R56 Is MINI your ONLY car?
well, technically not, because my wife and I have TWO MINIs.
Seriously, though, they are perfect daily drivers. We have a six year old and a two year old, and in the last year we've driven to Florida twice and to the Carolinas once, plus my trip to the Dragon.
With both kids in the car, you DO learn to pack 'what you really need', but we got by just fine even over 10 days at Christmastime in Florida.
Without the kids in the car, fold the seats down and the MINI will haul stuff a lot of cars can't fit in their trunk.
I see no reason not to think the MINI is a perfectly reasonable daily driver.
Seriously, though, they are perfect daily drivers. We have a six year old and a two year old, and in the last year we've driven to Florida twice and to the Carolinas once, plus my trip to the Dragon.
With both kids in the car, you DO learn to pack 'what you really need', but we got by just fine even over 10 days at Christmastime in Florida.
Without the kids in the car, fold the seats down and the MINI will haul stuff a lot of cars can't fit in their trunk.
I see no reason not to think the MINI is a perfectly reasonable daily driver.
Auto on Sport Button guy
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 702
Likes: 2
From: Portland, OR
Yep!
In all seriousness, I do have a 15 passenger van. Great for hauling stuff.
In all seriousness, I do have a 15 passenger van. Great for hauling stuff.
Last edited by amazingrando; Feb 20, 2008 at 12:18 PM.
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Living in NYC, only have our mini cooper. Expecting another kid and don't plan on up-sizing to a mini...van. May have to get a roof rack/box for family trips, though. Another mod! 
Easy enough to park on the street that I don't need to pay garage space, saving me $400/mo.
My bumpers get sacrificed, though. After the first few dings, I stopped caring.
Easy enough to park on the street that I don't need to pay garage space, saving me $400/mo.
My bumpers get sacrificed, though. After the first few dings, I stopped caring.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 122
Likes: 1
From: British Columbia, Canada
Yes. I drive with another passenger around 30% of the time, 60% on my own and maybe 10% with a full car. I love how small it is. I told myself that if I can live with a MINI for 3 years, then the next car is a Porsche.
Last edited by CaptainCradicles; Feb 20, 2008 at 12:49 PM.
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
A Cooper's our only car. Everything's splendid, except now and again the cargo area seems a small and/or awkward. Solution? Making a cargo board to level the area accessed through the rear hatch when the back seats are lowered.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: DC Metro Area
Yes, it is my only car and my daily driver. So far it does fine for a daily driver...only issue is lack of back seat and cargo room...but i knew what i was getting into. I drive by myself or with just one passenger the majority of the time. Ambrosia makes a very good city daily driver.
4th Gear
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
From: Huntington, West Virginia
My Mini is my one and only....and it works great for me as a daily driver. I don't have kids...but I do have a lot of friends who want rides. I can do 3 adults (me as the driver and two others) very comfortably. And I've had no trouble with the cargo space - the boot is plenty for most daily stuff like groceries and I can fit lots on stuff in if I put the seats down (even more than I could in my old car that had a "real trunk"). Plus, I have to travel a lot for work and it gets great gas mileage!! I get paid for my mileage but the Mini is so good with the gas that I end up making money when the mileage checks come in...but - shhhhh! Don't tell my boss.
6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 0
When I bought my 07 MC, I had a 99 Honda CR-V that I kept. It has 93,000 miles, still runs like the day I bought it, and useful for hauling around. I could use my mini as a daily driver, it has been extremely reliable, but I probably drive the mini to work twice a week and use it for all my around town stuff on the weekend. The one sore spot with me, and why I"ll never be a two mini family is service. When I do need service I have to drive 90 miles. Until MINI addresses the issue of allowing other BMW dealers to do routine yearly maintenance I'll remain a one mini family. (My wife drives a 04 accord, which I wouldn't mind replacing with a clubman, but alas the service issue is a non-starter for me.)
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 0
From: ....where I stop the car...
Nope.....upon arrival it will be the 4th vehicle in the stable. I am only getting the sport tires on it, so it will not see a day of driving when the snow falls.
I've got a BIG diesel pick-up, two motorcycles, and upon arrival, the MINI.
I've got a BIG diesel pick-up, two motorcycles, and upon arrival, the MINI.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,326
Likes: 6
From: PA
Lots of folks have only a MINI... there was a thread a couple months ago, IIRC, on the subject.
Us, we have a mid-size SUV also, for all those trips to Home Depot and the local landscaping nurseries. The poor SUV feels like a red-headed stepchild though. It only gets driven about 1,000 miles a year.
Us, we have a mid-size SUV also, for all those trips to Home Depot and the local landscaping nurseries. The poor SUV feels like a red-headed stepchild though. It only gets driven about 1,000 miles a year.
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