I took a road trip to a friend's house today 100 miles from my home. They live in the middle of NOWHERE (otherwise known as "B.F.E.&quot. Before I left for my trip I thought about the fact that, where I was driving to, the people there would likelynever have laid eyes on a MINI, so I was prepared for extra gawks and questions. People in my town are mostly used to seeing MINIs around, so the stares are fewer and fewer.

On my way home, I decided to stop at one of those podunk, Mom and Pop gas/snacks/beer/cigarette stores. You know the type: they also sell skull cigarette lighters and small bottles of ginseng/speed for the road. Anyhoo, people were staring as I parked and got out of the MINI. We're talking, mouths open, no blinking, blank stares. I picked out my drink, got in line, and then the questions started coming. Is that a SAAB? Is that an Austin?? How old is that thing (can you believe people think they are just well-preserved antiques??). I start answering, and while I'm talking, a guy drives up in a brand new Lexus, picks out his items and gets in line. He is NOT impressed by the MINI and looks very bored.

I had just wrapped up my MINI speech when the Lexus guy says, "I'd rather have MY ride than that thing."

The cashier asks, "What do YOU drive?"

I've got that fine 2003 Lexus (I forget the model number) parked right out front." Everyone craned around to look.

I'd paid for my drink and was just walking out the door when I said, "WOW! Me too! Then I could sell it and buy TWO MINIs!!" Everybody died laughing and the guy's face turned red.

For once in my life I had the comeback line IN THE ACTUAL MOMENT IT WAS NEEDED.

See what the MINI can do for confidence!! LOL!



Needler

 

OUCH, that had to hurt him. That was harsh...GREAT JOB. That is the best MINI story I have ever heard.

 

that is great!! what kind of lexus was it (suv, sedan...etc)... i cant believe that jerk said he would rather have it then the MINI, wat a stuck up guy!!! that is a great line though!!

were the people more interested in the mini or the lexus?

 

That is absolutely great! I wish I could have seen his face! I still can't understand why some people feel the need to put down things that others enjoy. Insecurity? Jealous? Trying to hard? Great story and I'm so glad you thought of that one before you were on the road! Good job!



Craig

 

what kind of lexus was it (suv, sedan...etc)... i cant believe that jerk said he would rather have it then the MINI, wat a stuck up guy!!! that is a great line though!!
>>
>>were the people more interested in the mini or the lexus?

It was that smaller Lexus sedan that's fairly sporty (for a Lexus). I can't remember the model. Yeah, and the guy was wearing sunglasses (inside, and on a cloud day.
:smile:

Needler

 

Was it the IS 300?

http://photos.ebizautos.com/299/2047...0&cvt=jpeg
http://photos.ebizautos.com/299/2047...0&cvt=jpeg
http://photos.ebizautos.com/299/2047...0&cvt=jpeg
http://photos.ebizautos.com/299/2047...0&cvt=jpeg
http://photos.ebizautos.com/299/2047...0&cvt=jpeg
http://photos.ebizautos.com/299/2047...0&cvt=jpeg
_________________
July 2, 2002, Picked up my chilly red "S". Let's Motor

 

grrrr.. i hate stuck up people. and i hate lexus' i think they're the worst designed cars out there. id rather drive a kia than a lexus. :evil:

 

Of course he'd rather have it... he's driving it and could have bought a MINI. The Lexus IS300 is a pretty sweet, rear wheel drive sports sedan, if that's what the guy was driving. Too bad he was such a snob. To tell you the truth, BMW owners (real BMW not MINI) are usually just as stuck up as Lexus owners. My only gripe with the IS300 is that with the plastic chrome rear lights it looks more like a $20,000 customized ricer than a $35,000 sports sedan. Plus, I'd love to see it try keep up with an MCS, or even MC on a track or road with lots of corners.

 

>>grrrr.. i hate stuck up people. and i hate lexus' i think they're the worst designed cars out there. id rather drive a kia than a lexus. :evil:

Holy schnappers. A Kia over a Lexus? Really? Wow. Now that's some disgruntledness right there. To go all the way down to a Kia.
I don't see them as that bad. Wouldn't be my first choice.
But in all, good memory and story there.
Power to the MINI peoples
Cheers,

 

i know the feeling!
i was just at the gas station and was asked,
"how do you like that ugly little car",
i replied " how do you like your ugly little wife"
the last word really is priceless!

 

" how do you like your ugly little wife"


OUCH! Now that might have been a little to mean, but it was still good.

 

>>My only gripe with the IS300 is that with the plastic chrome rear lights it looks more like a $20,000 customized ricer than a $35,000 sports sedan.

thats is my gripe with most lexus'

 

Great story. Hope you don't mind if I tuck that line away for future reference.

 

Good comeback

Kia over a Lexus - What are you thinking?

 

>>Was it the IS 300?
>>
>>http://photos.ebizautos.com/299/2047...0&cvt=jpeg
>>http://photos.ebizautos.com/299/2047...0&cvt=jpeg
>>http://photos.ebizautos.com/299/2047...0&cvt=jpeg
>>http://photos.ebizautos.com/299/2047...0&cvt=jpeg
>>http://photos.ebizautos.com/299/2047...0&cvt=jpeg
>>http://photos.ebizautos.com/299/2047...0&cvt=jpeg
>>_________________
>>July 2, 2002, Picked up my chilly red "S". Let's Motor
>>

It was the 300, and of the pics you included, it was the first one.

And, the people in the store were WAY more interested in the MINI.









Needler

 

>>i know the feeling!
>>i was just at the gas station and was asked,
>>"how do you like that ugly little car",
>>i replied " how do you like your ugly little wife"
>>the last word really is priceless!

Needler

 

I traded in my IS 300 for my Mini Cooper S. The IS 300 is an excellent car, yet I feel that it got waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay (enough a's?) too ricey.

The final straw was when this UPS truck parked next to me, and asked me how much I paid for my taillights. I had to explain to him that they were stock, and it was actually all those other manufacturers who were ripping off the Altezza/IS 300 taillights.

Anywho, what that guy said was plain rude. You shoulda told him to s.t.f.u. and slapped him upside the head for saying something so idiotic

 

"WOW! Me too! Then I could sell it and buy TWO MINIs!!"

Hey - I did that also. Almost anyway. I bought a Lexus GS400 brand new in 1998, and am getting rid of it now for my new MINI. It has been a great car, and 300hp does come in handy at times. But as y'all know, people who like to drive really like to drive MINI's, and once I test drove a MCS, I knew the next day that the Lexus's days were numbered. So long, its been fun, but the next time I drop 50 grand on a car, it'll be for 2 MINI's.

Phil

 

>>i know the feeling!
>>i was just at the gas station and was asked,
>>"how do you like that ugly little car",
>>i replied " how do you like your ugly little wife"
>>the last word really is priceless!

Beautiful. Well done.
I don't think it was too rude too say that back to him. Good show 'nfo'.
If he didn't like it, well then he shouldn't have opened his pompous arrogant pig-mouth.
Can't take it, then don't dish it out, ya know?
Cheers,

 

With every person I've spoken to in regards to the look of the mini, the most popular wordS for it is:

AAAAH...HOW ADORABLE!

I can't see how it could be anything but the cutest, most smile inducing car ever made. You can be having the worst day and one look at your baby MINI, and all is forgotten.

 

I find it amusing that Needler couldn't remember what kind of lexux it was. When people see a MINI, they remember it.

Here's to memorable cars!

Go Mini!

Andy

 

lol and if you sell the mini you can buy like 20 of my cars. but id rather have a MINI

 

Wow Barb, good thing I wasn't present. I DO NOT put up with people like that. They are only doing it for attention, so I say, give them the attention they crave and see if they like it then. (...now where's that evil smiley face again...)

A likely return from me in the same situation would have been,

"I'm sorry you're jealous. Perhaps a ***** enlargement would help?"

or

"Well if it wasn't for the fact that you apparently need a ***** endorsement on your license to drive it, I might have looked at it when I was shopping for my Cooper."

R

 

Needler,
Great story! I love it!

and.. Re:

>> How old is that thing (can you believe people think they are just well-preserved antiques??). I start answering, and while I'm talking, a guy drives up in a brand new Lexus, picks out his items and gets in line. He is NOT impressed by the MINI and looks very bored.
>>

The week after I picked up my MINI, my partner and I were up in Bantam CT, and some nice ladies stopped and asked us loads of questions about the car, then as they were leaving, one of them said "Its in very good condition" ! My partner and I looked at each other puzzled, and I thought, well I hope so, its only a week old! They thought it was an old MINI. Shortly after that, we were back on the road heading toward Litchfield CT, where we coincidently stumbled on an "Antique British Car Show" They must have thought we were there for the car show!

thanks for your story!! Its a keeper!

Matt

 

Davbret......
ROFL!
that's my type of response!
we should start a mini owners that take no sh*t club!