R50/53 Daily driver or toy?
OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,262
Likes: 72
From: Mililani, Hawaii
I lead two lives in my MINI.
By day I am a mild mannered civil driving law abiding MINI commuter.
But on weekends, I don my helmet and I turn into the "Blue Monster" on the track or at autocross.
So Daily (commuter and weekend) toy.
By day I am a mild mannered civil driving law abiding MINI commuter.
But on weekends, I don my helmet and I turn into the "Blue Monster" on the track or at autocross.
So Daily (commuter and weekend) toy.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,506
Likes: 1
From: Covington, Louisiana
West Coast MINIs?
Wow, this response is much more than I anticipated. Thanks, everybody. I would like to hear more from our west coast MINIs, though. So far, it seems to be heavily weighted toward daily driver, though some weren't planned that way.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 1
Either my 03 MC is a toy or I hardly ever go anywhere....9,000 miles in three years.
It's a really neat toy however.
At the rate I'm putting on the miles it should outlast me with ease....I have a lot more miles on me.
It's a really neat toy however.
At the rate I'm putting on the miles it should outlast me with ease....I have a lot more miles on me.
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
I got my mcs September 22 2006, and have driven it daily since. I bought the little guy to replace my Toyota pickup which has about 148k miles on it. I still have the truck, but I have semi-retired it, and will most likely only drive it to haul stuff around. After all, a MINI doesn't haul large items well hehe.
I will be modding the MINI quite a bit, as the cash comes in. I'm not sure how far that will progress engine/suspension wise, as I want to keep the fuel mileage reasonable. I do see at least a pully, CAI, exhaust, and possibly a few more go-fast bits. I will also be modding the body, and interior a bit as well.
Scott
I will be modding the MINI quite a bit, as the cash comes in. I'm not sure how far that will progress engine/suspension wise, as I want to keep the fuel mileage reasonable. I do see at least a pully, CAI, exhaust, and possibly a few more go-fast bits. I will also be modding the body, and interior a bit as well.
Scott
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,293
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Save the Armadillos, restore that 914.
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,404
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, CA
Mine is a daily driver, my SO's is a toy.
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: Sunnyvale CA
Yeah, I was thinking about keeping it but I hate to spend money on something that I won't be driving much. With two kids my weekends are shot. 
It runs great for a 30 year old car so I am torn.
It runs great for a 30 year old car so I am torn.
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
Daily driver. Also for longer on-pavement road trips (the cabin is up a bad gravel forest road, hence the Jeep for that trip).
The very tossable characteristics are leaning me toward getting back into autocrossing, though, even though it doesn't have the driving wheels at the "correct" end of the car.
The very tossable characteristics are leaning me toward getting back into autocrossing, though, even though it doesn't have the driving wheels at the "correct" end of the car.
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Daily toy! I got it new in early June and motored mile 10000 this morning. A lot of commute miles, lots of around town driving, a few road trips and 1 autocross so far. Driving the MINI is fun every time!
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: SoCal.
daily driver that gives me a big smile any time i get behind the wheel (toys do the same for kids right?). me and the wife battle over who gets to take the MINI for the day...and I miss it when she gets it. I get stuck with the big truck and Durango when I am not so lucky...just no fun.
I am scheming on a way of getting my own MINI soon.
DW
I am scheming on a way of getting my own MINI soon.
DW
Last edited by Yona_Usti; Oct 17, 2006 at 01:39 PM. Reason: spelling error
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 596
Likes: 0
From: Central Ohio
Most of the year our Mini Cooper is a daily driver for my wife and a toy for me. During the warmer months I daily drive the Miata for the commute to work but autocross the Mini Cooper on weekends. During the colder months, my wife and I both drive the Mini to work every day (I work nights, she works days). I guess for the most part, the Mini is our "beater".
-Keith
-Keith
7th Gear Gal
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 36,087
Likes: 3
From: Weeblegabber West (aka WLA)
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: South Bend
Daily driver here. I couldn't stand to walk by my "MINIme" every morning and get into another vehicle. First car was a since able 89 Toyota Camry, drove it into the ground. Traded in my second Toyta Camry '01 (my old man sedan) for a more fun car - FINALLY this past June i got my MINI!!!!
100% Toy
However I also don't drive anything else. It was planned that way. However I have managed to leave give it more than a week off during the past year (usually works out where one day a week I don't drive at all), 43100 and 14 months 8 days since I got the keys.
However I also don't drive anything else. It was planned that way. However I have managed to leave give it more than a week off during the past year (usually works out where one day a week I don't drive at all), 43100 and 14 months 8 days since I got the keys.
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 970
Likes: 1
From: Metro Washington D. C.
Why...
John DaCrema
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,099
Likes: 0
From: Just around the corner from the Dragon :~)
I am curious how many NAM members drive their MINI every day, or at least as primary transportation, and how many use it as a special car (whether it be hobby, show car, race car, or just funmobile) and drive something else as primary transportation. 
This info is not very apparent from the posts. It will be interesting, I think, to see if & how this relates to the extent the car is modded.
This info is not very apparent from the posts. It will be interesting, I think, to see if & how this relates to the extent the car is modded.Should roll over 114,000 on the way home tonight
Mod's = Alta CAI, ET 15% pulley, 22mm RSB, strut brace, hot coil, Alta I/C boots, 05 struts and springs (mine's an 02), Invidia exhaust and a bunch of interior comfort ones
It's a Tank I tell you, a tank
4th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Holyoke, MA
Wife's daily driver. 8000 miles since April. My "toy" when allowed. 2nd car is company Explorer so use that when hauling is necessary. This past weekend she needed to use Explorer and I had planned to go to Phila to see my kids...what a shame, I had to take the MINI.