The girlfriend and I took my '03 MINI Cooper from Napa to Hollywood for Halloween, the car ran great and we made it back on a tank of gas... 394 miles.

 

Got my 03 in Oct 02, so it's over 7 years new now and over 85k miles. Still looks great, still gets the looks, especially when I stick on the racing numers in the summertime. Still feels great to drive. My favorite driving situation is driving the tight, slightly banked curved connectors from fwy to fwy, flying past the big SUV's and trucks. I knew when I saw the first pics of the new MINI in 2001, that I would have to get one. It's the first car I ever felt like that. I can't see me ever trading it in...I can't even see me passing it on to my kids (I'm 45). I love my MINI.

 

Scoopie is 3 yrs old ('06 MCS) w/~46k. She's my baby. When I lost my job in March, it got scary for several months when I couldn't make my pymts, so I hid her. Started working again in August, and the bank and I worked 2gether so I could keep her (they'd have 2 pry her from my cold, dead fingers, y'hear me?!?), but now all is well. I'm taking her in on the 30th for Inspection II service, which is cool. She makes my 25-mile/way commuting trip worthwhile and fun. I still giggle at all the SUV folks around here in the DC area (are there unpaved mountain roads I'm unaware of ), and I've had one SUV lady tell me she couldn't drive a MINI cuz she'd get tickets everyday ... LOL. I totally understand that; however, I've been lucky in that regard. In any case, all is well and my baby and I will NEVER part as long as there's breath in my body.

 

Lmbo - that is too funny! You should see the look the baggers (from the Commissary on base) give me when they have to load my groceries in the boot. A look of: "Are you kidding me". I laugh every time! I love my 05MCS! It's not to small - it's just a matter of organization and smart packing.

 

had a wonderful day!
life is good

 

I visited NAPA this summer... wish i could live there with my MINI

 

3 years, 98k miles (on a CVT!). So far, so good

 

My MINI continues to fantastically navigate the slushy, snowy, icy roads of Colorado winters.

 

My MINI continues to fantastically navigate the slushy, snowy, icy roads of Madison, WI winters. Today was another Everything is A-OK Day.

 

Awesome, it is very nice here! Lots of fun backroads around here to drive the MINI on.

 

Last night I was coming home from the tree farm, it had been snowing all day and was continuing. The speeds on the highway were down to about 35mph with packed snow roads and blowing snow. Good thing I had put my snow tires on that morning.

When I got home, there was a good 3 or 4 inches of snow on the back of my MINI. The rest of the car was relatively clean of snow. I'm still amazed at the winter capabilities of my car. Winter driving can be very fun.

 

Second that! Just beginning my third winter of MINI, Dunlop Wintersport M3's FTW! People continually ask me if I drive it in the winter (expecting 'no'), look when I tell them. (Look like that when I pass them, too!)

Only times I've been stuck enough to need help:
once before I got the snows on (about 7" of snow)
twice after - first time trying to bust through the bank at the end of my driveway, using front dam as a snow scoop - the other out ON Malletts Bay (Lake Champlain) to drill ice, checking to see if it was thick enough to race on, and turned into a wind-packed drift...

This morning (start of season 3):

 

Starting winter #2 - I drove in snow last night on my all-seasons (cheapy Kumho ASXes, even) and did just fine. I am looking for snow tires though.

 

I'm glad I live somewhere that you don't need snow tires....

So far, I've had nothing but smiles from my '03 MCS that I got at the end of October.

C ya,
Dutch

 

My 09 continues to perform flawlessly, couldn't ask for more.

 

today was a sunny IL winter day...no snow today...looking forward to washing my MINI tomorrow.

 

70,000 miles in two and half years There is nothing better on the road.
I love driving at night with the orange glow of the cockpit and stereo with some old Van Morrison adding to the wonderful feeling. 06 MC R50 pure Silver with black top.

 

This is the start of my 8th winter with my MINI. I've only gotten stuck where the snowplow fails to do a good job, like leaving big mounts in a T-intersection, or at the end of driveways. Although, the latter is neither the result of it's failure, or avoidable by any practical means. The point is, only deep snow, bottoming out snow, can stop my MINI.

 

Yesterday did a job for a local dealer, drove a '07 Saab 9-5 Turbo to NH and back (~300 mi. round trip) - nice car but sure seems "soft" compared to my MINI...

Bonus #1 - the dealer in NH had a Ford GT in the showroom, first one I've seen in person - way cool! (and mine for only $190,000!)

Bonus #2 - they managed not to sell my MINI by the time I got back (even though before I left we had the "everything's for sale" talk )

A good day

 

Today my little Silver R53 goes "Over the Hill" I will be celebrating the 100,000 by honking the horn as loud as possible and pumping my fist out the window in joy(actually probably just going to snap a picture of it on the odometer). Still runs like a champ but I know there's a few things that need to be redone from normal road wear'n'tear.

I am also glad that this car can still transport me to work in the morning even when we get the occasional dumping of snow here in Chicago. The only time I've gotten stuck was last year when i slid off my driveway cause it wasn't plowed yet. This ended in me just rocking the car back and forth a few time to get back up on the pavement part.


EDIT: MADE IT!! I passed 100,000 miles on the Mini this week, and forgot to bring my camera along for the ride. I had 9's all the way across with the trip meter too...

 

I've taken ANKLBTR off the harsh winter roads unless it's totally dry out, it's holding up pretty well and it's got more style, charisma and character than most cars...

 

1st snow in Oklahoma this year and first snow with my new MINI, ran like a champ, seems to run better on snow/ice than most cars. Gotta love the tight suspension and steering! I love my new MINI.

 

Just checked my headlight fluid and it was right on the mark!

 

It was 5 degrees at dawn today, with a minus 15 wind chill factor, my Mini started up and was purring powerfully, cranking out the heat all the way to work, just like every other day.

 

The oil change shoppe topped mine off when I got my oil change done....