It was fun while it lasted, but sadly the MINI no longer fits our transportation needs. Both of us now have jobs requiring on and off-road travel and the MINI is just not suited to that type of driving (well, it might be, but I don't want to hurt it).
On a brighter note, we're trading it straight across for a new 06 Ford Escape with a similar pricetag to the MINI when new. So we've gotten 8300 miles (and smiles) in the MINI for free!
We will have another MINI in the future, but only after finances allow having a 3rd vehicle.
Best wishes to you all, and Happy Motoring!

ps: watch the Marketplace for some odds and ends that I won't be letting go on trade-in.

Hmm. You should check out the thread below regarding off-roading MINIs by MINIotable

That's a bummer, but you don't need a MINI to keep enjoying NAM!

Sorry to here about your loss. Funny though, My wife got rid of her Ford Escape to get her Mini.

Steve (husband of minianni and rarely get to drive it).

Sorry to hear you are leaving the flock. Good luck with your Escape. It may look like one, but it's not an off road vehicle. More of a dirt road vehicle.

Muchas gracias, all. The Escape will cover all known road problems. Yes, I know that the MINI could probably handle the roads, but I have to consider that a stray pothole could seriously damage the MINI, and I can't afford that kind of downtime. We will seriously miss the MINI until such time as we can afford another.

Why is everyone selling their MINIs? You are the third or fourth member to say they are selling in the last week. Did I say something wrong? Is it something I did. Was it the Chad?

This is a function decision and nothing more. We will buy another MINI as soon as finances allow. Now go drive your new MINI and think happy thoughts.

I've driven Wanda off-road, but I wouldn't want to take her over too much hardpan or heavily-rutted roads, so I completely understand your decision, 3cocinas. Good luck with the new jobs and don't be a stranger.

An '06 and you are out already???

Bummer.

I know the feeling, and it will eat you off everytime you see a Mini, and the worst thing is you bought a vehicle that is totally opposite to Mini. On the other side, sometimes family is more important.

My "FAST" says choosing the MINI over family is for the weak

Good Luck

Hopefully when you say "until we can afford another" doesn't take selling the Escape as part of the deal because the depreciation on the Escape will hurt bad, you managed to trade the MINI for the Escape without cost, but don't expect the same the other way around, that won't be the same story and I'm sure you know that, I sure hope that job pays enough to cover that major loss.

Hey - good luck with the new job and sometimes, ya gotta do what's best for YOU and if selling the MINI is it, well then, that's the way it goes. Stop in here and say Hey once in a while...

Donna

Wow, another MINI going bye bye :( Good luck with the new vehicle. Just throwing in my 2 cents... i take mine "off road" quite a bit. There are some fun dirt roads with 15 mph turns out here that are much more fun in the mini than the SUV Not to mention the long dirt path in the backyard after it rains... i don't use it just for photo ops

I can't imagine being without my mini, but i'm at the point where i can understand reasons for doing without... for a short while. After all, we went some time drooling over minis before purchase, and it was well worth the wait. Just have to go through that process again But at least we already know the pay off!

I said that I take Wanda off-road, but the thing is, I am very familiar with New Mexico, and those unpaved roads are hellacious! In fact, one of them (until recently renamed) was SR 666!!! :impatient New Mexico has been one of my favorite places on earth since the 70s and I know how rough the off-roading there is......it's not for low-slung MINIs....:impatient And since 3cocinas has a new job as an archaeologist, I am betting that he'll be WAY off the beaten path.