Hahahahahahahaha! Great thread! I get SO many comments and smiles, etc.... But the very funniest thing was seeing a dalmation smile, wag it's tail and bark happily at my MINI!! No kidding! LMAO!!!!

 

Late at night on my way home from work, I noticed I was really really low on gas. Even though the gas station at the next exit was in a pretty rough neighborhood, I needed gas! Grabbed the gas, used the pay at the pump thing and was about to be back on my way, when a very LARGE man covered in tattoos came running out of the gas station. He was headed right toward me and yelling for me to stop. I was a little nervous, but I stopped. My window was down, and he just stared for a moment. Then the large man suddenly cracked a great big grin and said: "Excuse me. Are you Mrs. James Bond?" I got a good laugh out of that one.

 

I have 2 favorites:
1. I parked in the lot of a community college nearby, some ways away from others. A small truck had been circling, looking for a closer place. I walked across the lot, was down a sidewalk away from the lot about 15 yards, when I heard a loud, "Excuse me." Thinking someone wanted directions, I turned back. It was the guy in the truck, and he continues, "Is that your MINI?" "Yes." " Nice car!"
2. Doing freeway speed, some kind of SUV is alongside. I suddenly notice the driver trying to get my attention. I look over, and he's holding up a MINI mug. I have mine in the cupholder, so we "toast".

 

A guy in a BMW pulled up to my car this afternoon and asked me how I liked my MINI.
He said he was thinking about getting one...he was really nice and complimentary.
So, even though we've been slammed a lot by some other Beamer owner's...at least one of
'em would actually trade his in for a MINI!

 

Have had my MCS for almost a year now, and was one of the first truckload of MINI's sold in Nashville, so have had a few good ones....

First weekend with the car, driving through my suburban neighborhood. Young teenage boy riding a small motorcycle around in his yard, just going around in circles in the yard. He sees me coming by this house and is staring so hard that he forgets what he's doing and wrecks with the bike flipping over and throwing him off into the yard. He tucks and rolls, jumps up, and runs after me smiling and giving the thumbs up.

Shortly after the Italian Job premier, dropped a buddy off in front of the cineplex to get tickets while I parked, he overhears a couple barely-legal girls as they see me drive by. The one says to the other that she'd suck my &$%^ to get a ride in the car... he stepped over and said he could help arrange that for them, just in time for me to walk up wearing one of my many MINI shirts and hat. I didn't know why they were so embarassed at the time, and was probably a good thing that I didn't.

Countless times with people asking the standard questions - what is it, who makes it, what does it cost, etc....

I'm used to the constant stares from people in other cars, and feel strange when driving other cars and don't get the attention.

The latest thing I've noticed is young men driving what I'll call Too Fast Too Furious (TFTF) cars, no matter whether they are next to me, passing me, or coming in the opposite direction - they invariably rev their engines at me to the point where it sounds like their cars are about to fly apart. Anybody that knows me knows I'm an idiot when it comes to speed, so I try to avoid racing, but did take the challenge a couple weeks ago when a TFTF car complete with neon pulls up besides me on the interstate onramp and starts with the pre race revving.... I smile and shake my head no. He continues to rev and starts yelling something at me in spanglish as we get on the interstate. Revving forward, falling back, revving past me, falling back.... so once I am sure the coast is clear I just smile at him, flash my two sets of rally driving lights, and floor my John Cooper Works MCS.... I'm about a 1/4 mile down the road with him nowhere in sight behind me when I slow back down to just above the posted speed limit - he catches up with me and passes while staring at the car with a totally dumbfounded look, his face white as a ghost and is mouth hanging open.

Favorite comment so far was from a coworker, who was trying to make fun of the car.... she asked me how many clowns fit in it, and I told her "at least one."

 

>>The one says to the other that she'd suck my &$%^ to get a ride in the car... he stepped over and said he could help arrange that for them, just in time for me to walk up wearing one of my many MINI shirts and hat. I didn't know why they were so embarassed at the time, and was probably a good thing that I didn't.

AWESOME!!!!!!! I've had something similar happen but not that cool!

 

In my first two weeks of ownership, I was headed home from the gym early one afternoon and I saw a liquid yello Cooper ahead of me. I sped up to give a wave hello to the driver to the right of me.

The driver of the LY Cooper was an old Asian man who was startled when I honked at him. He turns to his left to see me with a big grin and a wave. The man didn't know how to react to this and lifted his right hand slowly to wave back. I laughed my butt off as I changed lanes to make a left turn at the stop light. I was at the light waiting for it to turn green and I see the LY cooper pass me by and the man inside was all smiles as he waved goodbye to me. I waved back of course with a sincere smile.

 

>>
>>
>>Hahahahahahahaha! Great thread! I get SO many comments and smiles, etc.... But the very funniest thing was seeing a dalmation smile, wag it's tail and bark happily at my MINI!! No kidding! LMAO!!!!

 

Just yesterday at the Aloha 500 (BMW high performance driving school), the local news crew interviewed me about the school and its benefits etc.
So I'm mic'ed up answering all these questions about the school, then his questions focuses on the MINI.
What kind of car?...Who makes it?...How much is it?...Do I like it?...Is it safe?...How well does it perform?

On the last question, I told him they took video footage of the slalom and skidpad, and said the MINIs performed better than many of the BMW's.

Later found out the questions about my MINI were not part of the interview but for his own personal knowledge All that time I thought I was giving mad props to MINI on the air

 

I noticed a gentleman in the parking lot at the mall was looking mine over. As I approached he asked me a lot of questions and was very interested in the mods. As I got into the car to leave he asked me if I would be interested in selling my car. I laughed and told him I was flattered -- but no thanks. He smiled and said for me to name my price, he wanted the car. I then got a little nervous and told him he didn't have enough money. He said he was serious. I left. Well, to paraphrase Clint Eastwood, you gotta wonder, "was his billfold loaded?" "Could he have blown me away with the most powerful checkbook in the land?" Guess I'll never know. But I've got Mini. And I'm happy.

 

The FUNNIEST reaction I have ever gotten happened the other day at Starbucks. I got in my car and was about to leave when a car full of people pulled in front of me and stopped and just stared. They were smiling and pointing and looking my MINI over and waving at me. But they wouldn't MOVE.

 

We haven't even had our MINI (Ruby Waters) a week yet, and it's already started...

While I am sick of the "How do you fit in it???" (I'm 6'4&quot and the too bad you can't fit more than 2 people in it (from my aunt just after she got out of her Vette!)

I do have a good one already. I took it to the DMV to get her plates on Friday, after picking her up Thursday night, so we hadn't even had it 24 hours yet... I had 4 people ask me all the questions about the car... I was reading the manual and had a MINI bag with all the paperwork in it, but I overheard 2 of the people who asked talking about it because they could see it in the lot. I parked it away from all the other cars so avoid and scars, and it made it very visable. I had a young (20 maybe) girl ask me about it, and said she would have gotten one instead of the new beetle she just bought if they weren't "so expensive"! Well I did break her heart and let her know what we paid for it (less than her bug). She was SO MAD, but made me feel good and bad at the same time. Another 2 big tough guys walked by (6 feet and under 180~200lbs each) and I heard one say to the other:
"You see that MINI?"
"Yeah, they are cool aren't they!"
"I would totally buy one if only I could fit!"
ME:"Well then you need to go get one because I'm 6'4" and it's mine, and if I put the seat all the way back I can't even get the clutch all the way in!"
Him:SLACKJAWED couldn't say anything....


2 other older ladies were admiring it too. They said they really liked it. Also there was a 16ish girl taking the written portion of her test outside when I drove in, and she got a huge smile when I drove in. When I walked by she said "NICE CAR!!!"

I never though going to the DMV to register a car for 3 hours could be so much fun! That and reading the MINI manual (not the real one, but the small one with funny tips) made me laugh and made the time fly. Well I did go for an hour drive to take a break too which will always put a smile on your face....


Love this car so much I'm thinking of trading my WRX in on a second one.

Ben

 

:smile:
The wife & I are stopped at a light in the front row & next to us are a couple of teenage girls standing in the intersection's median, holding signs for a Benefit Car Wash.

We were going to tip them for standing out in the out sun ('cause I'd never let a group of kids go at SugarBelly with dirty/scratchy rags :smile:

With MINI reactions like that, - we all win!

-s.b.

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MINI: The best horse for the buck!

 

Well let's see,
I got my coop in April '02 and driving down A1A here in FLA was great, but to add to it, unfortunatly was after 911, when every one was sporting a flag. I bought one of those windows flags ( the type that hooks on the glass, then roll up window).
Removed the flag then slid it over the antenna, had phil ( My old lady ) put a sticht
on the top, so it could get past the ball of the antenna. Here I was with the coolist car around sporting the OLD GLORY! man! the reactions that I got were great.

Next, picking up my daughter in Jacksonville, in her apartment complex, driving out Slowly because of the speed bumps. One the residents, male, crossing the way at the time, comes to the car and asks " cool car, who makes it?" I replied "MINI"
"NO NO, WHO MAKES IT!" he replies, my daughter then replies "MINI!!!!"
he's looking at me from the drivers window, shakes his head like we were idiots, walks to the front the car and see's the MINI emblem. You can see in his eyes that it's a MINI!. He comes back to my window and says, "cool, it's a MINI"

it's kinda like my last name.
you know, where ever you go and have to fill out forms about yourself.
form has LAST NAME, FIRST NAME
I fill it out, then I get asked " your last name is Melissa?"
I reply " I would be kinda funny with a guy that's tatooed up the ying yang and has a grey beard to have a first name of Melissa!"

Been thinking 'bout a MINI tattoo!!!

Life is GREAT with a mInI

_________________

Me and the coops!

 

I was at the grocery store this afternoon and a nice elderly lady with a german accent says;

"what a cute car"
I said "thanks"
she said "is it a VW"
I said "no"
She said "what is it"?
I said "It's a mini cooper"
She said "Oh, is it made by VW"
I said "no, it's made by BMW"
Then she says "Oh, I'm so sorry if I insulted you"


Go figure!

Andy

 

and that brings up my pet peeve, the one that always makes me blow it when trying to be an ambassador of goodwill for MINI....

It's not a BMW, and it's not made by BMW.... It's a MINI, made by MINI. Yes, BMW own's MINI but they don't make it, any more than Mercedes makes the PT Cruiser or Ford makes Jaguars.

It's a MINI, not a BMW.

 

>>and that brings up my pet peeve, the one that always makes me blow it when trying to be an ambassador of goodwill for MINI....
>>
>>It's not a BMW, and it's not made by BMW.... It's a MINI, made by MINI. Yes, BMW own's MINI but they don't make it, any more than Mercedes makes the PT Cruiser or Ford makes Jaguars.
>>
>>It's a MINI, not a BMW. >>>>

Well yes, and NO ...

It's a little like saying a new Harley is an AMF ... no it's not, anymore .... hasn't been since the early 80s...

Or insisting that the NEW Triumph motorcycles are something more than a brand name for an all new company.

You can't compare it as much to the Daimler-Chrysler thing because of the relative size of the two companies and the more limited interaction between them after the merger...

But BMW acquired Mini and integrated it into their operations.

BMW engineered and tooled it, BMW ships and sells it ... Yeah the trademark and line is Mini, but the company is very much a part of BMW...

It's not black and white

 

While traveling on I-95 I passed a tour bus full of Japanese Tourist and you guessed it. As I looke through the sunroof they were all taking pictures of Roxanne and giving me the thumbs up sign.

 

>>and that brings up my pet peeve, the one that always makes me blow it when trying to be an ambassador of goodwill for MINI....
>>
>>It's not a BMW, and it's not made by BMW.... It's a MINI, made by MINI. Yes, BMW own's MINI but they don't make it, any more than Mercedes makes the PT Cruiser or Ford makes Jaguars.
>>
>>It's a MINI, not a BMW.

Some people have no idea what a mini is or where it came from, and to mention the relationship with BMW serves to offer a reference point that is familiar. Don't get to upset when some of use the BMW name, after all when you look under the bonnet, you will find the word "BMW group".

Andy

 

My wife and I rode in to work together for the first time today. Since it's rush hour traffic, I don't have time to look around at other drivers. I'm usually looking out for them. My wife noted that it was funny to watch people turn and stare at the car.

We had a red Honda try to chase us down this morning. Since I was in the HOV lane, he didn't have a chance but he sure did try!

On Saturday morning, a guy coming through the intersection came to a complete stop while staring at us. Unfortunately, he had the green light and the car behind him laid on the horn to get him moving. It was funny.

 

The best reaction to mine was when a whole bunch of us were driving in a line from Ferman's 1 year anniversary party to a restaurant over in Ybor city and this kid yells out his window "Your's is my favorite!" It had to be because of my rondelles, because there's nothing that spectacular about my MCS, but it made me when I heard him. I've had my share of cute girls give me deep stares and comments, and that's all good, but I love the kids reactions the best. What can I say... kids love the MINI!
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[img]albums/album25/ama.gif[/img]VinceAndJessica.com
Alta pulley, Stebro exhaust, Pipercross intake, Progress rear anti-sway bar.

 

I had the first Mini is Spokane, and on eof the first in the country, and I got more positive reactions than I can count but the best is my Son's. he's five and doesn't want to drive in mom's car anymore. He only wants to drive ion "Dad's race car".

I figured out along time ago that it doesn't matter who is driving... its the car.

 

Another time, I was working in my offfice, and some guy from Scottland walks in and
asks "is that your Cooper?" in a very cool accent. By walking in, I mean he walked past our front counter and into the back where I was.

He was driving by, say the car, and wanted to come talk to me about it
and for me to show him the car. He talked for 30+ minutesd about the old original ones he used to drive 30 years ago. "They were pieces of Sh**, but a blast to drive" he said.
Great old guy! It was so much fun talking to him.

My friends love the car and they laugh every time someone comes up to talk to me about it.

That first 2 months I had the car, I couldn't go anywhere without someone stopping me to ask questions.

 

>>But I think the best one was when I was at a stoplight in Las Vegas.
>>Some guy stoped right in front of my car in the crosswalk.
>>He proceed to yell...."That is the Coolest F***'n car" Then he kissed the hood!



...Cool....

 

>>and that brings up my pet peeve, the one that always makes me blow it when trying to be an ambassador of goodwill for MINI....
>>
>>It's not a BMW, and it's not made by BMW.... It's a MINI, made by MINI. Yes, BMW own's MINI but they don't make it, any more than Mercedes makes the PT Cruiser or Ford makes Jaguars.
>>
>>It's a MINI, not a BMW.


AMEN! I like calling it a MINI. but I will explain that BMW is the parent company.



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"Madeline" is Due in Late November ! -- MCS Chili Red/White/Stripes, Full Aero Kit and Union Jack --