R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006) Cooper (R50) and Cooper S (R53) hatchback discussion.

R50/53 Be honest, are you still in love with your MINI?

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Old Jul 11, 2006 | 08:57 PM
  #1  
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Be honest, are you still in love with your MINI?

I've had my MINI for only a few weeks and am totally in love with it. Today though, I was just putting away some groceries in the back and Lo and behold...another mini pulled up. A cute red one. A tall blond gal got out and remarked (rather snidely I thought) They don't hold much do they? I'm trading mine in next week for a ...a....a...(I just can't hardly say the name...)
a HUMMER!!! WHAT is this nut case thinking of? Please tell me that I'm not alone in that sacred of all things MINI...absolute LOVE of MINI and all things concerning MINIs!
 
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Old Jul 11, 2006 | 09:00 PM
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Nope you're not alone.

That girl was crazy.
 
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Old Jul 11, 2006 | 09:00 PM
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Dix, you are definitely not alone! A Hummer? What a bummer!
 
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Old Jul 11, 2006 | 09:01 PM
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Well, she should have thought before getting a MINI....

I say, good riddance....

You are not alone....nothing compares to my MINI (did I actually say 'MY'??)...to my wife's MINI......

I can comfortably fit in a fortnight's worth of groceries for 2 in the boot, without even folding the seats down...and Ahem...before I got the bike rack, I actually carried my bike in the MINI (sacrilege!!!)
 
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Old Jul 11, 2006 | 10:35 PM
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I got my MINI last august and everyday would wake up and be happy to go drive somewhere. I figured it would just go away and in a few weeks I would not longer be as obsessive. However, its is not 11 months later and I still do the same. Not only that I got a delivery job so I litterally get paid to drive around my MINI now. That was over two months ago and with hours a day driving I still enjoy it.

As for the woman with need for more room I don't really get it. I worked construction last year and with the seats down can fit a full fairly nice sized tool box in there. Not to mention even weirder shaped objects like jack hammers. For logging around two by fours you might need a larger mode of transportation, but certainly not groceries... Anyways, if I need to move two by fours I have friends with trucks. Maybe she just didn't have many friends...
 
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Old Jul 11, 2006 | 11:49 PM
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Yikes.. Yeah, I think there are definitely two camps of people who buy MINIs: those who really love them for their unique looks and performance, and those who are just looking for a car to drive. I think a lot of the "mini gulp"-type advertising recently is making a lot of people buy MINIs just for their fuel efficiency. The weird thing is, the MINI doesn't really have spectacular fuel efficiency. There are quite a few other cars you could buy that get better gas mileage. That's not why I bought one. Sure, it gets decent gas mileage. Better than a truck or SUV. But that's one of the least important aspects of why I want the car. It's like a new classic! It looks great, it's small and great for city driving, the price is right, it's got a great community around it... the list goes on.

Seriously, though. What kind of person buys a car on such a whim that they don't have any idea how much stuff the thing will hold? How many bags of groceries did she HAVE, anyway?!
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 12:28 AM
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I can proudly report that there is not a time where I dont park my car and as im walking away, i turn around and give my MINI a nice good look
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 12:32 AM
  #8  
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Originally Posted by TC1
I got my MINI last august and everyday would wake up and be happy to go drive somewhere. I figured it would just go away and in a few weeks I would not longer be as obsessive. However, its is not 11 months later and I still do the same.
I've had the same exact thing happen... Except I got mine last July. I especially love every day after work... I get to go outside and smile that I have a MINI. In the morning, I get to have a little -time before I have to go run 3 miles, or get into the daily grind. It's not wearing off yet, and I'm ordering a new one soon! I when I get out the Zaino and microfibers and hose. So, yea, I'm still in love!

Today I found out that the MINI is indeed smaller than the Scion mini wanna be. Shorter in height and length! That's one fugly car IMHO. It was some good humor to my morning.
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 01:59 AM
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Oh well, dix...good riddance to Hummer girl! I've been motoring since August 2002 and love my MINI (on MINI #2) more than ever! I still peek at her through the window when I am at home or in a restaurant where I can see her, thrilled that she is mine!
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 02:27 AM
  #10  
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TCI- ive tried and tried to put 2x4's in my mini and for the life of me i cant fit more than 8 (2x4x8's that is). keep the back seats up and the front passenger seat all the way down. they will go from the rear window all the way to the front passenger floor. if anyone fits more than 8 in there please tell me how! and yes! I still love my mini! she is actually expecting now, due in 7 weeks!
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 02:31 AM
  #11  
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From: Weeblegabber West (aka WLA)
Originally Posted by foster200
TCI- ive tried and tried to put 2x4's in my mini and for the life of me i cant fit more than 8 (2x4x8's that is). keep the back seats up and the front passenger seat all the way down. they will go from the rear window all the way to the front passenger floor. if anyone fits more than 8 in there please tell me how! and yes! I still love my mini! she is actually expecting now, due in 7 weeks!
Have the OEM roof rack installed! It is functional and looks very sporty on the MINI!
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 03:53 AM
  #12  
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Totally mad about the MINI after about a year of ownership!!!!!
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 04:07 AM
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the mini is a cute but impractical car. These days, depending on where you live, a Hummer may be even more impractical.

I would buy a hummer in NYC. the mini just does enough for me to consider keeping it as i have other cars in the stable. But it is definitely not a forever car.
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 04:19 AM
  #14  
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From: Weeblegabber West (aka WLA)
Originally Posted by acitydweller
the mini is a cute but impractical car. These days, depending on where you live, a Hummer may be even more impractical.

I would buy a hummer in NYC. the mini just does enough for me to consider keeping it as i have other cars in the stable. But it is definitely not a forever car.
Impractical in what way? I have managed to take 4 roadtrips, one a year, since 2003, in which I lived out of mine for 2 months at a time. Besides the fun factor, they hold a lot of stuff with the backseats down or deleted, are comfortable for long trips, and get good highway mileage.
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 04:30 AM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by MINIclo
Have the OEM roof rack installed! It is functional and looks very sporty on the MINI!
ironically I just had the OEM roof rack removed...... yep they had to remove the studs and respray the top..... without another vehicle (Xterra) to camp and kayak (sea, 18ft long) bikes etc the Mini (it has been lowered) could not get me some of the places I go..... that being said.... I am always admiring the Mini and love to drive it...... she just made a bad choice for her lifestyle and looks like she is about to make another one.....
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 04:32 AM
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"Impractical", schmactical.... get a grip lady. Everytime I park the MINI, I invariably turn and stop for a moment as I'm walking away to admire my baby. Yes, after two years of ownership, I am still in love with this car <heart smiley>
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 04:41 AM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by illegalprelude
I can proudly report that there is not a time where I dont park my car and as im walking away, i turn around and give my MINI a nice good look
Same here
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 04:44 AM
  #18  
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HAHA - just wait until she tries to cut a corner like she's used to doing in her MINI. She'll flip the damn thing...
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 04:58 AM
  #19  
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Yep, when I bought my first MINI in 02, I remember thinking, "I need to haul lots of 4X8 sheets of plywood a few times a week, what will be best?"

"Why a car called MINI should do it . . ."

What a revelation for the lady in dix's post. A car called MINI doesn't hold as much as a 73 Pontiac Grand Safari. Who'd a thunk it . . .
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 05:12 AM
  #20  
DesignIt's Avatar
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Originally Posted by illegalprelude
I can proudly report that there is not a time where I dont park my car and as im walking away, i turn around and give my MINI a nice good look
He, he. I'm guilty of this as well. Mine's coming up on three years, and I still love it. As far as practicality goes, the MINI is by FAR my largest car. I think it hold more stuff per overall foot of car length than anything else on the road.

John
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 05:26 AM
  #21  
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I love and hate it at the same time. I love the looks, performance, etc. I hate it because everytime I drive it I'm afraid something will happen to it. Plus I don't find the ride very comfortable on trips longer than a few miles (primarily due to health issues.)
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 05:27 AM
  #22  
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Sounds like a impulse shopper who had no idea what her needs were. Admitting you're going from a MINI to a Hummer (or for that manner a Hummer to a MINI) is basically saying "I don't have a bleepin clue what I'm doing, what my needs are, or what I want".

I love my MINI. But I'm realistic and don't think they're for everyone. If everyone had one I wouldn't want it. :-) Heck, it's not even MY only car. Folks have different needs (real or imagined) and thank God they have different tastes. It would be a bland world otherwise.
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 05:28 AM
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How ironic! The Hummer is the definition of impractical. What she should have said was, I really need a vehicle that screams I'm rich, yet ignorant.

There are SUV's that have more cargo room, get better gas mileage, AND are better off-roading vehicles for much less than Hummer's cost. Sheesh. I say good riddance, and I feel bad for the poor MINI that had to haul her around every day.
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 06:17 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by acitydweller
I would buy a hummer in NYC.

Still I guess when there are no spots left you can just park the Tahoe, sorry Hummer, on top of the neighbours cars
 
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Old Jul 12, 2006 | 06:22 AM
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Who cares if Simon can't hold any cargo, that's what UPS is for. Simon is like a son to me, and I wouldn't think of using my son as a pack animal.
As for Hummers.........Yecch!

Back to the original question: Yes! I absolutely love my MINI, more than any vehicle I've ever owned.
 
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