cute" factor, great on gas and the fact that you can customize it to fit you. I just bought a 2013 Silver White Metallic Highgate R57 and tried to trade my 2009 R57 in. The dealer's offer was too low for a trade in so I said "Screw it - I'm keeping it!" I now have two MINI's in my garage. Hey if I can afford a Porche, Beamer or Mercedes why not have two MINIs instead!

 

Booze... Chicks...

 

A few years ago when my beloved '92 Toyota truck died in a big way, I needed a car ASAP. My brother said "Don't drive a MINI, you'll want one and they are expensive to repair." I didn't. Hated the car I got (Prius) but couldn't afford to get rid of it until a year ago. I remembered what my brother had said and he was right. I only test drove one car, a 2012 R56 S manual. Loved it and ordered a '13 that arrived in Nov. Almost 18,000 miles...and great SPG(smiles per gallon).

 

Wanted one when they first came out, but I drive auto, the CVT was bad, didn't come on the S, and reliability was low. Got a tC instead because it was cheaper than a civic and had more of everything. When that car was gone I researched another 2-door and Mini came up again. They seemed to have fixed some problems, the S now came in auto and reliability was improved (not as good as Toyota/Honda but tons more character/fun). Gonna see how long the '12 S runs with some extra TLC, loving the car so far.

 

As a lawyer, I catch flack from my wife and two daughters over this issue. My wife is on her third consecutive Jaguar. My family initially cringed at the MINI purchase, but they're slowly getting acclimated to the idea. The MINI is the modern-day replacement for my MG. Price, status, etc., are irrelevant. In my eyes, the Roadster S appearance and driving experience are twice worth the Porsche, BMW, or Mercedes status symbol and price.

 

My wife wanted one from the minute she saw The Italian Job in 2003. We looked at them but with no truck space and 2 small kids just wasn't practical. Every time she saw one on the road she would tell me she wanted one. Well 10 years down the road my kids are driving, sold my enduro and street bikes and bought a used MCS for "her". I think she has only drove it a handful of times. After driving it I kind of took it over as my daily driver. Put a pulley on it and now she tells me I drive it like a 16 yr old boy. I'll have to admit its a fun little car. When I get out people always give me funny looks that I can acually fit in the car, Im 6'3 and about 300lbs. I have always left my cars mostly stock but for some reason I want to keep modding this car. So she finally got the car she always wanted but doesn't drive it that much because I always have it.

 

Noticed the smaller Mini's on the road and thought car was "cute" but a little to lowslung for my wife and I, and thought we didn't want to struggle getting in and out. Dropped by Hendrix Mini and our sales guy pointed to the Countryman. Wife took a road test and decided to go with her first love (Honda CRV- nice vehicle by the way). I didn't take a test drive then but kept seeing the R60 and liked the styling more and more. 4 Months later when my yearly work bonus hit I called the salesman and told him I was coming by that afternoon. Took it for a testdrive and was trying to hide my full grin from the sales guy. Inside I was going "whoa- I like this ride". 3 hours later was driving home with my "M". Now after 6 months I still find any excuse to get in and tool around in it.

 

Use to see the original ones('60s) around once in a while when I was younger and always liked/wanted one. My daughter was needing a better car out at college and I couldn't stand driving my beige 4 door Honda Civic anymore. Felt it was a perfect excuse to give her a dependable well maintained car so that I could get something I actually wanted for a change.

This commercial pushed me over the top

 

I've always been a car guy and have been fascinated with little cars. I've owned many air cooled VW's, a couple of first gen Celica's, an early Honda Hatch, a Datsun 510 and a few others I'm sure I'm forgetting. It had been several years since I'd had a "fun" car. My last real toy was a supercharged 3rd gen Mustang and that was nearly a decade ago. I took a new job that was requiring me to drive a bit more and using my '00 Silverado Z71 as a daily driver kind of hurt in the fuel consumption department. I had liked the looks of the new mini since they had been released, but never really looked very closely. A friend of min recently picked up an '09 MCS and offered to let me take it for a drive. Two weeks a later a found a very clean '06 MCS...I brought it home this past Friday. Man are these little cars fun to drive.

 

I have almost exclusively owned Japanese vehicles in my 15 years of driving but I have worked mechanically with mostly German vehicles and grew to appreciate the build-quality (as well as understand the quirkiness and occasional bout with unreliability).

I thought it was time for something different than the monotony I had found in the Toyotas, Subarus, and Mazdas I've owned. I was also looking for something small, fast, and fun to drive and tinker with.......what better than a Mini!

I love this car and the fact that it is (mostly) German engineered but maintains the strong British heritage in its owner following and enthusiast driven philosophy. I can't stand when a marque discourages personalization and that seems to be the opposite with modern Minis.

I bought this car because it is not just "a car" because I've always believed a car has a soul and needs to be cared for and considered as such.