Ok Ok....so I don't want folks to think I am a BAD HUSBAND or anything but my wife does not have the Clubman S any longer! (well at least for another week).

Rewind to 2 months ago or so: We were looking to replace her Jeep Liberty 2002 with another smaller size SUV so that we could haul the puppies around. It had 90K miles on it but in terrific shape ! We ended up at carmax and tested a Murano, FX35, FJ Cruiser, Edge, etc.....all had pricetags around 25K or so. We didn't like any of them whatsoever. The Infinity FX35 was the worst of the bunch due to turning radius and general sound from the engine....plus I HATED the NAV option (screen was horrid IMO).

You can read about the day I (we) caught the mini flu: HERE

SOOOOOO fast forward to 16 May 2009...the day we brought "Clubbie" home! Fell in love with it! We love this car like no other. Over the past month we have 1200 miles on it now and it is tremendously fun! I spent a week undoing the dealerships "detailing" where they put swirls in the pillars and did not get rid of the water spots on the paint where it was sitting outside on the lot for several weeks.

Now fast forward to last week: The mini is detailed, we took the puppies to the dog park (total fun!), and it is Sunday...my wife says "go ahead and drive it this week because you won't be able to drive a stick shift for 2 months" (I am having a total knee replacement on the 30th of this month ). Of course I take her up on her gracious offer.

But now I do not want to part with it!!!! Of the 1200 miles on the clubman, she has maybe 300 of it behind the wheel!!!!! I DO NOT WANT TO GIVE IT BACK!!!!

Should she call the police????? Am I a bad husband?????? Or do I have a loving beautiful wife that is being very generous????? I may not want to give "Clubbie" back to her....

The solution may be to get another one! But that would be "CRAZY TALK"!

What to do, what to do, what to do..........

Has anyone else encountered such a situation????

 

Just go buy another one, its going to happen, why delay it. While you are hung up without being able to drive a stick you can wait for it to make its way across the pond.

 

Our first MINI caused us similar problems, so we bought a second one, (and now a 3rd and 4th), so we have one MINI each. We're happy.

 

If you do have to provide a reason to your wife for the second MINI (though she sounds like she already understands), remind her it's because "you love her" and "it's for the sake of your marriage." Which are both true, by the way. Bummer about the knee surgery. It took me about 6-7 weeks before I could drive stick again. Good as gold now, though!

If you have the means, go for the second MINI.

 

You are not alone. Our first MINI was suppose to be the wife's car, but she was dealing with some vertigo issues, so I got to drive it for a couple of months. Thankfully, she recovered, but I was back to the Chrysler 300. I only got to drive the MINI occasionally on weekends. I was not at all happy.

In Nov '07 we ordered a Clubman. We needed a big car to replace the Chrysler. Took delivery in Feb '08, the week after the official introduction of the model. The engine hardly has time to cool off between outings. We have over 22,000 miles on the Clubman and only 16,000 on the 2006 MCSa. Melted two hood scoops on the Clubman and had it to the track three times.

No, we are not having any fun with our MINIs!

Oh, and both of them are stock except for a 15% pulley on the '06. We spend all of our mod money on our bucket list.

 

Divorce her, take the MINI, leave her with everything else including the kids.

Just kidding. Get a second MINI for sure.

 

Ahhhh if I could only do just that! (not the divorce thing mind you ) But rather the second mini! I have a 2005.5 VW Jetta TDI that while I love that thing, it just doesn't have that "Feel" that you all have come to know and love....we too have experienced the "Feel"!

Perhaps in the future a second is in our cards!

 

It's a strain trying to share one. We wound up buying another and it was well worth it.

 

That TDi should bring good money right now in trade, and if you really need the fuel mileage, people on this board have reported mid 40's mileage on trips in a Justa Cooper. Almost all the fun but even better mileage than an S..........and pretty close to what the Vdub will do.

 

Hey this story sounds very familar!! My husband has sorta stolen my JCW also We almost have our break-in 1200 miles in and I bet I have done 200 or less of those miles!! It's still fun being the passenger!! Give me more time to wave!

Best of luck on your surgery!!!!

 

Another two MINI household here...

 

I love my 2005.5 VW Jetta TDI! I was fortunate enough to "steal" it off the boat with some help from a buddy on another forum. He was an internet manager for a VW dealership and knew exactly when it was arriving with all the things I wanted (which was absolutely everything!)! I have 70K on her and I am now seeing my MPG in the high 40's, all the while driving it like I stole it!! If I drive the speed limit I am pushing 50 and if I drive it at 2100-2200 RPM for max econ it is in the easy 50's. Learned alot about it on the tdiforums...but that is another story.

My dilemna is I LOVE THE MINI!!!! The blessing, I suppose , is that my lovely wife likes to be the passenger ALL the time when we drive. It is a rarity that she drives with me in ANY vehicle. You see we have this "thing"....I totally HATE the way she drives....she knows it and I know it ! Not that she is a bad driver by any stretch of the imagination...just the opposite. But I have MY style...which happens to make full and proper use of the "skinny pedal". She on the other hand, drives conservatively. I have convinced her that the SPORT button is a mandatory push when she drives...even though she says she uses it alot, I have my suspicions .

Some examples:

I race to every light (her words, not mine)...she cruises after a green light.
When I see "yellow", I hit the skinny pedal (if safe)....she applies the brake.
I make full use of the acceleration lane to the highway.....she goes slowly.
I get up to speed in the fastest fashion possible.....she accelerates calmly.
I give GOOD directions....she does not (I could go on and on about this.)
I do NOT obey the speed limit at times....she does

Our biggest "disagreement" deals with "discussions" while driving...for example....When she wants me to slow down or stop I would like her to say "BRAKES!" or something concise. She tends to say "You need to slow down" or "There is a police car". I like things to be uncomplicated, precise, and timely while she likes to be descriptive .

Please do not get me wrong....we have been married for 16 wonderful years and I love her more than anything in the world. However, we both understand that I do not like her "style" of driving. She has little or no problem with mine so it works out fine.

One thing she can always "win" on in an argument is this:

Wife ------>"Who has never recieved a speeding ticket ?"
Me-------->"You Honey "
Wife ------>"Who has never been in an accident ?"
Me-------->"You Honey "
Me-------->"But Honey, I have never caused an accident but you have caused THOUSANDS !"
Wife------->"Just shut up and drive! "***

***Note: She really hasn't caused accidents but it is the only thing I can say in my feeble attempt to get her riled up....it never works .

I am wondering if any other married couples have similar thoughts about each other's style of driving?

Kimini03...thanks for the "well wishes" I will need all the positive vibes I can get!

Take care everyone....I have to go make dinner for my better half!!! I took a couple of days of vacation time and "her" clubbie is again in pristine detailed condition! One of the things I promised her when we got it was that I would do ALL the cleaning both inside and out. I figure if she is allowing me to drive it, then it is the LEAST that I can do for her!

 

She should've never let you drive it in the first place...its HER car..she should drive....

 

LOL.....agreed.....but thankfully she is graciously allowing me to drive it!

 

then she is a good woman and better than me...my hubby doesn't even touch my car...

 

well aren't y'all just PRECIOUS?!?!?

 

man you had me scared with the title, your feelings/actions are completely normal.

 

my husband did the same thing.. and yes the speeding tickets.. and accideent besides.. i missed my mini.. now i make payments on mine... so i said go buy your own.. get your own car.. but dammit if he didnt go buy his pw 09.. but he paid cash for it.. so who got the raw end of the stick... gotta love multiple minis... the options are out of this world!!!