Please allow me to share a story...

Eight months ago I was driving 90 miles a day (round trip) to get to/from work. I was driving [gasp] a Pontiac Sunfire. I bought the car when it was brand new, basically right out of college. I wanted something to get from point A to point B. It sufficed. But back to the story... I couldn't stand driving. I hated it. After spending about 2 hours per day in a car I just didn't want to drive anywhere. I would gladly jump into the passenger seat of anyone's car that was willing to drive where I wanted to go. I basically hated driving anywhere. Even just to the store to get something quick.

The next part of my story sees me moving much closer to my job. Now instead of 45 miles one-way I have about a 6 or 7 mile drive. Woohoo! This was in August last year. All during this time I was dreaming of getting a Mini. I thought it would be a great way to make the long drive I had at the time much more enjoyable.

So, finally, in February of this year I pulled the trigger on my '05 LY/B MCS. Here comes the "Effect" part. Now I can't drive enough!! Where before I avoided driving, now I have just 20 minutes per day in the car. And I love it - the driving part that is, not the 20 minutes part! I'm looking for excuses to drive and go places. "Sure honey, I'll drive all the way back to the store to get that thing we forgot". I look forward to getting out of work at the end of a hectic day and motoring home. But now I have the short drive and actually yearn for the long drive. It's the Mini Effect! It's crazy.

I hope I never have to drive another (different) car again! Luckily, going to the Dragon a couple weeks ago really helped with my jones. Anybody need anything at the store???

BTW, can you tell I love my Mini??

 

I hear you on that one. Granted I have always had an insatiable desire to drive at every opportunity no matter what the car but since I picked up my Kathy I have been finding every excuse I can to take the long way home or figure out where that road that I've never seen before (including the ones that I havent seen yet) goes. I've gotten lost at least three times just since last friday (yesterday for almost an hour) and have loved every minute of it. Of course, the giant care bear in my passenger seat and the looks I get because of it doesnt help matters at all .


P.S. To all that are wondering about the care bear thing. I will hopefully be posting pics of that little bit of mini-wierdness tonight... if I dont get lost on the way home

 

100 miles a day commute here, from Bumpass to the west end (what people would call "town" ) to friend's/errands, and back home.

But i on the other hand want a short commute. I love driving all the time (i racked up almost 6k miles in a couple days over 2 months) But i dont want to have another high mileage vehicle, or lose my warranty just yet. My miata had 176k on the clock

And i have the ultimate kid friendly car. Bright yellow, "THE SHORT BUS" vinylled across the back window, a pinwheel off the antenna, a wind up key off the license plate, care bear stickers lining the rear window, and a my size barbie that matches my favorite outfit rides in the back seat all the time.

What's next? The jelly bean sunroof decal

 

Great story Jray...:smile: Happy Motoring...!!!

Donna
02' CR/W MCS (gone to MINI heaven - burned up)
05' Cool Blue MCSC "Ariel"
05' HB/W MCS

 

I definitely want to drive more in my Mini than any other car, but I've always had the bug! I left my first car (escort) at 180,000 miles, I too bought a Sunfire GT new back in '95 and left it at 120,000 miles. My other car right now I bought new in '98 (yes I put on 120,000 in 3 years) and it has 130,000 on it. I haven't had time to drive much lately, but the Mini has 3000 in the last 7 weeks...I need to drive it more! I've also put on over 100,000 miles in delivery trucks. I guess you have to LOVE to drive while you do it for a living! Glad I don't do it anymore though...more time to drive for pleasure.

 

I guess I should've mentioned that I did that long 45 mile drive back-and-forth for a little over 6 years. Maybe that helps explaing my hatred for driving at the time?

I got my Sunfire GT in '98. Actually, it was almost 7 years to the day when I picked up my Mini from the day I got the Sunfire. There is now about 165k on the odometer of the Sunfire... which I didn't trade in and might just keep as a beater. It has actually held up amazingly well (knock on wood). If I had known what a difference a different car would have made on my drive, I might have traded up a long time ago!

But you definitely trump me in amount of driving! Yoi! That's a lot.

I am happy that I don't have to put a ton of miles on my Mini if I don't want to. It will last longer .

 

I drive about 60 miles a day, which isn't too bad, but Steve currently drives 100 miles a day. People always ask us why we don't get some more practical cars...but what would be the fun in that? I drive my MINI and he drives his EVO (he will drive the truck from time to time) and our drives are much more enjoyable than they were in the Impala