OK, I got the "Cute Car" comments as a joke from my co-workers the first day I drove my new MCS to work. Today, I got the "He's got one of those Clown Cars! Ha Ha!" joke.

I didn't bother me at all. I knew these guys were as ignorant as I was before I test drove a Mini for the first time. They're thinking it has no room, that a guy that's 6'3" like me would have to "fold up" to get in one, etc. They have no concept of the room, the power, and the handling of these cars.

Yet I detect a lot of envy in their voices and their expressions. They can tell I love my car and they don't have one. I think it's straight up jealousy!

 

Yup, I think you've hit the nail on the head!

So sad, so sad, that there are people out there that need to elevate themselves by attempting to bring others down.

Unfortunately,for them, their ignorance is their downfall for they will never know the joy of owning a MINI.

Your mission, if you decide to accept it, is to try and bring some enlightenment to these woefully misbegotten schmucks and show them the virtues of MINI ownership. Take these foolish associates of yours for a ride. It will make believers out of them for sure!

Maybe they will see the light...

 

They are 100% correct. They are clown cars & this old fart clown loves his.

In fact I'm having so much fun in mine I could care less what the non-clowns think.

 

my friend just bought a Pontiac G5....says the MINI's a joke....he's looking for a club to join...lol

 

Too bad for your friend. I believe the jokes on him.

 

I'm 6'5" ... an even taller happy clown!!!! No one believes that I fit!!! Before I brought it home my kids teased me telling me that "all the radio would play is calliope music!" Now they're all jealous.

 

You people have stood in my way long enough! I'm enrolling in clown college!

 

Some one in my neighborhood said that to me this past weekend, I'd never heard it before. I was amused: they guy Iwas driving past didn't look intelligent enough to realize that pot kills braincells. All my motorhead family and friends recognize him for the thing of beauty he is. And my peers are mostly engineers, who also recognize the quality. The good way outways the ignorant.

 

They're just jealous because they don't have a fun car They don't know what they're missing - their loss...

Donna

 

Tell him "good luck finding a GTO or Firebird club that won't laugh you off the road".

 

I've been surprised at how universally positive the comments to me have been. Maybe the others are just being nice, but I haven't even had anyone in any four-wheel-drive pickups say anything, and brother and sister, there are more than their fair share of those around here.

The funniest story was the first day I drove it to work. I was one of the first people there and as others came in, they were trying to figure out whose it was. Turned out there was a woman who had been talking about getting one and several people thought it was hers.

I didn't realize she was interested in a Mini. Turned out she had even decided on the same color scheme. Because of mine, I thought maybe she'd choose another color. She ended up with a completely different brand: went with an ugly yellow Pontiac Solstice.

Now, every time I see her car, I laugh inside. Guess you really didn't want a Mini, after all. And I appreciate mine more than you would have if you had gotten yours first.

 

Take one of them for a spirited drive in the twisties until he turns ghostly white, then slap a foam rubber nose on him and take a picture to show the other non-believers

I drive around with a big, stupid grin painted on my face, so I can understand why some people would think it's a clown car

 

Today I got into an argument with an aquaintant also. She could not understand why I don't drive my MINI everyday. I have a daily driver which I put up for sale for $3000. I drive that car everyday and MINI is my fun car/toy. I tried to explain to her by giving examples of people having a motorcycle as a toy and not ride to work everyday. She still didn't get it. I don't think she is very intelligent anyway. As a consolation prize to her, I told her that my old car is for sale and when/if it sells I will drive the MINI to work everyday. She seemed happy then. My MCS has less than 900 miles and it's been 34days since I got her. To me it is waste of my MINI to drive to work in boring commute. I would rather drive to a winding moutain road that will accummulate hundreds of miles in one day than keep adding 30miles each day driving to work. It's just me. Sorry to hijack the thread but didn't really want to start a new thread.

 

I'm the same size as you and a few have said as much when I tell them that I ordered a Mini. They are usually the ones driving boring luxury cars. The ones that are enthusiasts, however, get excited.

 

I'll drive my "clown car" any day over any other boring, humdrum, no-excitement-added-mode-of-transportation.

 

Two weeks with my 2007 CR/CR MCS and we are on our way to Lassen National Park for an inauguration road trip, similar to one I did with my 2003 MC to Sequoia Nat'l Park.

We stop in Paradise, California, home of my favorite internet radio station, radio paradise, where I ask "How do I get to Lassen?" because the road we had selected was suddenly closed because of a fire. The woman behind the counter at the information center said "I'll give you directions, if you give me your car!". Ha ha.

I've heard it called a clown car and a gay car (not that there is anything wrong with that, especially since I'm gay) but I don't care. Its the most fun car for the money.

James

 

James,

You should have told her to jump in. Then she could have showed you in person. As long as she remembered to put up the closed sign at the center.

 

I have a 70 mile, round trip commute every day. I bought mine because I got tired of spewing dollar bills along the highway out of the tailpipe of my big luxury SUV. To me, driving my Mini takes the boredom out of driving to work each day. Plus, I can't afford to have a "toy" car. That's why I replaced the Nav with the Mini. So, it's definitely not a waste in my case. We have a four-car houshold as it is with both my kids being in college and me having to insure them. I can't cover 5 vehicles and pay for two college educations. It's hard enough keeping up with four!

 

Me too; it's fun to watch people's faces when I get out of my cars:

 

I have weathered the shorty jokes most of my life. My feet are not over large, and my nose is niether bulbous nor red. I try not to wear baggy, bright colored clothes. I would make really bad clowns look good.
I do have a big grin on my face while motoring. Heck, I giggle a lot while motoring. I wouldn't be suprised to see a Six Flags logo on the back of the seat!
If they make fun of the size of the MINI, I jokingly respond with something like "It's a MINI. Duh!" or "It's not for everybody. I mean, I'm not sure your wife would fit"

 

there are an awful lot of clowns out there waiting in line to pay list price FOR THEIR RED NOSE PRIVILIDGES.....If I drove a Pontiac nobody would see my red nose BCAUSE I'D HAVE TO WEAR A BROWN PAPER BAG OVER MY HEAD.

 

I'm 6'-2". So what are they going to be saying when I get out of my SmartCar?

 

I also commute 70 miles a day, and now it is a joy. The rest of your story is very similar too. My oldest is in college and my youngest is a senior in high school. We are all over 6', my oldest is 6' 6", and we all love driving the Mini.

 

I've only had my Mini a week. I get all the comments as well. I don't take them personally what so ever. Most individuals making the comments don't have a clue. I've taken a few aside and let them sit in the car to see that it's really not as small as they think. I'm not wasting anymore time with that one. I don't need strange butts in my seats.

After getting caught in major traffic yesterday on the way home from Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA I can surely say that this car has changed my driving habits for the better. The traffic didn't even bother me. It was just more time I'd be spending in the Mini.

I think we need a badge saying...IT'S A MINI THING, YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND.

 

Even though there are a lot of minis in manhattan, I often get strange looks when me, my wife, and my 3 year old daughter climb out of the car, but when skeptics are lucky enough to ride in the car with me, they are always pleasantly surprised and start thinking about getting one for themselves.

BTW, I have never had so much fun scouting for street parking.