So I have had my Roadster now for about 7 weeks, and its finally been warm enough here in Massachusetts to have the top down most all the time now. And it's funny - since having the top down regularly, I have had three other drivers roll down their windows at stop lights over past two weeks and say how much they like the car. I've never had that happen before with another car. Anyone else experience that with their Roadster?

 

Yes, me too and I've only had that Hellen with my old 33 Ford back in the. 90's.

 

It's interesting too - two of the guys who were most excited were driving big pickups - not normally the target customer for a Roadster!

 

I've been getting some interesting responses: truly, at first, many do not recognize the car as a Mini Cooper... It doesn't look like a traditional Mini... A few called it a James Bond car, two have asked if it were a Chrysler ????? What up with that ? This car is the *****.... I am doing things that I haven't done since high school, a million years ago... Like riding around for no reason , music blasting , etc. It's like being poolside on a chaise lounge, beautiful day, only I'm driving it!!!!
A Happy JoNack.

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Me too, but I never grew up. My other car is a true hotrod.
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I had a lady who was crazy about it. I had just parallel parked and was sticking my meter tag in the window when she was like "O MAH GAWD!" and was pretty jazzed up. I've had a bunch of other occasions, one guy staring at the car as he walked the crosswalk and tripping on the curb because he hadn't looked away yet.

 

I was only getting an occasional comment here and there with my last MINI, an '11 R56 MCS SO/W.

Now with the R59, the experience is similar to what it felt like a decade ago, when the 1st Gen MINI was still a novelty. Heads constantly turn, gawk, and smile in approval (even ricer-/truck-driving teenagers). Constant shout-outs of "nice car!" from the adjacent sidewalk. Strangers at the gas station coming over from three islands away to ask questions about it. Convenience store and fast food restaurant clerks saying, "Is that your car? I love it!" If it's parked somewhere, almost every passing pedestrian feels the need to stop and take a closer look.

At a lunch stop during a club drive this past Saturday, a sweet and somewhat frail 90 years-young lady came up to me and was so infatuated with my Roadster that I let her get in and sit in the driver's seat. Her son must have snapped a dozen pics of her behind the wheel with her big grin. It made both of our days.

 

Gil...

Yesterday , supermarket parking lot, an elderly lady pushing her carriage, stopped, looking at the roadster said: " I like that .... What will it be when it grows up"?

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Gary, that's really a neat story. I get a lit of "neat car". I like your car" ect. Kinda nice.

 

My theory (for why some people mistake MINIs for Chryslers) is that both MINI and Chrysler have winged emblems.

 

Yes.... Good observation!!!

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Another great encounter with someone outside a store today in Worcester...

I get into my car and put the top down. An affable fiftysomething man comes up to the car and says: "Can I ask you a question? Do you have an absolute ball driving that thing? Man, I've seen a lot of cool cars, but when I saw yours, I just had to stop and say something...that thing is BA. Just BA. That's the car I want when I grow up!"

 

People ask about my car all the time..

But this one takes the cake.....

A few weeks ago I was headed to work at around 6:30am.

Here I am driving around 30mph down this back road with the top down and a lady in a Late Model Ragtop bug coming the other direction waves me down in the middle of the road.....

She had all kinds of questions about my car. Where I got it, who sold it to me, etc.......

Couldn't believe it..

Now that's one tough lady. I don't think I would have waved anyone down like that.......

Andy

 

The first couple of times it happened I was so blown away. Families in SUV's waving and giving me thumbs up. The 7-11 guy asking about it. I stopped into a gas station to get gas and it was 45 minutes before I left as they asked and I showed the engine and the boot. It is strange, but sure is fun.... funny no one did that when I bought my CRV.