That is one of the most annoying responses I got when I told my friends i was buying an R56. I have heard it all from relatives, freinds and co-workers that I am quite fed up!

Some of the comments I have heard:
"It's just a little tin can"
"That's a clown car"
"Somthing that small CAN'T be safe"
"It's too samll to drive on the highway"
"What happens if you get hit by <insert oversized, gas guzzler name heer>"
"Why didn;t you buy a REAL man's car?"

I take delivery tommorow morning. It arrived at Cincinnati MINI yesterday and I have already been there twice to look it over. This is the longest 24 hours I have had since I waited for my daughter to be born. I am so looking forward to showing this to the originators of those comments so they can have the same reaction my wife did when we test drove it and they can eat there words.

My wife never understood my four year obsession with buying a MINI until she drove it. Her reaction was classic. With a wide-eyed look on her faces she said "This is really cool". I was able to option it out with more than I had hoped for because she like it so much.

By the way, after a few weeks of toying with the idea, we ordered a Clubman for her two weeks ago to replace her Ford SportTrac.

Vengence is a dish best served cold.

 

Yeah, I know! People talk without thinking. I was traumatized by a serious accident (I was a passenger in a car that turned in front of another car) a year ago. My boss knew what I went through. When I told him that I had bought a MINI, what does he say?

"Don't get squashed."

Lovely.

I actually feel safer in my MINI than in our other cars.

 

I got "What did you go out and buy that rat box for??"from a coworker. Then he proceeded to tell me that I should have bought something American. I just laughed at him.

Good Luck with the delivery tomorrow!! Congrats!!

 

Just tell them that you drive from the back seat as you had to take the front seat out so that you'd have enough room!

 

I feel your pain. One of my friends can't get over the fact that the Mini isn't macho enough, or is a "chick" car. What a stupid reason for someone, who has never sat/drove in it, to not like a car.

 

Luckily, negative and offensive comments are limited to "cute car" in nyc, but when I mention to my friends in Texas where I grew up what I'm driving, forget about it.

 

Yeppers - we've heard those comments too over the years... Some people just don't "get it".

I can't wait to see the reaction of your friends when you have 2 MINIs...whootttt!!!

Donna

 

They are all haters!
1) Who cares what they think of YOUR car!
2) While they are all getting 9-16 mpg's in their "suburbanite SUV's" basque in the glory that you are smaller-faster-and getting better gas mileage!
3) You will be driving one of the best-selling and popular cars since the Volkswagen Bug was introduced
4) Has their car gotten awards from JD Power and associates every year since it's re-introduction for Best Resale value?
5) Do they belong to one of the most friendly car owners groups in North America.

Motor-On, and congratulations on becoming a new owner, now just be a proud owner!

 

That's so awesome that you're going to have two MINIs! Congratulations!! They really are jealous.

 

Actually, it isn't a chick car, it is a clown car!

After your 1,200 mile break-in period is done, take your "chick car" friends for a spirited drive. This usually shuts them up, and can create enthusiastic converts.

 

Yeah, some guy told me I drive a chick car once. This was right after I went around him since he couldn't make the turn in his Escalade. I laughed hysterically and asked: "So how does it feel to have your a$$ handed to you by chick's car then?" He tried to follow me so he can try to continue the argument... right up until the next bend in the road..

 

This is very very easy to solve here in SoCal. My technique is to not respond but then ask them out to lunch a few days later, without mentioning who's driving. Then, at the last minute, call them and tell them that I'm running a bit late, so I'll pick you up.

Once they're in the car, the fun starts, keep it normal and low in the revs and pootle along whilst they comment on how small it is, yet how nice and how much visibility it has but how they wouldn't want to get in a wreck etc.

Then I'll open it up just as I hit the apex on the freeway on ramp, this usually makes them squeak a bit - and then I hit the canyon roads, where within a mile or so, they're calling me all names under the sun.

My favourite retort? "Well, I had to make you cry like a girl, after all, this is a chicks car....right?".

 

Isn't an Escalade a "soccer mom's" car? Was he a soccer mom?

 

Not sure. He was acting like a little bitc...sh!

 

Chick car,hairdressers car,clown car,alternative lifestyle car....yada yada yada...I've heard them all over the last 5 years.People can and will say what the want about MINI's.

 

I think I found the graphic for my rear window.

 

Got my Mini last week and so far the reaction has been uniformly positive. In fact, it's been other men who seem the most interested in it and want to talk about how it handles, the gas mileage, when can they take it for a spin, etc. Women have told me it's "nice" but that's about it. Go figure.

 

Women tell me that all the time. AND they like my Mini.

 

 

Most women I know commented on it being cute, in a favorable way. A male CHP, who stopped me the one night, made a rather positive comment on it. No, he didn't give me a ticket.

 

+1

Hit the sport button (assuming you have an S) and let 'er rip around some really tight turns. They'll never call it a chick car again.

 

Someone told me I bought a [gender-preference-slur] car. I told them "Well, then I'll be the happiest [slur] you know!"

There's a MINI owner here in the PacNW who has a license plate frame that says: "You just got smoked by a clown car".

What an ***.

I was surprised by the heft of the MINI's doors. They are not light. I always have to put my hand out to buffer the close when passengers want to slam the door shut.

Yes, OxyBlue, nice graphic. I've harvested it. Hope you don't mind.

Congrats Callahan00! You're gonna love it.

 

Refer to these people as "Obliviots".

 

Yeah I tend to hear that(gender preference slur) much more in Charlotte with the local natives in their pickups with the smoke stacks!!

 

I get "Dude, Thats a clown car"

So I look at theirs and go "Dude, whats you MPG?"

and walk away.