You so funny...

 

ummm, that was not my intent. it was an honest question. would you care to elaborate?

 

I wouldn't know where to start but you can begin here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...play.php?f=188
I've always based my comparison between my 2002 Jeep Liberty and my 2007 Mini Cooper S. In the 6 years I've owned my Jeep (of all things a Jeep) I've had ZERO issues with it, and in the 6 months I've owned my Mini I've had about 6 issues and counting. Like I said, MY "ah ha" was to quickly live with the issues or get rid of the Mini. Once you say to yourself ok, I guess this is what owning a Mini is all about, you just sit back and enjoy the experience.

 

I have had my MINI for exactly one month, guess such moments probably occur when we first get the MINI.

I was at a stop light and started to close the top because I had to drive through the Tenderloin [a really bad section of town.]

As of that time, did not know how long it takes to lower or raise the top. The light turned green and I had to move forward [drivers on City streets, me included, don't tolerate delays.]

I thought the top could go up at low speeds. Well mine stopped at the half way point to closing, at its uppermost point.

So I had to drive through the Tenderloin, street full of cars at rush hour, with my top looking like a tent.

The curbs had cars parked on every foot of space so I could not immediately pull over. So there I was driving about 5 to 10 MPH looking the fool amongst taxis, tourists, commuters, and on the sidewalk plenty of drug dealers, welfare cheats and car jackers. But I would have crashed or had an accident if I was messing with the top instead of watching my driving. So I simply concentrated on going slow and waiting for a chance to complete the top closure.

About two blocks later I hit a red light and was able to complete the "transaction." In the end it was a "nobody cares" moment, but I felt pretty stupid. I think the powers that be wanted to knock me down a few notches for feeling like I was such a bad *** in my new MINI.

 

This is the car's way of keeping you inside for another quick spin around the block.....don't leave me alone in the garage!

 

Having saved-up for years; having planned, fantasized, and obsessed for months before and after ordering, I took delivery of my MINI feeling self-conscious, even undeserving, of owning this amazing little car.

The AHA moment was when I realized that most people don't care a whit about MINIs. Not everyone was staring at Molly in disbelief, envy, or awe.

Poor devils.

 

I disagree, at least here in the Bay Area.

I have owned some really nice cars. None of them ever got stares like the MINI does.

When I am on the freeway, many people hang back in the the lane to the right or left of me. They are looking at my MINI. Rarely has that happened with my other cars.

When I am driving around the City [San Francisco] just about anyone on street corners or standing on the sidewalk stop what they are doing and stare at the MINI.

Sidenote: Sadly, none of the hot women are looking at me, they covet my MINI.

I did not get the MINI for a boost in my image, but I have never seen so many people, as you might put it, give so many whits as about the MINI.

I'm going to make a little video my MINI tooling around the City. You will see, lots of giving-a-whit going on around here.

Disclaimer: Your experience may differ.

 

Amazing that you get that reaction in SF, a city with a TON of MINIs (most of the ones I see are R53's). You'd think that SF residents would be immune to the power of the MINI by now. (Not that that stops me from staring at them as I see them go by or pass them when they're parked.) Does that mean I'll get more waves?

 

This is my experience as well. A friend of mine laid it out for me a couple weeks back. She wasn't impressed by my MINI at all, from the day I told my friends and family in January to today. She said "99% of people on the road aren't going to care about your car, you think they're looking but they really aren't. As a matter of fact you're probably imagining they're looking at your car because you're so obsessed with it".

Bottom line is that I get the occasional inquisitive look, and I have one or two friends who understand and appreciate MINIs and my enthusiasm. But I get the most positive reactions on the road from other MINI owners.

 

How do your percentages work out? I would say no more than 20% of people give my MINI any attention. Compared with other cars, that's a lot. No one turns to admire a Camry. It's just another car.

I have had a good number of people admire and ask about my MINI. My students said it was a "nice ride," "very cool," etc. At the supermarket yesterday a woman commented what cute cars MINIs are, and the biker she was talking with said MINIs make him want to give them a hug. On the highway it's mostly kids in the back seats of minivans, SUVs, and Buicks who turn and gaze wistfully.

My epiphany wasn't about the MINI. It was about my obsession. Realizing that it was my obsession, and not that of everyone else on the road. I found it hard to believe that anyone could consider the MINI "just a car."

Maybe in your case, the women ARE looking at you, and just using the MINI as an excuse. In my case it has to be the MINI, not the tall, fat, over-60 guy behind the wheel.

 

I really don't care if people look at my MINI or don't. I know that I'll love looking at it! (And driving it more!) I'm getting this car for ME, not to entertain the general public.

 

Yeah, there's a MINI on every block, I have counted on my bike rides.

Near as I can tell, the people staring are 1) tourists; 2) people who want the MINI; and 3) the Marina District type crowd.

Also may be that it's a red cabrio, which has a more unique look to non-MINI types.

In regards to MINI owners staring at other MINIs, when I am on the freeway I get lots of MINIs checking mine out. [The hanging back in the lane next to me routine.] I don't know what they are thinking, could be that they like theirs so much better or they just like looking at the MINI in action, like I do.

 

No, it's the MINI they are looking at.

I don't know percentages, but when I had a friend in the passenger seat she commented "Jeeze... have you noticed how everyone looks at this car."

She said it in kind of a jealous tone after we passed these three girls talking on the sidewalk. Two of them stared at the car passing by.

The girl I was with has been in many of my previously owned nice cars and she has never made a comment like the above.

Lest anyone think I got the MINI as some sort of attention getting device or babe magnet, I was debating getting the MINI or a Prius. Even joined a Prius forum at the time, that's how seriously I was looking into it.

I wanted a car that got excellent gas mileage. I used my City Car Share to drive both the Prius and MINI cab. The MINI was so much more fun, decided to get that.

All the people I know [aka girls] commented that it was a good thing that I did not get the Prius. Some said they could not believe I was serious about considering the Prius.

 

While it may not raise very well while moving, you would be amazed at how fast your convertible top will lower, if you do it while moving (not Too Fast).

 

Just took delivery last Monday. Drove it 450 miles on a jaunt recently, with some city, mostly rural hwy.

AHA moments:

1) Hill Hold!

2) The wiper delay button is on the tip of the stalk. Kept playing with the settings to find nothing worked, figured it was dead. Read the manual, figured it out.

3) BT audio controls actually DO work. My other vehicles with factory BT rarely handle voice command that well.

4) the rear boot canopy easily comes out! Waste of fiber and felt. No need for that puppy.

Other interesting things:

1) the morons who creep up on your tail closer than anything I've ever witnessed - guess they either can't see over the latte cup in the SUV or are too busy doing 6 other things, but scared the $hiz out of me.

2) lighting is good at night, really like the Xenons and the interior dimmed down, works well.

3) rear hatch with seats folded holds a TON of stuff. Was amazed at this.

Wishes:

Locking glove box
Better audio
More seat control