I've been a Cooper S owner for just over a month now and I found this forum when I was looking for info during my buying process. Now I have used a lot of other forums for all the vehicles I've owned, cars and motorcycles, and I have to say that this is quite possible the best forum that I have been a part of for the last 5 years. The enthusiasm and the just plain niceness (sp?) of the members here really blow my mind. A big part of the joy of owning a car like the Cooper is the sense of being able to share all the things you like about your car and have people respond in kind. I mean, I posted a thing about wax, which really should have gone in the detailing forum, but many people read that post, lots replied, and all the posts were positive and helpful, people really wanted to share their opinions and insights. It was great to read and it really gave you a sense of the Mini community. I was blown away by how such a simple thing like waxing your car can prompt such a large conversation between so many different people. People are genuinely interested in the topics and post in a way that shows their enthusiasm. In this day and age I find that really refreshing. I really have to salute the members/moderators of this forum because you all make it a really great place to spend time on, its the first website that I visit when I turn my computer on. Honda motorcycles used to run an ad in the 60's that went "You meet the nicest people on a Honda", it seems that you also meet the nicest people driving Minis.

 

+1

 

I remember those ads. Times have changed, eh?

 

Amen brotha'. I dont even have a mini yet, and I have to say I'm addicted to the community already! It's just a great place for not just mini owners, but car entusiasts in general. Thanks for pointing that out, youre very very right!

 

I too am a new member of NAM and a new MINI owner. In doing my internet searches prior to buying my MINI, I found NAM to be one of the best MINI sites. The information and plain enthusiasm / interest people have for these cars is second to none

 

Actually we are all blowhards that pretend to be nice people on the Internet.

Just kidding !!

Dean.

 

Gawrsh! You're welcome!

 

+1 you rock man! and I agree, best place for MINI owners

 

I found NAM in late 2002, drawn by both the MINI enthusiasm and quirky personalities. That's pretty much how it is today, in spite of people coming and going. A bunch of very colorful folks...and we do love our MINIs!! NAM seems to be hoppin' just about 24/7 (thanks to our resident insomniacs )!!!

Adding to the diversity has been a more technical side of the MINI discussion that I myself rarely venture into.

I personally have learned alot from listening to and discussing opinions and perspectives very different from my own. I also am proud of the great humanity this community shows when the joys and sorrows of life inevitably make their presence known.

 

It wasn't this way until I got here. So you're welcome.

 

No wonder you drive a cabrio....no way a head that size would fit in tin top!!!

 

Better my head than my.... oh, wait, that's huge too...

 

 

Truth be told, I have only been on this forum a few weeks and have grown dismayed.

I liked it because there was lots of helpful info, but now there's getting to be too much negativity. I thought this was a MINI forum, not a place where people put down the product and post what a POS the car is.

There's posts about Mazdas and Hondas and how good those are in comparison to the MINI.

It's just not a very positive Site for me, at times.

I realize people can defend their bad mouthing of the brand and chortle how good other cars are, but as a new MINI owner I don't need to read how crappy my car is compared to cars members are thinking of buying.

Thanks for the help you all gave me and I appreciate the discussion. But I'm out since I don't need the negativity. But I agree with your comments about the positive aspects of the Site. The discussions about the MINI are great.

I know, don't let the door hit me on the way out. That's cool. Certainly it's everyone's choice to make, where to hang out. See you all on the road.

 

i find this "good mannered" folk on the z06vette.com site too..

i think there and here are more mature...level headed people..

i am on a honda board and a couple others.. lots of nudity, language and just plain ol asses there.. LOL

this place is great . lots of info and good folks.

 

I hear where you are coming from ...but that crap comes and goes in spurts and is rarely generated by the folks that have been hanging here for a long time. Sometimes you just have to have thick skin and move on to a different post.

You should hang around. The more positive attitudes the better.

Dean.

 

+1 here. I learned about the strut tower problem here, and had the dealer do a ppi on that just from having read about it here. It checked out fine so here I am!

 

I like it here, but it ain't no Turbo Moper site, that's for sure...

 

Hmm ... not sure if you are serious...

You should hang out at the detailing 101 forum. Most everyone there loves their Minis.

 

ive been here a few weeks.

 

How many is a few? Hmmm.

 

Eh, I don't really agree, and only because you're going to find those kind of posts wherever you go on MINI forums. You just sort of have to "sift", or otherwise let it roll off your back.

 

MichaelSF: I'm surprised to hear that, it really depends I guess on what conversations you get into.
Some are friendly and helpful. Some always seem to be heated and angry.

jolson: welcome and i agree. this is one of the friendliest, most intelligent forums I've been a part of (I run one over at www.comicbloc.com )
people here are generally happy, nice and cool. And also very accepting to new Mini owners. We might be a bit of a closed society to others, but hey, thats called family.

Welcome.

 

mini ftw

 

97% good folks around here, IMO.
Also, I learned how to change my mirror caps in about 10 minutes here. I'm HBB-checkered now. :-)