Since I bought my Mini I have noticed a few Minis in town, some that I have never seen before.
While I was as the UPS store last week I spotted a pretty nice first gen preface lift convertible, didn't get a pic.
This was in the parking lot when I came out of the Kroger yesterday.

 

That must have been some kind of Frankenstein convertible since pre-facelift R52s were never produced.

 

I tried to talk to the lady that was driving it, like year and how long she owned it but she acted like she was not interested.

 

Minis are like Mustangs...

Half the owners are enthusiasts who bought them cause they have a passion for the car.
The other half bought them because they think they are cute/nice.

You likely encountered an owner of the latter half.

 

Yeah...I've "met" a few of them myself...
Remember "back in the day", when you first got your Mini and just about every Mini driver you passed waved or greeted you with a nod and friendly smile?
Made you fee like you were part of an elite group.
I love cars but I admit I'm a bit Mini snob. I still feel the same way every time I encounter another kindred Mini owner. In some naive way, I almost like to think of them as "family"....but honestly....
18 years now and I still love the car

 

I went from thinking they were nice/ cute and it was something different to pull behind the motorhome to an enthusiast. I told the wife last night I wanted a convertible, she looked at me like I was insane.

When I ride my motorcycle they still do the biker wave.

 

Well motorcyclists are in a whole other world. People generally don't ride motorcycles because they have no other choice.

Also, everytime I think of motorcyclists (especially cruisers), I think of the SouthPark sketch:

 

Dang that was harsh!
I still like women just for the record😁. I don’t ride it as much as I thought I would but it’s a victory and they are not making them anymore so kinda a collectors item.