I put my deposit for a new MCS yesterday and one concern is on my mind. Will the MINI be practical enough as my one and only car?

My down payment will be coming from my equity from the sale of my 2001 Honda Accord coupe, which has been my only car for the last three years.

Please share your stories about this topic...

If it's your only car, have you ever encountered a situation in which you wished you had another car as well? If the MINI is your second car, how & when was owning another car been helpful?

Thanks!

 

Well, yes and no. The MINI is my only car, but I also have the option to use one of my parents BMW's. But really, the MINI is mine, one BMw for mom, and one for dad. So, essentially I use the MINI solely. Never drive there cars unless I have to, which isn't often. I can't say I've ever needed to drive their cars. I actually try to drive only my MINI. As you'll find out, it's addicting. So, no, it's never been helpful to me to be able to usa another car. Of course, I don't know your situation. Coop serves me well and then some .

 

My household has a Mini and a Corvette Z06. The Mini is our practical car, as the Z06 only seats two. It's a great daily driver, it's what we pick friends and their luggage up at the airport with and I even brought a big, big, huge big tablesaw from Lowe's home in it. Both cars go to the autocross, of course. Mini is all anyone really needs :smile:

 

Well, the MINI is my only car that runs. I've got two projects that have stopped progressing due to poor finances for the last two years. Even when they are done, the MINI will be primary with one project handling the worst Colorado winters can throw at me and the other for carrying multiple passengers comfortably and stylishly.

 

:smile:

I took delivery of Wanda on 4/4, and took off on my cross-country trip on 4/11 with 738 miles on the odometer. When I returned, 6 weeks later, I had 10,000+ miles on the odometer, and not a single major problem!! I now have 13,000+ miles on her!

I motored through extremes of weather....from near-freezing in the Rockies to tornado watches in the South. Wanda was/is an exemplary vehicle and an amazingly comfy and reliable car! )

I think you'll find your MINI to be an excellent daily driver/sole vehicle! Best wishes!

Cheers!
Clover

 

My MINI isn't my only car but its my daily driver. I have an old mustang but I drive it rarely now, its only for weekends. I've had my MINI for almost a year and it hasn't given me any problems. The MINI will be practical as an only car as long as you dont have a lot of people to move around or too much stuff to haul around.

 

We have the Mini and an Xterra. We use both, but as we have 2 small children, opt for the X whenever transporting the precious cargo.

Jim

 

My car is the MINI; my wife has a two seater SLK so mine is the work horse!

A very few times we had four people in the car and that is a bit cramped (OK if the driver is very short legged).
With three in the car it is OK, but I am very aware of the rear seat passenger limited space (their head hits the ceiling on bumps, etc).

My previous car was a Lexus RX300 (baby SUV) and I initially planned to keep it for when we need more than two seats. But the first drive in it after 3 weeks with the MINI was so unpleasant that I sold it.

 

Only car here...It's just me and the girlfriend, and she just bought herself a Jetta this weekend, so it's really just me. Being able to alternately haul four people or put the back seats down and haul stuff really makes it pretty handy for one or two people. If you regularly take more along, it's not for you. If you're the sole/main driver, it's fun and surprisingly practical.

The MINI is more practical than a sedan (I think), and way more practical than a coupe. For me, it's kinda like a MINIvan.

Good luck, and welcome to MCO! You'll find some very smart and friendly people here.

 

Yes. The MINI is my daily driver.

 

one of three cars (+ a motorcycle)

 

Mr.Motor is my only ride
Unless I got another MINI, driving something else would be kind-of....BLAH

Cheers,
Ryan

 

>> Will the MINI be practical enough as my one and only car?
>>
>>My down payment will be coming from my equity from the sale of my 2001 Honda Accord coupe, which has been my only car for the last three years.
>>
My mCS is my daily driver...
I use it every day ....all day long..
I have 19K with 6 days shy of 1 year owning it.
There hasn't been one day that I..... could not drive it.
There of course have been minor issues...which were dealt w/ by the maintenance contract.
Is it as reliable as a Honda Accord...I'd say NO.
Is it reliable and a blast to drive...I'd give that a ....YES!!!!!!

Peace,
D

 

No but its my Main drive, just can not let it set.

 

This is the first time I have not owned a VW bus or Vanagon for 25 years. I love the MINI, but I am having a hard time getting used to not having a hauler around. Can't get a sheet of plywood home, can't take more than two or three people anywhere etc.

I love to go fishing/camping way off the beaten track, and I just can't bring myself to take the MINI out on dirt roads.

I need to get another van/pickup.

Having said that, I love my MINI and have no plans to get rid of it.

Andy

 

Y'all have got to be kidding. Unless you're single with no kids or large pets, the MINI is just not practical enough to be an "only" car. It is my main vehicle/ daily driver, but when I take the family for anything other than a short trip across town, the MINI just won't do.

I'm curious though, how many have taken their MINI on a camping trip? Toted a canoe on the roof? or haulled a horse trailer with it? Now those activities might be worthy of a thread.

 

My MCS is my daily driver and it's perfect

Generally, it's me and 1 other person (with or without lots of stuff in the back) so there's absolutely no space issues whatsoever. I've been using him to help move me out of my Virginia apartment and back to Pittsburgh and I've been consistently surprised at how much stuff you can really fit if the back seats are down.

I have transported 3 other people on several occasions, none of whom complained for lack of space, and I find that rear passengers have significantly more headroom than some other cars.

Space in the front seats is just phenomenal.

Reliability at 9300+ miles (since Jan) has been great and I've never had a problem that's affected my ability to continue driving the car. I couldn't be happier

 

I have a MCS and a motorcycle, and I get along just fine. But then again, I'm one of those single guys and no family.

 

<<<I'm curious though, how many have taken their MINI on a camping trip?>>>

I have. Was it supposed to be difficult?

<<<Toted a canoe on the roof? or haulled a horse trailer with it? Now those activities might be worthy of a thread.>>>

Now who's kidding. Why would you consider the MINIs inability to haul a horse trailer as part of it's impracticality? Thats... um... silly. (although, I do believe it could probably handle a small canoe/kayak)

 

>> <<<Toted a canoe on the roof? or haulled a horse trailer with it? Now those activities might be worthy of a thread.>>>
>>
>>Now who's kidding. Why would you consider the MINIs inability to haul a horse trailer as part of it's impracticality? Thats... um... silly. (although, I do believe it could probably handle a small canoe/kayak)
>>
Toasty,

"Thats... um...silly." is precisely my point. Its Monday and my tongue is planted firmly in cheek.

 

one woman, one MINI......it's all that I need.

 

<<<"Thats... um...silly." is precisely my point. Its Monday and my tongue is planted firmly in cheek.>>>

Gotcha. It's Monday morning and I'm too tired to notice sarcasm

 

MSC is my only car. At time i THOUGHT i'd need a bigger car to get something from A to B, but everything fit in the MINI and had some leftover space! (Saturday I put 12 cases of Corona in the back, it fit like it was made for it!!! )

Trips to IKEA seem to proove the same thing. Last night I drove some friends to the concert, 4 adults including me and we were more than fine. To me it seems to be one of the most versatile cars ever made! :smile:

 

The MINI is the only car I drive on a regular basis. My wife drives a crappy Neon and it is her daily driver. My MCS has 10,000 miles in only 4 months, so you can see that it is truely my daily driver.

 

My other car is a black, lowered, '02 chrysler 300M.......I love the car....BUT MY BIGGEST OBCESSION,IS A FRIGGIN' MINI S....(still waiting for mine...'04 model)