I think the utterance "just a car" should be deemed a violation of the TOS. Okay... MAYBE that's a little harsh.

But, I'm serious when I say the MC is not "JUST A CAR". While it can't be disputed that the MINI is indeed a car, the word "just" implies it is like every other car out there. Which it clearly is not. It's a very unique and special automobile.

A 2003 Ford Taurus was just a car. A MINI Cooper is certainly not just a car.

 

^^^agreed

 

My husband has driven her 3 times...once the day we picked her up (about 20 minutes), and two occasions when I got a little tipsy (ok very tipsy) and I couldn't drive. That is it....since May 05.

I don't know if it is so much about my not wanting him to drive the MINI or that I hate being a passenger.

 

A noteworthy clarification that should be passing on to future generations of NAMies!!

 

I let responsible people that I trust drive my MINI. Mostly because they're like we are with their own cars. One of my friends has a Mitsubishi 3000gt Vr4, the other has a Subaru WRX. They are just as protective of their cars, so I trusted them to drive Hobbes. The one with the WRX taught me to autocross in my own car even! He showed me what it could really do.

I let my parents drive it because they want one too. This summer I went on a big road trip. I'd driven for about 3 days in a row, and seriously needed a nap. So I let my friend drive for a few hours. I ended up not being able to nap though, because I was too nervous about her driving! lol Oh and my boyfriend drives it too. But it's half his, and he's a UPS driver so he's pretty darn good at driving. Sometimes it's nice for him to get out of those big, hot trucks and go tear around in little Hobbes for a bit.

 

Based on past experience, I gotta tell you I'd havta have broken arms/legs before letting someone else drive Flo. I was given the privilege of driving my Mom's Ford to high school (back when snakes walked the earth). One of the really hot guys in my class talked me into letting him drive it just to run a short errand. Had to have it towed home after he tore up the transmission. He certainly wasn't worth all the grief I encountered over that "just a car" Ford. My husband is good at some things, but good at driving cars he ain't! Now my son is a natural born driver. I'll probably let him drive, but he'll have to pay for any tickets he gets. His girlfriend's daughter is almost 16 and is already BEGGING ME to let her drive when Flo gets here. Hmmmmm, brownie points for my son if I do? Naw....... I don't think so. Just color me been there.

 

It was a joke... Where's the laughter?

Wait ... Found it ... Right Here ------>

 

Sorry... but it's still just a car.. A mass produced, machine built, machine made of metal, glass and plastic.. Your taking this post out of context. The original post was about letting others drive your mini. To that I say again... It's just a car. Why not let others try and enjoy it... Sure it's a fun car, nimble, etc... but it's not something that needs to be put on the endangered list..

 

The MCS or MC is not JUST a Car... If I wanted "JUST" a car, I would have bought something much cheaper, fuel efficient, and a bit more pratical. (not that the MINI isn't pratical)

My MINI is not JUST a car. The Toyota Yaris, is just a car, the MINI is a reborn classic in the making. Its a work of art bridged accross several countries. Its a means of transportation that invokes smiles on little kids and big kids alike. Its an automobile that gives you that exhilerating feeling when pressing the gas as the speed holds you in your seat as you yell, holy moses, this thing goes like mad

If its just a car, then I guess a Bugati Veyron is just a car, along with Lambo's and Lotus's.

This just a car, has limited seating capacity, the driver dictates who drives. I laugh at people when they ask, can I drive? My answer...
When you make a car payment, then you can drive.

This is not to say my family or my wife will ever come below my MINI. Common sense should tell you that my family will always mean more to me than the car. The car is like my pet. In this case, a really expensive toy pet.

 

Wow.. you must be real popular with your friends.. they sure will have some fond memories of you... but hey... what's that compared to owning and be the only one driving your mass produced mini car..

 

My kids get upset at the fact that I go out of town on business trips fairly regularly. Yesterday my daughter asked me when my next business trip was. Expecting her to be upset , I told her that I was leaving next week--but only for a few days. She didn't say anything for a few moments, then said:

"Well then, can I drive your MINI while you're gone?"

They grow up so quickly.

 

They can drive it anytime they want. You want to drive it? For the right money you can own it too!

 

I get my Mini in the coming weeks. Sure Hubby can drive it after I go to bed....10pm-5am. I feel like those are reasonable hours. ha ha...

And I will be letting ONE other person test drive it...a friend...who has such a love for Mini's but isn't in a place to own one...so nice friend that I am....LOL...I feel like a vampire by giving him the first taste of blood, or Mini rather... .

MU WA HA HA So Evil!

 

Your friend will remember you long after they have forgotton about your mini....
nice move... Congrats on the new mini

 

You should read post #55

Second, if they were my friends, they know not to ask. Time to take that European High Road again....

 

One time my MINI was in the driveway of my friends house and his mom wanted to move it. So i said I would move it, and she said No, she wanted to move it... she took off with it, haha

 

Hah, when we went away for a weekend leaving the MINI at home, I found that our son was back in CA (he is at school in AZ) at the same time, so I took the keys for the MINI and the MR2 with me.

My wife noticed and asked why I had all four sets of keys in my bag - I explained that I did not trust our son to NOT drive the cars when we where away and he was potentially going to be there. Obviously we had a bit of a 'conversation' about that. I even explained that I would borrow my fathers MG's even going to the trouble of disconnecting the speedo so he would not notice the miles when I was his age.

When we got back, my wife noticed that the place that she keeps her spare keys had been 'disturbed' as well as a couple of other drawers that would potentially hold keys had been checked.

She called our son and he explained that he was looking for a spare house key for his friend in case they got seperated when they went out that night......

Eventually she realized that this was BS as there are two spare sets of keys on the counter and a third set on our sons desk.......

She bought a small safe for the keys now in case we are away for a weekend and he decides to 'borrow' her BMW when he is 'home alone'.

I am not sure what happened to trust ????

 

My friends dont like me do to the car i have or my willingness to let them drive it. Although i would let some friends drive it if they asked, provided i was in the car. But...they just dont ask. Nor do i ask to drive their car. They do ask to go for a ride, but they never ask to drive it. I'll take people for rides, all day long.

I will most certainly let my g/f drive my MINI. She understands what the car means to me and how protective i am of it. She is also a safe driver and good at driving a manual. So i have no worries when she takes the keys.

But...some people become very attached to their cars and protective. As if it was their very own child. And most responsible parents wont let just anyone watch(drive) their baby. They have to be trusting of the person. I dont let people i dont know very well drive my car. (Like a friend of a friend) and i would only let a select few of my actual friends drive my car. Im not going to let my one friend who drives like an @$$ and has had 5 wrecks in the last 4 years drive my car. My friends would also understand why i would say "No" if i indeed did say it. They would not get pissed and stop being my friend over it either. They have known me for many many years, and they know how i am about my cars. If your friends get bent because you wont let them drive your car, thats not much of a friend...

But since you think of your MINI, as "just a car" im sure you have no problem with people driving it. With that mentality, i dont think one can understand the passion we other owners have for our cars who think it is NOT "just a car". Yes it is a car, but to some people it means alot more then a means of transportation from point A to B.

 

We have let our daughter drive it so that she can learn to drive a manual, I think that is a must that she learn, however she will not be allowed to drive it alone. Other than than, just the hubby and I drive it.

 

New clutch: $600

New tranny: $1800

The love of a mother for her daughter: Priceless

 

There you go, what can I say . She does very well though, the mini wasn't her first clutch either, the old F150 was , and once she learned that then we let her drive the mini.

 

LOL YOU know it is! Bring the Z06, that ought to rock.

 

Ohhhhhhhhh, hold the phones ! I was giving you too much credit !!

First the ol' Ford Truck and then, and only then, the MINI !


Kidding, of course. I give you lots of parenting points for this one.

 

Well of course the ol ford first , I may be dumb but I'm not stupid

 

I'm not playn with Mickey...he's got the sense of humour of a hand granade