..if you can't handle the temptation to speed and weave in and out of traffic like you're in a video game.

I've had my Mini for 9 mos now, and I have never in my 23 years driving experience driven so recklessly....all the time. The car makes you want to take turns faster than you should; speed up and change lanes more than you should...into tighter spaces; take off from a stop faster than you should; show what it can do (to your unexpecting passenger) more than you should.

I'm just saying, don't buy it if you're weak in the knees.

Only one fix-it ticket so far (no plates, was waiting for my personalized), and that was becuse I saw the cop speeding up to catch me, but I had slowed down by the time he caught up with me...no radar gun this time....WHEW.

I LOVE MY MINI!!!

 

>>..if you can't handle the temptation to speed and weave in and out of traffic like you're in a video game.
>>
>>I've had my Mini for 9 mos now, and I have never in my 23 years driving experience driven so recklessly....all the time. The car makes you want to take turns faster than you should; speed up and change lanes more than you should...into tighter spaces; take off from a stop faster than you should; show what it can do (to your unexpecting passenger) more than you should.

I disagree totally. These are the speeds you SHOULD take the turns, change lanes, etc.,. It is just that with most other cars you CAN'T drive like this safely. If the car will take the corner safely at a given speed, and you can see far enough ahead to stop safely if needed, why would you go any slower?

I took my wife for a ride recently with my local club. Before this she would scream about slowing down for corners she had never gone around this fast before. After half an hour, following other cars going just as fast or faster, she was urging me to catch up.

Always drive your own race.

_________________

 

>>
>>I disagree totally. These are the speeds you SHOULD take the turns, change lanes, etc.,. It is just that with most other cars you CAN'T drive like this safely. If the car will take the corner safely at a given speed, and you can see far enough ahead to stop safely if needed, why would you go any slower?
>>
>>

took the words right out of my mouth

the mini can do other cars simply cant

 

Well it's good to know, I don't own the only posessed MINI, my car must be Ms. Jones, cause she sure has the devil in her <-- for those of you not old enough to know, don't ask

X2

 

>>Well it's good to know, I don't own the only posessed MINI, my car must be Ms. Jones, cause she sure has the devil in her

 

>>Well it's good to know, I don't own the only posessed MINI, my car must be Ms. Jones, cause she sure has the devil in her <-- for those of you not old enough to know, don't ask
>>
>>X2

If you are referring to the porno movie I am old enough but ignorant as to the...plot? But if you are referring to the movie the porno title is referencing, I am at a loss as to what you refer.

 

I agree Xbritt. But I call it having more fun :smile:

 

If you feel unsafe and tempted to drive hard then I would recommend a driving school so that you can learn how the pros drive safely at speed. It makes a big difference.

 

I know exactly what you mean...this car is gunna get me in lotsa trouble. But damn is it fun!

 

This is an important topic -- I've been driving for 34 years and suddenly I'm taking chances like I was a testosterone-drenched 18 year old. I keep telling myself I've got to slow down but the MINI makes it so easy to get into "racer head".

Novolari -- Perhaps we should be driving faster, etc. because we can BUT we are not the only drivers on the road and there is no way of predicting what the guy in the next lane is going to do. We have traffic laws for a reason and I'm not about to rationalize that I'm an "exception to the rule" because I have a car that handles better than most. Please resist the temptation to indulge in this foolishness.

 

>>..if you can't handle the temptation to speed and weave in and out of traffic like you're in a video game.
>>
>>I've had my Mini for 9 mos now, and I have never in my 23 years driving experience driven so recklessly....all the time. The car makes you want to take turns faster than you should; speed up and change lanes more than you should...into tighter spaces; take off from a stop faster than you should; show what it can do (to your unexpecting passenger) more than you should.
>>
>>I'm just saying, don't buy it if you're weak in the knees.
>>
>>Only one fix-it ticket so far (no plates, was waiting for my personalized), and that was becuse I saw the cop speeding up to catch me, but I had slowed down by the time he caught up with me...no radar gun this time....WHEW.
>>
>>I LOVE MY MINI!!!
.


I feel the same way too..


While I was driving a BMW Z3, My girlfriends complaint that I drive like a Grand Mal.
and now with the MINI I just can't help myself driven so recklessly going in and out of traffic.


:???: :???: :???: :???: :???: :???: :???: :???: :???: :???: :???:

 

I have to agree, I am driving my Mini like I stoll it!

The one major problem I have is that with my roof graphic and living in a small New England town, I am easily spotted, noticed and remembered

 

i have doubled the speed limit. taken courners way faster than I should have, and used the brakes to dive in on a exit ramp. I know what the car can do. the Grandpa lane is for me :smile:.

 

I literally can't drive my MINI to his max. I take exit ramp curves so fast that my stomach can't take it - I find myself yelling like a kid on a rollercoaster on some of them!

 

For most of us, I don't think we know what it is really like to drive either the MC or MCS to it's performance envelop.
If you are interested then just attend one of the many driving schools and permit a driving instructor to take you out onto the track for a few laps while they explain how to drive the track. It is a real eye opener. On the surface you are going at speeds that far exceed normal street driving limits. Yet the MINI stays well composed and the instructor will stay in total control lap after lap. Now it is up to each of use to drive responsibly while out on the street and show some restraint.
And like Hank pointed out. We who drive MINIs are anything but invisible. In fact in my area even with 440 sold in the last 15 months. We know who is driving which MINI from the unique appearance of each car. People see you and keep track of you so "play nice" while you have fun. We have to exercise a bit of self control sometimes. Otherwise get yourself out on the track and have some real fun!

 

I was cut off by a guy in a Land Rover Disco on Friday to the point where I had to cut across 3 lanes to get my exit. The fact that I was able to do it, and then found myself going well over 90 frightened me. It was a potentially stupid thing I did, and even more stupid on the part of the Disco driver. He clearly did not want me ahead of him and pushed me to the far left.

I do plan on taking a driving school course in August - especially since I am really starting to notice an increase in on road stupidity and lack of concentration in drivers. I constantly wait for someone to do something utterly stupid on the highways and around town. And almost everyday I am rewarded...

And I know I haven't taken this car to the limits on the curves yet - that's for driving school.

 

I was stopped shortly after my break in period. I now have only 2500 motorin miles.

The officer said I was driving erraticly. I explained that my 90 degree left turns were how that turn was diagramed 30 years ago in my Driver Ed booklet. It's only appearred erratic since most drivers make long lazy arcs across lane of treaffic to complete there turns and initiate them much too early.

It would be erratic if the vehicle were not able to perform them properly.

He then moved to a discussion of my SPEED. I pointed out that although I had gotten from a stop to 45MPH rather quickly, I had NOT exceeded the speed limit. I had just gotten there quickly.

He relented. Then asked if he could sit in it?

 

Having issued my screed about driving within the law, I have to emphasize that I truly believe in the enhanced safety value of a car that behaves well in the hands of an alert driver. I've already had more than one occasion to demonstrate this to myself -- such as the day recently when an SUV pulled blindly out of a head-in parking spot into my lane. I swerved around that sucker so fast I'm sure it made his teeth drop

 

>>This is an important topic -- I've been driving for 34 years and suddenly I'm taking chances like I was a testosterone-drenched 18 year old. I keep telling myself I've got to slow down but the MINI makes it so easy to get into "racer head".
>>
>>Novolari -- Perhaps we should be driving faster, etc. because we can BUT we are not the only drivers on the road and there is no way of predicting what the guy in the next lane is going to do. We have traffic laws for a reason and I'm not about to rationalize that I'm an "exception to the rule" because I have a car that handles better than most. Please resist the temptation to indulge in this foolishness.

I thought xbritt's comments were meant to be lighthearted, and responded in kind. My apologies.

 

Nuvolari -- No apology necessary. I guess you just pushed one of my hot buttons.

In my view, much of the irresponsible, aggressive driving behavior we see on the highways is sparked by the constant barrage of car commercials that tell us that if we buy their brand, we've entered a new realm where the rules no longer apply. Every car is somehow a race car brought to the streets. Pfui on that, I say.

 

Stay between the lines

 

Believe it or not, on average I drive slower in my MINI than I did in my old Mits. Montero Sport. I feel like I'm going faster because I'm closer to the ground and it's a perspective change. But it seems a lot of cars seem to beg to go fast. Even my Montero could handle good speed on a straightaway. Only 3.5k RPM at 75. Redline was at 6K. Had it up to 96 one time on my drive into work. I certainly would have hated to have to react to something at that speed, though.

Moving on to my point, the MINI is not alone as a cars that is capable of shattering the posted speed limits. Most vehicles can do that. As Mpemburn said, advertisers want to appeal to the rebel in all of us. Even the Toyota Camry has an ad with someone driving the car like it was stolen. We're talking one of the kings of the sedate sedan here. It's offensive, really. I encourage people to find out what the capabilities of their vehicle are, because, at some point, you are going to be forced to do something reckless or stupid to keep yourself alive as someone else did something even more reckless and stupid. I still prefer you find those capabilities in a controlled situation. Track day, open road or empty parking lot. Just don't do it when you can take someone with you if you mess up badly.

 

>>I'm just saying, don't buy it if you're weak in the knees.

 

>>
>>He relented. Then asked if he could sit in it?



I LOVE IT !

 

>>I've had my Mini for 9 mos now, and I have never in my 23 years driving experience driven so recklessly....all the time. The car makes you want to take turns faster than you should; speed up and change lanes more than you should...into tighter spaces; take off from a stop faster than you should; show what it can do (to your unexpecting passenger) more than you should

agree with everything but the take off from a stop faster than you should....that has never happened in my MCS, laugh !