I have only seen women, and men with alternative life styles driving them in Los Angeles.

How do these things handle?

Michael

 

Much better than your expensive Porsche!!!!

 

In Hawaii (good weather!) the MCS cabrio is very very popular (too bad we don't get many allotted). Manual or automatic transmission are both drivable and perform well.

Handling is good for street use, if you really want track performance then the hardtop is better (rigid).

The MCS cabrio does have the option for a limited slip differential with the 6 speed transmission and you can also add the JCW kit for more power/smoothness. Stick with the 16" stock wells to keep the weight down. Very nice indeed.

 

Since you're still in the single-digit post count, let me first welcome you to the NAM community!

To answer your question: No.

Allow me to expand a little. While a lot of women like them and the car does have a certain cuteness about it, the MINI supercedes stereotypes for a number of reasons, but let me try to shake them down to a couple:

1. Most folks I know who have bought MINIs are independent thinkers. They themselves tend to supercede stereotypes - and won't let other people "peg" them by the car they drive. If someone has a preconceived notion that is applied generally to all people who drive a MINI, it is their problem that they have to deal with - we don't really care.

2. The MINI simultaneously embraces great styling, great performance, and exceptional value. This gives it the flexibility to be ANYONE's car, not just a "chick" car. You might say that it is a "well rounded" car!!! (Pun wholly intended! )

Bottom line, IMHO, if YOU think it is a "chick" car and can't see beyond that, then don't bother. You won't be able to be happy with it. OTOH, if you like it - it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Really.

I know you weren't looking for a psychological ear-beating, but I truly believe that is the correct answer. :smile:

Hope it helps.

 

Is the Porshe "vert" A chick car? How do the things handle?

 

BTW, I'm a happily married hetero - if it makes any difference.

 

I love Porsches and have owed a few Carreras as well as the Boxster S that I most recently sold. The 87 Carrera was (in my opinion) a racecar de-tuned for the street and was an excellent handling treat. The Boxster was also very quick and loads of fun to drive.

I must admit that the Mini is every bit as fun to drive and handling is par with the Boxster. Power to weight ratio is almost the same and with a few thousand invested in aftermarket stuff the Mini would Blow the Porsche away.

So…for the price of a Porsche, I could drive a Mini with $30K in the bank…. or purchase that Ducati 999r that I am lusting over….and have two fun toys in the garage.

 

A girl car? I don't really think so. Any car that performs and handles this good just could be for girls alone. My wife and I both love the car. Mine is not a rag top but any who... Besides the Minis have been around since 1959 in the UK and has been a staple since then for all ages and sexes...

 

See http://www.gbmini.net/sales.shtml from here I see 6400 S convt sold.

How can you answer this objectively as NO? Where is the emperical data on demographics? I would imagine you know some ppl, there are maybe 500 or so active posters on several MINI forums. Of that, how many are in the pool of 6400?

Without knowing the real demographics, wouldnt it be better to caveat subjective opinions?

or maybe not.

 

You're making the assumption that the definition of a chick car is that greater than X% of owners are female, but that's just stupid. How exactly do you propose to answer the question objectively, when you still have to decide what X is before something is a chick car? That's as much of an assumption as Mini2Go made.

I think the only critique of Mini2Go's response would be that he even acknowledged such a thing as a chick car. This has been discussed ad nauseum on here plenty of times before, but my opinion remains that the idea of a "chick car" is just stupid, and the meatheads who care about such things probably shouldn't buy a MINI -- they'll always be worried about the "more manly" guy in the pickup or "real sports car" next to them thinking they have a small ***** (which they likely do).

-mike

 

First, I could care less how they label any car.
Second, I have no idea "how" a car gets label

My point is that without some kind of statistics to back up a statement as a cold fact is meaningless. Its just someone's personal opinion. Thats all. Subjective opinions are fine ... and everyone in entitled to them ... but don't tout them as fact.

 

We have just finished what is undoubtedly one of the fastest MINIs in the world, and it is an S convertible. It is a male owner as well.

What is important is what the car will do, not who drives it!

 

The MINI Cabrio is not a "chick car." I think it looks great on males and females.


We've had this discussion about the MINI in general COUNTLESS times. Search the threads and then just substitute the word "Cabrio" for MINI.

 

Did you bother to read the remainder of the post? Apparently not. There was significant explanation of my answer. Furthermore, my answer is predicated on the fact that demographics don't provide the real answer - the real answer has nothing to do with other people at all. Nowhere did I claim it to be "objective." However, lifting one little quote seems to make it appear that way.

How can you suggest that an objective answer lies in demographics? Even if demographics show (which I don't know that they would) that there is a preponderance of female buyers - it still doesn't necessarily mean that it is a "chick" car. It may simply mean that a lot of couples purchasing the car are having it titled in the wife's name. Or that men don't purchase convertibles as much as women. You make a large logical jump.

I applaud your general effort in trying to maintain sensible, intelligent discussion. I would like to do the same.

 

Very good point. It does seem to contradict my own rationale. :smile:

 

Have you ever heard that old phrase: "Show me an opinion and I'll find you an "expert" with statistics to support it." ? I've seen it enough to believe it.

 

Its all personal opinion on this topic anyway There is no dictionary defintion of a "chick" car, so you can say yes/no and everyone is entitled to their opinion.

To me, I'll say yes. With the number of women who told me "wow your car is so cute!!" and the stereotype (mine!) that women likes convertibles more than men, I think the Mini Convertible is a very "Cute car that women will love!" (on the other hand, does that mean a Mini Wagon will also be a chick's car? its also cute and lovable by women)

Its ok, I don't care if my car is cute or not, I just love the way it handles.

Everyone have their own opinion, go ahead, shoot me down!

 

I don't think anyone here is stupid enough to believe that because Mini2Go answered "No" to the question, that this is somehow fact. Would it have made you happier if he'd said "My opinion is no"? I, in my exceeding wit, made the assumption that this was implied.

-mike

 

OF course I read your answer. Don't be condescending.

The saving grace was the last sentence in that you "believe"it to be true. The first sentence DID come across as a definitive answer.

"Most" of the rest of your answer is the "stock" MINI answer... of the car being so great.

As I Said ... demographics would help to put some objectivity into a subjective issue. I really dont care how a car is labeled. The mere fact that some people believe there are "chick" cars makes it a REALITY because "their perceptions are their reality" If you don't agree ... you dont have to ... that is your reality.

Chick Car? Not a Chick Car? What a person believes is THEIR reality whether the rest of us likes it or not

Perhaps if your first sentence hadn't come across as so definitive ... , then I probably wouldnt have jumped on it ... it was nothing personal but more a reaction to seeing so many opinions thrown around here as being "fact". Every believes whatever "they" own or have is the "best" ... which is, of course, their reality.

 

'bout as much a chick car as an old 911 Porsche.

 

I guess that answers my most recent question above. So nitpicky!

-mike

 

I trust that it does to your spouse

 

nah, first impressions are lasting impressions

The lead to the story sells the story. ....

 

This pretty much sums up the perspective I always go back to. The people I've met most worried about the issue in question know nothing about Minis in general...no sense of heritage at all. They don't get its cult status, its technical innovations, its popularity with the masses, and its quirky prowess at the track. It's all new information. So if the question arises, I just launch into the information and they're pretty much left speechless. Same thing happens if somebody says they don't like MINIs. Like them or not, anybody who knows cars at all has got to at least "respect" Minis...they unarguably hold a unique and noble place in automotive history. I am very proud to be an owner.

So, as relates it to the cabrio, the only real question one is left with is if an owner love top-down motoring or not.

 

Looking around my area I'd say the closest thing to a chick car is a Ford Expedition with the Chevy Tahoe as a close second.