I bought my MINI back in June. Spent $13,000ish, and definitely overspent.(since I bought her I've replaced tranny, clutch, flywheel, axle, and other big goodies.)

Anyway, I have been asked twice how much the car was worth.
The first time, I overheard a Russian immigrant that I work with tell another coworker that that car is worth over $250,000. Huh? I wish....
Another person thought she was worth $75,000.
These are people I know. Maybe there's a reason I'm a little loopy sometimes!
I understand she's different, and she looks pretty mean, for a MINI, but I guess people don't know what to think if they've never actually seen one!

 

an acquaintance remarked that MINIs were "the gayest cars" (or something along that line)
I said "He's a little young to have formed a sexual identity, but if he's gay, we'll try and love him just the same."

 

 

One of my male friends who knows absolutely nothing about cars (they exist, apparently) told me, after riding in my car in the back seat, that my car is "futuristic"... Fast forward about 4 months later, he said to me: “does that thing even have a back seat?” I gently reminded him that he's sat in it... Haha!

 

Your reply made me howl I must remember this line for the next time my ginormous SUV driving son-in-law calls my Mini gay!

 

I would add, without judgement, that the STL MINI dealer operates on the corner of Gay Ave. and Maryland in Clayton, MO.

This, from a person who's ordered a baby-blue MINI with beige interior.

Let's see: I'll also leave cookbooks and Broadway musical DVDs in plain sight inside. There. May as well reinforce all aspects of the stereotype.

 

Awesome, love it! This is cracking me up...

 

bwahaha!

 

When I got pulled over:
"Hell, if I were a cop and I saw a dude in a MINI Cooper, I'd pull him over too."

 

Last officer to pull me over walked up and immediately told me "there is no way in hell that you can't tell me you didn't know how fast you were going look at the Gosh Darned (he said the worst version) speedo."

I then drew my feet off of the pedals while waiting for him and he laughed and asked "How in the hell do you fit in that thing?"

I got a warning. Getting cops to laugh or at least how there day is can't ever hurt.

 

Another thing:
"You should sell that mini coop and build your 91 Lincoln!" Shiiiiiiiiiiiit

 

There was a coworker getting her car jump started in the parking lot at work and I happened to be parked next to her. So I'm walking up to the Mini and I go "hey, I can jump start this thing with my cellphone". Dead serious she says "oh really?"

 

Before I picked up my Mini, I told a co-worker that I was buying a Mini. She says, "Oh, that's one of those PT Cruisers!" I said, "No, a MINI COOPER".
She says, "But it looks like one of those PT Cruisers, right?"

Me, as I mentally do a head slap, "NO, it's a Mini Cooper, like in The Italian Job movie".

Her, "Oh, those little cars can flip easy."....In my head I am thinking I need to explain the laws of physics now...I didn't bother...some people just do not get "it". The thing is, she's really not THAT stupid...

I concluded with "No, my Jeep Grand Cherokee would be more likely to flip over."

Wierd look from co-worker.....I give up...

 

Well upon deciding to purchase my first MINI a month ago, my boss' husband proceeded to tell me that I would never get 'laid' driving a car like that. He said I should buy a more manly car, like a Civic or Camry(!?!?!).

Two weeks after I got it I had to girls all over me in the drive through because of my new baby.

I'm really tired of the MINIs are girl cars thing. Now if I'd bought a Beetle I would just have to deal with the stereotypes.

 

And this is why I get annoyed with my mother, and a lot of other people now that I think about it, for buying into the whole "bigger is safer" mindset. How the heck is the mini likely to flip over easy?

 

LOL CJ, I get crap from coworkers as well (jokingly) and yea Ive gotten the chick-car thing too. I def should have got a manly beast like a Camry (ROFLMAO).
Ummmm, maybe old Land Rover with the bullbars, roof cargo-tray and uplevel armour package. Match with a coupla Mannlicher-Shonauers and that should take of the girlie comments. Or you could just rack the bolt-action and ask if there are any questions < pin drops now >.

Giggles, I think your coworker is confused with an 80s vintage Suzuki. They roll over if you lean against them while talking to someone in the parking lot. You're right, some people just aren't worth the agravation of long explanations. Just bolt on the summer gummies and take em for a test-drive(beating). After they change or clean their shorts, ask them how they enjoyed the ride in a girlie-car.

 

I know! Right??? Where is the logic in that???? Besides I think our Mini's have more airbags than some larger vehicles, plus WAY more manuverability to help AVOID an accident!!!!!!

 

this made me laugh...thanks...she was just generally confused..prob embarrassed she didn't know what a Mini was...she does NOW. I regale her with my Mini run stories and pics!! See ya at a run!

 

It's how I look at it. Yeah, I have less mass than an F350 dually, but I am quick and maneuverable to get the hack out of his way.

 

My Mini has been the target of countless homo jokes.

Sadly, none of the people with big mouths ever want to go up against me...funny how that works.

 

thats because if they did it would be a hate crime

 

I went to Auto Zone the other day to see if they had any bolts for the battery terminal and the guy comes out and I unlock the car and go to the passenger side to open the bonnet and he gives me this strange look and says man thats weird. He tries opening the bonnet but can't find the lever then I get there and open it right up, still with a strange look. I show him the bolt that I need and he says no we don't carry anything like that. Next he looks down to see the pull to inflate sticker that I have just above my tow hook and then he asks what does that do? I look at him and ask you work here and you don't know what that does? Um no. I tell him it makes a bigger car. It takes him a few seconds and then he shakes his head.
The next worker comes out and is looking at the MINI and says he had looked at other MINIs around town and didn't see any of them that had that sticker and needed to ask me what it did when you pulled it. Almost on cue the first guy turns to the second guy and tells him it makes a bigger car.
I look at the second guys name tag and he's the asst. manager and I'm thinking I'm glad I don't have to buy anything here.

 

One of my favourite cars!! I had a 73 non -6 with a 2.0 transplant, fun stuff!

 

Went to Autozone to grab a seat belt adjuster (I'm short and the darned thing rubs on my neck otherwise) and was proudly showing off my new baby.
Sales guy: Aww, cute! It looks like a beetle!
Me: *death look* No, it looks like a Mini Cooper. And I would smoke a beetle.
Sales guy: Oh...ok...*backs away*