What was your favorite previous vehicle that you drove before your current MINI? (I guess you could count a previous MINI.)

Mine, believe it or not, was my 1990 Ford Probe GT, which I drove for longer than any other vehicle: 130k miles in 13 years. It had a 2.2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making 147 HP & 190 ft/lbs of torque (before I installed the boost adjuster), mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Stock 0-60 was 6.8 seconds; I had it down to 6.4 with the boost adjuster. When it became too difficult and expensive to get parts, I finally had to let it go.

Edit: Forgot to mention that it averaged 28 MPG on mandatory 91-octane fuel.

 

Mine was a 1990 Mazda Miata, still have it. Probably the shortest shifts for a stock transmission that I have ever experienced (stock, just changed the ****). I have had it for the past 8 years and needed a dependable daily driver. It's amazing how much power a turbo can add to a 1.6L.

Nothing beats cruising at night with the top down with 60 degree weather with the heat on low at your feet!

 

I do miss the oversteer though...

 

Mine was a 1985 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobianchi_Y10 Fire. That was one of Fiat's competitors in the MINI's segment (before the modern MINI). It was about a foot shorter than the MINI (and a foot longer than the Mini), and had a 1l engine making all of 45hp, but was a lot lighter than a MINI (1700lb).

It was a lot of fun to drive, I got it with 3,000 miles on it (seemed to be a genuine low miles) in 1990 and sold it three years later when I moved to the US with about 87,000 miles on it. Most of those miles were for fun (not commuting), I drove it all over England and Wales and even across to Holland a couple of times. I was one of the few people in my circle of friends who had a car, so I drove a lot of people a lot of places.

 

1974 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_914.

Smaller and lighter than a MINI (though rather larger and heavier than a Mini). Not much power, absurdly-good handling. Open-topped, air-cooled, noisy, beats me up on long drives, not exactly reliable.

I still own it.

 

2000 Honda CBR600 F4. ~100HP @ ~400lbs, comfortable for 4+ hours of riding, could pass anything but a faster sport bike with ease, lots of fun.

Unfortunately the roads are full of inattentive and hostile drivers out to get you, and I'd really like to stay alive for a long time. I do miss it though, but getting another one would kill my mom/dad/girlfriend, so I do my enthusiastic driving in a cage now.

 

1995 Acura Integra GSR and my Ducati 748r

 

This is going to sound like a teenage boy (and I was at the time) my Jackson Racing Supercharged 2000 Civic Si on Skunk2 coil overs, KYB AGX adjustable shocks, and Frankenstiened motor in Blue...... I miss that little rice burner. You think a MINI rides rough, you should have ridden in that bad boy LOL!

And my Repsol edition (custom in 2003 before the Repsol 1000RR was even on the market) Honda 600RR. Those were the good ole days!

 

The only car that I had before the Mini that I did not like was my 97 Civic....everything else was great...a number of GTIs - my favorite of those was my 88 16 V
a bunch of Jeeps - all great
a WRX - had it when I lived in VT and on snow, ice and gravel there is nothing more fun that a Stage 2 WRX with Studded Snow Tires
Miata - got if for 300 dollars built it for STS autocross and sold it for 3800
A bunch of others from a 68 Pontiac to a 2005 Toyota 4 Runner...all of them good for something that I needed at the time and on the favorite list.

 

Either my 1964 VW Beetle (with 1967 engine/trans) or my 1988 Honda CRX Si.
Fun in different ways. Hated to part with both of them.

 

#1 1964 Austin Healey MkII Sprite
#2 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST Spyder
#3 2000 Dodge Dakota 5.9 R/T

All fun in very different ways. I like my MINI best!

 

1984 Honda CRX. Bought it new and had it for 21 years and 250k miles! I could get 45 mpg in that sucker! I sold it to someone that really needed a car and regret it to this Day! 2nd fav is 1971 beetle convertible . still have the vert but haven't driven it in 4 years :( Have a 2001 beetle turbo that was also a blast leaving teenage Honda boys at the line The Daughter drives that now and is chomping at the bit to get the MINI

 

1986 VW Jetta, Wolfberg edition. That car was amazing...handled, braked and rode well, and carried TONS of stuff. Drove it for nearly 200,000 miles and sold it for nearly $3k.

 

Easy, a 1993 BMW R1100RS (same color as my red MC). After the RS was destroyed (and me almost) at an intersection, I am now getting around in a 2012 MC. Almost as much fun and I stay dry when it rains.

 

2008 Mazda speed3. Had to sell it so the baby would fit. Really regret it but now she fits in the MINI just fine.

 

Got to go with my 2004 LS1 Pontiac GTO. Pure muscle straight out of box!

 

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