Hey everyone, this is my fist post, so be gentle.

I can't figure it out but the MINI has really caught my eye lately. I'm just really fascinated by it. I was really blown away by the interior and quality.

So here's the deal, right now I drive an 06 Dodge Charger Daytona. I like it, really fast, looks good, but I can't seem to get the mini out of my head. It's like the complete opposite of what the Charger is. Totally different approach to a car.

So I'm pretty set on wanting to order a MCS, but my major hurdle will be convincing my wife. She is worried about the lack of space once we decide to have kids. So I guess I'm asking if anyone has any experience with the mini's and children? I was thinking I could always get a roof rack with the bubble on top if needed.

My cost per month would be about the same between both cars, but I'm sure I'll be saving a whole lot more gas. Especially now that we're moving and my commute to work is going from 7 to 14 miles one way.

Any advice or encouragements would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Welcome to NAM, QZ....you are very perceptive. Have you been on a test drive yet???

As far as kids, yes, lots of owners have kids. It may take a bit of creativity, but I think it can be done. I'll let those w/ young families chime in...if you'd asked about adult passengers and the back seat I could be more help...my kids are all big.

 

You should be able to fit two kids in the back seat. How many would you put in a Charger? You gotta have the right seats for infants. So you have to have a seatbelt position for each.

The MINI is a lot of fun to drive. Never driven a Charger.

 

Thanks guys. Yes, I've been on a quick test drive, I want to go back and drive again though, when I went it was really busy, didn't get a chance to try everything.

The Charger is fun to drive, it's just a big heavy car. The charger has 4 doors and a big trunk but I hardly ever use it now. And like I said, I would probably save at least $50 a month in gas.

I don't have any kids yet, but I don't think it will be more than two.

Oh, by the way...what type of gas does the manual say to put in the mini?

 

Yep, the test drive is the decider! I haven't driven a Charger, but it's going to be a whole different experience. If you haven't already heard, resale value on these cars is excellent. I've hear of 2 year old cars with 15,000 miles selling for $2500 - $3000 under sticker, ymmv. If you can get that, it's not too much of a gamble.

As far as kids, passenger room for small kids in the back doesn't seem to be a problem, but don't expect to pack a large stroller, play pen, and all of your other stuff for long trips. You're going to have to take the wife's ride for those. Good luck!

 

Just purchased my first Mini, but I'm in waiting. Should arrive mid August.

While considering this car we had the same thoughts with the space issue and kids. I climbed into the back seat (I'm 5 ft. 8 in. in height, and to be very honest just a slight bit overweight). I had my husband adjust the front seat forward to where I had enough comfortable leg room. Then I asked him to see if that front seat was still comfortable to him. I was fine, but he doesn't like sitting that close to the dash with his knees even though they weren't touch. So I had him save that seat position. I crawled out of the back seat which was a little hard to do. I just took my time and I'm also 42 years old and I'm over the crawling out thing. Then I sat in the front seat where it would be if an adult were in the back seat behind me. I was fine with where the front seat had me. All this is due to the fact that I have a soon to be 13 year old that is suppose to be 6 ft. 2 inches sometime down the road (said the doctors in the NICU when he was born premature).

This was a big concern with us due to just taking delivery on a Ford 2007 Shelby Cobra GT500. The back seat area is soooo small for what the car looks like it should be. Believe it or not, both cars just make it, even though the Mini looks so much smaller.

Sorry so long, but that's my 2 cents. Okay, 10 cents for being so long.

 

premium gas

by the way welcome to NAM!

 

The MC S requires Premium (at least 91 octane). It will run on lower octane, but the OBC adjusts the timing and you lose power.

 

Welcome to NAM, QZ! The wife and I just got back from a local Mini club outing to a drive-in theater with a little dinner beforehand. Probably 140-160 miles RT. My boys are 10 and 5, and we all fit very comfortably, no problems.

As freeland said, don't expect to also be packing in the playpen, a stroller, 3 weeks worth of diapers, ect, but for the most part you should be fine. My wife's car (4-door 2007 Focus) is our "need to go somewhere and have extra room" vehicle, but it is a small sacrifice to make in order to drive my Mini.

I've pretty much owned Mustangs all my adult driving life, so I wasn't expecting much when I tried the Cooper. I was pleasantly surprised. Sure, it doesn't have the plant-the-butt-in-the-seat torque that a hopped-up 302, 351 or HEMI does, but there is more to life than going really fast in straight lines. The fact that is is great on gas is just another added bonus. I'll own more Mustangs down the road, but as far as daily driver is concerned, I'm a Mini convert now.

 

I wouldn't necessarily recommend putting kids in a cargo bubble on the roof. At least not for a long trip.

 

 

If you are willing to wait about 6 more months you could just order a clubman? That would calm the wife's fears of backseat room for the kids!

 

Concerning mini's and kids, you'll be faced with the following scenarios:

• Your baby is 8 months old and has out grown your car seat's "click-n-go" baby carrier. It's raining and you are attempting a yoga pose trying to strap a crying baby into the rear-facing car seat.
• Grocery shopping with a baby (or two!).
• You are picking up a new TV, but you forgot to take the car seat out.
• Your wife's car is in the shop and the family needs to go somewhere. Since your car seat is still rear-facing, the front passenger seat has to be adjusted all the way forward. Your wife now has to sit in the back seat. Where do you put the stroller?

 

Nah, they would only go there if they're not behaving.


Thanks for your thoughts everyone. It is definitely something to consider. I'll keep you informed with how everything goes.