55 but, I think I regress to 17 when I'm in the MINI.....

 

30 years old with 4 and 3 year old kids and a 9 month old MINI.

When it comes to deciding which car to take, the MINI wins hands down every time over mom's minivan.

 

I'll be 54 in April

 

I'll be 30 in 14 days! ahh!!

 

Updating a post back in 2005; I'm 65. Lupine (MCS hardtop below) is about to turn 7, and Tarragon (2012 CM ALL4), has been conceived but not born yet.

 

22, got my S at 21

 

53. Picked up my 1st MINI about 2 months ago. My wife, who just turned 50, is thinking the new Roadster may be the perfect car for her

 

I recieved my MINI right after my 41st birthday. Mid life crisis? I dont know, Ill take that if 41 is mid life I guess.

 

When I adopted my Mini, people told me I was having a mid life crisis, I simply told them, " nope, just reinventing myself". That shuts them up. They continue to sit in their tiny little boxes.......I feel sorry for them....sorta....

 

 

58, ME TOO.

 

First full day at 58 and really enjoying a car for the first time in decades!

 

Lucky dog! I got my first MINI @ 63 and now my wife drives it since I ordered and picked up an MCS that I am now driving @ age 65. Very much fun and I still love ripping through the mountains

 

I remember when I was 21 I barely had $2 to rub together let alone get a new car. Very lucky indeed. Enjoy it!

 

I'm 24, I just got my 2012 JCW last week; I wanted something more grown up than my noisy Cobalt SS Supercharged.

 

65 here also, SMOG. These little machines do make one feel young again. Oh, and any color is fine as long as it's PW

 

Now 58 and the MCS is 6; I enjoy every minute behind the wheel ! ! !

 

I am also in my second half-century (i.e., over 50) and making up for the seriousness of my youth. At 21, I was married, working full-time (night shift) and going to college full-time (daytime) and bought my first house. I don't know how kids do it these days in this economy

 

Yes, it does make one feel a bit younger. I suspect it is the ability to get ones Adrenalin flowing more easily than driving a Buick

Here is what led up to the MINI. Note the V-8 powered Sprite and Triumph.

http://www.mini4fun.info/My_Rides_Ov...the_Worst.html

 

First of all, SMOG, thanks for your service. Interesting presentation of previous rides. With the exception of my '69 Cortina, '83 Rabbit GTI, '98 Miata and '01 330i, my ownership history pales in comparison. I'm still trying to picture the AH Sprite engine transplant . It is no surprise that the Mini is the current choice for both of us. Best regards.

Mark

 

Mark:

The '98 Miata would have been fun and the 330i a very nice cruiser that handles well!

The Sprite was a rocketship @ 1620 pounds wet and an 8 inch long driveshaft (straight section). I was in the process of finishing the project and got drafted and the car was sold while I was in Vietnam so that made for the unusual "Ride". That M-113 was even MODed with the 106mm recoiless rifle I hope you didn't get sucked into that mess in S.E. Asia.

Stephen

 

Stephen- Had a high lottery # after deferments ended while I was in Pharmacy school at Ohio State in the late 60's. Had several friends who were drafted, one who enlisted. Fortunately they all came back in one piece physically. Post combat stress took its tole on a few. It was a terrible time. I admire all who had to endure that jungle nightmare. Glad you were able to reward yourself with that TR. Despite the "heart of darkness" Lucas electronics and other mechanical imperfections, I loved those cars. An old friend of mine had a BSA single with a sticker on it that read " The parts falling off of this bike are crafted with the highest degree of British engineering!" Stay well.

Mark

 

Mark:

"Heart of Darkness electronics", wow, is that ever a correct statement! I switched the generators to Delco and all gauges to Stewart Warner, but left the factory dash and bezels/glass. The Sprite, when it was a 4 banger, would always like to not start on foggy mornings. For some reason it developed hairline cracks in the distributor cap, several of them(caps), so they those cracks would get moisture in them and short out the spark The fix turned out to be surgical gloves; plug wires 1-4 through the fingers and the coil wire thru the thumb It works!

My first real motorcycle ride was on the back a a Gold Star (BSA 500cc single) that was piloted by an off road and flat track racer that lived near some large orange groves. I hung on for dear life as he went 60-70 mph between the rows of trees and that is what turned me into an adrenaline monkey!! I love that sticker " The parts falling off of this bike are crafted with the highest degree of British engineering!", and since I have a buddy that still rides a Triumph Bonneville I will have one made for him

Yep, Vietnam was pretty hairy; running toward the machinegun fire is unnatural and then to witness the carnage once you are there is bizarre at best. My younger brother was a high lottery number, my older brother was a chopper pilot and got shot down but survived and I got blasted by a large Chinese Claymore mine. I spent 7 months in hospitals learning how to walk and how to eat again. I don't like surprises, like loud noises or someone sneaking up on me Now today our government is generating an entirely new generation of Veterans who will have a difficult time integrating back into society if they can do it at all. You were fortunate to have a job that got you deferred. I was working on the Apollo Project as a guidance system engineering tech and since there was another guy that was a veteran in that job position they drafted me; so it goes..

Stay well and enjoy life since one never knows what is around the next bend

 

I know we're way off the original topic but I can't not say it: Thank you for your service and sacrifice!

 

Thanks!

Yep way off getting old and having stuff happen BUT being old and really like getting the juices flowing

So, all you younger MINIACS out there take note and enjoy your fine rides