Hi guys,

I need your help...please? Here's my situation. I am head over heels in love with the mini. I've spent hours researching it (especially on this site), have test driven it and I am now ruined for all other cars. (I considered the Honda CRV, but the "car talk" guys said it was the "minivan of SUVs" and that makes me feel a little queasy. Plus it's not even close to the mini in coolness factor!) So what's the problem? Well, aside from being a Libra, and therefore inclined to indecision, I keep hearing the logical little voice in my head telling me it's not safe enough.

Here are the facts:
- I drive 20 miles to work and home every day, on a relatively major highway in Kansas (I-70).
- I am 29 years old and have been driving a (way too sensible) Honda Accord for the past three years (it was my first and only car. So while I have driving experience, it's only 3 years worth.)
- I'm getting married in May...we don't plan on starting a family right away, but maybe in the next 3-4 years. I can't imagine wedging a car seat into the mini.
- However, my fiancee has a Jeep Grand Cherokee, so we could in essence use that for heavy travel or shuttling kids around if we have them.

So, with these factors in mind...do you think I could make a Mini work? My MAJOR concern is about not being "seen" on the highway with all the other monstrous SUV's around. BUT...I don't want an SUV (evil!) and I can't live with yet another boring sedan.

Sorry for ranting. PLEASE HELP!

 

MINI's just dodge around this slow clumsy SUV's dont worry.

Just get a nice bright color and hope they don't run into you by staring at you.

 

how can you resist the mini?

GET THE MINI
GET THE MINI
GET THE MINI

then your kid think your the cool dad with te cool car, and mommy drives a cherokee

its a WIN WIN situation!

 

Hey Lucky, no need to fret. The car may be small, but trust me...it's not missed by anyone you pass. Young or old they ALL rubber neck this car.

As for safety, the front, side and curtain airbags are more than sufficient for me!! It has a 4 star NTSA rating, and that's nothing to scoff at!

R

 

Get the MINI and remember - What's behind you doesn't matter.

 

even though u will be getting married, mini will get u chicks in case you get divorced


*ok ok, lame attempt at trying to get him to get the mini*

 

If you want to actually look forward to your 20 mile commute each day, buy the MINI. It makes even the most routine of driving experiences fun!! If it becomes impractical in a few years, sell it. You're bound to get one of the best resale values for this little automotive wonder.

 

Keep the Honda for work and get the MINI for fun.

 

You DO realize you've posed this question to a group of self-proclaimed MINI enthusiats?

 

Get the MINI... You wont be sorry!! Its a great commuter, can dance around those SUVs and it is so unboring!! I cant get enough of mine! I love it so much! And since you're fiance has the Jeep, the kid problem is solved! I think it makes perfect sense for you to go ahead and get it!! And, I have heard of people putting carseats in the MINI without much of a problem. It seems to me that kids love MINIs as well! and besides, like you said, "but maybe in the next 3-4 years" thats a lot of motoring right there! so.. like red03miniS said

GET THE MINI
GET THE MINI
GET THE MINI

:smile:

 

>>GET THE MINI
>>GET THE MINI
>>GET THE MINI
>>


amen my brother

 

Go for it....great commuter car...you'll not regret. :smile:

 

Hey, I'm with Sirron on this one...keep the Honda, dump the Jeep, and get the MINI! Unless you regularly haul around big stuff like lumber or you live in a heavy snow area, you don't need the Cherokee. Plus, given your concerns about safety, both the MINI and the Honda are safer than the Jeep.

Kids fit in the MINI's backseat. Besides, if you have kids in "3 or 4 years" who knows what you'll be driving by then?

Your concern about getting rear-ended in the MINI is perhaps valid...until we outlaw both SUVs and stupidity...which I'm sure won't happen too soon. But do the brakelight mod and that'll perhaps put your mind at ease. Anyway, if you do get hit, the MINI appears (from reports on this site) to be pretty safe in rear-end collisions.

 

The MINI is very, very safe, as mentioned earlier. I wouldn't be concerned about that at all. The car performs exceedingly well in both European and US crash tests...it was designed for that. To me, for the $$$s, why not have some motoring fun...AND a good commuter car...AND some practicality! (...the seats do fold down, after all!) MINIs are a steal when you think of what you're really getting for the bucks. MTalk about maximum BANG! We Americans really need to rediscover fun driving...we've been lulled to sleep! ops: ops: ops: ops:

 

Thanks for your advice! But actually, I'd be the cool MOM with the Mini. ;o)

 

>>Thanks for your advice! But actually, I'd be the cool MOM with the Mini. ;o)


well then u can be my mom any time

 

>>Thanks for your advice! But actually, I'd be the cool MOM with the Mini. ;o)

Even better. We need more 3Ms (MINI MOTORING MOMS) on the road.

GET THE MINI
U WILL LUV IT
GET THE MINI
U WILL LUV IT
GET THE MINI

Can we help you decide on options?? What color combo did you have in mind?

 

>>Hi guys,
>>
>>
>>->>
>>Sorry for ranting. PLEASE HELP!

>>>DO IT!!! we just got married 6 mo. ago, drive lots, and my husband has a Volvo wagon!!!! we got a great finance rate from MINI, they will match any other offer you get!! we have daytime running lites and the MINI horn sounds like a Caddy!! we are in love with this car!! well worth the wait (2 months total) and have never driven anything so FUN!!

_________________

 

In the beginning, I had the same safety concern. I was very worried about feeling vulnerable in such a small car. After test-driving and now owning one, I have to say that the car doesn't feel small at all. It feels as big as a Civic or Corolla and everyone sees you, trust me. It's one of the safest small cars EVER built. I have twice the likelihood of dying from injuries in my Dodge Dakota (mid-sized truck) than I do in the MINI. And the handling will get you out of any "tight" situations.

You'll never fall in love with any other car like this again. If you end up with a Civic or Corolla, you'll be wishing you had a MINI every time you see one.

Good luck.

Needler

 

Get the mini. It's worth it. :smile: And don't worry about it being small. People notice it. And with folding the rear seats down, you can carry a remarkable amount when needed - so its even practical. :smile:

-jerrod

 

You guys are very convincing (of course, that's why I asked you in the first place!)
In terms of color, etc...I plan on getting a chili red/white bonnet stripes/Xenons,
tartan red interior, etc.

Sound good?

 

You sure won't go unnoticed down the freeway with that color scheme!

How about a roof flag for it?

 

Nah...no roof flag. To be honest, there's really no country's flag that I'd want to put on my Mini at the moment. Not to get political or anything...

 

good choice

here is my mini .....see you already love it

 

Yeah - safety wise I never had any concerns. Puppy's built like a tank. My mother's comment, on the other hand, was "Do you really want to bit by a Navigator in that?" My response was "Do you really want me hit by a navigator in my Sportage?" Between that and me showing her the safety specs, it clammed her up pretty quick