Hey all,
I am a 46 year-old school teacher. Like everyone else, I can't go anywhere without a great deal of attention to the Mini. People who know me often say "They never figured I'd go for a car like this". My other car is a Nissan Xterra. Is there some common thread besides mere ownership that we all share? Age, professions, etc? I wonder what the "average" Mini buyer's profile looks like? When I bought mine a bit over a week ago, the diversity among potential buyers on the lot was enormous. This car appeals to everyone!

 

Our other car is also a silver 2001 Nissan Xterra, which we got to haul bikes, and triathlon gear. I was drawn to the MINI because it is fast, and looks amazing.....and it is different from anything else out there. It also helps we are both originally from the UK....me a nurse, husband a web site designer. So we have a knowledge of MINIs already...

 

My other "car" is a Chrysler T&C Limited AWD minivan....but I've found that the kids fit just fine in the MINI (both kids are under 5). I bought the MINI because it was inexpensive and had the type of handling features, size, and speed I find appealing in my daily driver. My previous car was a Nissan SE-R...but that had grown long in the tooth (and rusty in all panels )and modern tech offers much more.

What did NOT overly factor into my MCS purchase decision was the styling or the coolness factor. Now that I actually own the car and drive it daily, I will admit that it's sometimes nice to get noticed, but I will be equally as happy when that aspect of ownership dies down. I'm already growing tired of explaining about the MINI-BMW connection and telling people that "no, it's not electric" (I've had that weird question several times). But I guess when I want total anonymity, I can drive the van.

I will say one thing about that...and that's that you can drive all day at 95mph in the van (with a good radar detector) and never get stopped. The other day a cop stopped me in the MCS with the explanation that "You looked like you took off from that light like a bat out of hell" Well, I didn't (this time ) and he didn't even have his radar on ... hence the fact that he only threatened to give me a warning (which he didn't) as he could have "estimated my speed on the ticket". What a jerk. Anyway, that kind of attention I DON'T need...

 

My cars I've owned have been: in order
64' Bug, $500 bucks (great car)
85' Toyota Pickup ( Best truck I've ever owned)
91' F-250 - (Never will own another Ford)
84' Mini Mayfair - (first Mini, I cought the feaver)
86' BMW 325i - (will sell soon)
89' Mazda 121 - (don't laugh, I only paid $8, runs great)
03' MCS - (will arrive in about a month)

Cheers

 

As a "motoring advisor" I've seen all kinds of people buying MINI's. I don't know how it is in europe, but in Eastern PA there is honestly no single common thread that every MINI owner has in common. The one thing they all share is the desire to own a unique car. Sorry if this isn't the answer you were looking for. Most MINI people are easy to talk to about cars, so don't get bummed out if people are coming up to you asking about you're choice in cars. I've seen people trade all kinds of cars in on a MINI. Everything from a Porche, to a motorcycle, to a GTI, even a few LARGE sport-utes!
Having the car as "your type"? Maybe people are just used to seeing you in non-fun cars? Who knows!

 

I think that the only type that wouldn't fit a MINI are those that habitually and constantly pick their nose in a car Too many eye are on you

 

Hi! I'm an automotive engineer and a car junky!! My current vehicles are as follows:

MCS 2002
Austin Cooper S 1967
Jaguar XKE 1964
Sportech 1988 (1200# 150 hp sportscar)
Sportech 2003 (1100# 307 hp turbocharged and almost done!)
Fun Car 2001 ( Mini Moke type beach buggy)
Chevy Metro 1998 (wifes car)
F150 King Ranch 2002
Fleetwood Motorcoach 37' desiel 2000
Honda Elite Scooter 1986

As you can see I need serious help. I probably spend more on oil changes than some people spend on their house payments!

Motor On!!

 

Well, Cooperman, I can see that you're getting some interesting answers here.

I should note that as a person who deals with this sort of question professionally -- i.e,. the "how do you describe the kind of person who does...." -- I too have wondered what I think you're wondering. I've owned a lot of cars myself (and this thread has inspired me to make my own list), but have not before fallen into the sort of enthusiastic community that seems clustered around the MINI. About the closest I've come before is the vintage BMW community (BMWCCA, etc.) and that seemed more related to pure automotive mechanical issues and less "lifestyle" issues.

I will offer a few observations though... It seems that a relatively large number (although not a simple majority) of MINI owners are in the areas of visual/graphic arts and/or advertising/marketing. These are (broadly stereotyping) people who understand and appreciate image, design, and "buzz." A similar question about whether board members were PC or Mac users (posted about a month ago) elicited similar comments...that is, that MINI owners -- as evidenced by the larger representation of Mac users among MINI owners than one finds in the general population -- were somewhat likely to be involved in those fields where Macs are more often used (graphics, design, etc.). Aside from this large cohort, there are also a good number of "car people" represented here. That is, people who value performance and/or specifically unique automotive design. Of course, there are overlaps between these two cohorts...AND then there's everyone else (e.g., people perhaps like you!).

And bear in mind that this sampling is JUST from my haunting this particular board! I think it may be possible to get a somewhat different impression from the MINI2 board....and of course (lastly), don't forget that BMW imported over 16,000 of these cars to the US alone last year. Obviously neither this board nor MINI2 have 16K US members...so who knows what the story is with the true majority of MINI drivers who aren't even represented online!

Anyway, this post has served as a useful procrastination tool while I should really be writing a client report...so I'll end. Suffice to say as MFC noted, MINI owners really do come from all walks of life (but obviously there are certain walks that are more likely to end up motoring )

 

British style with German engineering, what else could a person want?!?!?

I don't think there IS a common thread between us besides:

"For those who understand no explaination is necessary. For those who do not, none will do."

 

Totally agree with jayoung...


________________________________
DS/DS, all the goodies in the book, 17" R90s, rally lights, white rear indicators, pics available soon!!!

 

My other cars are a 2002 Toyota Land Cruiser and a 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible. Since we are a family of 5, anytime we are all together we take the Cruiser, and that is what made my decision to get the Mini easier.

My main reason for getting the car was purely the engineering and fun factor. There is very little out there that affords this kind of driving excitement and the engineering (not quality) is superb. On the other side, i have wanted a Mini for 10 years, but just never found the old car to be a practical daily driver.

Demographics: I am a VP at a hosiery company based in North Carolina, 41 years old, married with 3 kids. Live in Palos Verdes, a suburb of Los Angeles. Other cars I have owned in the last 10 years:

1991 Acura Legend
1993 Ford Explorer
1993 Lexus LS 400
1998 Ford Expedition
1998 BMW 528i
1966 Ford Mustang Convt
2001 Toyota Land Cruiser
2002 MINI Cooper S

 

It is interesting to read who is driving the MINI. I'll chime in...

Myself:

-26 male/married have 1 cat (silver egyptian mau)
-currently live in salt lake city, own house here
-hoping to move back to Seattle soon, own townhome there
-profession: Web Programmer; Job title at work: Web Marketing and Development Director (that means I was basically the Web Director, then a bunch of people were layed off and I got their jobs too with no raise of course)

Current Cars:

-2002 fully loaded Chili Red/white MCS
-1993 Jeep Wrangler (left in Seattle)
-1972 Plymouth Duster Funnycar (left in Seattle... oldest working funnycar on west coast, race it with my father)
-1998 Toyota Corolla
-2002 Subaru WRX Wagon

Past Cars:

-1984 Toyota 4Runnner
-1966 VW Bus
-1989 Jeep Wrangler
-1974 Corvette
-1994 Isuzu Trooper
-2001 Lexus IS300
-2002 MINI Cooper

 

I like cars. All types of cars. I'm a member of the Rolls Royce & Bentley's owner's club, the BMW CCA (and was a member of teh ACA before the merging of ACA and CCA in the Pacific NW), Porsche Club of America, Delorean Owners Club, Mercedes-Benz Club of America, and board member of my local region Ferrari Club of America.

My passion is Ferrari, but there are several british and german cars I find very appealing in terms of styling, handling, etc.

The MINI S is a great looking, inexpensive, and fun car that will be lovely for the winter to take the abuses of salt and road grime. It's something that is very tossable in corners and will give me the satisfaction of a 'sporty' car and the practicality of not worrying where I park because it's a high production car that is cheap.

O.K. the short but sorted history of cars I've driven/owned.

Parent's cars (Year the purchase was made in parens)
(1983) 1983 Gray Honda Accord Base Model - Dad's - - auto tranny
(1983) 1983 Gray Honda Accord SE Model - Mom's - auto tranny
(1992) 1992 White Honda Accord Base Model - Dad's - auto tranny

My cars:
(1996) 1996 BMW 328is - Manual tranny - metalic blue/tan - First Car
(1996) 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier - Red/dark grey - Manual Tranny - Sig Other's (becomes wife) car
(1997) 1983 Porsce 911SC Cabriolet w/Carrera body kit, perf upgrades, etc. - red/tan w/whale tale in black - Manual tranny - trade in BMW
(1998) 1998 Ford Mustang - Black/black - Manual tranny - trade in Cavalier - Wife's car
(1998) 1987 Ferrari 328 - Black/tan - Manual Tranny - Trade in 911
(2000) 2001 Mercedes C-240 - Manual Tranny - trade Mustang - wife's car
(2001) 1998 Saturn SW2 Wagon - White/grey - Manual Tranny
(2002) 2002 BMW 525i - Silver/black - Automatic/Tiptronic - trade Mercedes C-240 - wife's car
(2002) 2003 MINI Cooper S - Silver/black - Manual Tranny - trade in Saturn SW2

Planned (what I'm hoping will happen)
(2004) 2004 Mercedes E500 4-Matic - Automatic Tranny - Silver/black - trade in BMW 525i - wife's car
*(200?) 196? - 197? Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 (or 365 2+2 depending on a # of issues) - Red/tan or Silver/Black - Manual Tranny
*(200?) 199? Bentley Turbo - Dark color Exterior/light interior
*(200?) 196? Mini Cooper S
*(201?) ? Aston Martin DB4 - British Racing Green/tan
* = counts on moving to home with larger garage to have more parking space.

:smile:

jsun -

For your demographics query - I'm a 28 year old computer dork who has worked at Microsoft since 1996 and currently makes a living through consulting primarily large Financial Services customers.

Family = wife and 1 year old.

I no longer make a living off of it - but throughout high school and college I made a living from professional photography - I shot photos for AT&T, America's Cup Sailing, LA US Olympic Festival, MCI, a number of New England newspapers. My professional photography was centered on sports, sports, and more sports because it was easy and efficient (most profitable for least time spent at an event).

In hs/college I was on the staff of the newspapers, literary & arts magazine, and alumni magazines. Primary editing tools were Pagemaker/Quark/Illustrator/Photoshop running on macintoshes of varying vintages.

Last graphic design work I did was all Wintel PC based using Ilustrator and Pagemaker on Windows XP as the Ferrari Club of America's Northwest Region newsletter editor.

Motor on my friends, motor on.

 

Here's my 2 bits...

first car: 1965 El Camino (loved that car)
2nd: 1967 Austin Healey Sprite (got the bug)
3rd: 1962 Chevy II (Nova)...one of the first off the line
3th: 1985 Chevy Sprint (great gas mileage)
4th 1986 Chevy S-10 (best truck I have ever owned, 500,000+ miles)
5th: 1973 BMW 730i (fast and cheap)
6th: 1982 Toyota Tercel (cheap and slow)
7th: 1995 GMC Sonoma (worst truck I ever owned)
current: 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage (aka the rat mobile) & 1982 Fiat Spyder (work in progress)

Job: Computer guy (network admin, web design, hardware) in Orange County
Age: 34, not married, 1 child
Live: Southern California, Riverside County
Other: Collect music

I choose the MINI because I love the way it looks & drives! I always wanted an original (and might have one someday) and think that BMW made a faithful, yet updated, version of the car.

...but, that's just me :smile:

 

Well, I must admit that I'd always been a VW fan and was planning on buying a New Beetle until my then-fiance (now husband) talked me into looking at Minis. I sat in one and felt like I'd died and gone to heaven. But what really helped me in making my final decision was visiting this web site -- it was like the mother ship was calling me home!

Here's me:

31, female, married (two weeks ago!)
editor and children's book author (just got a three-book deal, which I'm using to buy myself a Mini!)
devoted Mac user (and psyched I'll be able to plug my iPod into my 2003 MC)
:smile:

P.S. Davequick, my husband is also in the Porsche Club of America -- he just finished restoring a canary yellow 1967 911S (our honeymoon ride!)

 

>>91' F-250 - (Never will own another Ford)
>
>>
>>Cheers

Evil fords I am glad you have joined us in boycotting them.

Only ford worth owning are pre 71's