Thanks, there is an interesting trend, isn't there?
The new Cooper brings back fond memories of my first 850cc MINI.
That was a partial restoration for 2 years, using the time waiting to be old enough to drive legally.

 

1977 MGB
1988 Lemans
1982 VW Rabbit diesel
1981 VW Rabbit Cabriolet
1995 Geo Tracker
2000 SC1
2001 SC2
2002 Golf
2002 Cooper
2002 Accent
2003 Beetle
2005 PT cruiser convertible
2006 Cooper
2006 Cooper cabriolet
2012 Cooper S Roadster
2013 Cooper S Countryman all4
2014 Cooper S Countryman all4

 

1997 Taurus SHO
2003 Beetle Turbo S
2004 GTO
2008 Cobalt SS/TC
1992 300E
2003 Jetta TDI
1995 M3
2012 Golf TDI
2011 Golf GTI
2009 135i
2002 Suburban Z71

Just purchased 2008 MCS to go along with the Suburban. Love it so far!

 

I stared driving in 05...
1996 Toyota T-100 (bought 05, sold 09)
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII (bought 06, sold 07), this was an ultimate sleeper car. Had a 4.6L dual overhead cam V8, spanked countless kids in my high school who thought their 240sx's and Civic's were fast.
1995 Acura Integra LS (bought 07, sold 08), just a commuter car for school after I graduated HS.
1974 VW Bug (bought 07, still own) Purchased this for $200 and built it into a Class 5 Baja Bug
2006 Ford F-250 Diesel (bought 08, still own) this is my baby. Tons of mods and I will never be selling this truck.
1964 Ford Ranchero (received 09, still own) inherited this from my grandfather when he passed away. It is now restored with a pretty fast 302.
2008 MINI Cooper S (bought 13, still own) bought this to save miles and money on my truck.

 

Audi A2 1.4

 

drove a 2004 GMC Sierra had my mini for a week and havnt stopped by the gas station yet.

 

The Motoring Gods have been kind to me over the past 15 years:

'11 Nissan Patrol (current DD)
'12 BMW 135 vert MN6 w/JB Stage II
'09 G8 GXP MN6
'04 XJR
'06 300C SRT8
'06 997S MN6
'04 Boxster S MN6
'04 Elise MN6
'04 GTO MN6
'03 Maser Coupe CC
'01 MB 500S w/level II armor (overseas assignment)
'99 996 MN6
'97 C5 MN6 w/stroker engine

and two wheeled rides:
'14 KTM 1190 Adventure
'13 Husqvarna Terra
'08 Husaberg FE450
'08 HD FLHTCU
'08 KTM 990
'04 BMW K12RS
'06 Suzuki DRZ400
'02 Aprilia Futura
'99 Victory V92C
'04 KTM 950 Adventure

Fingers are crossed for the next 15 years!

 

1991 Ford Escort (abused by me as a teen)
1989 Chevy Cavelier (inherited from my dad. Huge whole in the trans killed it.)
1998 Honda Civic (pride and joy. Totalled by a rogue plow truck during a blizzard)
2000 Honda Civic (built by me from the ground up from a shell)

Now my 07 R56S. Soon to buy a mid to late 90's 240sx to build a fun weekend car :-)

 

My wife drove a Yukon Denali XL...went from one of the biggest cars to one of the smallest cars! B

 

That's funny. When I brought mine into the dealer for service, Enterprise gave me a Suburban. I thought that was funny too. I must have put gas in that thing 6 times, trying to give it back empty.

 

1997 Saturn SC1 Auto. (T-boned by van. Totaled)
2003 Oldsmobile Alero GTS. (Flipped off Highway by current Fiancée{She was ok}. Totaled)
1998 Saturn SC2 5spd. (Traded for a MINI)
2003 MINI Cooper S 6spd. (Traded for another MINI)
2007 MINI Cooper S 6spd. (Currently Owned)

 

I loved Saturns until GM pulled them into the fold and screwed it up with internal GM politics. I learned to four-wheel drift in a '97 SC2 stick shift. After I put in lowering springs and new struts it was transformed from a bundle of fun to a hooligan's car. Just ***** of fun. It was an economy car in all the right ways and in many ways set the stage for me eventually becoming a MINI enthusiast.

 

I had a 2006 Saturn Ion Redline pushing around 300 hp that got t-boned. I loved that car. That led me to my Mini which I really love.

 

I loved both of my Saturns. I'd buy another SC2 if it wasn't beat to hell. It's exactly what lead me to my 2 MINIs. Since GM changed them all I couldn't stick around any longer. But in a way I'm glad. It brought me here!

 

2005 bmw x3

 

2011 Subaru WRX

 

Most recently a 1997 Jeep Wrangler I fixed up.

But before that:

1997 Volvo 850 Wagon
1993 Ford Aspire
1974 Alfa Romeo Spider
1996 Geo Tracker Hdtp
1989 Ford Probe
1989 Honda Civic
1987 Suzuki Samurai
1990 Acura Integra
1988 Suzuki Samurai
1989 Acura Integra
1986 VW Jetta GLX
1991 Honda Civic
1989 Ford Festiva
1980 Ford Mustang
1986 Ford Escort

Also had a 1973 Porsche 914 project I never finished and ended up giving to my brother when I moved out west.

 

Traded in a Cadillac CTS V

Cool cars ( no need to mention the countless family movers)

Had:
1966 dodge dart gt conv.
1970 BMW 2002 (scca it)
1968 vw
Many Chrysler conquests and Mitsubishi stations

Have:
1961 MGA MKII roadster
1973 dodge dart sport 340 factory rollback sunroof (54,000 miles)
1987 conquest TSI (440/520rwhp/tq,MPI, precision sc63 bigshaft 32psi Etc etc)
2006 jeep wrangler
Aprilia RSVR Factory
Ducati 900ss ( 944, FCRs, etc)

 

I sold my 29000 mile 04 CTSV shortly after buying my Mini. Loved the car but oddly enjoyed the Mini more.

 

I see nothing odd about that!

 

'68 Datsun 2000 Roadster
'73 Datsun 240Z
'72 BMW 2002
'80 Ford Fiesta
'84 Rabbit GTI
'86 Honda Prelude SI
'91 Nissan Sentra SE-R
'92 VW Corrado VR6
'02 Dodge Stratus R/T
'05 Chrysler Crossfire LTD
'07 MINI S (current)

The MINI S has the best qualities of the BMW 2002 and Corrado all rolled into one car.

 

I thought I liked it... But after several years of owning the v and giving lingenfelter stacks of cash it was never what I thought it should be. It was my first and last GM product.

I've always wanted a mini cooper and now I have a car that makes me smile a big toothy grin every time I drive it. Nearly as much fun as a motorcycle and that's a huge thing for me to say.

How do they make 180 crank hp so much fun? Magic ninja stuff that's how.

 

I always wanted one too and in 2010 I found a silver one with 10000 miles on it. It was truly a beautiful car and after a bunch of tweaks felt as good as one could ever feel, but it had some characteristics that really bugged me. I picked up a non-S for commuting and discovered that with a Sprint booster it became incredible fun. The fact for me that 118 hp could be entertaining come from that same mystery box of Ninja that you speak of. I come from the bigger engine the better world and I really find it crazy that this little car keeps me overjoyed while driving it. The other v8 monsters stay in the garage and come out from time to time.

 

I too was really surprised with how fun these cars can be with such little power. I find my Mini more fun than my old 330whp WRX. I also have a 2010 silver Cooper!

 

5 VW Classic Bugs 1961,1963, 1964, and two 1967 models
1970 Oldsmobile 442
1974 Ford F150
1974 Datsun 260Z
1971 Datsun 240Z
1974 Porsche 914 with 916GT Body Kit and Turbocharged Engine and 911 brakes
1987 Porsche 911 with 930 Body Kit and twin turbos
Peugoet Diesel
2 Volvos both Diesels
1 Saab
Toyota Supra Twin Turbo
Ford Escort (ex-wifes car)
Toyota Celica turbocharged
1994 Honda Civic Hatchback
1989 Nissan Hardbody Truck
BMW 320i
Toyota Corrola S (just gave to my daughter when I bought my Mini)
Toyota FJ80 Land-Cruiser (Currently own it- my off-road toy!)
1993 GMC 1500 with LS2 and 6L80 transmission and vet rear end (Currently Own)
1994 Honda Passport
1998 Suzuki Sidekick
Ford Thunderbird
Dodge Crew Cab 3500 Cummins Diesel

Honda Nighthawk
Honda Interceptor