R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006) Cooper (R50) and Cooper S (R53) hatchback discussion.

R50/53 DAILY DRIVER / STRESS RELIEVER?

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Old Jul 7, 2007 | 10:06 AM
  #1  
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DAILY DRIVER / STRESS RELIEVER?

Have been a Mini owner for about a month now and have found this forum to be very entertaining / educational.

Curious, if most of you out there bought your Mini to use as a daily driver or for just a weekend toy or to unwind in the evenings. My commute, here in suburban Chicago, is a perpetual stop and go, 25 MPH pain. Not much point driving the Mini to work here.
 
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Old Jul 7, 2007 | 10:13 AM
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Daily driver all the way!!! If you have to drive, why not look forward to it (on some level at least). You're right, though...I enjoy the MINI even more on the weekend when more leisurely motoring commences.
 
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Old Jul 7, 2007 | 10:16 AM
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All-time driver - the cabrio is great for a daily commuter. . . and for a fun weekend toy (especially on a day like today, when I can just throw the bike on the trailer mount)
 
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Old Jul 7, 2007 | 10:23 AM
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Daily driver, as per gokartride.

I have it a little better than most as my daily driving is all local, I run my business from home with my servers in another state. Only long weekday drives are to DP in South Denver or Schomp. Sometimes lunch with friends downtown in Denver, which can be stressful, so I avoid it when possible.

If I need too, I can always take the wife's Jeep.
 
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Old Jul 7, 2007 | 12:07 PM
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Our MINIs are our daily drivers, evening stress relievers, and weekend toys.

There just isn't any other vehicle out there that compares in the "fun factor" category. And if you have to commute, you might as well enjoy it rather than just endure it, right? The MINI is the answer. It puts a smile on your face on the way to work, and it's something to look forward to as the work day winds down.
 
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Old Jul 7, 2007 | 12:20 PM
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Daily driver and commuting into town 30 miles via 75mph freeway. Wahoooo!
 
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Old Jul 7, 2007 | 02:21 PM
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From: Central NJ
Both of ours are daily drivers - no garage queens here!
 
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 05:53 AM
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From: Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas
All of the above! Daily driver into San Antonio everyday, 50 miles roundtrip. Weekend fun car, too.
 
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 06:34 AM
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Mine's a daily driver and a stress reliever! The wife says that it's our 'toy car'. It's only driven to the train station everyday, which is 10 mins away, so I've only put 4K on it since October 06'- when I got it. Most of the miles are top-down fun driving.
 
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 06:42 AM
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Weekend toy and evening stress reliever,I'm a painting contractor so full size Dodge pickup is my daily driver.
 
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 06:45 AM
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Originally Posted by korby
I'm a painting contractor so full size Dodge pickup is my daily driver.
You're my hero....driving a big vehicle that you actually need!!!!! What a concept!!! Paint on!!!
 
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 07:05 AM
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Daily driver. 20k miles in about a year and a half
 
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 07:32 AM
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I go for random drives all of the time. I don't know what it is about MINIs, but I can hear it calling me from the garage.
 
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 09:48 AM
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Originally Posted by gokartride
You're my hero....driving a big vehicle that you actually need!!!!! What a concept!!! Paint on!!!
I'm no hero ...just doing what any good American would do under the same circumstances! The soldgers and fire fighters and the cop on the beat ...there the real heroes!
 
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 01:16 PM
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I'm retired but I'm always making excuses to drive my MCS. About once a week I drive 80 miles round trip to have a leisurely breakfast at a Cracker Barrel. A great twisty drive to and from.
 
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 02:36 PM
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Like Korby I'm a contractor, if I have to haul material it's my GMC 2500, if not my '03 gets a run.......( weather permitting the weekends are FFR Cobra time )
 
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 02:52 PM
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From: north seacoast ,Ma.USA
daily driver here with 98,000 miles on the clock.

Just a suggestion: find an alternate route that's not stop and go even if it means more miles and longer commute time, twistier the better. I'll guarantee you'll get to work with a big smille on your face.
 
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 04:40 PM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by gokartride
Daily driver all the way!!! If you have to drive, why not look forward to it (on some level at least). You're right, though...I enjoy the MINI even more on the weekend when more leisurely motoring commences.
+1
 
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 04:57 PM
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Daily driver, weekend toy, and stress reliever - it does it all!!

Nik
 
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 05:08 PM
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From: Aurora, IL
Daily driver, commuter, and toy. I agree with finding an alternate route that gets you off the expressway from time to time. Even taking Roosevelt instead of 290 (for example) is less stressful since stopping for a stoplight is more understandable than the random stop and go sitting on an "expressway".
 
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 08:56 PM
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From: Chicago, IL
Daily driver, gas saver here. the other car is driven more for fun in my case.
 
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Old Jul 8, 2007 | 09:10 PM
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From: Moved from Leesburg, VA to Oceanside, CA Nov. 2003
Hi and welcome....ours is a daily driver, fun weekend toy, etc. We've had it just about 2 years and it's got 49K of great fun miles..

Donna
 
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Old Jul 9, 2007 | 08:33 AM
  #23  
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Daily driver and I love it. I still get stares all the time along with laughter because I have a nice little "Actual size "sticker.


Art
 
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Old Jul 9, 2007 | 08:55 AM
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Everything driver here- My daily communte isn't too bad-mix of in town and highway, I do love how I can pick my way through traffic with ease in the MCS. I find myself taking drives during my lunch break and cruising in the evenings when I need some down time. I also have had mine a short time-about two months and loving it!
 
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Old Jul 9, 2007 | 09:01 AM
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Daily Driver, 60 mile roundtrip commute to work Monday to Fridays!!! I have my MC for 8 months now and still look forward to driving it every morning.

2006 MC 5 speed Royal Grey
 
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