Thats the point when I ease my foot off the brake and allow the car to roll within 2in. They forget peole actually drive manual trannys and shift, and use a clutch. I've freaked out quite a few doing so. (It also helps that I'm no stranger to backing up in tight spaces) I get at least 3ft at the next light.

 

I would have had to congratulate the homeless guy for being smarter than the average non-MINI person for knowing it was a British, or German car as you say.

 

Mostly good comments in northern california. I have had a few people get upset when I wouldn't race them on my way home from work late at night. I've used the rear fog light a few times for tailgaters. They drop back real quick when it goes on .

 

You gotta be kidding me......homosexuality and homophobes comes in all shapes, sizes and demographics......wasn't there a movie about cowboys....c'mon

 

I'm not getting any hate driving the Mini, apart from the ahole that hit my Mini and didn't even bother to leave any details.

As for the Smart Car the press release says
"In a press release issued today, the company has announced that beginning in 2008, the successor to the smart fortwo, i.e. the new smart fortwo, will be made available in the U.S. in three models."

I read that as 3 versions of the fortwo, not three different cars.

 

Only cheers and thumbs up for me...

Maybe once, I went to buy an oil filter at a local auto parts shop. (never got it installed since it was looking cheap btw). The guy at the parts dept looked in his computer and laughted at the engine size. He was driving a muscle car. When he got the oil filter from the backstore, he told me "Here's your tiny cute filter..." I laughted at him! lol

 

My co-workers always make comments about my lil junky, baby car but alas Im not driving a beat up old cutlass. I equate it to the fact they would not have the guts to be non conformist. Just givem a basic 4 door sedan and allow them to go on with their boring vanilla lives.

I actually still get a lot of smiles and it seems to put people in a good mood when passing me.

 

You should have told him it reminded you of his tiny, cute . . . . . well, y'know.

 

General question: what stickers are on your car can prompt reactions.

Funny I should see this post. Last week I had an older man in an Audi A4 who just had to get in front of me at the last possible second before the red light. I let him know the second the light turned green that he should get the **** outta my way. He wasn't aggressive enough to return my cold stare for some reason. So now I should profile Audis as a**holes?

 

Ok I have received few (1) negative comment. I really don't give a flying "f" about their opinion. My wife has a MCSCa, I drive a chevy 4x4 truck. I'd rather drive the Mini. Way too much fun!!! I won't sell the the 4x4 but may well sell the '56 streetrod truck I'm building to get my own Mini. She won't let me mod it! Then look out!!

Steve (aka mr.minianni)

 

I have had more rubber neckers and positive comments then i can count.
On average i get a positive comment or some positive reaction every single day.
I love the car . and am secure enough in myself not to care about it.

 

Sounds ENVIUOS of someone with a nice set of wheels...

 

People yell at me all of the time....I swear at least once a day!

I'm coming around a turn today (not fast mind you, the light just turned green) and as I'm coming around the turn, a stopped car to my left (turn lane) yelled "SLOW DOWN" ......I was like WTF? I'm going 30 (limit is 35) around the turn....Since the HAI I have pronounces the SC so much, it's loud and people think you are going faster than you actually are.

Like a couple of weeks ago. I'm driving the backway into my house. No one is ever on the streets, no cops, nice neighborhood, no trouble. I stop at a stop sign and proceed. I go easy first then WAM (to ~5k) then let go. There is someone walking that shouts SLOW DOWN at me....yet I believe I hit 30 max....in a 25, and I was in first gear.

-Cody people...

 

Now this is getting spooky-- people do this to me all time, and I'm always well within the speed limit, the old "slow down " yell or the hand going in the downward motion-- is it because our cars are just so small it looks like we're going faster to others?

And sure enough tonite on the way home I had a woman in an Audi A6 creep up on my bumper and honking and flashing her lights and acting like a flaming bunghole because I couldn't get out of the way of her getting into a right turn lane!

Jeez louise AUDI DRIVERS! MELLOW the ****** OUT! What, is it some kind of Teutonic superiority complex at work here? (now, when I see a VW or an Audi dead on the side of the road--a frequent occurence--I always wave and honk my horn.)

And it's not just me. I have a friend that lives near a major pricey CO ski resort and he says that most Audi drivers seem to think the road is exclusively theirs, and pull all kinds of tailgates, cutoffs, 80 mph on icy roads BS with their Quattro crutch, etc etc. They are looked upon with more disdain and comtempt up there than I could ever muster down here, but I get the point.

On the other hand, Porsche drivers are pretty cool, as are other Bimmers, and I have yet to have a problem with any SUV drivers. JB

 

lol good one!!

 

I too get way more positive comments than any negative. Most negative actions by others on the road would occur regardless of what I'm driving because it really is just road rage.

I think some dislike a slow (going the speed limit) MINI because of its size. I usually merge quickly over out of the way while also extending the distance by a couple 10ths. Let's then know it is a little quicker. Then let 'em pass because they are easier to watch when they are in front.

Lastly, the close tailgate syndrome may be because there's no trunk section between you and the guy behind you. They really are closer to your rearview mirror.

 

only a chosen few know that I even have a MINI.

 

Originally posted by MCLeanard
Quote:
Three times now as I drove by I have had young women squeal loudly and shout to their friends that they wanted my Mini. I just smiled and waved and they waved back. No attempts to take it by force so far.

Sorry to hear the young women haven't tried to take it by force. Hope your luck changes.

 

I was given the finger recently but I think that was more due to the sticker on the right rear window than anything else. :-) I gave it back due to his sticker, lol. I was having fun anyway, lol. A sense of humour some people do not have.
I get more smiles, thumbs up and positive comments about the car (and the sticker) than anything else though.

 

Happens to me, too. I'm usually going twenty or so when it does. At first I let it slide, I was just too baffled. Now I will stop the car, lean out the window, and inform them that I was going twenty, and just how much would they like me to slow down, etc.

I also make sure to let them know to slow down whenever I see them driving...which makes for great fun!

 

Good stickers! I refrain from political decals only for fear of vandalism.

I haven't gotten any real negativity. The most negative things I've heard in 3+ years of MINIing are:
"Why do you have the British flag on it? You ain't British."
To which I said: "Duh. The CAR is though!"

One particularly annoying acquantance said while going out in her heinous SUV: "Wanna ride with us, in a safe car?" To which I responded: "No thanks. Already got one. And it probably won't roll over."

HAHA!

 

Doogs - Loved the D90! I've always wanted a 90 or a 110. Don't know if you were ever on DiscoWeb or not, but those guys are in love with their LRs as much as we are with our Minis. I lost my 02 Kalahari Edition DII to a 100 yr old maple tree in a storm in August of 05. Mainly due to the $ of gas we got the MCS as a replacement. Kinda out of the car market due to the replacement of our 140k 2000 Suburban with an 07, but I'm still looking for another LR. When the time comes I'll probably get a 95 RRC SWB or 99 P38. Something nice enought to drive around daily, but not too nice to mind taking offroad. Oh, and another Mini to tinker around with.

 

I think its unfair to classify SUV drivers but rather the type of people who are haters...

I had someone in a Honda CRV attempt to merge onto the freeway (highway) this morning. The lady (in her mid 40's) drove all the way to the very end of the merge and proceeded to drive into me while I was already bumper to bumper with the car head (The typical early morning newyork city traffic).

my wife openned up the window and said where are you going?

the lady replied I have no more lane...

I was annoyed and said, you also have no class either... and proceded to drive on when traffic allowed.

This is what really irks me about people on the road. the lack of consideration and the blatant murder of motoring.

 

All positive comments and thumbs up so far after six weeks of ownership. The only exception was a kid in an older coffee can exhaust equipped Honda Civic in front of us on I-77 in Charlotte who flicked his cigarette butt out the window towards us and gave us the finger wanting to race. My husband ignored him as I asked, "What could be his problem?" My husband replied, "His girl probably dumped him in favor of a dude with a MINI!"

 

Well, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one. I've had that happen a number of times, and I immediately checked and was within the speed limit each time. Must be some sort of optical illlusion or something, either that or the gleeful look on my face regardless of the speed I'm going.

Annette