I don't know if I am asking for advice here really, just need to vent my frustrations for the most part.

Right now I'm selling my '00 VW GTI and plan on buying a MINI, whether its an MC or MCS I'm not sure yet.

Anyway, my girlfriend is so against me getting the MINI, she hates the looks of it, thinks its ugly, she thinks its unsafe, she thinks its a "fad" car and that in a year I won't want it, and she thinks it is not very practical.

I have told her it is a safe car, shown her the crash tests, but she says she just "feels" safer in a bigger car, and I explained to her that you aren’t always safest in larger vehicles, etc etc. I think the MINI is only significantly shorter by around 20” compared to the GTI.
I told her it is not a fad car, and that I have wanted the car since it came out and she knows it, now I have my chance to own one.
As for practical, I don't haul stuff around and rarely carry more than one passenger with me so I don't see it as not practical for my use.

People at work think I am crazy for wanting one too they all think it is not safe, even my brother thinks I should consider something else just because he thinks I may not like it after a while.
It is just driving me nuts that wherever I look there is someone to put me down about my decision on a car and are trying to make me lean towards other cars.
No matter what I tell everyone and how many facts I can produce, etc, they still don't like the idea of the MINI.
Ultimately it is my decision and I will do what I want but it is extremely frustrating!
If anyone else has gone through this kind of stuff please let me know, and let me know the outcome once you did get your MINI. Did they still hate it!?

Darus, Welcome to MCO!

Live your own life, man. Everyone's entitled to an opinion, but unless they're paying for your car, at the end of the day you're the one driving the MINI so who cares what they say.

Your girlfriend may be a slightly different matter. If she's serious about these complaints... well, that's a topic for another forum (if you know what I mean).

Darus,

Welcome, I too sold a GTI when I got my MCS. A MINI is significantly smaller than your GTI. You will notice it most in the trunk (or lack thereof) and the rear seat. That said, it is immensely more manuverable, and outhandles the GTI handsdown.
If you are an independent sort, and tend to do what you want regardless of others' opinions, get the MINI. If you live and die for approval from those close to you, I'd have to say try the art of persuasion, and if that doesn't work, keep your vdub. Its a great, safe and practical ride.

If it feels right do it. It a great car! I got a lot of criticism and support for getting it. MINI is a work of art. With any great work it will create emotion, positive or negative. ~smc

My friends were supportive, but my mother was NOT. I took the MINI by her house for the test drive since my parents live near the dealership....and she HATED it. When I took delivery of mine though and went by she DID want to ride in it...we went to visit my grandmother. Halfway to my grandma's house she said "so....when do I get to drive it??"

Now she's hooked.

Lots of people gave me the same kind of thing, blahblahblahblah, its not safe to drive such a small car, blahblahblahblah....

For the ones that mattered, just showing them safety data was enough to mute most of their concerns. Some people were not convinced though, and I decided that it didnt matter, bought the MCS anyway.

Bottom line is, in almost any car there are trade offs to be made. Some people think a big SUV is the safest car, when in fact the danger of rollover in most of them is horrible. For a car like the mini, the issue I see is that people(especially big trucks) may not see you, but that could be a problem in almost any car, except for the land yachts like crown vics or something. Plus the MC or MCS is so much more manueverable and stoppable than an SUV and most cars so the danger of not being seen can be mitigated by the manueverability and stopping ability.

Bottom line is, if you like the car, and have convinced yourself that it is safe enough, and practical for your daily life, JUST BUY IT.

I have only had mine for 3 weeks or so, but I never had a single regret. When I bought my last car, a 97 Camaro Z28, I had buyers remorse almost as soon as I drove it off the lot. Nothing like that for the MCS.

Its your money my friend. If your girlfriend can't stand you getting a new MINI, is time to cut the tie with her, OK?

Also if she likes your '00 VW GTI so much, why doesn't she buy it from you?

If you like the car, go for it...you won't regret it one bit.


I am waiting for my second MINI (A '04 MCS) to arrive in October.


Tell your girlfriend to go and fly a kite.

Hello Darus, and welcome to MCO!
I'm Markus and I'm a MINI-holic!
If you get your MINI, come to our regular meetings

>>Hello Darus, and welcome to MCO!
>>I'm Markus and I'm a MINI-holic!
>>If you get your MINI, come to our regular meetings :smile:

Thanks for all the responses so far, I think regardless of what people say I will be getting a MINI, it is my money and mydecision.

The only reason I am getting rid of the GTI is that I have had my fair share of problems with it and the mileage is getting up there so its time to let it go.

I test drove a MINI and so far and I love the car. I guess I will just spend more time here on MCO, I need all the support I can get!

>>If it feels right do it. It a great car! I got a lot of criticism and support for getting it. MINI is a work of art. With any great work it will create emotion, positive or negative. ~smc

I like your comments Socko!
"Like any great piece of art, it will create emotions", very well put!

I share your concerns. My wife of 27 years was not and still isn't supportive. She thinks its a 'clown car' and has vowed never to drive it or ride in it. No big deal - we have other cars. She didn't drive the 911 I just sold either, but she does understand and supports my desire to drive what I want to drive. Co-workers etc. thought it was a dumb idea until I got it and now they all want a ride.

Those who think its dumb or unsafe don't get it and no amount of explanation will change that. Look, the MINI is about having fun. It puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. If it doesn't do that for those around me, who cares? This isn't being selfish (especially toward my wife) its just a fact. As my brother told me - you are responsible for your own happiness. Buy the MINI, you will be happy!

>>Thanks for all the responses so far, I think regardless of what people say I will be getting a MINI, it is my money and mydecision.
>>
>>The only reason I am getting rid of the GTI is that I have had my fair share of problems with it and the mileage is getting up there so its time to let it go.
>>
>>I test drove a MINI and so far and I love the car. I guess I will just spend more time here on MCO, I need all the support I can get!

i suggest you make sure you see a photo of every color combo and read about all the options before you make a decision.. picking a color combo is the hardest part.

My wife supported my decision to buy the car, but refuses to drive it. She really doesn't care much for it. She'll take rides in it, but will never put herself behind the wheel.

However, on a recent trip to Oregon to see my neice graduate from university, my brother and sister both go to drive the car. My sister is a speed demo (has a maxed out 1970ish Camaro) while my brother fits more into the hillbilly ford truck driving crowd. Both drove my car like they were the stars of IJ, but my sister pushed the car closest to the limits without going over. It was really odd to see my brother (who I thought would definately make fun of my decision and the car itself), but he seemed to be the one who most enjoyed firguring out all the toggle switches and things. My Mom still thinks I drive to crazy and thinks I should've become a famous race car driver. My Father always thinks I drive too fast even while going 5 MPH under the speed limit !!

My brother was the only one who seemed bothered by it, but I think that was mostly due to the fact he works for GM. He figured I could get an equivilant car from his company.

>> they point out that it can be fun to drive a car (who has FUN driving an SUV?)

Sure they have FUN driving an SUV. They have fun when they cut you off because they're bigger than you are. They have fun pumping exhaust fumes into your sunroof with their 48" lift kit'ed SUV. They have fun blinding you with the 23" reflective rims giving you the full force of the desert sun in your eyes. They have fun as they don't even have to change lanes to pass you, just go right over the top!

If you are the kind of person who worries about what "people at work" think of the car you drive, perhaps the MINI isn't the car for you. Do you consult "people at work" about what books to read or food to enjoy?

My wife supported my decision to get the MINI but won't drive it. My son loves it. My co-workers line up for rides in it (but then I work with a bunch of design/creative people).

The MINI is such a challenge to so many basic assumptions about American driving, it is bound to be feared and/or hated by some. A car can be safe without being gigantic. A car can be beautiful without looking like a phallus in flight. A car can be incredibly satisfying to drive without a 300-hp V8. I agree with the above poster who says this kind of radical thinking frightens people, and that is the source of most MINI attacks.

You just have to decide if you care what those folks think... I hope you join the MINI ranks.

I too had friends against it. But after letting them ride in it they change their minds really quickly. A couple of them still don't like it, but those are people who only consider a cars looks, not its performance.

My parents really liked the idea, especially after seeing all the saftey features at the dealership. But I think they would've been happy with me getting just about anything different to my Miata which, looking back on it, really was a death trap!

My mom and sister both want one since being in mine!

Go for it, and enjoy it!

~Joe

Fad? Is she aware that the original Mini was on the market for about 40 years in Europe before the new MINI came out? I think they sold something like 5 million of them. That's the longest "fad" I've ever heard of!

And no, nobody really gave me any grief over safety. But then again, they are used to me riding motorcycles, so safety of the MINI was a non-issue. My mom couldn't wait to drive mine when I went home to vist (she currently drives a Beetle).

Good luck!

after i ordered my MCS, but before it arrived, i was in OK visiting my dad. we were out to lunch one day, and i saw my first MINI in OK, after having been there for over a week. my dad thought it was cool, but my step-mom said it looked like a "pregnant shoe!"

of course, since i brought my MCS home from St Louis, she has started sending me MINI care packages!

my fiance also was unsure of the car before i bought it. she said it was a little silly looking and impractical. however, once we picked it up, and she really got to look at it close and in person, she started to change her mind.

and then she drove it. 'nuff said!

Lets see, the girlfriend is telling you not to get the car, but the car isn't keeping you from getting another girlfriend. In fact, it may help in that direction!

I'd decided to get my MINI before I'd talked to my wife about it. I knew we'd work it out somehow. But when she saw it, she said, "Isn't that cute!" (Yes, and you can drive it like few other cars. Heh, heh, heh.)

She actually had a hidden agenda... getting me off of my bike. I've ridden motor cycles for years, and she considers them much more dangerous than the MINI.

Maybe you could tell the girlfriend that you're trying to decide between a new Ducati 999, and the MINI, and see which way she wants you to go?

There are lots of VW converts on here....you will not be alone.

I mainly only told my wife and a couple of siblings. One was against it but I could of cared less. I had been wanting the Mini since I first saw it in that Road & Track (I think it was) a couple of years ago when it was first out in Europe and were saying it's supposed to come here. When I saw it I wanted it. So about three years later I got it. My wife wasn't all crazy about it until she saw it at the dealer and we drove around town. Then after all her "I will never drive stick" talk she wanted to learn, so I was showing her. Then she didn't like something I said and she tells me I went from teacher to ***** and F' my car. So now she acts like she could care less. As for me, I love just riding them RPM's on emptyt roads.

Dude,

Tell all those people to kiss your @$$ and get the Mini! You gotta do what you gotta do, and you gotta get a Mini.

Luckily for me, my wife is behind getting one as soon as we can afford it. (I'm accepting donations!)

There will aways be people that have different opinions about the MINI. I've found that those who are against it have 1) never driven one before or 2) don't know how to drive a fun car.
I suggest you take your girlfriend for a test drive too! The MINI is incredible! It not only is safe but it is fun too. The car corners like nothing else. It hugs the road and can go as fast as anything else out there.... even faster that some! I had to drive my 97 Cougar today and I wanted my MINI instead. The Cougar has a V8 so it is quick but it can't hold the curves and the dirving feels loose in comparison to the MINI.

As far as looks go...it is a british car. It looks British with a little american flare. The real fun of owning a MINI is really making the car your own. If you look at the pictures of the MINI's posted you'll be sure to see that no two are exactly alike. I personally love that about the car. It seems that everything else on the market these days is a cookie cutter design. I don't know about you but I would rather drive "my own style" car!

This car is truely for an individual not a joiner....If you looking to join the crowd it would be best to look for another car... not the MINI. Each MINI is as unique as the owner!
Did you know when BMW tried to find their market demographic for the MINI Cooper that they could not find one. The only thing they could find is that the people that would buy this car are very individualistic and that the car appeals across all age groups.

Last word of advise...
Life is short and you deserve to have fun once in a while. Do what you feel makes you happy in your heart. Live without regret! One day we'll all be in an old folks home telling our life stories... and as you age you tend to forget the boring things and remember the fun times and good memories. Buy a MINI and start creating new memories you'll savor for a lifetime! Heck I even have a scrapbook! (just incase dementia hits!)

Take care and good luck!
Stacey