I think those stories have less to do with demographics than with the general (and almost whimsical, really) lack of knowledge held by the majority of AutoZone employees...

Good point OmToast. Could be a combination of both.

Also, just to clarify, "remote" was not meant to be demeaning, I like "remote."

 

"did you win that there car in a raffle?"

 

Nope, it came in a box of Crackerjacks!

 

Rather than start a new thread, my comment is tangentially related to this topic.
I've had my MINI for just over a year, and the most common question I get concerns the gas mileage. Not just the most common question, nor the first, but almost the only question I ever get (gee, this just goes to show how limited people's imaginations are.)
It's a weird question, because I never thought of the MINI as having great fuel consumption. And I certainly didn't buy it with any concerns for gas mileage. The downside is that when I honestly answer that I get really crappy gas mileage, people always react with surprise. I get just over 20mpg because my car is heavily modified and I drive like I stole it, so I really can't answer the question with: Yeh, it gets great gas mileage--40 mpg!!

cheers,

 

I didn't buy the car for for great gas mileage, so I generally don't keep track of what mileage it gets(and my driving style isn't the most fuel efficient, either). When someone asks me about the mileage, I tell them what the sticker said its city/highway mileages were. That generally satisfies them.

 

I've been telling people I get about 26 mpg, in town, while driving like a bat outta hell (and loving it). Prius owners can't claim the fun part.

 

Some people have asked what kind of mileage I get (which is not that great since my foot is lead).
Then they say something like "but I get better mileage that that in my Lincoln!) and look at me like I'm crazy

 

Sitting at a traffic light with my windows down, a guy pulls up next to me, rolls down the window, and asks about the mileage. I hadn't even put gas in it myself yet, so I just told him what the sticker said.

A couple weeks ago, I was waxing my MCS in the parking lot of my apartment, and this guy and his wife walk past. I heard him say to her, "those cars get like ten thousand miles per gallon!" as they walked past. He came back a few minutes later, and asked a few questions, including what kind of mileage it actually got.

It's gotten to the point that I'm more surprised by people who know anything about it coming up to me and asking about it. One day I had just pulled into my garage, and a guy asks me, "how do you like your Cooper?" and we talked about it for a couple minutes.

Then there's this guy:
"Is that one of them MINI Coopers?"
"Yep"
"Who makes that?"
"MINI"
"Who??"
"MINI"
"Oh. Is it British"
"Yep"
"OK."

 

that is beautiful...
and i'm crying

dan

 

Same is true for me, I don't know & I don't care, I'm having to much fun driving like a lunatic

 

Last weekend my DH was filling 'er up and a lady (just north of the dragon) asked what kid of car is that? My DH replied a Mini Cooper. She said What? He said Mini Cooper. She said no what kind of car? He said Mini Cooper.

She gave up and said "Never heard or saw one of them before"

 

a guy walks up to me and actually says "make that in your backyard?" Problem is, he was serious.

 

my biggest pet peeve comment is...

Isnt that car too small???

My reply is, maybe for you... :P

 

Yea, the gas millage question always comes up. "I bet it gets great mileage!" Lately my reply has been, " I didn't buy it for the mileage, thats why I bought the Sprinter Van"

The Sprinter runs on diesel and gets upwards of 25 mpg. But it ain't near as much fun to drive!

 

i was heading to the car show,just pulled up to a parking spot to park. when we got out of the car, i could hear this couple talking to eachother trying to figure out what kind of car i had..... well they decided it was the new smart car! what a joke, thats just rubbish!! i was slightly irritated, then thought it must of been the rain that altered their decision and ignorance!

 

Way back when I was driving a brand new '73 BMW 2002, I was going through NJ state inspection and the attendant asked what I'd paid for the car. When I told him $5,300 (those were the days), he looked stunned, and then told me that I could have bought a Buick for that! If only I'd known!

 

what people say... I think I have heard it all.
Point in case most kids 6 and under know more about it then older people
I once was asked if it was fake,
How much did you pay???
and the all time greatest......
Hey is that a new PT cruiser......."NO"... wow that MINI convertible looks bigger then the hardtop.........................................:l ol:

 

yep, the gas question comes up all the time. We have owned the MCS for about three weeks and I can't count on my hands how many people have asked. Think I need a bumper sticker that says "Gas Mileage, We don't need no stinkin gas mileage"

However, I think the worst car phrase I have ever heard is the slogan "That thing got a Hemi". Don't get me wrong I have nothing against Dodge or their hemi, its just every time I hear it I get visions of mullets jumping through my head. Yes, I know, time for me to go take my medicine.

 

"I could bench press your car.... What does it weigh, about 500 lbs.?"

 

I think the gas question is a gimmie when it comes to the MINI or probably any small car.

When they ask what kind of car it is and it's a person who lived through the 60's, I'm suprised they don't know or never heard of a MINI Cooper.

The stupidest comment ever made to me was "I can pick that car up and move it across the parking lot." My response was "I'd like to see you try." Especially since a MCSC weighs close to 2800 lbs.

The best is when I was in a parking lot waiting for this couple and their 3 - 4 year old boy get to there car so I could park. When I got out that little boy said how cool my car was. His mom said they waited to get in their car just so he could tell me that. I get a lot of looks from kids, but the way this boy said it, you knew he meant it and really liked the MINI. I told the parents they'll have to watch him when he gets old enough to drive if he is already passionate about cars.

 

the clown car stickers can be ordered on line.PM for the info if interested.

from a co worker upon looking at my car the first time I brought it to work (Aug 1 , 2002)

"SO WHEN DO YOU GET THE OTHER ONE FOR THE OTHER FOOT?"



and my all time favorite from the far side of the pumps, 2 idiots in a 740IL BMW: " oh look, he got a 'my first bmw'!'"

 

Brilliant!

 

I'm working in a BAP/Geon store back in the early 80's. A guy comes in who owns and MGB. Doing his first ever work on it. He wants a bolt for the coil bracket, which bolts to the side of the engine bay.

"I think it's 9mm."
"No," says I, "It's 7/16."
"No, I'm sure it's 9mm."
"Have you checked it?"
"Yeah, but it felt a little off."
"Because it's 7/16."
"No, it CAN'T BE! It's a European car!"
"It's an English car. They use SAE measurement. I currently own three MG's."
End of discussion.

 

When I took my MCS in for the one-ball... The muffler man said "that car is a death box"... then after he drove it around the parking lot a bit, he said, "6 speed tranny????"...."wow...that door is heavy".. I said "yep... also has 6 airbags, a supercharger and about 170 hp... his reply, "holy Sh*t!"

 

ummmm.. that's not exactly true...