Ok, I should have known better. I should have Never gone to look at the new MINI's. I shouldn't have gone for a test drive. I swore I'd never buy a new car.... I've been happily commuting in a 1966 Plymouth Valiant (Now on it's second engine) Original A/C, original AM radio, and just never could understand the point of spending the money on a new car that will lose most of it's value in the first few years of life... (Not to mention the fact that there is way too much to break on modern cars....)

The test drive was on friday... I couldn't believe the pep and handling on that little electric blue cooper!! And what's this? a new car with easily cleanable vinyl seats not cloth?? Nice simple instrument panel by modern standards. I only wish I could get normal (Non Powered) windows, Normal (Push the damn button down yourself) Locks etc. etc. But what a beautiful little car. It's not a Simi-Retro Plastic looking gimick like the new ford thunderbird, they actually managed to capture the true spirit of the mini, It's instantly recognizable while updated. But Almost $20,000.00 to get from point A to point B??

Today, I was back at the dealer putting a $500 deposit down on the only Non-S cooper without too many frills that hadn't been used as a loaner or taken out on too many test drives (This is NOT the kind of engine break in experience a car should have)

In about a week the money should be available at the bank to pay off the MINI and drive it home. Now, If I can just get it to last 30 Years or so...... :smile:

 

Now that, my friend, is a beautiful story.



This is the first car I'm buying, I always leased VW's before. Now that I'm over that...i'll keep my adorable MINI

----------in production: Pepper White/Pepper White 16"RF, Sport Package w/no sunroof!! can't wait!

 

>>I've been happily commuting in a 1966 Plymouth Valiant (Now on it's second engine) Original A/C, original AM radio,

So, what are you doing with the Valiant? THAT is a cool car...least we forget that the Mini may be simply the latest in a long line of automotive coolness.

 

Ah.. the Valiant must go away. I'm leaving the army in a few months (YES! FREEDOM!) and can only ship two cars back from hawaii. I'll try to sell the Valiant, but it's not easy to get anywhere near what it's worth (It's not a big gas guzzling SUV with leather and a loud speaker system that can project nausiating rap "music" for miles, or a honda lowered tell it scrapes the ground and sounds like a weed whacker)

I may end up donating the thing to National Public Radio, they take donated cars for auction. I'll miss the old beast, but I think the MINI will make it pretty easy to get over.

 

>> Ok, I should have known better. I should have Never gone to look at the new MINI's. I shouldn't have gone for a test drive. I swore I'd never buy a new car....

Hey, same goes for me. To the letter (well, keeping in mind that I deleted the bits about the Valiant). I always reasoned that I'd worry too much about a new car, and it's not worth it. Besides, a used car I can find parts for in junk yards, and can do whatever i want with. Well, that's all well and good, but I happened to have the misfortune of finding out about the MINI prior to its fourth year of production. Otherwise, it would have been "just" my fourth used car. :smile: And D@mn those aftermarket guys for coming up with all those WONDERFUL toys already!! Merde! Merde! Merde!

 

A hearty welcome to you, RustNoMore!

Cheers!
Clover

 

Re: I've been happily commuting in a 1966 Plymouth Valiant

Well, you've got me beat. I've been happily communiting in a 1976 Ford Maverick (mint condition with 98,400+ miles) with it's same ol' engine.

I know what you mean by falling in love. I just bought a brand new 2002 Red Miata in January. Of course we all know it has no trunk. :???:

So, I'm seriously considering after all these years getting rid of the Maverick and getting a Mini Cooper next year. This is why I joined, to see how current owners like their cars.

 

Brownielocks, I traded in my 99 Miata for my Cooper S and I couldn't be more happy!!!! I love this car! It is so much fun to drive, I'm taking a 7 hour drive to Atlanta this weekend and I can't wait to get Mini Me on the road. See his picture on page 26 of the memeber minis.

 

MiniMoto,

Oh he's a cutie. You took my plate name.

Actually in VA here, MINI ME is already taken. (You can look it up on the DMV site)
So I've got to start thinking about my Mini tag.

I love the Miata. But I'm starting to need a good second car
for grocery shopping etc.

And, I'll be buying my Mini as a "slushbox" as the term is on the Miata forum,
since I don't know how to drive a manual. I'm kinda excited about getting a
mini. Right now I haven't done a test drive yet. Still getting used to the Miata.

But the Mini is my 2003 goal.

 

This is not my first new car (due to bad drivers), but it is the first I am buying myself. I could not think of a better "First Car."

I haven't been this excited since I got my driver's license! :smile:

 

>>I haven't been this excited since I got my driver's license!


I couldn't agree more!!!

This was, however, the first *new* car I've ever bought. Many years ago I set a goal that I wanted to buy a new car by the time I was 30. I wasn't pushing the issue with myself because there wasn't much that I was excited about purchasing new - until the MINI came along. The rest is now history..... 9,500 SMILES later! (errr, is that miles? )

 

The MINI is my first new car also! (I had a very used Tempo and a semi-used Accord before.) I am still giddy about it, too! AGHHHHHHH I LOVE MY MINI!

 

I swore I would not buy a new car again....

I had minis and a MG Midget in the early 70s, when tHe new MINI showed up, I could not resist. After 14 years of being really happy with used cars that gave me the best for the money, MINI got me.

 

my MINI will be my second car, and my first new one...

considering i dont even have my license yet though

 

This is my first new car too!

the last car was a 1991 Trooper (3 years old @purchase)
and the one before that was a '69 VW Karmann Ghia (21 years old at puchase (one year oler than me!)

I was thrilled to finally have a car modern enough to have cup holders...well, at least it's modern enough to have power windows.

 

Talk about "Trading up"!

Good for you. You deserve a new car after 36 years of faithful service from your current vehicle.

 

>> I've been happily commuting in a 1966 Plymouth Valiant (Now on it's second engine) Original A/C, original AM radio, and just never could understand the point of spending the money on a new car that will lose most of it's value in the first few years of life... (Not to mention the fact that there is way too much to break on modern cars....)
>>

We may all get lucky and have terrific resale value for our Minis down the road. Two out of my last three cars had excellent resale values (One even appreciated, and it cost less than the Mini!). A lot will depend on the dependability reputation they develop over these first crucial years and if their production numbers remain low.

Also, RustnoMore, you are getting the Mini in its sophomore year, which reportedly will have many of the complaints addressed that were posted on MCO by 2002 owners.

I hope this info, and other people's comments, make you feel even better about getting the Mini.

-Otto

_________________
Freezing my tail pipe off in Chicago. Brrrrr! Wait listed for a 2003 Cooper S.

"We're on a road to nowhere. Come on inside. Takin' that ride to nowhere. We'll take that ride."

 

Wow. You folks sure do hold on to your ol' cars! I have a 2000 Mini (VAN), but my hubby got a real MINI. We love it, and the kids love it! We plan on keeping our MINI for a long, long, time, but the Minivan will be gone as soon as our oldest is old enough to drive (only 3 more years!) At that time, I will get my husband's Mini, and he will get a new one (maybe they'll have a convertible by then?) The one thing that I can say that I do not like about our Mini is that the air conditioner doesn't do that great of a job. On a seriously hot day, that car takes at least 45 mins. to cool off! The zip and the coolness of the car make up for it though!