Why did you spend your money on a MINI Cooper?

After reading around, I think the reasoning falls in to the following groups. If there are more groups, please add to the list. All opinions are welcome:

1. The car is CUTE! (and I can dress it up)
2. Good gas mileage, good car for driving around town
3. My hobby is hot rodding and its a good car to modify.
4. I'd rather be a race car driver than a (you fill in the blank) so the next best thing is to pretend I'm Mario Andretti on track days in a car I can modify.
5. Its a fun car to drive ... Period.
6. I like fixing all the little things that go wrong (e.g., broken windshields, brake pads that wear out so quickly) ... its my hobby to visit repair shops
7. The whine of the SC, the roar of the exhaust, the Wind in you hair... what more can a "person" want in life?
8. Because I've always wanted one of those British Imports but not the problems associated with maintaining traditional British sports cars.

I can say we bought because of #1. The spouse gets what she wanted and I got to admit, the car is cute.

 

Unique - Not the typical looking suppository shaped generic japanese car.
Fun to drive - go-kart like handling
customized - lots of factory ordering options
easily tweaked for more power..

 

Perfect description. I couldn't have said it better.

Steve

 

I bought a MINI so that I could be not like the 6 out of 7 neighbors on my street that ALL have Camrys.

My wife told me to buy a camry but I came home with a MINI.

Plus I want a car that drives like an M3 and costs half it's price.

 

I kind of think these two are the same as my #1. The car is cute and I can dress it up

 

I'll choose #5.


And, it makes me smile.

 

I was into classic Minis. From there it was a no-brainer. The safety features and AC alone were a big part of what dragged me over from classics. I have several friends who own/restore classics and they, too, drive MINIs for their daily commute.

Why Minis at all? I've got a lifelong fascination with "less is more" values which Minis, in some way, personify (depending on how you interpret the whole thing, of course). Now, modern MINIs are far from simple machines, but they are small in size, use space and engineering to great effect, and offer absolutely immense motoring value considering their cost. That puts them right on the mark for me. They may not be the most fuel efficient around (although my Cooper ain't bad) but MINIs definitely reek of values which account for a lot of what makes me tick personally.

 

#1 and #5 for me. And i agree, the MCS does not look cheap at all...
at least mine doesn't. no cheap parts on my car or some faux
2pc wheels.

 

I get more comments on how "sexy" my car is... and yes today at burgerking... there was a carwash.. I said I will give you a dollar to not touch my car.. they agreed. after that 2 of the girls 17-18ish said, and i am quoting for you people!!!! "that car makes me horny"

I was like ok.. moving on... damn girls these days!

So I bought my Mini because...
I wanted it... no other reason...
just so happened, it is all the things others have listed

-Josh

 

Love the original mini, but after 3 british vehicles could bear to jump into the same. Lucas electrics, Oil leaks etc. So when I heard about a modern interpretation with german supervision I was hooked.



Paul

 

I'm a Brit.....how stupid the Union Jack would have looked on the roof of my Volvo !!

British nostalgia & German engineering

This was a "no brainer" for me

Max

 

I wanted non-removable Permagrin and got it.

 

In the 9 years I've been driving I've owned three Jettas (87', 00', 03') and one Integra...I test drove a MINI in its first production year, however it was too expensive at that point for me...One month ago, we found ourselves at Crevier and test drove an MC and a MCc. I got the same feeling driving the car as I did in years previous...smaller than my previous cars, but still able to pack up and roadtrip, great gas mileage which counts here in SoCal, definitely a unique look, customization ability, and my first reason to buy a manual transmission and really feel like im driving! One week later I picked up my MC from LB MINI.

 

Sounds like 1, 2 AND 5!

 

I'm going with JDS answer! It says exactly why I bought mine!

 

1, 2, 5 and the engineering thing. Though, I must say, I have only test drives under my belt so far. And what fun drives they were!

 

I had a '68 Spitfire that really got to me back in the day. Same thing w/ my MINI. Good stuff.

 

I'm there with ya, John. Lived through a TR-3, a TR-4 and a Big Healey (100-6). New MINIs came out and I loved the idea of a British car that could be driven for more than 50 miles without a tune-up or repair . . .

O/T When are you going to come down to Mansfield for custard on a Tuesday night? You need to get fat with us . . .

 

Used the excuse of buying myself a car for my 60th birthday. Wanted something unique and fun to drive with about $20,000 as my spending limit. Tried to like a car that didn't require a 3.5 hour drive to the dealer........couldn't do it so I bought a CR/W MC from Roadshow.

Very glad I did.

 

I have always liked the way the MINI's have looked and handled. From the old MINI's to the new style, this little machine Rocks

 

I say #1, although sometimes I cringe at the "C" word.

I like the MINI style and image and it's a rarity where I am. I didn't consider any other small cars, or cars period. My 2nd choice was a Hummer H3, 3rd wait for the Toyota FJ Cruiser. But it's not just about looks now...after owning, I realize the MINI's beauty is more than skin deep

 

No need to cringe. The car IS cute. Its dam cute. It aint exactly "muscular". Nothing wrong with being cute

 

the minis got the least thumbs down in my book, honestly, i almost put down a deposit on a 04 miata before i saw the mini...

compared to the 4 other cars i drove (miata, WRX wagon, Celica GTS, Gti VR6), it handled 2nd best (behind miata obiviously), it accelerated very nicely (behind WRX), and great on gas..

finally, my final decision came up to my all round use... in the end, i want a car i can use for the winter (miata out), not be the target of cops every light (WRX, Celica), and want very good handling without a big engine in the front (Golf out)

there

 

I'd love to, UJ...been busy, though. If I get free I'll be there!! btw, red bonnet stripes??? Do I detect a makeover?

 

1(though I would not describe it as simply "cute", but "inspired", "intelligent", and "unique"), 2, 5, and 7 (though 5 and 7 I think are directly linked for me)...are the reasons I WILL buy a MINI. I also like community of people who choose to participate it in. It reminds me of a giant classic car club, like Tri-Chevy.