my older brother picked one up, when he was originally thinking of getting a lexus for his work and family car for 4. while walking back to their almost-end-of-lease honda accord from the lexus dealer, they saw the bmw dealer with the minis being paraded in the front. they walked by in front, salesman asked if they wanted to test drive, they said sure thing, he threw them the keys, and that was that. think they bought a week or so later.

i know that's not my story...but that definitely leads into my story. recently had to redo trans on my nissan p/u with 110k miles on. got pissed with the $2k pricetag and started thinking about getting the crew cab nissan. just in case i needed more passenger room in the near future. didn't wanna get rid of custom-stereo'd p/u though, so started looking at my brother's 6-month old eb/w mcs, figuring i'd keep my p/u for recreation/surfing and get a fun daily driver with pretty good mpg. took the test drive up the hills and 2 weeks later put in my order for sg/b mc cvt.

but that's not the end...had it for 4 months, 5800 miles. now i got a brg/w mcs with moonroof and sports pack coming in oct. getting it cause i'm still scared of paying $2k for new trans. plus i can put the additional highway driving power to good use with my 50+ mile daily commute up some nice hills/elevations with bonus curves.

the end

 

I had been told I will be able to pick out a car up to 20k, anything over I was paying for, and insurance had to be low enough. I looked at new Civic Si, Evo VIII, 350z, WRX, RSX-S, etc... They had either too high insurance or if I got one I would have had no money forever.

I decided on the new Civic Si because I love JDM style Civics of all years and figured it was a nice sporty little car that was within my constraints.

Then my dad shows me the MCS. At first I said that car is gay, it takes a supercharger to get it up to 160 hp! It finally grew on me and when we test drove it for my birthday, that sealed the deal. Ever since I have been MINI obsessed. We finally get to go order it this thursday (august 6). I would like to thank my dad for showing me the right path and you guys on all the boards for keeping me sane.

The best part is I will have money left over for mods.

PS
Besides, the Si has so many bad reviews. Honda was so close! Poo.

 

I had a ’64 and a ’67 years ago. I loved both, but as a young person wanted something different. As an older and hopefully wiser person, when I saw they were building the MINI again, I knew I had to have one.

Years of driving have taught me that a superior handling car can beat speed any day of the week, given the right circumstances.

I can go 55 MPH as fast as any Ferrari on the road, but I can out handle it every day of the week.

 

When I saw how big the sunroof was I knew I could survive without a convertible for a while. I always loved the original Minis and have been following the possibilities of a revival for years so I was definitely on the fence. When I realized that BMW was loading this car up with a boatload of tech goodies that people on lesser 3-series weren't getting, I was convinced that it was a great value. What clinched it was just seeing them on the road coming at me with that distinctive grill and I knew I just had to have one.

 

I had a short list of cars that peaked my interest. The MINI was number 5!

Let's just say that It came down to these reasons why I opted for the MINI:

1.The Infinity G35 is exactly the same as the 350Z with a better interior for more money.
2.The 350Z will be over my budget by about $5000 (as I know I will modify the stereo-$2500).
3.The IS300 Lexus is overpriced for my tastes but still looks cool.
4. Honda Accord with all the fixings...awesome and reliable but lacks the personality I have.

I picked the MINI Cooper S for it's price, safety, spirit, drivability, and most of all...IT LOOKS DARN COOL BABY!!!! WHOOOO!!!!! YIPPEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! WHOOO!!!

 

Had a 66 Austin Cooper S. It was my favorite car. But family and other things intervened and I sold it in 1974.

Always wanted another one, but I realized it may not be the best thing to ride around in these days of cell phones and SUVs!

So when I heard they were going to come out with a new edition, I figured it would be some watered down $#@&. Then I saw it at the April 2001 NYC Auto Show and I knew I had to have it. Got on MINI's email list that day, waited till they built enough to get any bugs out, and now I am motoring!

After owning many older British roadsters and sedans, I still can't believe I have one with a warranty! :smile:

Regards,
Red

 

Tired of driving a diesel Jetta (though with the remapped ECU giving it 195 ft/lbs of torque, it wasn't as slow as you think).

 

After years of driving "Japan, Inc" automobiles and more recently reliable but not that overly exciting GM products, the MINI was like a much needed breeze of fresh air. We had never owned an European car before, much less a BMW product, so the MINI was a very palatable idea.....BMW world class engineering with a down to earth sticker price.

The main reasons why we got the MINI:

*Excellent safety
*World class engineering
* BMW quality and appeal for less than $20K
*Timeless styling
*Amazing handling dynamics
*Solid Chrysler powerplant
*Innovative transmissions (CVT, Getrag 6-speed)
*The almost infinite equipment and color combination choices
* Not 2 MINIs are alike (Thanks to the "Just in time" manufacturing process at Oxford
* Cool factor (I love the stares and the thumbs up)
* Excellent resale values (64% off MSRP after 2 years and 50% off MSRP after 5 years).
* ZERO snob appeal

We are hooked! Now we will have 2 MINIs in our driveway come October!

_________________
'02 Cooper CVT
On order: '04 Cooper S (Est production date: 9/5/03)

 

About a year and a half ago my wife and I heard a guy from England say that he bought his new wife a Mini. Then another guy from the US started talking about how he used to race the old Minis and how fun they were to drive. Last May I started looking for new cars since my Honda Civic's lease was going to be up in a couple of months. I have been driving Civic hatchbacks for 11 years and like small cars. I do not like the new Civics and thought that it was time for something different. Then I remembered the folks talking about the Mini a year earlier so I looked into the Mini and fell in love, but was worried that there would not be enough head room and leg room in the front, I don't care about the back seats. When I finally went to a dealer and sat in one, slid the driver's seat all the way back and couldn't touch the pedals, I knew that this was the car for me. I would have bought one without even test driving one, but I did test drive a Cooper with CVT and a S. I ordered an S a few days later. My Mini's status just changed to Awaiting Transport. I can't waint.

 

From a nubee here:

First, I love small cars. (Take a guess at my opinion of SUV's and Muscles.) My former favorite - remember the French taxicab, Reneault Le Car (negative comments welcome LOL)

In June as tourist in Ax - South of France, saw this fabulous little Mini Cooper car parked outside a restaurant. My response = YES! Found out later it was offspring of BMW with a USA price in the teens - 'nuff said!

Ordered my 2004 MC on July 19 - jet blk, wte rf, premium, DSC, Sp seats, frt. fogs, chr bumps, std 15 wheels on July 19. Just received a 9/12 build date and an estimate from Towson Mini of Md of an early Oct delivery (maybe 2nd week).

Now on a very slow count-down.

I know this is long, but some questions on the DSC - does that option mean heavy weight, or is it mainly electronic - is it worthwhile for average to/from driving - is it worth the 4 bills??

Hello to all and thx for any response!!

 

I DROVE IT

 

I first read about the MINI in Autoweek, and after a while, I saw a few of the cars on the road. They really looked neat, but I was busy selling some other cars of mine and refinancing the house, and so on, and I didn't think about buying a new car at the time. In January, though, I picked up a copy of Grassroots Motorsports magazine(which had just come out in color, imagine that!). There were several MINIs, winning national autocross events and generally doing what they do best. I went home and got online, and researched the MINI. Then I went to the dealership and had a drive. THAT's when I was totally taken by the car. A few weeks later I had one on order, and now (after more than four months of waiting) I've just put mile 1000 on the car!!!

 

Exactly!! Next, we went on the highway and I had no problems passing 18-wheelers. I didn't feel small at all. I've been obsessed ever since!

Waited a year for Peanut to arrive. Been happily motoring now for 5 months and 8,000 wonderful (s)miles!

_________________

Peanut EB/W MCS, 16" white wheels, HK, Sensing doodads up front, Lapis/Magnesium/Patina, DSC, Xenons, Fogs, Climate, Cruise

 

Well my soon to be ex-wife fell in love with them on a trip to the UK in 2001, then I decided she must own one and gave her one this past Valentines day. I absolutely fell in love with it, unfortunately she loved that car more than me and left with it. I found myself longing to drive it, thus I went out and ordered my own. Heck I learned to drive in a 1987 Ford Bronco, and have owned one nearly non stop since then. For another car to make me say "wow, I got to have one of them," is really something. I have yet to place it, and the only explanation that I'd give is French in origin, thus I will not offend the fine British mentality that has made given the mini that "I don't know what."

 

I liked it because:
It has excellent handling
It is unique- few on the road and in short supply- so not common.
It is well engineered
It is highly modifiable.
I like the retro look
I don't really need a big car for commuting.
It's the most fun car to drive for me ever.-Nothing comes close in the under $30K range

 

I saw a picture of the Mini in a magazine. That's all it took. I did a lot of research on the Mini forums, MINIUSA, etc.

I knew in my heart that this car and I belonged together. I haven't purchased a new vehicle in many years because nothing tripped my trigger, until . . .

Didn't even test drive or even see a Mini in person, just called the closest dealer and had mine in three days! :smile:

 

I wasn't even looking for a new car....my Accord only had about 70K on it....
But then one day, back in January of 2002, my friend said, "Go to this website...you are going to go nuts over this car." So I went to MINI USA and I all but lost my mind when I saw the MINI for the first time. I knew I had to have one. Plus I had just graduated from college and I had a good enough job lined up that I knew that I would be able to make the payments. So I saved for a couple of months until I had enough money for a down payment and then ordered my MINI in late April. Best purchase I have ever made!

 

The $4,000 factory rebate and 0.0% 60 Month financing...oops, wrong car.

I've been a British car nut ever since I could remember. I must have caught the bug from my grandfather, who has had numerous British imports since the 1960's. I also have two MGs, and when I read in Autoweek (back in 2000) thet BWM was going to import the new MINI to the USA, I called my local BMW dealer periodically until I was assured that they would have a MINI franchise. I signed up in June of 2001 for the "waiting list", placed my order in April of 2002 when the dealership opened and received BluBelle in October of 2002. One of the first IB MCS cars in the country. Never looked back, my only regret is that this summer, the MGs haven't been given the workout or attention they deserve.

 

Its just so cool. I love everything about it. I going to have to wait for a while, but I think the anticipation of it arriving is going to be OK.

Miniwanna

 

alll the friendly motorheads at MCO, a test drive. Placed my deposit yesterday. nervous about winter driving, as I will get in in Jan.

biggest sale pitch: beating the miata crowd at BMWCCA driving schools. My S will be the daily driver, in a few years, it will be the racer (ergo futpot - future potential).

big applause for shawn at Peabody Mini, he sold the car.

 

I had read an article in the automotive section of my local newspaper a year before the MINI came out, that had a picture of a blue MINI with the white top and wheels. At that very moment I was hooked, that little pic of the car sent every emotion into overdrive and I dreamed of owning one from that day forward. When it finally came out I was on the fence because I was looking into a Beetle Turbo S, but after hearing about all the problems owners were having with quality issues I was hesitant about buying any European vehicle. While searching the web one day I came across MCO and lurked for awhile reading all the various posts concerning everything from ride quality, build, design, purchasing, and motoring experience. With the help of MCO I finally found the final push I was looking for to get my MINI and I haven't looked in the rearview mirror since, unless passing all those other cookie cutter vehicles on the road.