>>I used to just call it a MINI, but then the follow-up question (to "what kinda car is that&quot is always: "who makes it", so now I introduce it as a MINI Cooper, and then to the follow up question answer: "it's made by MINI".

The folks that ask that don't get a confused or indignant look when you say it's made by MINI? WOW!

 

When asked I tell them it's a MINI.

However on second thought, I think this is a little misleading because if I was in the Dodge Neon and someone asked me what it was, I'd say it was a Neon. So maybe I need to call it a Cooper S instead to help clear up some confusion. But when some refers to a Ferrari, they say Ferrari and not the specific model number/name. So I guess it'd be OK to response with "MINI" like I have been. So on third thought, it's a MINI.