Hey, look! MSFITOY has finally updated his sig photo! Way to go, man - looks great! (I've been following your comments on the driving lights for some time, now.)

Uh, oh - I just realized that this probably means that I am now the no. 1 person on the board with the most out-of-date sig photo!

 

O lord yes you are, like this one time we had a meet and everyone was fllowing and Chris was leading..........lol sorry chris had to say it

 

Thanks:smile: You guys have no idea how good you have it (unless you live in the midwest as I do ) Just taking the picture nearly costed me a few fingers...windchill, -10 at the park where I took this image

 

OH please,try shooting at these temps.

 

Just a quick question. If you don't mind, do you know what the insurance rate is on your MINI under your parent's plan?

Mine is gonna be under my parents too, so i would guess it would be similar to yours.

Thanks

btw, I hate cops too...I think the only ways to avoid them are a radar detector (which you have) or even better, just use your head, and only drive agressively on occaision, or in places where you can get away with it. (such as auto-x)

 

Getting gas today I had a nice chat with a Mounty,he was interested in how the car handled in the snow,thought it might be a car for him.Mentioned how all the local Mounties noticed my car,and were impressed to see me get around so well in the snow

 

5-8 over the speed limit?.....that's not bad at all. Don't worry about the cops, they usually won't bother you for something like that. I usually try to stay not too much above 10 mph over the speed limit, and I haven't gotten busted yet. (I've been driving for two years)

Also, that's cool you bought a MCS with your own money. I'm buying mine by myself too, but I will admit I got a lot of help when I bought my first car, which was also brand new.

btw, sorry about your friends. I just lost a good friend of mine in a car accident as well. It sucks.

I also wanted to point out...NICE color choice, my MINI is going to be the same color.

 

We have another car that's white and so far we've been lucky...haven't been pulled over yet in five and half years. It helps that I don't really go over the speed limit all that much..except today when I cruising the Mini @80 mph.

 

I had to escort one of my junior personnel to court (military thing) for a speeding ticket. I sat and watched the judge throw a couple of speeders in jail. That right there set me straight as I have a fear of jail.
After court I went to leave and was stopped by a state trooper in the parking lot. He wanted to know how I liked my MINI. Currently we have two cops in our loosely formed local MINI club.

 

As others have said if you want to drive fast and not get tickets take it to the track. It's safe for everyone and loads of fun.

 

lay off guys-what is this, the police forum?! I am 16, and I was 15 when the MINI arrived into the world. I frequently motored aggressively, (although civil), and did not get a single ticket. (didnt know if it was just the luck of the mini or what. )
ChiliRed, you are just like me, but you must know what you have, and when the boundries are, and you must not abuse them. You have a MINI COOPER S, and just realize that it can all be gone in a second, just keep that in mind, and also do not try to impress your friends by doing 200 in a 20, they should usually be impressed anyway by the normal driving.
Also, the people in this forum who state who dangerous it is not to drive fast on the public roads, or that they have never done it, are completely hypocritical, (albeit in a safe, abandoned road or not), you know that you have done it, thats what the MINI was created for-MOTORING-not puttering down the block at 3mph.
Also, nobody should say that every cop is perfect, and that it is you or the way you drive. Like I said I have never gotten a ticket, I drive responsibly, but I have seen to many friends screwed over by "crooked" cops. I would say about 1 in every 4 policemen is normal.
Sorry, I had to just come out and say this.

 

This thread has seen a few posts lately from the young drivers, and some applause because chillicooperS paid for it with his own money.

Look, A kid who gets his car paid for is lucky and ought to be very very grateful but A kid who buys his own at 17, 18 or 19 etc is just not smart, their first priority ought to be getting through college debt free, and if a house or family is not on the horizon at that point then buy a car with your own money and enjoy every second of it.

but either way you slice it a brand new car ought to come much later in life, and maybe at that point you won't have to worry about a speeding ticket or two and being on your parents insurance policy

 

Very good point. The Mini I drove was my dads weekend toy, and very much so. However, there are some people who have their college already paid for, and if they are car enthusiast and have enough determination, then a new car with ones own money is well deserved. You would also anticipate he would keep the car perfect, and for awhile since he paid for it. I know several people who have been in this scenario, and usually insurance is not a problem since their parents make them pay for either half of it or all of it.

 

A great start would be to stop calling it "the fast lane" and instead call it "the passing lane", which is what it is.

"Fast" means different things to different people. Someone could say "70 is fast enough for the fast lane", and they would have a right to their opinion. But call it "the passing lane" instead, and they're either passing someone or they aren't. If not, they should move out of the lane.

On my commute, there are signs saying "PASSING LANE IS FOR PASSING ONLY! $100 FINE". If only they would enforce it...

 

That's great! At least they have signs instructing what the rules of the road really are. Around here, NO ONE HAS A CLUE!!! "Parking it" in the PASSING LANE is the #1 cause of road rage according to the THP. Maybe threads like this will help spread the word.

 

Boy...You've got that right!!! I'm too smart for road raging but it takes just about every ounce of restraint in me to keep from passing on their left shoulder When I spot one of these boneheads in the left lane during heavy traffic, I pull way over to the right to watch the mayhem that ensues behind them

 

In response to the post saying it was stupid for a 16,17, 18 year old to buy a new car.....here's my scenario

My parents are more than likely paying my way through college, or at least most of it, so I don't have that huge expense to worry about. Also, they help out a LOT with car-related expenses. They split the insurance with me, so that makes is reasonable. So basically all I have to worry about is the actual car payment, and half the insurance. I paid off my $15k Saturn in two years...with a bit of help of course. It's really not as stupid as you may think, in the right circumstances.

Now if a kid lived in a lower-income family, and would have to buy the car on their own with no help whatsoever, plus pay their way through college, cell phone bills, etc...then yeah, it would probably be stupid, but I doubt that's the case here.

 

I don't want to hijack the thread, there is much that could be said. My point was only in refrence to this original post

IF.....IF.....that is true then it is not wise to buy a car, my point holds true, not the smart move.
If one's parents are well-off and choose to subsidize their children in the way your scenerio describes then Im not not talking to you, i was talking to him.

but, then again you may want to talk to someone about rule of 72 and the signifigance of compounding intrest, if you got that that kind of disposable income

Either way......if you have the car, a ticket or two ought not be a burden or big deal. But let me echo the thoughts of many posters already, keep it on the track. The car is plenty of fun within the bounds of the law.

 

Well seeing that I posted early I might as well follow up a little. Yes I'm 17 as I mentioned early and also own a MINI. My parents brought my MINI. I've noticed some don't really agree with it but others don't mind.

Quote from parents "You desire the car. Just keep up your grades. And Oh this counts as a Birthday Present, Christmas Present, Graduation Present, and more." End Quote.

If my parents didn't buy me my MINI I would of bought it later on in life. And the MINI wasn't brand new, it was used. And no my MINI wasn't the first car I learned to drive. I started in a Cavalier and drove that for a year or so before earning my MINI. I have a job during the warmth months here in VA. and pay for most of my stuff. I don't pay insurance but I do pay for all my other car expenses, such as Gas and etc. But see I'm one of the teens who understands what happens at fast speeds and stupid driving. A family member was involved with Law Enforcement. I've seen the pictures and how the families have to deal with anothers death.
Just cause its a MINI doesn't mean your invincible.

Thanks for your time,
Matt

 

Wow this thread definetly has turned! I have been saving up for my MINI since the begining of '02. My parents have already gotten college payed for, I will go to PUrdue for 6 years and become a Nuclear Pharmacist and will be making around 1-2 million a year, so I think I'll even be able to pay them back . They just said (just like MNEEME parents) that if I get into an accident it's going to come out of my pocket, not their's but most of all keep the grades up! By the way I also pay for my own insurance, the only thing I don't pay for is my gas. My parents are millionares but are very humble and worked extremely hard for it. This is what they are teaching me; if you want to get anywhere in life you'll work hard for it, and I have goals to be a great golfer, athlete, and Nuclear Pharmacist, so consequently I get a 3.75 - 5.00 GPA, I work out every other night, and in the summer I work at the local golf center, and when I not working I'm on the driving range or playing golf!
Have an Awesome weeK!!

 

Great caption MNEEME, Drive Hammer, Get Nailed!!!

 

What the heck is a nuclear pharmacist? Do they give out radioactive pills?

 

For instance if your on chemo or radiation therapy we make up the treatments and meds. Or if you have ever had a bone scan or normally any other scan that they inject something into you we would make that, not your normal walgreens pharmacist, is it? That's why I will make so much. Plus I would only work from 2-7am because of the chemicals and their limits, more time for motoring and golf!!

 

Neat color and chrome combo MNEEME!!!

 

I have been working since I was 12 hocked popcorn at the local arena.
Got my first car when I was 15,old Ford,got it running,sold it,turned 16,got a 58 VW bug for $25,did used cars till I got my first new car 18 months ago,my MC,Poco.I turn 50 this week.
You young folk that work for what you want,go for it,those that get it bought for them,make sure you thank those that paid for it,big time