I would just like to comment that all mini owners that I have ever met, have all been really cool and more friendly people. Are they all this way?
-Clint

 

I know that I am

 

I'm not. I 'm a charter member of MCCA, the misanthropic curmudgeon club of America.

 

Just Kidding.

Welcome to the Tribe Clint.

 

My observation is that all enthusiasts, regardless of car make, tend to be very friendly and helpful ... all have a common bonds.

On the other hand, the vast majority of car owners are not enthusiasts ... rather a car is a hunk of metal ... usually a painful depreciating asset, to get where your going. Approach them on a bad day and your likely to get a very grouchy response. I've seen many MINI owners who are not enthusiasts and if you wave at them, they look like your some kind of strange, road raging perv.

We friendly here tho

 

No. Some of are crazy too!

 

Friendly, or desparate for any kind of human contact? Could be that Mini owners are such socially-crippled geeks that the only way they can make friends is through their cars. I know that's the case for me.

 

All the Mini folks we've encountered have been exceptional people!

 

Ditto! No matter what age or profession, I have made some fantastic friends in the MINI world. I think it attracts fun and friendly people.

 

I am friendly w/ everyone who is interested in my car, especially other MINI people...most of us get it, and some have no clue whatsoever. Being friendly to other MINIs should be in the contract.

 

They have special schools around here for exceptional people.

 

Ditto.
I don't know about the people on the other sites, but generally enthusiasts (regardless of make) are friendly. The racer types are another story.
And welcome to NAM!

 

Everyone so far has given some good answers! I am beginning to think that as well as being nicer and gooder, most mini drivers have a small crazy side to them. Plus...as an ex street bike rider, I learned that all motorcyclists all wave to each other. The bonus of owning my mini is that 99% of mini drivers wave to each other. In fact I have recieved the headlight flash treatment, The two person wave out the sunroof, and the occasional thumbs up out the window. In fact one guy and the did all of those at the same time. Since I put away the bike for good and bought the mini, all of the waves I get from just about every mini driver remind me of the crazy days that I miss from the streetbike.
-Clint

 

Hey has any body noticed that corvettes always find their way to every single car event, Even if its a mini event or anything even resembling a car event? Sorry for going away from the topic I just had to say something.

-Clint

 

Yes! Now if you can just cure yourself of waving to the motorcycles. (So far, I haven't )

 

I even get waves/nods/thumbs-up from folks in classic British cars AND motorcyclists, too!

 

ClintTheMiniOwner Since I put away the bike for good and bought the mini, all of the waves I get from just about every mini driver remind me of the crazy days that I miss from the streetbike.
-Clint
To bad about the bike. Care to give more detail as to why you put it away for good? Having a Mini and Ninja 600 allows me to keep both the high wave (Mini) and low wave (Ninja.)

As others have stated, car enthusiasts, regardless of make, are almost always friendly. Just seems like a much higher percentage of Mini owners are enthusiasts.

 

Ditto........Les

 

yah! Like me

 

I'd say yes, MINI owners are pretty darn cool....I've consistently found this to be so, thus far anyway. They also seem to possess above average intelligence, hence the quirkiness? I'm also tempted to propose that they are better looking people than most, but I thought I'd better not press my luck.

 

Mini=Fun... and we only go around once..so I'm in it for the fun... Happiness is a habit... we need to help cultivate it!!!

 

i believe mini enthusiasts are nice and friendly.

Those who just buy the car for looks and know nothing of the car really couldnt give a hoot waving hello or acknowledging another mini owner. They're just too self indulged...

 

I think the sampling here is not statistically valid. All these friendly MINI owners that people are mentioning are from this and other MINI forums, and from MINI-related events. That's a biased population. These people are enthusiasts, so of course they're more friendly or they wouldn't be there.

The best unbiased sampling I can think of is random MINI drivers on the road and whether they wave back or not. The first year or two it was only enthusiastic early adopters that bought MINIs so practically everybody waved back. As MINIs are becoming more common, more people are buying them as "just another car" and don't wave back.

So I guess my theory is that although a higher percentage of MINI owners are indeed friendlier, that percentage has been falling since the car was introduced and will continue to fall as more non-enthusiasts buy them.

Of course that doesn't mean we shouldn't continue to enjoy all the friendly people we've already met along the way.

 

I dunno, I have spoken to random MINI motorers...many of whom show no sign of being an over-the-top enthusiast...in parking lots, gas stations, and the like. These are folks who show no hint of being eager to talk to another MINI owner, but I find most of them, once approached, know what they're driving and they know it's very special, and they know there's a bond between owners. They may not choose to express it on the roads but yes, if cornered, they are pretty friendly and, although they'd maybe not admit it, seem to enjoy the encounter and the attention. I think, deep down, that they truly do love their MINI!!! They just generally seem to prefer life in a bubble (for many reasons good and bad) although should there be a bubble-breach, yeah, I'd say they were pretty cool.

After all...there is no good reason for anybody out there to be driving a MINI. The SUV backlash has failed (apparently) and reliability is still the perceived domain of Honda and Toyota. So why a MINI? Love. On some level these folks do love the car and know they're stepping out of the norm to drive one. That may not make them instantly cool, but it is a step in the right direction.

That said....I admit I have little real interest in statistical validity (if such a thing really exists in real life). Folks around here are generally pretty friendly, so if I were to try this stunt elsewhere in some other city or something I'd probably be told to f-off or get maced....and no, that would not be cool, I must say.

 

I see MINI enthusiasts (as opposed to people who just happen to own MINIs) as a clique, but a clique with open arms.

Some car enthusiasts like their car because it sets them apart from others. "I have this cool/fast/bitchin'/expensive car, and YOU DON'T." If someone else on their block bought the same model car, they'd be ticked off.

Most MINI enthusiasts think their cars are the neatest thing since chocolate-dipped waffle cones, and are delighted when someone else discovers that as well. "I have this great car that's really fun to drive. You want one too? That'd be great! We could go for drives! And here are some other MINI people you might like to meet...!"

Hmmm. Now that I re-read that, it sounds rather cult-like. Oh well, if the shoe fits...