O

 

I think its a combination of both. I've had people come up to me and ask me if they could take a picture of it, or take a look inside. I love seeing the smiles on their faces as they walk around it. I love the smiles I see on peoples faces as I drive past them on the road. Its like my dad says (who enjoys driving MY MINI just as much as I do,) I'm glad you got dark windows, because its almost embarassing to ride in with all the people just gawking." When I decided to get a MINI, I knew it would get attention, but not this much attention. On the flipside, it is scary at times the reaction it gets. One day while sitting at a stoplight, 3 people just ran up along side us and started knocking on the windows. There have been tons of carjackings around here, so I was terrified. Turns out they just wanted to know where they could get a MINI. My friends and I discussed the "bad" attention that the Mini might draw. One of them made a good point...if you are scared to drive it because you are afraid someone might key it or mess with it, the best thing you can do is sell it. I mean, when I leave it parked somewhere...I'm constantly worrying about if someone is messing with it...but then I think about it and say "if they do something to it, I get it fixed..."
All in all...I wouldn't trade my MINI, or the attention it gets for ANYTHING.

 

I think of it this way. As unique as the car is, I figure if it were stolen it would also be easy to spot on the road. Besides the one nice thing about high end European car makers is that they make it harder to steal, also think of it this way, the most common cars are also the ones most stolen, usually for parts. If someone steals a MINI it is most likely for a joy ride, unless you live near a Port or International Border. Than you are screwed and you are more likely to kiss the car goodbye.

 

The attention is really quite nice because it's a different kind of thing. The car just seems to make people happy, they smile and are curious about it. It's in no way a jealousy kind of attention like you might get with a Ferrari, etc. the MINI is so disarming it just seems to bring out a good nature in people, which is all the more reason I don't think people would be inclined to vandalize one. I also agree with the comment above that the car would more likely get stolen for a joy ride and not parts, which is the usual reason. Plus, although not cheap, it's not expensive enough of a car to really attract theft for resale. I simpy wouldn't been concerned with this, just get enough insurance and enjoy the ride. I've had this car since May and it has reallllllllllllllllllllly been fun.

 

I kinda dig the attention....but earlier this evening when I was out at happy hour and I could see my Mini out the window as I was shooting pool, there were actually people hanging around my car, looking inside it and thoroughly checking it out. It made me a little nervous because I was parked outside of a bar and they were probably drunk, but nothing bad happened......

I think it is just a generally interesting car to look at!

 

The majority of the attention I've heard the MINI getting has been good, but I have heard the odd bad story. HarryIndyBlue for example just had the MINI badges pried off his Cooper. In Guelph of all places.(a really nice city). He speculated and I tend to agree, probably drunks from the bars did it. I'm getting my MINI next week, I'll let you know how I find it. I'm what I would call a passive-agressive driver, I won't cut you off or give you the finger but I drive fast and pass whoever is in my way( though I do drive slow through towns and school zones). Yes I am a driving contradiction.(my sister calls it Middle age, I scoff). So generally I don't like attention from other drivers, I'm always afraid I might have pissed someone off.I hope I just attrack good vibes with the MINI

 

we recently drove our IndiBlue and White MINI to a small rural Illinois town. They were celebrating "Heritage Days" which included a car show around the town square. We parked the MINI about a block off the square on a side street and began walking around looking at the displays.

The MINI got much more attention than any of the customs and hot rods on the square once people discovered where it was. The attentiopnj didn't bother or worry me a bit. However, we decided to wait until the group shrunk a little before attempting to get into our car. People commented to me all week end about seeing the MINI near the square.

On another trip, a man and woman pulled up to me in a gas station to ask about the MINI. I found out he was an Oldsmobile / Cadillac dealer. I heard his wife say, "Why don't our companies make cute little cars like that?" I think we all have been wondering that. :smile: :smile:

 

The #1 question I had about the mini was "Is it an electric car?" I guess from the size and people having seen the Honda hybrid. After I answered no..the response was then "wow, it has a real engine", laugh! cheers

 

I love the fact that wherever I go, my MINI makes people happy! When you see one, you can't help but smile. I love the attention and looks I get. I don't even mind when people came up to her in a parking lot and look in the windows (they always do!) I just think..."maybe that person had a hard day or was stressed out or fighting with their girlfirend or whatever and my MINI made them smile"...that's pretty great if you ask me!!

 

KPiglet-

You are so right. In my area, I have only seen maybe 3 MINI's the past 6 months. Yesterday, I was driving home, stressed from a long Monday and I saw not one but two very cool looking MINI's. I gave the drivers thumbs up when I saw them both. It put an immediate grin on my face, got me thinking of my MINI on order and helped wash away the Monday stress.

 

I'm thinking of putting a sign in my MINI when i get it, that reads "Stop Looking In My Car."... Think it will work... I can just see the confusion . o O (Hey, what does that sign say... 'Stop' 'Looking' 'In' 'My' 'Car'... errr... errr...)

Rocketboy_X

(PS: the . o O (...) indicates a thought baloon... now you know..)

 

I think that the fact that they are unique makes people curious because the world is filled with so many cars that all look so much alike. Or is it me? But it's hard to tell a Nissan from a Toyota from a Hyndai from Ford etc. (I'm speaking of the general coupes and not sports cars or trucks.)

I know it will bug me if I park the MINI and return to find people touching it, looking inside etc. But I guess that comes with owning a car that's not status quo?

BTW a while ago in my area they had a short feature on the news about auto theft. They said that cars with customized plates (regardless of makes, years, models) are less stolen than cars with generalized plates.

The reason is, if you've got a plate that reads VFL5481 it's harder to find and spot amongst all the cars than a plate that reads as GO4FUN. And plates that are more for the car themselves like color or make such as "BLUSKY" - well if you see it on a white car isn't that odd? --- are less likey to be stolen.

It's recommended you get a custom plate if possible to help theft of the car or just of the plates.

*NOTE: All plates were made up. It's all coincidental if any of the plates I used are actually valid in any state.