Hello:

I'm new to this forum. I'm not sure if this question has been asked but I think it's a fun question. What did you drive before purchasing your mini cooper?

I haven't purchased a mini cooper yet. I'm still debating. I currently have an Audi A3. From a functional perspective they are about the same (slight A3 advantage). But, from a fun perspective the cooper has an advantage. I still haven't decided between the mini cooper s or a mini cooper clubman s.

Interesting how the price climbs pretty quickly with these coopers

Thx,

HB VJ

 

I had another "Fun" vehicle - Jeep Wrangler. sold it due to $4 gas and bought a Cooper S.

 

In the 23yrs that I have been married, I started with a chocolate brown 1984 TransAm (no kids yet) then came my twins, and we got a Pontiac 6000 (nice sedan, but boring) then my singleton came and we got our first Chevy Astro, then traded for Astro 2, then traded for Astro 3. Yes...I have been driving Astro vans since 1990. If that doesn't qualify me for a Mini Cooper (Clubbie) I'm not sure what does. That car is everything an Astro van isnt, its the Anti-Astro.

 

I have a 2003 Blazer Xtreme, sold it because it was the most unreliable vehicle ever.

 

I traded in a 330i for a 2003 MC. Just traded in the 03 MC for an 08 MC.

 

I had a 2005 RX-8. Very fun car...terrible gas mileage. Plus, the MCS has much more torque/get up and go from a stop sign than the RX-8. It was an easy decision once gas climbed over $3 a gallon. I sold it to an individual while I was awaiting delivery of my MCS. I got a small amount more than I owed on it and applied that to the MCS (it actually paid for my stripes and window tinting). I haven't regreted the move for one second. Love the MCS and would do it again...only sooner.

 

SL 55

 

1999 Miata
1989 VW Cabriolet
1985 Fiat X1/9
1980 Fiat X1/9
Chrvy Vega

 

Modified 2006 Ford Mustang GT (aka gas hog) I would have kept it for a very long time because it was an absolute thrill to drive everywhere but the skyrocketing fuel costs in the past year started to kill me financially.

 

I was putting to much driving time into the Hubby's new Shelby GT500. He suggested I go head and order me a Mini since I'd been wanting one for a few years.

 

SLK230

 

I think I can beat everyones timeframe.

I had a new Camry Hybrid for two months and traded it in for my S. I am happy with my decision. I only got out of it because it was a hybrid.

 

1986 Ford Mustang LX
1993 Ford Mustang LX
1996 Ford Contour GX
2004 Dodge Neon SXT
2008 MINI Cooper S

Guess which one I'm happiest about owning?

 

2005 911 Carrera S

 

I had a Highlander Hybrid that I had to jump start all the time. It drove like a boat and was super squirrelly in the snow.

 

03 M3

 

2003 Saturn VUE FWD v6.

Great price for a small SUV at the time- in fact it gets mid 20s for MPG as long as you pay attention when you drive. Good in snow, can tow a lot. Heck I'd probably keep it if I didn't have a 2007 Honda Pilot as my other car.

So a Pilot and a mini will be in the garage soon - that should be a nice balance of fun and space! I am suspecting that they pilot will see fewer miles on the road for a while!

 

I owned trucks the 19 years before I bought my MINI. The last one was an F-150 Supercrew. I loved that truck but I love how much easier the MINI is to park and zip around in (not to mention the mileage difference)!

 

Who says you have to give up your pickup just to get a mini? I kept both.

 

I've gone through lots of cars since I've been driving, roughly a new one every couple of years at the most. I had a 2006 MCS bought new in October of '05 alongside an E46 M3. Traded in the M for an A3 for when I thought I'd need more room than the MINI. A year later the opportunity to purchase a new Cayman S came along and one of the other cars had to go. I tried in vain for four months to sell the Audi (A3's are great cars but misunderstood in general) so reluctantly sold the MCS. Recently the Audi's lease was almost up and I stumbled upon a new MCS on the local dealer's lot that I liked so I made the swap back to MINI-land. I have fond memories of my A3, took some really cool trips in it, but it never had the sporting edge of the MINI. I've also come to the conclusion that my MINI will be big enough for 90% of my hauling/driving needs, if I really need something bigger occasionally I can just rent it. I think I've got the best of two worlds now....a fun car that has some utility and great gas mileage in the MINI, and an iconic mid-engined sports car in the Cayman.

 

How's this for a list?
VW Bug, Maverick, Tarus Wagon, Monte Carlo, Chevy Luv, '51 Plymoth, Jeep, Lumina, Saturn, Silverado, Monte Carlo, and MC 03(Cornelius).

Top of the list is MC, Jeep, '51 Plymoth, Silverado ... the rest well were just transportation

 

A stealth, but fast bicycle.

 

In the order they were owned:1974 Triumph TR-6, 1978 Ford Thunderbird Town Landau, 1979 Pontiac Trans-Am, 1981 VW Scirocco S, 1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6, 1989 Mustang GT Convertible, 1996 Lincoln MKVIII, 2005 Cooper S.

Even with the fun of a convertible (TR-6 and Mustang) and the exotic goods looks and performance of an Italian bred steed (Alfa) my MINI has been I would say, the most fun of all! Styling, performance and reliability all rolled in one! The Scirocco would have been a close second followed by the Triumph.

 

Sold a 03 G35 coupe to get a 08 MCS. Going broke driving a Jeep Wrangler, while I wait on the MINI. Should be here by the end of the month.

 

Recently:
1998 VW Jetta
2003 Subaru WRX
2006 Audi A3
2004 Audi allroad (still the family car)