When I first got my MINI in early '02, I remember being constanly asked by strangers "How do you like your MINI?"; "How fast does it go?"; "Does it handle really well?"; "How do you fit in there?" (I'm 6'1").

Now, it's pretty much: "How do you like your MINI? What kind of gas mileage do you get?" (all in one breath)

Has it changed for you?
(filling up across the pump island from a Hummer brought this on. The poor bugger.)

 

we always get asked about our mini

jsut the other day the guy in the parking lot of the liqour store talked to us for a bit

 

For the first time today I got asked about the mileage TWICE during my morning commute. . . I usually only get it once -- a sign of the times.

 

Yup, thats pretty much what I'm asked, but more and more the MPG part is first.

Mark

 

I usually tell 'em; "Depending on how I drive, either 40mpg or 10". Then smile and walk away.

 

Ditto

Mark

 

I get that "gas mileage" question every time I'm in it and not moving.

 

It's a sad state of affairs in our society when our "ice breaker" to speak to our neighbors is, "how's the MPG?"

I'd have to +1 w/ minianni - usually get the question when I'm not moving/getting ready to move out. And I usually have to tell folks the MPG, with the caveat that I usually drive faster and less gas-responsibly than most. but it still is better MPG than whomever is asking me, typically!

Although, I WILL say that most of the other times, I usually get a "I LOVE your CAR! What is it??" and "How do you like it?" just before the MPG question.

 

I get "How can you afford to put premium in your car?"

And "cute little car"

 

From day one people have always asked about & commented on how good they bet my gas mileage is so it's nothing new for me. I tell them I am a leadfoot so my mileage isn't that good & they are usually shocked to hear I only get 22-24MPG

 

I've now had the 05' MCS for two weeks and the number one question is about MPG, followed by what type of gas do you use?

I'm a pretty small guy about 5'6" on a good day, and there have been quit a few big guys asking about fit. So I let them set the seat back and sit in it. They seem really stunned that they have so much room inside.

I tell people that if you blend economy, quality, and performance, a mini cooper is most times on the top of the "to get" list!

 

Ditto. So I always give them a treatise until their ears bleed on the approximate MPG ranges of the various models of MINIs... and end with, "if you want great mileage, get a new Cooper"...

 

The questions I get usually come from folks driving FSP's. They used to be called SUV's now they are Fuel Sucking Pigs!

 

I get a lot less snickers, laughs, and "cute car" comments these days. The "How do you fit in there?" question still pops up (I'm 6'3"), but other than that, it's mostly positive stuff now.

 

Pulled up to our hotel this past weekend when a woman walked out of the lobby and was drawn to our MINI. "I just love your car" she said, walking over to get a look at the inside. I was getting out and heading to the lobby to check in while my wife and daughter greeted her. As I walked through the door I saw her husband start to drive off in their SUV. I could hear her screaming at him as she took off running across the parking lot. Hillarious!

 

I tell them it's a Hybrid, it's burns Gas and Rubber Get's mid 30's on gas and high 20's on rubber.

 

When I first got mine (6/02) It seems there were 2 types of questions:
Performance type ,and "hey is that thing electric?" (or hybrid).
Now it is almost all how many MPG. I'm waiting for a Smart owner to say
"Gee That Car Is Big".

 

Things seem about the same to me, although you're right, there is more interest in mpg these days. MINIs ownership still requires that one step out of the norm a bit...it's still seen as a quirky car. New owners are just as excited to get their MINIs as they were years ago. Folks still seem favorable disposed towards MINIs out on the roads. All is well.

 

I like telling them it has Flux Capacitor and the mileage is GREAT!

Really though, I get pretty much all the same questions listed in this post. One thing I like to add after the gas mileage answer is the fun factor of driving a MINI and every time I turn the key I smile. It's then they realize you're having far more fun driving a MINI than what they are driving.

 

Having just returned from $7 per gallon Australia, the gas mileage question seems a bit misplaced to me. However, I've always been asked that question since purchase 3 years ago. I hate it, as I certainly did not by my car for its efficiency--unless you're talking efficiency in maintaining momentum during directional changes! If you're getting more than 25 mpg in your Mini you're not driving it properly...

 

I ran into a Smart Car guy at the local Quaker Steak and Lube (a acar themed restaurante here in Pittsburgh, it's a chain...). He was SO proud of the Smart getting 35MPG hwy. I'd rather get 30MPG on the highway, have a back seat, and a BIG grin!

I get the fuel question ALL the time...

I do like this one, great quote from AutoXCooper.com:

 

Ditto on the great reply!

My boss and I drove into D.C. this past week for a conference (in the Mini, of course) and parked it in the hotel garage for the week (I wasn't about to wrestle with the traffic if I had to be somewhere ON TIME; I have late-disease as it is.) Anyway, when we went to leave on Friday, I made a comment about the smudge marks on the windows AGAIN. She thought I was imagining things, until she went to get in -- and saw the (ew!) face prints all over the windows!! It happens all the time...folks want to see what the inside looks like....so they press hands and faces against it. It's funny, but still kinda ew. Especially the DROOL marks!......

 

Make sure an tell these folks that MINIs exceed this by a wide margin. 2nd gen manual Coopers (more of an apples to apples comparison) can get 45 mpg!!

 

Oh those smudges. I've been telling my kid to keep his hands off my inside windows because of the tint. Just joking, I really do know that they come from on lookers checking my car out.

I also tell riders while they are checking out my car and notice my first gas light out, and then see the milage spent is over 100, that I still have many hundred miles to go before my next fill up. It's great, you can see their wheels spinning trying to figure that one out.

 

I just got a joke in the mail:

"My wife asked me to take her out somewhere expensive.

So I took her to the gas station!!"

I thought it was sadly amusing.