OK sorry to rant on like this but I just need to blow some steam off! So after months of convincing my parents to let me get the MCS (I am almost 20 and living at home and commuting to college to save some $$, so I need to include them in my decision!) I wake up to my parents saying they dont want me getting it anymore! I ask them why and they said they had a talk with my 24 year old sister about it. Apparently a bunch of her friends who are "car guys" said that the MCS is a complete waste of money and they actually appologized to her that there will be a MCS in our family! They said that the car is totally not worth the money and I would be better off buying an Acura or some f***ing car like that! They also went on about how the performance sucks and the handling isnt as good as everyone else says it is! And surprize surprize none of them had ever taken a test drive! So now because of her I had to fight with my parents for like 2 hours about my MCS!!!!! God I am soooo f***ing pissed!!!!!!! Sorry for ranting on!

 

Sounds like its time to move out so they aren't part of the decision! I'm 45 and I think my MCS is awesome!!

 

I'd love to know what about a MCS is a waste of money....I am 21 and absolutely love mine!

 

[Rant=bumble's angel]I would be mad too. First off, who will be making the payments? Who will be driving the car? Who cars what some people say? Just cause they are into their ricers dosent make them experts. Most experts are only "experts" in a very limited field. Tell the car guys to blow it out their ***. I am sure some one on here would love to see them at the track. If they want to talk to someone about the joys of motoring have them give me a call. Have you mentioned the resale value? If you are buying new did you tell them about the 3 years free maintenace? Perhaps they just dont want you to have such a fun car. [/rant]

 

heh heh heeeee, de-ja-vu, there we go again....

 

I'm 48 and my dad still gives me the same crap....about EVERYTHING I buy. He hasn't kicked me out yet.

Listen to what they have to say, then do what you want.


As for the armchair quarterbacks....forgive them, for they know not what they say.

 

oooo...I hate your sister I bet she probably called it a "chick" car too

 

You are 20. I assume it is your money buying the car. if so buy the car. Done deal, end of story

Oh & BTW, tell your sister's igmo friends that they can kiss my big fat MINI driving U-know-what

 

These guys obviously don't know what they're talking about and is obviously biased against the MINI. What they have to prove by trying to convince other people not to get the MINI is beyond me especially when they haven't even driven one. I suggest you take take your family down to a dealer for a test drive and let it convince them.

Calling a car "a waste of money" is subjective. As one would say that about the MINI, but the person might not say the same thing about a Honda Accord. While an another might think vice versa. It's all a personal preference and try to convince your parents that they shouldn't impose your sister's friends' personal views on you as you guys obviously have different tastes and opinion on what's a "waste of $$".

Besides A TON of people here are "car guys" and we obviously love the MINI

 

I seriously think they are just jealous that you want a MINI.

 

obivously they are not CAR guys...they are parking lot racers....cause ANYONE who is a driver...WOULD LOVE the MCS...Even my Dad...though he would not buy one...HE LOVES the MCS...he's a driver though...used to race...and said it's one of THE most fun cars he's ever driven....

 

Thanks guys! You calmed me down a little! The entire car will be purchased by me and will not cost my parents a cent! But I know I would never hear the end of it if I went out and bought the car without talking to my parents about it! And yes my sister did call it a chick car! Stupid B**ch!!!!! The fight ended with me saying I didnt give a crap about what they think anymore because its all my money! And yeah most of her friends own HUGE trucks and one has an Acura!

 

your sister needs to get a new set of friends that are more modernized.

 

Simple. Show your parents a print out from Edmunds and KBB of a used MINI values. Than take them to a dealer and have them test drive it. I've yet to hear of a anyone not liking the car in person.

 

yeah, it's such a crappy car that people are trading down from vettes and porsches and miatas and etc.

Car enthusiasts who don't like the mini are of that opinion for how it looks or because they haven't given it a serious run and don't believe that it can handle as well as it does. I can keep up with mustangs in the straights and almost nothing holds me in the corners. A ferrari owner on this forum even said something along the lines that his MCS is around 95% of the fun at 10% of the price when comparing the two.

At some point, you just gotta know when to dismiss criticism.

I've driven varied styles of cars, from a late 60's muscle car that I rebuilt to an early 90's V6 Sundance and a 2000 M Coupe. The muscle car was fun because it was loud and arrogant and ready to just take off. The sundance was one f the ultimate sleepers. It looked like an econobox but roared into triple digits speeds with ease. Neither of those handled like serious track champs but they held their own quite well on the road. The M Coupe was simply a dream It was silky smooth and ready to please. But considering the 50 large price tag and pure sport configuration of the chassis, that's not a huge surprise. My MCS exudes the quality of the M Coupe with fit and finish, handles nearly as well (better than any of the dozens of front drive vehicles I've tested) and it has enough power and such a clean, smooth ride that it's easy to find yourself cruising at 90+ mph or riding through turns at double the suggested speed. You simply don't feel it. The only possible improvements I could fathom on the MCS would be a higher displacement engine (I know how easy it is to boost the power on the current engine, but I don't trust extremely high boost configurations. displacement could bump up the hp rating without adversely affecting engine life) or an AWD system. But for what it is, and the price it costs, it's not a tough decision to pick one up.

 

I'm 62 and I've owned a new 65 GTO, 68 Z-28, 67 Corvette, 64 Corvair Spyder, a couple of 57 BelAirs and lots of other cars. The MINI is easily better put together and more fun than any of them, even if it didn't depreciate less than 99% of all new cars, it would still be a great value.

I'm having great fun with mine now, I can only imagine what it would be like if I was 20.

Sometimes this works.....tell them you have decided you want a crotch rocket motorcycle instead, and then let them talk you back into getting the MCS.

 

goaljnnky hit it. Avoid an emotional response and simply make a calm, objective, well thought-out case (re-sale, insurance, operating costs, etc) and lay it out for them to see. Then remind them that the people they've been listening to have NOT done of the research you've done. If they don't go for it you can simply say "well, based on my research I think you're wrong" and then place your order. They may not agree but they'll have to respect your decision.

 

And once you get your car make sure to take a couple of victory laps around your sisters friends.

 

Well since you live at home & have money for a new car why not move out & pay for your college too.. Yep that'll show them. You should be ashamed of yourself for talking about your sister like that. You have a lot of growing up to do boarder054. Bet your folks would be very proud of you if they read your postings here. Good luck to you & your family.

One more thought here & I'll shut up. Yes MINI's are great, but it's just a car families come first.

 

Why not take your father out to test drive both cars for himself.

 

ok seriously, unless they are helping you finance it screw em. Just go buy it, worse that happens is they kick you out, if they do...well screw em. If they can't support a decision that will make you happy and not hurt anyone else...well that's just not very good. It seems your sister knows nothing about the mini, so why the heck are they listening to her?

When I told my parents I was getting a new car, my first NEW car they were excited for me. Then I told em I was getting an MCS, my mom was gitty, until see saw and realized what it was, then she had the typical mom fears about my safety in such a small car. Then dad was like what about this car, and that car, and this one. So after he got all that out and I answered all his questions I just said, "dad I know this isn't the most practical car in alot of ways, but it's what I want and I'd rather ride in car I really want everyday than just some car that's less expensive, or more roomy or whatever." That's all I had to tell em.

I hung out with my parents and grandparents after I ordered it yesterday and they were all thrilled for me; even if it wasn't what they wanted me to get they supported my decision. Then both mom and grandma were mad at me for getting a stick cause they couldn't drive it. Then grandpa said, "now you just need to marry a broad that can't drive stick and you'll be all set." Then they were mad at him, lol.

Just buy one, you won't regret it. As a last resort You could always tell them if you don't buy one you'll go into a deep depression, drop out of school, and never move out, continue eating all their food, drinking all dad's beer, leaving all the lights on, and never flushing the tiolet. If that doesn't work I don't know what will.

 

Sorry guy. I've had my problem free MCS almost 4 years now. I don't know what anyone thinks or cares for that matter. I love my MCS.

If it's your money then buy what you want. If it's their money, you're at there whim. Easy as that.

 

Where are you located, block out an afternoon, go to the dealer teake a test drive and have you parents find out about the handling, as far as preformance goes I had to continually play down that aspect and remind my parents of the safety features, I'm 19 and needed parental approval so my intrest rates weren't through the roof. Then after the test drive take your parents to your local MINI club meeting (we can help you find the club if we know where you are) and have them ask actual owners about what think about the car what the real exp is really like. Then to be fair go drive the honda civic or acura the next day. In the end I think you find your sisters friends are wrong and maybe your parents will know to get information from the source not third hand from people who don't have one, but again it is all who you trust.

All the car guys I know at the very least respect the MCS, its guys with the under body lights and the huge spoilers that don't like it not enough room to light up the whole street underneath and you can't open the boot with a spoiler that's 3ft tall on it, and it is FWD so that huge spoiler is required for traction at the dragstrip. oh, and I don't think 24" spinners go on the MCS that well ethier.

Fun thing about the MINI is that from the factory it drives on the level that corvette, porche, and BMW owners expect at the cost of a rice rocket or econo car. So it has a broad appeal. Power well there are some other hatches out that there that have more, but the weigh more thave 2.0 or 2.2 litre engines and don't handle as well, and usually end up costing more.

I say show them don't tell them, no need to burn bridges, test drive a few models, including the MINI, go to a culb event get the experiances of owners and drivers. Side note you'll also probably find a very strong welcoming and sense of community amongst the MINI owners. Good luck

 

motor on has given you some great advice here.

 

Tell them that since they wouldn't let you have the car you wanted & you had a few thousand dollars to spend you got a tattoo of a MINI on your chest and prepayed for both arms to get done in the same theme.

Naturally this is after you actually order and put a deposit down on a MCS.