The koolaid... ladies made it for the "Ladies pick the mini for cuteness" guy :-P

 

now you have to ask which flavor

 

Let's not go there!

 

are on the pre-pay ticket plan, kinda sort of like the prepay electric bill program, that way the ticket cost never changes.

 

You're right ...I should have.

Me too !

Yup, it could have been different ...maybe better, maybe worse. You just never know. But, I should have tried.

dean.

 

Way overestimated. One in three?

How about 1 in 25? With about 200K cars on the road, 4% = 8000 owners. I bet that is right about in line.

The vast amount of the car buying public buys ... cars.

 

I've personally found that when I encounter other MINIs on the road (It's rare in my city as the nearest dealership is 150km away) I get far more older people waving than younger people. I had a woman who was at least twice my age (I'm only 23) honk and wave wildly when she see my driving by in my Cabrio. I'd never seen this women before in my life but of course I smiled and waved back.

But with younger people I've found that they've usually got the dead set get-out-of-my-way look mentioned in one of the above posts.

And I've got to agree with Dan00Hawk and ReelSmith, I've had significantly more non-MINI drivers talk to my about my car than MINI drivers. I even had one guy flag me off the road so he could ask me questions about it, a police officer asked me to trade him cars for the day (I should have asked if I could use the siren) and at least once a day I have someone compliment me on my car as I'm driving or parking.

 

There are also alot on NAM that don't belong to local clubs as well. I have spoken to some of these people and the response is "I like my MINI, but don't want to or have the time to join a club". I personally don't get it, but hey, to each their own.

 

3 in 10 .... or did I misunderstood?

 

Aw cmon, you know the answer to that

• some people are introverts.
• some people are true car enthusiats but could care less for large groups (oh, that's introverts)
• some people could care less for a "run". They can go for a run anytime ... alone (oops, introverts)
• some people could care less about social dinners (Oh darn, the introverts again)
• Breakfast at Tate

 

Fellows, don't forget that many women may be less outgoing because they don't want "creeps" to hit on them or stalk them. I, too, get more waves and reactions to my MINI from non-MINI owners/drivers...always have had, since 2002. When I do get the rare wave from another MINI person, it always makes my day!

I can't get over the gal "kissing" the wheel arch with her own MINI, looking you in the eye, and basically blowing you off. That is just plain rude.

 

HAWG - dont worry, I totally agree with you. Im a woman and I get far more men who wave than women. I get it, they have the car because its cute

btallack - I get that too. When I was a kid my parents, especially my dad, would wave to everyone he came across (it wasnt that hard, we lived in Wyoming). For the most part, people were courteous and car clubs were a bigger thing. Its really a bummer the way people have become.

 

Awesome!!! I love it!!! Maybe we could start a revolution!!! All kind loving people..."Imagine" Thanks J. L.

 

Yes, I also have a major pet peeve about other Mini owners who dont seem to care for the comraderie. But, the lady that you met today was just down right rude.
Although do you think you might have had an evil if-you-dont-get-that-door-off-my-wheel-arch-I'm-going-to-rip-your-face-off-you-traitorous -numbskull, glare in your eyes that might have made her run for her life?

 

Gee, I hope not!

Seriously though, no, I really don't think so. I think my reaction was more of the normal "hey, what's up with that" ...and she just didn't want to deal with it.

As much as I should have done something like say "hey, nice car" ...she should have said "oooppsss, did I kiss your arch". That would have been an ice breaker.

dean.

 

I'm very protective of our 'baby' as well.
Last night I made a quick run to the store for a couple sodas and coffee creamer (every excuse counts when my wife lets me take her MINI) and I parked away from others.
Came out, a guy was standing next to the MINI loading bags in his car (how he managed to park, get in the store and back out before me is a mystery to me) and his cart was starting to move towards the MINI.
I started sprinting, he turned around, held the cart and looked at me like saying "Why did you run?" grrr...
But he was actually nice, admired the car, told me that he had a classic once and how he liked that the new one had so much more headroom.

And earlier I stopped at McD, wife stayed in the car. When i came out she told me an older lady walked up and told her that her daughter has exactly the same, without the checkers, no stripes and it wasn't a cabrio either
I actually had seen that one... driven by a lady who doesn't wave back...

 

You know, here in the SF Bay Area, there are SO many MINIs, it's clear that the vast majority of the drivers are 'car drivers' not 'MINI drivers'... the wave or the nod or the light tip, usually go unnoticed. They're on the phone, or driving with a scowl, or just in their own special place. On the other hand, when I DO see other MINI drivers invested int he culture, it's kind of nice that they make the effort. My MINI is obviously different on the exterior, with aero and vinyl tint and some other stuff. It's clear when another enthusiast comes along.

 

Are you saying its "clear" when another enthusiast comes along because they wave?

 

All I can say is that you are a better person than me, because if someone had opened a door on my MINI, wheel arch or not, I would explode and it would get ugly, very quickly.

 

There's no need to explode and get ugly. That's why you have insurance. You just have to take a moment, take a deep breath, and realize when it's all said and done - it's...a....car.

 

I have a feeling Chows is right- the percentage of enthusiasts who go on forums, etc is probably much less than 30%, but I'd say that about 30% wave though. Yesterday I turned down the wrong street and passed a Cooper- and the girl waved and smiled! Nothing puts a smile on your face quite like that.

I had a good experience a week ago- So...07' Audi S4 or my MCSc? Well my friends could have gotten a ride in either one, and chose the MINI. They all knew that an S4 could smoke me, but they enjoyed the ride in my car to the nth degree- and I was just bombin around in an undeveloped neighborhood. I was getting tons of "wow's"...and all I could say was "that was just 1st and 2nd gear!" (I think the louder intake/exhaust also helped in the sensual dept)

 

the car for fun, driving ease and it is just a great car. I did initially buy for the cuteness factor....but my next one is the S....bring on the tickets [/quote]

Not to worry....you can get tickets with JustaCooper!! I got 2 in a year and a half a couple of years ago. My husband has asked if I want some more power and I say I think she has enough already. YAY to those with MINItude!!

 

Of course I'm right Just kidding.

Seriously for a second, I think many people only see whats inside their box. They forget that 190,000 other MINI owners could care less about any car forum. So they "criticize" ... "clueless" MINI owners because the other 190,000 owners don't buy into or follow the "cult" that THEY want them to follow.

It's actually kind of funny ... like you can't see what's outside the bag your in because your blind to it.

We have three MINI dealers around here. I'm sure many cars have been sold, but I can count on my fingers and toes the number of club members who "actively" post here on NAM.

The vast majority of MINI owners don't know nor care about "waving" or any of the other marketing hype MINI would like you to buy into. (just my opinion).

 

You're right, I'll bet the percentage is less than 5 that are part of the "cult".

 

imagine how flooded NAM would be if 100% of owners posted here. That would be intense to say the least