Hi everyone, I figured this would be a fun thread about what inspired you to get a MINI!

I'll start it off, what inspired me to want a MINI was when I saw them in the movie, The Italian Job, I loved how small they looked and how much fun it looked like to drive them! And I thought to myself how easy it would be to parallel park it versus other vehicles

 

I had a truck on 35" tires and got at best 13.5 mpg. I got a new job that required almost 30mi each way to and from work. I usually drove 20-30k miles a years and MPG was important. I was looking at a used Focus on the MINI lot when my wife asked if I would want a MINI. I told the salesman I would never fit (big guy and 6'-6"). He got the keys and I sat in it. We drove the car 3 miles around the block and I was hooked. I am on my 3rd MINI now. He had the easiest job in the world...get people to drive the car and they will buy it.

 

Wow great story! I'm pretty sure MINI salesmen have the most fun job ever lol, get people hooked on minis and do test drives all day

 

I just got a new job a good distance away... driving 40 miles each way in a F150 getting about 12-13mpg... gas prices were rising and I needed a more economical car.

Started looking in ads and saw a few MINI's that were out of my price range but decided to go look at one anyways. It was a red S and I actually fit in it and it seemed REALLY nice. I tried talking him down but he wouldn't hit a price I could afford. As I Was walking out he said he had one in the back in my price range. It was a little beat up 03 regular cooper... in blue. Took it for a test drive and the rest is history.

So, I'm on my 2nd cooper now, and this one is my Red S.

I will buy another one after this one.

 

My motivation was a mid-life crisis, of sorts. I wanted something sporty. Looked at Corvettes - whatever I could afford seemed to be "rode hard and put away wet". I tried Jags but the first XK8 had the guts baked out of it and the engine was wonky. The second one caught fire on the test drive and the third one was a private party sale that got hit by a postal truck. I figure the karma was not good for me and Jags.

My best friend had a Mini. Said it was the best car he ever owned. He took me over to the dealership and the culture of MINI owners just grabbed me. I loved the enthusiast feel to the dealership. I knew I had to be a part of that. Found a used (one-owner) pristine R53 with all the bells and whistles and never looked back. It's the most fun car I've ever owned!

 

For me, I've owned car's and serval lifted trucks..
I had a 91 eclipse gst "my First Turbo car" it was a manual and I just LOVED it.. the car had some issues but I loved it anyway..
I knew some about the mini and what it was about loved the racing history of the car and when they re released the new ones I wanted one bad.. have too say the movie helped seal the deal lol and just further my already apparent love of these cars.
I wanted a car that would be good on mpg and meet my fast race car driving mentality while still being somewhat practical the mini is perfect! its the only car I've owned that meets or beats all my expectations in a automobile and I honestly can say that I'll be a mini fan forever now that I own my own.. I bet I'll always have at least one in my yard

 

I had a BMW 530I that just bored the heck out of me, went to lunch one day with a co-worker who had a SC mini and just FELL IN LOVE WITH ON THE SPOT. His was all tricked out, instant power and handling was awesome.

I went home that day looked at the finances talked to the wife and traded the boring vehicle for an 09 JCW hatchback. I'm still working on the mods and that is the fun part, this is my first Turbo and wow. I look forward to driving now, drive it like I stole traffic conditions allowing of course.

I also have an 03 Z4 3.0 manual and wow its tough to decide which one to drive sometimes. The mini and Z4 are the best cars I've ever owned, I drive an old 13 year honda passport when I have drag around BUTTS.

 

Wow great stories! The MINIs are eye openers thats for sure! My 2010 Clubman S was my first car and first turbo lol, after 1 drive (very awkward as the turbo lag scared me) i was hooked

 

My obsession started only a few months ago!! Yes I have been around them for years, but never considered purchasing one. I do a lot of off road 4x4 driving and camping, and have a Land Rover 110 Defender as my main drive. My wife drives a BMW X5 diesel. Both big cars, but not the most economical. I am in the process of working for a company on the other side of the continent, and will have to set up a second residence. I want to keep both cars for years to come, so didn't want to drive either down. Googled economical cars Australia, and a MINI D came up more economical than a Prius!! Got me thinking - economical and fun!!. Tried to test drive one up in Far North Queensland (FNQ) No MINI D's on the market up here. There were a few Cooper S's around. Drove both the Auto, and Manual, and was hooked. Screw economics, I want fun!! Just happened that there was a 2008 FJCW with 10,862k's on the odometer for sale not far from me, and after a test drive, I handed over a deposit. Even with the low k's it has been serviced every year, by the local BMW dealer. Have had it for just over a month, and have put it's annual k's on it already But I'm smiling all the while.

Cheers,
Ken

 

I was looking for a GTI, but the whole scene at the dealership made me want to punch a salesman so I left there. There was a MINI dealership next door that I had never noticed before, my brother drove me to it. I took a test drive and I had to have one, and enjoy my drives now more than I have in years.

 

I've always had two vehicles on the road and before the MINI they were a 2007 Jeep Wrangler that is lifted and setup for off-roading and a 1970 Oldsmobile S/W with a big block that got about 15mpg highway and 8mpg city. I figured it was time to get rid of one of the gas suckers and get back into a small vehicle (the Jeep replaced a Honda Del Sol).
I test drove a bunch of small convertibles (BMW Z4, VW Eos, Saturn Sky, to name a few) and then the MCSc. I liked the MINI and have even used the rear seat for passengers, which most of the other didn't have.
I've had it a little over a year and a half and not quite sure how I feel about it. I love driving it but I always feel like I'm waiting for something to fail.
At 32000 miles (bout it with 21000) I've replaced the horns, engine mount, and oil pan seal (under warrantee) I've had to repair mushroomed strut towers (live in NYC so lots of pot holes) and I currently have an intermittent problem with the roof.
Like I said I still love to drive it but the issues seem to much for such a low mileage vehicle. Only time will tell if it stays with me.

 

Sad to hear that Insanitize! And great stories everyone, lol when you see the MINIs and take a test drive its all over! Lol

 

Back in 1995, my family visited Europe. We were in Germany, Holland, and Belgium. I remember seeing several classic Minis, and I was in love with them instantly. I even joked about putting one in my suitcase and bringing it home. When the new MINI was introduced, I had just signed a lease for a 2002 Accord Coupe, which was a bummer because I wanted one BAD! When my lease was just about up, there was only one car I wanted, and I ordered a 2006 R50 Checkmate. I remember that I kept the brochure on the front seat of my Accord the whole time I waited, to remind me of what I was going to be getting. Since then, I have owned a 2010 R56 (non-S), and now have a 2012 Countryman (also non-S). I smile every time I see my car, and I still feel like a little kid every time I get behind the wheel.

 

Back in 1995, my family visited Europe. We were in Germany, Holland, and Belgium. I remember seeing several classic Minis, and I was in love with them instantly. I even joked about putting one in my suitcase and bringing it home. When the new MINI was introduced, I had just signed a lease for a 2002 Accord Coupe, which was a bummer because I wanted one BAD! When my lease was just about up, there was only one car I wanted, and I ordered a 2006 R50 Checkmate. I remember that I kept the brochure on the front seat of my Accord the whole time I waited, to remind me of what I was going to be getting. Since then, I have owned a 2010 R56 (non-S), and now have a 2012 Countryman (also non-S). I smile every time I see my car, and I still feel like a little kid every time I get behind the wheel.

 

I saw my first MINI in '02 or '03 when they came back to the states: a Chili Red Cooper with white roof, mirror caps, and bonnet stripes. I was walking out of the parking garage at work when I spotted this unique, tiny little car in a spot by the door and almost went head-first into a pillar doing a double-take.

I peered in the windows, and the first thing I noticed was the center speedo. I was immediately attracted to the exterior & interior styling. The fact that the MINI was so different than anything else on the road at that point - a standout from all the other four-wheeled appliances - I was totally smitten.

Like so many others I saw the Italian Job remake and was drawn to MINIs even more. Jump ahead to my first seat time during a test drive in the summer/autumn of '10, and that was all she wrote: I was in a MINI Sept. 25 of that year.

 

The total absence of any small cars in the US is what inspired me.

I came from Europe where MINI sized cars are common, they're called "SuperMini"s (as in bigger than a (classic) Mini). I felt most comfortable in cars that size, in the US we had to settle for a Civic, which was too big. When I heard about the announcement from BMW about the new MINI, I was interested and followed its progress until we finally got one in 04.

 

Always loved hatchback cars. Couldn't afford a new R53 when they first came out. Been at my job for 10 years now and make more money so I pulled the trigger on a 2013. I always liked the underdog and a car that had a good following of aftermarket support and owners of all types. With MINI there are several type of owners that you don't see a lot in other cars. From serious track day videos I can't thumbs up enough on youtube to the people that keep it simple and just enjoy keping their MINI stock and clean with a wash on the weekend. Then there's the in between as well. You don't get that with other car makers imo.

 

Bought a wrx, horrific nightmare. Bought MINI, joy is back in life.

 

I needed a daily driver for work and I just graduated from college so I wanted something unique. I looked at an Acura TSX (2006-2008) model and they were very hard to find in a manual close to where I live. Then I thought about gas mileage and the price of 93 octane. The MINI was the better choice and a lot more fun to drive. It reminds me most of my first car except it has twice the power

 

First, I purchased a 2005 pepper white and black Cooper for my wife, for her 50th birthday. When it was time for me to buy a car for myself, I test drove many Japanese cars. Every time I would get out of the test car, I'd think, "It's not a MINI".
I realized that silver Japanese cars are just so boring. I ordered a BRG and white Cooper for myself in 2010. Both cars are doing well, even the 2005 with a CVT. The cars make me think of Oxford, fish and chips, strong tea and Victoria sponge cake.

 

Saw mine on the lot. Thought "hey MINIs are pretty fast arent they? I mean theyre factory boosted. I bet that car is fun." Test drove it and fell in love. Now that has become a love/hate relationship thanks to needing repairs constantly.

 

Nice experiences people! I remember when my dad came back from "getting groceries" he said to come out to the driveway to help out and when i did there was a MINI infront of me . I literally crawled into fetal position and started crying because it was so awesome and the best first car i could ever had . Although i wasn't suprised when later i noticed $26,000 missing from my bank account (dad had withdrew it to pay for the car in cash)

 

I wanted a fun car that was small (like me!) but I also wanted something that wasn't going to change drastically every year. I didn't want my car to look outdated within 1 year. I don't mind the inside changing. But the outside of the Mini is fairly constant with minor changes. Which I love.

I've been in love with Minis since I was about 16. Got my first mini when I was 20. And 3 years later, even with her problems, I still love her to death. Annnnd no one can tell that my car is an 06. When people ask what year and I say 06 they're like 'what? seriously?'.

 

Back in '99 when the mini's return was announced I signed up and received the promotional material in the mail. I really wanted one but the availability was still a couple of years away so I stuck with my 1999 VW New Beetle and eventually upgraded from that to a 2000 Turbo NB which rocked. When I lost my job at an internet start-up in 2001 I gave the Beetle to the wife and reverted back to my '65 VW Single cab. I figured it was only fair since she was paying the bills and her Dodge Neon was ready to keel over.

Jump ahead to 2003 when I was ready to buy a new car and our son was born which dictated something bigger than the hard top (needed to cart the stroller and other baby stuffs around with us) so instead of a Mini I ended up with a Honda Element. The E has been a great car with very little in the way of expenses/repairs in the last 10 years but it's showing it's age now and will certainly need something major in the near future I can just feel it.

So finally some 14 years after falling for the Mini I'll be ordering a one tomorrow. We still need to cart some of the kids stuff around but its pretty much just soccer ***** and what not so the Clubman S is going to fit the bill quite nicely!

I can't wait to start tinkering with a car again too so many neat things to be done with these little gems. The E was so boring I never got into doing much to it. Just drove it around for 238,000 miles until now.

Well that's my story, I started a thread listing my current build specs so if you get a chance pop in and see if there's anything critical I'm missing or wasting money on I'm still debating dropping the automatic trans for the stick and changing from the lounge to Recarro seats...