R56 What Did You Drive Before Your R56?

I'm only 18 so my list isn't nearly as long as some of you...
1996 Chevrolet Blazer LT 4x4 - spun a main bearing but still have it with no engine.
2004 Ford Focus 5MT - sold because I hated it
1997 Subaru Impreza OBS 5MT (pictured) - bought Oct. 1, 2011. Sold April 25, 2013. Bought back Jan. 19, 2014.
1982 Chevrolet Corvette C3 (pictured) - recently bought and sits right next to the Subie and MINI.
2001 Audi TT Cope Quattro
I had an 2001 Audi TT Coupe Quattro! 225hp+
Bought with 17,000 miles for $17,000...
Sold for $5,000 with 186,000 miles
Aviator Grey with every mod you could do without going big turbo...
Fantastic ride..!!
Bought with 17,000 miles for $17,000...
Sold for $5,000 with 186,000 miles
Aviator Grey with every mod you could do without going big turbo...
Fantastic ride..!!
Then, Uncle Jim just died a few weeks ago, so he's driving the old Rav4
Before my MINI, I found many excuses to drive it to work!
I traded in a 2008 Porsche Cayman for 2011 Cooper S. While I miss the Porsche, the MCS is fun to drive and I don't have to worry so much about where I park. Once I settle a few things, though, the plans are to pick up a 911 as well.
In the past I've had:
2006 Mustang GT
1996 Honda Civic EX with B18 swap
2006 Mazda 3
1998 VW Cabrio
1985 VW Jetta
1992 VW GTI w/ G60 swap
2001 Jetta GLS 1.8T
1997 Jeep Wrangler
1992 Honda Accord EX
1988 Ford Taurus
All cars were modded and all were manual transmissions, except the Taurus in both cases. That was my beater at 16 that I learned to drive in.
In the past I've had:
2006 Mustang GT
1996 Honda Civic EX with B18 swap
2006 Mazda 3
1998 VW Cabrio
1985 VW Jetta
1992 VW GTI w/ G60 swap
2001 Jetta GLS 1.8T
1997 Jeep Wrangler
1992 Honda Accord EX
1988 Ford Taurus
All cars were modded and all were manual transmissions, except the Taurus in both cases. That was my beater at 16 that I learned to drive in.
My FR-S was a 6 manual. I'm a little embarrassed to admit why but at 79 years of age I found my handling of a manual was no longer intuitive as it had been all my life. It was requiring more thought and effort to the extent it took the edge off the enjoyment I was getting in return. I figured it was finally time to go to an automatic which I did with my Justa Hardtop. The handling of the FR-S was really great but in turn the MINI hasn't left me wanting anything more.
My FR-S was a 6 manual. I'm a little embarrassed to admit why but at 79 years of age I found my handling of a manual was no longer intuitive as it had been all my life. It was requiring more thought and effort to the extent it took the edge off the enjoyment I was getting in return. I figured it was finally time to go to an automatic which I did with my Justa Hardtop. The handling of the FR-S was really great but in turn the MINI hasn't left me wanting anything more.
Dumped a 97 Ford Taurus w 70k (yes 70,000 for a 17 year old car) when I got my 2012 Mini 2 weeks ago (7700 miles, prior owner upgraded to an all4 Countryman). The Taurus belonged to my father-in-law, he gave it to me last year (with 50k miles) when my 99 Subaru Outback (200k miles) self destructed (typical water pump/head gasket failure more $ to fix than the car was really worth) - the day AFTER getting my wife a new VW Beetle.
Other cars still owned
1991 Mercury Grand Marquis - about 105k miles - I am NOT getting rid of this ever, way too comfortable as a turnpike cruiser, but way too much of a gas sucking pig to run for a daily commute.
2000 Subaru Outback - 190k miles - mostly driven by my son
Other cars loved and gone
2000 Subaru Forester - trans went all wonky at 170k miles, not worth fixing
1995 VW Jetta - gave it to a college student via Freecycle @ 250k miles about 3 years ago. I still see it running about town.
1988 VW Golf - purchased when I got my first 'real' job. Sold at 170k to a co-worker, in order to buy the Jetta
1985 Ford Escort - first 'new' car - was a dealer demo, dumped after 70k miles. Car was a piece of cr*p, and never ran quite right.
between 1979 & 1985 - a series of vehicles listed as "$100 - runs" from the classifieds. Most were 65-75 GM products, but there was a Chrysler and a Dodge or two in there.
Other cars still owned
1991 Mercury Grand Marquis - about 105k miles - I am NOT getting rid of this ever, way too comfortable as a turnpike cruiser, but way too much of a gas sucking pig to run for a daily commute.
2000 Subaru Outback - 190k miles - mostly driven by my son
Other cars loved and gone
2000 Subaru Forester - trans went all wonky at 170k miles, not worth fixing
1995 VW Jetta - gave it to a college student via Freecycle @ 250k miles about 3 years ago. I still see it running about town.
1988 VW Golf - purchased when I got my first 'real' job. Sold at 170k to a co-worker, in order to buy the Jetta
1985 Ford Escort - first 'new' car - was a dealer demo, dumped after 70k miles. Car was a piece of cr*p, and never ran quite right.
between 1979 & 1985 - a series of vehicles listed as "$100 - runs" from the classifieds. Most were 65-75 GM products, but there was a Chrysler and a Dodge or two in there.
Dumped a 97 Ford Taurus w 70k (yes 70,000 for a 17 year old car) when I got my 2012 Mini 2 weeks ago (7700 miles, prior owner upgraded to an all4 Countryman). The Taurus belonged to my father-in-law, he gave it to me last year (with 50k miles) when my 99 Subaru Outback (200k miles) self destructed (typical water pump/head gasket failure more $ to fix than the car was really worth) - the day AFTER getting my wife a new VW Beetle.
Other cars still owned
1991 Mercury Grand Marquis - about 105k miles - I am NOT getting rid of this ever, way too comfortable as a turnpike cruiser, but way too much of a gas sucking pig to run for a daily commute.
2000 Subaru Outback - 190k miles - mostly driven by my son
Other cars loved and gone
2000 Subaru Forester - trans went all wonky at 170k miles, not worth fixing
1995 VW Jetta - gave it to a college student via Freecycle @ 250k miles about 3 years ago. I still see it running about town.
1988 VW Golf - purchased when I got my first 'real' job. Sold at 170k to a co-worker, in order to buy the Jetta
1985 Ford Escort - first 'new' car - was a dealer demo, dumped after 70k miles. Car was a piece of cr*p, and never ran quite right.
between 1979 & 1985 - a series of vehicles listed as "$100 - runs" from the classifieds. Most were 65-75 GM products, but there was a Chrysler and a Dodge or two in there.
Other cars still owned
1991 Mercury Grand Marquis - about 105k miles - I am NOT getting rid of this ever, way too comfortable as a turnpike cruiser, but way too much of a gas sucking pig to run for a daily commute.
2000 Subaru Outback - 190k miles - mostly driven by my son
Other cars loved and gone
2000 Subaru Forester - trans went all wonky at 170k miles, not worth fixing
1995 VW Jetta - gave it to a college student via Freecycle @ 250k miles about 3 years ago. I still see it running about town.
1988 VW Golf - purchased when I got my first 'real' job. Sold at 170k to a co-worker, in order to buy the Jetta
1985 Ford Escort - first 'new' car - was a dealer demo, dumped after 70k miles. Car was a piece of cr*p, and never ran quite right.
between 1979 & 1985 - a series of vehicles listed as "$100 - runs" from the classifieds. Most were 65-75 GM products, but there was a Chrysler and a Dodge or two in there.
I've had a handful of cars but the car I traded in for my 2013 hardtop S was a fiat 500 Amarth. Fun little car but the negative equity and a lot of small irritations led me back to a MINI. I traded it in with 5800 miles on it. What I've owned in order:
1991 Ford Explorer
1990 Jeep Wrangler
1974 Super Beetle
1997 Ford Escort
2006 MINI Cooper S
2013 Fiat 500 Abarth
2013 MINI Hardtop S
1991 Ford Explorer
1990 Jeep Wrangler
1974 Super Beetle
1997 Ford Escort
2006 MINI Cooper S
2013 Fiat 500 Abarth
2013 MINI Hardtop S
guess ill play
2003 Chevy cavalier (Body kitted and slammed) SOLD
2005 nissan sentra Spec V (GT30 turbo modded to hell) SOLD
2003 Lancer evolution ( 380whp mustang dyno
) TOTALED THEFT
2005 Jeep grand cherokee SOLD
2007 trailblazer SS SOLD
2006 Liberty renegade CURRENT DAILY
2010 Mini Cooper S WEEKEND TOY
Bikes
1999 Suzuki katana
2008 Honda 600rr (Death due to high side on track)
2008 suzuki gsxr 600
2003 Chevy cavalier (Body kitted and slammed) SOLD
2005 nissan sentra Spec V (GT30 turbo modded to hell) SOLD
2003 Lancer evolution ( 380whp mustang dyno
) TOTALED THEFT2005 Jeep grand cherokee SOLD
2007 trailblazer SS SOLD
2006 Liberty renegade CURRENT DAILY
2010 Mini Cooper S WEEKEND TOY
Bikes
1999 Suzuki katana
2008 Honda 600rr (Death due to high side on track)
2008 suzuki gsxr 600
List Prior to my Mini S.
72' Beetle
79' Rabbit (mint)
81' Fox (pos)
83' Jetta
85' GLX Passat VR6 (awesome fun)
87' Audi 5000
88' Audi 5000
90' Ford Ranger (big mistake)
93' Ford Focus ZX3 Duratec
96' Honda Element (practical)
01' Audi TT Quattro just Sold 186,000 miles
09' Mini S
I wished I still had the Rabbit, was mint...! TT Awesome fun as well
79' Rabbit (mint)
81' Fox (pos)
83' Jetta
85' GLX Passat VR6 (awesome fun)
87' Audi 5000
88' Audi 5000
90' Ford Ranger (big mistake)
93' Ford Focus ZX3 Duratec
96' Honda Element (practical)
01' Audi TT Quattro just Sold 186,000 miles
09' Mini S
I wished I still had the Rabbit, was mint...! TT Awesome fun as well
72' Beetle
79' Rabbit (mint)
81' Fox (pos)
83' Jetta
85' GLX Passat VR6 (awesome fun)
87' Audi 5000
88' Audi 5000
90' Ford Ranger (big mistake)
93' Ford Focus ZX3 Duratec
96' Honda Element (practical)
01' Audi TT Quattro just Sold 186,000 miles
09' Mini S
I wished I still had the Rabbit, was mint...! TT Awesome fun as well
79' Rabbit (mint)
81' Fox (pos)
83' Jetta
85' GLX Passat VR6 (awesome fun)
87' Audi 5000
88' Audi 5000
90' Ford Ranger (big mistake)
93' Ford Focus ZX3 Duratec
96' Honda Element (practical)
01' Audi TT Quattro just Sold 186,000 miles
09' Mini S
I wished I still had the Rabbit, was mint...! TT Awesome fun as well
List prior to Mini 6 Speed
A relative was a Ford dealer so...
'73 Ford Torino Sport (my brother's car - massive car, 351-2 barrel V8)
'77 Mustang II (Automatic 302-2 barrel V8)
'80 Mustang (200 cid straight six, 4 speed manual, horrible car)
'88 Mustang GT (5.0 efi, 5 speed manual, drove for 25 years)
'73 Ford Torino Sport (my brother's car - massive car, 351-2 barrel V8)
'77 Mustang II (Automatic 302-2 barrel V8)
'80 Mustang (200 cid straight six, 4 speed manual, horrible car)
'88 Mustang GT (5.0 efi, 5 speed manual, drove for 25 years)






