Dude if i lived in Alaska Id drive a 4x4. Driving in the snow in the local mountains scares me haha

 

The good news is that for every idiotic comment, there are plenty of the other. This afternoon I was driving along fairly slowly in front of a strip mall and I got an enthusiastic wave and an "I LOVE your car" screamed my way.

 

Back when I first got mine (early 05) I used to get the what kind of mileage do you get question a lot. To clarify that it wasn't a economy car I'd misunderstand and say, "When it was stock it'd do about 135mph, but I've done some upgrades so it's likely faster now if I had somewhere to test it" Then when their jaw dropped, I'd say "Oh, you said mileage didn't you?" and answer them.

Now they're pretty common in the DC area so I mostly just get "Nice car" or "Cool Car".

 

Eh. It's really not bad at all in a (properly equipped) MINI. I actually really enjoy driving it during the winter. It's a real blast, and one of few vehicles I've owned (and I've owned many) that actually inspire confidence on winter roads when properly equipped (in other words, NOT with the crappy summer-tread runflats).

On a side note, I do own a 4x4 for days that the snow gets really deep. And believe me, you're not really any safer driving a 4x4 in the winter than our MINIs.

If anything, a 4x4 will get you even more impossibly stuck on the side of the road. I see it every winter, especially w/ all the newbies in town (military town - lots of people moving in/out every year).

 

I've got a coworker who bought a new Tundra double cab, long bed, 4x4 pickup. He seriously thinks the "chicks dig" his truck. And he's definitely one of those guys who doesn't actually "use" the truck for its utility. But it's his money, he can buy whatever he wants. I just find it funny that he has this attitude regarding chicks and trucks.

He's been with me in my car on numerous occasions where I had some women give me the enthusiastic wave, and shout "I LOVE YOUR CAR!!!" I'll never forget the look on his face. Strangely enough, he hasn't made any more stupid comments about my "chick car".

 

Oh yeah "chick car." I forgot about that one.....thanks to a few mods, people don't usually go there once they actually see my MINI in person.

The one I really never understood was labeling the MINI a "gay car." There were even articles written about it! Back in '02 when Zippy was still relatively stock looking I actually had some kids screaming at me once from another car "GAY!" and "***!" Huh?!

 

You just thought it was because of the car. I find it comforting to think that, too.

 

I can't think of too many other cars that are appealing to as big of an audience as a MINI. Young or old, gay or straight, car enthusiast or not, city slicker or hillbilly, blue collar or white collar... in my experience, people from all sorts of different walks of life LOVE our cars. And this is one thing I think is absolutely cool our these MINIs, they don't fit any one group more than the other. The cars are just as individual as the owners.

The people who scream the obscenities are either jealous, or ignorant...or both. They certainly have issues of their own.

 

 

A guy in a jeep pulled up to me the other day.
*insert deep texan drall* Hey boy they sure is a nice car. Is the insurance cheaper than a Mustang?
Not sure sir but I think it is(nice).
-What kind of milage you get with it?
about 28mpg in the city
-Mmmmhmmm I bet mah Stang could take you though
Not in the twisties.
- You sure bout that?
later man *zoom*
Very odd and I got the pulp fiction "scream like a pig" vibe from the dude
All right then