I'm just curious how many there are like me. I've always bought cars that I was passionately in love with, well, except for the Wrangler! By this i mean, i look at a car as a rolling piece of art, sculpture that i can drive. Whenever i go to look at a car, i usually know more by that time than the sales person does. (is that really saying a whole lot?) Anyway, I guess what i'm saying is that i buy a car becuase of it's design, inside and outside, but mostly for the outside. And it has nothing to do with what is popular or stylish or would make me look good, rather what appealed to me. Things like, handling, ride smoothness, interior space, and cup holders that are too small are all things i'd just accept to drive that car. For instance, i put up with electrical fires and fuel lines popping off just to drive my TR7 convertible...man i loved that car!! So what i'm asking, how many of you buy a car because you "have to have that car", and how many of you buy a car because it is the best bargain of all the ones you looked at?

 

I'm tempted to say I bought it because it was simply the most absolutely fabulous car I've ever driven, but that would be just me speaking through your sig pic

Seriously, I got it 'cuz it was the only car I drove that made my //M3 feel like squishy poo, which is no easy feat! I'm a sucker for small cars, and especially for breadboxes, so the MINI was a natural shoe-in for my tastes.

Motor-On,
Ryan

 

I bought it b/c I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread . I also knew once driving one that as long as I'd have to keep it, the MINI would never get old to me. I truly think it never will. Before I ever saw a real MINI, I saw the pictures and thought it looked great. But seeing one in person was like seeing an art sculpture on wheels. I knew I had to have that. On top on the good style, the car actually performed. That was the key point for me.

 

I'm so gald you started this thread. I've been pondering for a couple weeks now whether I should get an MCS. I had actually given a dealer a deposit, had a buyer - at my price - for my BMW 330CI and STOPPED! Cancelled the order and the sale. Why? Because when I added it all up, it really didn't make good financial sense. Checking out this, and other forums, it's pretty clear that inspite of its uniqueness, the MINI is, well, a car with some "issues". The problem is, I want one. It's not rational. It's a little 4banger with cute skin (no flames, please) a tendency to crack its windscreen(s), stumble when accelerating thus putting its occupants in harm's way, and lose 30-40 % of its power when the temperature exceeds 100F. And those are just the things I know about.
I don't care. I want one! I've wanted one since I saw the first photos in the car mags a year before they came to market. I waited for the Cooper S to come out but had to replace my car before it was available. I bought a Bimmer. Excellent car - does everything well, is beautiful to the (my) eye, and is nearly fun to drive. And that's the last part, "nearly fun". The MINI is completely fun. I rented an MCS over the past weekend. Awakened early on Sunday AM (something I'm loathe to do) and hit the canyons before it got too warm and too crowded. As good as is the BMW, I never did that. Never got up early to drive it. Never felt like I'd just gotten my drivers license. Never was passionate - however irrational it may be --about my car.
So, in the next couple of days I'm going to order an MCS. And I'm going to get it in Chili Red - not Indi Blue (a beautiful color) or Electric Blue (a great playful color) I'd been thinking about, but RED --1964 Mini Cooper Monte Carlo Rallye Red. Just like the car I've wanted since I was 17 and saw one on the streets of London. This ain't got anything to do with the rational mind. This is pure passion. Answer your question, 1st Gear?

 

Good question. Heard they drove and handled well, and they do. Thought they would have BMW’s quality and reliability, mine didn’t. My MCS will be replaced in October with an ordered BMW M3.

 

I bought mine because it's "CUte," and handles like a champ. I really don't know what everyone else thinks, but the MINI is the best car in its class-everything considered. I love the MINI because it's such a beautiful car and puts smiles on my face! :smile:

 

>>Good question. Heard they drove and handled well, and they do. Thought they would have BMW’s quality and reliability, mine didn’t. My MCS will be replaced in October with an ordered BMW M3.

I have been driving a 3 series for almost 10 years now, and trust me, MINIs definitely have BMW's quality and reliability. What I mean is that I would not expect the 3 series to be more reliable than the MINI. I also follow BMW 3 series boards. I have gotten into the habit of making note of every problem other people have had with their car. It has been proven again and again that sooner or later, I will see the same problem in my car.

In MINIs, common problems are cracking windshields and stumbling (and more). In BMWs, there was a period of time when the cooling fan just catches on fire and burns people's house down. There was the problem with M3 engines. Fuel level senders did not work in E36s, and I am seeing the same problem in E46s and MINIs. Window regulators in E46s keep breaking. Rear shock mounts and front lower ball joints are "wear items" because they don't last. Every single item in my cooling system has been replaced. They died one by one; some during warranty and some after warranty. Seat heater heating elements are also "wear items". Rear subframe or the control mount rips out as the car ages. ($$$$) These are some of the problems I can remember off the top of my head. Look at what Consumer Reports have to say about the reliability of 3 series. I am always amazed that people thought these are reliable cars. I think the 3 series and the MINI will have similar level of reliability.

I don't mean to ruin your enthusiams for your 3 series, but I just want to give you a fair warning of what you are getting into. Buying both BMWs and MINIs, you have to realize they are not going to be perfectly reliable, but I still want to stay with the brand despite all the problems because they are so much fun to drive. The purchase decision is yours, but don't be surprised when you realize your M3 is not very reliable either. Buy it because it is fun to drive and it is what you want; don't buy it because you think it will be more reliable.

 

i bought it because i cant afford an M3 or M5 currently

 

I can afford an M3 and an M5 but the MINI was nicer

 

>>I can afford an M3 and an M5 but the MINI was nicer


i know you work at a hospital, but ur not supposed to be stealing the pills dawg

 

CRAP! I shoulda got the M5!
the Mini Was an Impulse Purchase.....

Thanks a lot guys...

 

>>i bought it because i cant afford an M3 or M5 currently
I can afford those cars but choose the MINI. Basically I like how the car drives.
My criteria in no particular order:
High performance- a driver's car
Gotta have some character-personality-or an attitude. Something unique about it.
Doesn't cost an arm and a leg -well maybe an arm.
Something that can be modded easily-
Easy to work on-basic mechanical stuff if I want to
Good reviews-well designed.
decent gas mileage-if I want
Good looks- can't be ugly or hard on the eye.
Reliable enough- can't be a total dog- so far mine is great.
Can't be super common- and boring. I'm not a follower-sorry

Sounds like a tall order but for me the MINI fits the bill.


_________________
ALOHA

 

point taken

i envy all you guys that can afford the m3 and m5

i cant

i love my mcs, but will trade it in a heartbeat for the new gen m3 or m5 :smile:

 

Honestly.. I bought the mini because it looks neat and handles well... and is fun...reviews were good and fair enough to push my impulsiveness.....

I was looking for a car already... probably an audi tt, s2000, or a Mcoupe

 

>>i envy all you guys that can afford the m3 and m5
Honestly if I got an M5 I'd have to be over protective and worried about this and that.
You know how it goes with those hot cars. Plus big insurance rates, big repair rates, super expensive parts
and people expect you to be "fast". At least with the MINI it isn't like you're the big dog- it's more like being an
underdog with a big bite. (not over bite)

>>i love my mcs, but will trade it in a heartbeat for the new gen m3 or m5 :smile:
Nope not me. My MCS is plenty good and I saved $20,000 to $30,000 which I can use for something else.

 

>>>>i bought it because i cant afford an M3 or M5 currently
>>I can afford those cars but choose the MINI. Basically I like how the car drives.
>>My criteria in no particular order:
>>High performance- a driver's car
>>Gotta have some character-personality-or an attitude. Something unique about it.
>>Doesn't cost an arm and a leg -well maybe an arm.
>>Something that can be modded easily-
>>Easy to work on-basic mechanical stuff if I want to
>>Good reviews-well designed.
>>decent gas mileage-if I want
>>Good looks- can't be ugly or hard on the eye.
>>Reliable enough- can't be a total dog- so far mine is great.
>>Can't be super common- and boring. I'm not a follower-sorry
>>
>>Sounds like a tall order but for me the MINI fits the bill.


'TELL EM DOC

 

>>
>>i know you work at a hospital, but ur not supposed to be stealing the pills dawg

I just love the nursing shortage. It put cars like the M3, M5, even the 996 within my reach. supply and demand baby, supply and demand.

 

the look..
the ride...
the price....

in that order :smile:

as I've stated in other posts...
i saw it.
i drove it.
i bought it.

peace,
d

 

HEY! I'm a nurse I can't affort a freakin' 996! What hospital do YOU work at?

 

Wife, then girlfriend, fell in love with the original when she spent part of HS in Germany. I love my wife and therefore wanted to make her happy... so first I bought her a Turbo Beetle (to hold us off for a year or so until we could get the Mini) and I started to fall in love with small cars...

...bought the Mini without ever having driven one. As a matter of fact, didn't walk into the dealer until it was time to pick it up. Drove outta there with the BIGGEST smile on my face.

I had been considering a WRX for myself (to go with our Mini and Jeep)... but I think I've decided that I just don't need another turbo/supercharged car. I've got all the performance I need in the Mini. I'll probably pick up a Scoobie-Doo as a winter driver (so we can put the Mini to bed for a few icy/salty months), but I no longer LUST after the WRX like I did a year or so ago.

So, I have my wife to thank for pointing me in the right direction.

I have to admit, I've considered buying a second MC or MCS, but I thought that was just toooooo indulgent.

 

:smile: :smile:

For the price - you just can't beat it... :smile: :smile:

Chow!

Donna
donna@dcmetrominis.org

 

Many reasons, but the top 2:

1) It's different. I've always bought things (not just cars) that were different than what Joe Sixpack buys. I don't know - it's just a personality trait I have. If everyone and his brother buys blue widgets, I search until I find them in green.

2) These forums. At first I was worried about cost of foreign parts, distance to dealership, etc. Then I found these forums, got caught up in the enthusiasm, the mods, ways you could customize the car to make it even MORE unique (see #1), and that was it. I went through the motions of looking at other cars, but I knew what I'd end up with.

 

I bought mine to annoy people who don't have one!
Hhhmmmm, maybe I evolved from mosquitos?

Seriously though, I became interested when I heard about the new MINI.
Looked at some images, fell in love. Had been looking for a smaller, more fun and more frugal car than my Subaru Outback. Got tech specs and details and liked it.
Drove 800 miles in the Subaru for the first MINI test drive.
Then there was no going back.

 

Most performance cars have an image of INTIMIDATION! My MCS has outstanding performance, but is not intimating. I really like that about it. With expensive sport sedans and sports cars, people think (to themselves) "I wish I could afford that!" With the Mini they say (out loud, to me) "That is so cool, I wish I could drive that!" But that's just one of the many reasons I chose Mini.

 

>>HEY! I'm a nurse I can't affort a freakin' 996! What hospital do YOU work at?

King/ Drew Med Center, in L.A., CA

but registry pays up to 850 per shift now. so just work 80hrs of OP and invest wisely. I'm getting, well was getting another MINI, but with Bimmers BS, Audi TT quatro with DST.

and if you're not already, get BSN,MICN,TNCC,NP,CEN.

bumps up the RN pay scale a lot.