Here's a strange off chute to this thread. Mini owners that had spirit,but later lost it and cashed out. Looking over all the Mini internet sites I've noticed that there seems to be a growing number of people that once had the spirit, but now lost it. They sold the car and moved on.

I don't think they were buying the car to sell it for profit. I think they really wanted the car, but became disappointed in the car after they drove it for a while. I guess the poor quality control in the beginning didn't help. Are people's expectations to high? What did most people expect this car to be? I know some people were surprised to find out the engine wasn't engineered by BMW. Most of the car wasn't engineered by BMW,does that make a difference? I've read where some people were put off by the size. Didn't these people test drive the car first?

Did Mini try to create a media frenzy to get people into the showrooms to buy cars,hoping that people would buy the product without giving it much thought .

It just seems to be a waste of time to me to order a car, wait for months for it to come in, only to pick the car up, drive it for six months, and decide it's not what they wanted.

Maybe I'm thinking to much about it. It's also 4:00 in the morning and I've only had three hours of sleep.

Steven

 

Ok, here comes the flames, but.....

It's a car, not a lifestyle. :smile:

Ok, Asbestos underwear on, let me have it!

 

Well, no flames here...I very much agree with you Craig. I'm been campaigning this point for some time (pretty much since I got the car and joined this board). Sure, I enjoy spending time on MCO and I wave at fellow MINI drivers; but I draw the line at most of the talk about "lifestyle". I have a life and don't need a material object -- be it car, house, clothing, etc. -- to define it.

I own this car because I like it. I like it because it well serves most (not all) of the purposes I assign to a car. And that's about it. In general I am quite uncomfortable with the notion that my car is somehow emblematic of a "spirit" or has given me access to some spirit (lifestyle, mindset, etc.) that I would not have had before. I don't buy it. Literally.

 

You're going to find people who buy the MINI because it's small, economical and different looking - at least right now when there aren't tons of them on the road. The most people browsing MCO at once might be, what -150-200? That's a tiny percentage of all MINI owners. Some owners are probably clueless and could care less why people wave, honk or flash. Some might get freaked out or think the whole motoring "campaign" is an incredible marketing tool.
I never saw myself as the type who would engage in group drives, performance mods and talking about summer tires. But it has happened. I suspect that's more a function of the people I've met and spoken to at meets and online, not the car. I know that whatever car I get in the future, I'll be much more in tune with engine specifics, performance and what the aftermarket can offer.

 

I'm with Craig and jsun. To me, group drives, group lunches...hell, group ANYTHING is vaguely creepy. There's certainly a shared aesthetic among us, but that's where it ends.
I will, however, gladly wave to you as we pass.

 

"I see you almost every day ...please stop waving..it's just a dam car...get a life"
I will not type what I responded...as...I sunk down to her level & then some

what do you mean, it's just a car.....sounds like somebody needs to loosen up & get laid, laugh !

 

>> ... and efcmini is correct: those who enjoy the sporting aspects of the car (including the sportscar community parts) will spend the money for an "S" while those who know nothing about the history, or car's abilities, and are only buying a latest trend will get the Cooper and not "get" the rest ...
>>

The only reason I bought the "S" and not the Cooper is because of that little extra 'oomph' in the powerplant. Other than that, the two were pretty much identical. They both handle great, both look great, and I could have decked out a Cooper with sport suspension and seats, as well as other extras, to make it more like the "S" if I had gone that way. I even like the colors better on the Cooper. (I would have ordered a Silk Green MC).

 

>>I'm with Craig and jsun. To me, group drives, group lunches...hell, group ANYTHING is vaguely creepy. There's certainly a shared aesthetic among us, but that's where it ends.

To each his own. No feeling hurt here. There's something I tell everyone I've met on the MINI fun-runs I've had. "I'll go out to motor anyway. I go out on lots of drives by myself just to explore and to enjoy the drive. You can join in if you want to. You'll be welcomed." And sure enough I announce when and where I'm eating breakfast before going out, people show up. Vaguely creepy, yes, that someone would go out and meet someone they have no clue as to who they are from just an internet posting. Fun, oh hell yes! Do they come back and join in again? Yep.


>>I will, however, gladly wave to you as we pass.

Motoring spirit, yep, that's it. Thanks! "Motoring spirit" is just a label I used for "friendly" MINI motorers. I guess I could have started this thread and called it friendly MINI motorers instead of motoring spirit.