This thread is to share the moments you have had in your MINI that couldn't have been achieved in another car. So share your stories and experiences!

I was driving around earlier today on some back roads by my home. My sister was with me and wanted to film a quick ride so here is the video from what happened today...

I will never underestimate the spaces a MINI can fit into ever again.

 

Cool. I have been happy to own mine several times, but usually just for nimbly dodging things in the road. The first day I drove it home even there was suddenly a large rubber trash can rolling across my lane while merging on the highway. It also makes me happy when random people talk about it or ask about it; never really had much of that before, but I get it all the time now. It is especially funny to hear people talking excitedly about it in the parking lot when they don't know it is mine.

However, back in October we were on a MINI scavenger hunt with the MCS. We had to go to a certain building, we accidentally passed it so we turned into the next building thinking to cut through the parking lots. However the drive between the parking lots had been blocked by several huge planters. The MCS didn't care though

 

About 5 weeks ago. Charlotte/Meck police set up a license check on Ridge Road near my house. I had my license and registration ready and showed them to the officer He responded by stating "Thank you sir and and I really like your car". Never had that happen before. Sorta neat owning a Mini.

 

I have had several instances with debris or sorts on the road and having to dodge them, as well. MINIs definitely catch people's attention.

Ha! That sounds like a lot of fun.

 

The turn in on this car is like nothing I've ever experienced before. Probably the only car I've driven, where I managed to have a passenger bang his head on the window because of the quick change of direction.

Also, looking at $4/gallon prices and then looking at the 6L Tahoe next to me is very satisfying :D

 

JohnW94,
Really great video !!

 

The moments that have made me the happiest to own my mini:
-the scarily frequent near-miss accident occurrences due to other drivers' ignorance and not having to question whether or not the airbag(s) would go off like I did in my old car.
-every time I get a waive/recognition from another MINI driver
-every time I can open the sunroof on a nice day
-every time I can wash/detail it to perfection and just stare at how shiny it is
-every time I get a compliment on it
BUT
-it made me most happy when I first bought my MINI to see how happy/excited my family members were for me because they knew that I've wanted this car for the longest time, have worked so hard holding the same job for 6 years working my way up the ranks since I was 14 while still remaining an honors student all throughout high school and college and sacrificing countless things to manage to afford it on my own This car means more to me than a lot of people can imagine.

 

When I was coming home from Nashville and looked up and saw headlights coming straight at me in my lane! I swerved quickly and ended up in an offset head on. When the rescue folks told me that most cars they recover on that stretch have flipped over the guardrail I was happy that my MINI saved me, my daughter, my dog and the new puppy we had gone to Nashville to get.
RIP El Kabong.
Annette

 

Guy today was trying to figure out how he was going to get his 12' Kayak home in his new 4 Door F150 W/6' bed since an additional 6' was hanging over the back and he didnt have a roof rack. He was shocked when I bought the same 12 footer and through it on top of my MINI with no problems.....

 

My girlfriend hates my zippy lane changes because she bangs her head on the window.

 

You must be changing your lanes quickly then I was talking more of a last minute pothole avoidance.

 

When today came and my Molly turned 3yrs. Old (Production Date), funny how celebrating a Birthday for a piece of metal with 4 Tires can bring a to your face!!

 

I am glad to hear that you are okay and made it out of that crash. I get a lot of people asking me, actually scratch that...telling me that the MINI doesn't look safe. Even though the airbags and what not can save you in a crash, we have the major advantage of maneuverability to prevent a crash. Or in your case, preventing the crash from being worse.

 

Don't know really which direction this thread is to take but our moment started 2 years ago last November and hasn't ended yet. Our li'l guy just got stabled and curried 20 minutes ago after a 5 hour romp and tomorrow morning it just keeps on going.

 

pulling on to the interstate and hearing the supercharger whine all the way through 2nd most of 3rd.

driving up mt. washington with 300 other minis so my sister and I can pay tribute to my dad.

 

I'd agree with the above poster...after trying to avoid some jack@$$es stupid driving I ended up sliding across the freeway facing the wrong direction. The wheels slammed into a sandbar and I'm convinced the low center of gravity kept us from flipping over onto the beach below.

True, if I'd been in my Tahoe, perhaps the other driver would have seen me easier or wouldn't have tried to take my lane position; but if that had still happened, the Tahoe would have flipped over, and we would definitely have been injured or killed.

No airbags deployed, no damage to the frame any other components except some scratches to the hatch and a broken bumper cover. Drove the car home 70 miles without an issue. Well done Mini.

I'd definitely buy another one.

 

gotta add this-
had to go to a work party tonight with a bunch of people at a fancy restaurant where I had to valet (which I really did not want to do), but, as we were all waiting after the party outside for the valets to bring our cars, they pull up in my other coworkers hondas, toyotas, lexus', infiniti's and other brand vehicles but when the came around in my mini everyone was going "oooo, a mini! NICE whose is that!", and I proudly walked to the front and said "it's mine!", got in and drove away! Highlight of the night for me

 

Besides the previously-mentioned point and shoot handling for escaping near misses, I cannot count how many people have come up to me in parking lots and said, "So, how do you like your car?" I think they want to hear good things so they have even more reasons to buy one other than they look cool. lol I get a lot of smiles, especially from teenagers and older people, for some reason.

As for near misses, one day on my way to work, some brain trust had let his huge truck tire roll out into freeway traffic when he was changing a flat. I didn't see it lying in my lane until it was too late to swerve--there were cars on both sides of me, so I had no choice but to drive OVER it. I was scared that it would catch under my car and that would be it for me, but amazingly, I passed over it unharmed. I took my car in to be looked at just in case, and they said there was no damage, just a little line of scuff where the tire had brushed passed. Thank God I never lowered the car. I would have been a goner.

I think it's fun, for people who tease me about it being too small, to tell them that I can get a 6-foot Christmas tree and/or an Igloo dog house in the hatch. Ha! They look stunned.

I've influenced two more people where I work to buy MINI S's. They are sooooo happy--I don't think they even realized how much fun and truly how safe these cars are until they drove one to work each day.

 

That would have scared me shitless! Good thing there was enough clearance.



Especially with the seats folded down, there is a fair amount of space in the boot.

 

When this hot girl told me "I love your MINI more than his Ferrari"

 

Your a brave man, I wouldn't let a valet even think about parking my car.....

 

I didn't have a choice I was already late to the event as it was, and I was gritting my teeth as I had to walk away-I much prefer to park my own car. It took just about every last ounce of good faith I have in people to trust this "kid" with my car-haven't inspected it for damage yet as it was dark and raining when I left last night. I hope I don't find any surprises...

 

Things I've had to dodge in SJ:

1. Numerous truck tire treads
2. One large cow in the middle of the road right after a great set of "S" curves.
3. One large (and I mean large) turkey buzzard that decided to take flight just as I started accellerating through the twisties.
4. And of course multiple SUV drivers using thier cell phones instead of their brains.

 

2 weeks ago I was coming home from a trip, the timing worked out to pick up my son at school, so I drove straight there. While parked had a very nice lady come over and start telling me how much she loved my car and wanted to be taken for a ride (hmmm dont ask) she spoke with me for a good 10 minutes, then as my son came out she gave me her number and said to call so we could do dinner. My son was laughing as she walked away.

 

One week ago I got the fastest time on the autocross course against the members of my MINI club, a WRX and a new WRX STi...in my "Justa!"