Hitting the gas in a JCW.
Followed by taking a turn in 3rd without touching the brakes.

 

I liked the car on sight, but it was the test drive that sold me...

The MA had to drive the car off the lot, so I'm in the passenger seat and he suddenly floors it and barrels straight towards a 50 degree left-hand turn. He's in 2nd gear, hitting maybe 35-40 MPG and yells "You might want to hold on to something! I sell a lot of cars in this turn!" At the last second, he throws the wheel over and the car tracks perfectly through the corner... maybe just a bit of understeer as the back end slides out maybe 6 inches, grabs, straightens out and we go shooting down the road

I knew there was a MINI in my near future at that point.

 

I fell in love with the original Mini after driving my girlfriends in college. (Hmmm...was it the car or her I was love with. ) After watching the Italian Job with my wife, I turned to her and said; "I want one of those." For the next few years I researched and test drove Minis trying to decided if I'd buy one. However the defining moment truly was when I wife emerged from her test drive and said to me: "You're a fool if you don't buy this car!"

Who was I to argue? It's been a love affair ever since. (Wife and Car! )

 

My wife was somewhat interested in the Solstice, also. Availability was an issue. And then after looking at almost everything else, Toyotas, Hondas and VWs, and then driving my MCS, she decided that the MINI was the best car for her for the value, quality and fun. She should take delivery around May 15 on her new PW/B MC. Is there a Two MINI Owners Group?!

 

When I first heard the Mini was going to be no more, but would be "resurrected" by BMW, I initially thought they'd ruin it. After seeing some photos, and had one pass me on the turnpike, I changed my mind. But then I thought they must be very expensive, etc. When one of our leases was up, my wife and I went to the MINI dealer. Beforehand, she had said to me "let's agree NOT to buy or do anything today, OK?" Ok.

We left with an IB/W '02 Cooper. I can still bring back that feeling of pride, driving the Cooper with Union Jack roof, driving lights. SWEET! I'll always love and miss that car, but I love the new one as much! I still look out and stare at our MINIs. Almost every night , I check on whichever one is in the garage, kinda to say "goodnight."

 

Was intrigued after a buddy took me for a drive (I was just the passenger), but 5 mins into the test drive, it was a done deal!

 

Very simple for us ...

We did not need a car and have had many sports cars in the past. We were happy with what we had but my wife "loves" small cars, the smaller (like in 2 seater) the better.

One day SHE was reading the Yearly Consumer Auto guide and asked me what this little car was ... since we were NOT in the market for a car, I didnt have a clue and thought ... wait a second, aren't those the little cars with the fake racing stripes we just saw when watching the DVD for The Italian Job?

She read the specs and said "I want one". I spent a day speccing one out then next day went to the dealer ... drove one home. The wife is happy, I am happy, everybody is happy

 

I had always wanted an original Mini, but being young and broke, and the Internet was not around yet, I could never locate one. Years later, the news came out that BMW was acquiring the brand, and I, too was worried what would happen. When they were released in Europe, I read every article I could get my hands on, and eagerly looked forward to getting to drive one after seeing all the positive reviews.

In mid-2003, I FINALLY got the chance to drive a brand new one at the local dealership. I was hooked immediately. However, I left without buying in order to do more research and give other cars a fair shake. But that test drive couldn't be topped.

I lucked out and found an '02 at a Honda dealership before I'd settled on buying the new one. And it was in my favorite DS/W color combo, sunroof, convenience package, cold weather - wow - this is a sign. The poor guys in there had no idea what it was really worth, and I got it for a STEAL. Test drove it at lunch, bought it after work that same day (the Honda salesman actually offered me ANOTHER $1000 off from their original asking price if I'd come back that same day to purchase it!). Good-bye Dodge pick-up, hellooooo MCS!

I absolutely love it, and it will serve as the benchmark to which I will compare all future cars that I'll ever own.

 

I was in London the day they rolled out the first car to the public.
I said to my wife if they ever bring those to the states I'm getting
one.well being the procrastinator I am I just picked mine up
last week.

 

Has been eying Mini since the debut, mainly due to the cool factor and uniqueness. Test drove a MC in 2002 and was not impressed. Then came MCSa in 2005 and about 3 month of waiting, I knew it's about the time to retire my old trusty manual. Am I patient enough?

 

I spent four days working in a tradeshow booth directly accross from the MINI of Hawai'i dealer. Three days later and to my TOTAL amazement they had my loan approved. My fiance is still upset about that one. I probably should have said something before I drove home with the JCW-S and plunked it in the garage!.

That's okay, I also "thrilled" her in 2001 when I drove home with my mid-life crisis mobile; a 1975 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme!

Aloha!

JCW04

 

on the car. And kept doing research and reading up on it. One day my wife saw me on the internet (again) reading about the new Mini. She wispered in one ear "just get the effing car" and as she walked away, "and get the powerful one. I don't want to hear any biatching later!". That was it. I called in ever increasing radius from home until I found a) No markup, b) short waits, and c) factory order. That was Mini of Murray in Salt Lake City. 10 weeks later (maybe a bit less) I flew out to Salt Lake City, and was picked up in my very own car! 17 hours later, I fell asleep in my own bed at 7:30 in the morning, with the brake in pretty much over.

Matt

 

You must really love that woman!!!

 

I had been driving a '94 Acura Integra (great car, BTW) and it had 274,000 miles on the clock (yup - you read right - 274K). It started developing small problems every other month (but the motor always ran strong), and it finally left me strandled one cold, winter night. So it was time to car shop.

I had heard of and seen pictures of the new MINI, but I also had other cars on my 'check out' list. I looked at the Honda Civic Si (too wheezy), VW VR6 GTI (sloppy gearbox!) and the Nissan 350Z (nice - but rearwheel-drive!?...and the salespeople were total a**holes).

I had just come from the 350Z test-drive and jumped in a MCS. I remember adjusting the seat, turning the key, grabbing hold of the wheel and popping it into first gear. AS SOON AS I PULLED AWAY and upshifted into second, THAT WAS IT!!

I knew anything that felt this good, moved this good, looked this good - I had to drive. I baby my vehicles, and generally keep them for 10 years or more, so I just knew I could "go the distance" with this car.

Didn't hurt that my wife, Caroline, was secretly rooting for the MINI as well .... When I told her the MINI had won out, she cheered!!

- - m

PS - The Integra, BTW, got donated to an organization that auctions off used cars, and gives the cash to a charity of your choice. I choose 'Animal Place' in California to recieve the funds from my beloved Integra.

 

But ya, I've got a winner!

And to think, she's the one that proposed!

Matt

 

I lost my MINI virginity to a '05 MCSC JCW. What a rush! I knew I wanted a tin top, but decided I could live with out the S and JCW goodies. I drove a '04 MC and knew I had made the right choice. Two months later I ordered MIB!

 

I knew i wanted one even since i saw one but at the time i was a dead broke college student, so after i graduated and got a job i started saving for one and the rest is history
I love Captain!

 

--When they told me there would be no Jet Black for 2006 and after they showed me Astro Black I knew I had to order mine. I knew I wanted an MCS after my first test drive in april but I was trying to hold out longer so they could work out any bugs in the new Aisin auto transmission. But I'm definitely not sorry I got my MINI. She rocks!!!

 

I was shopping for a sub-$20K car...test drove all the usual suspects...then test drove the Cooper. It's in a completely diffrent league. Ordered my '05 exactly the way I wanted for $18,900. Talk about value! I would think it costs BMW $25,000 to build it the way it feels/drives.

 

I saw the Italian Job. I wanted the Blue one, I got it.

 

I saw a black MCSC when they first came out in 05 and thought, Man! That's a cool car! A few months later I was in London and they were everywhere! I returned to the states and a couple weeks later I went to the Mini dealer and test drove one. 6 months later.... I got it... it wasn't the one I had in mind... it's 100 times better! I've never had so much fun driving! 4 weeks now and I look forward to any opportunity to get behind the wheel!

 

Always wanted to have a British sports car, but reliability was an issue..My cousin told me to check out the MINI cooper website back in 2002, I fell in love immediately..Back then, they were asking 3000 dealer markup (if you were lucky enough to get one). Settled for an 2003 celica...drove that around for almost 21/2 years...Finally I found a used 2002 MCS with the exact same options same color I wanted in 2002...It was no coincidence, I knew it would be mine....Bought him in 2005 and loved it since, one test drive is all it took....

 

I'd love to have some short story, but... I was talking to my wife about a new car in 2002 and she was undecided... I had decided on a MINI but she went with another car. OK so over spring break we visited ever MINI dealership from Indianapolis to Charleston. Finally 3 years later... I had a just run a horrible board meeting. I had already tested out a MC so I went to the local MINI dealer and asked to tesk drive a MCS. I was sold with 5 minutes of the drive ( I had reaaly been sold years ago but we won't get into that). After that moment I signed the paperwork... been happy ever since.

 

Test drive was the "for sure" moment. Every piece of research I did led me closer to the MINI decision, but the test dive was the final. I placed my order when we got back to the dealership, and waited not-so-patiently for almost a year.

Best auto buying decision I ever made in 53 years. Now, when I need sevice or maintenance and have to take a 325i on loan, it just reconfirms the wisdom of that decision for me. The MINI is far superior.

 

I was in Minneapolis at a conference...summer '02...saw a MINI parked a block away (CR of course). Said to myself...I don't know what that is, but I love it...after drooling on it for a while I had a feeling I must have one.

Returned home and hit the 'net...obsession begins...

When a dealer opens "near me" (70 miles away) I am there when they open the doors the first day with my specs in hand...no test drive (they didn't have any there yet ...deposit placed and 4 months later I met BURNIE! Pure motoring bliss ever since!