who here owns a MINI as the only car/daily driver? i'd like to hear from you guys on day to day practicality, etc. thanks!

 

well, technically not, because my wife and I have TWO MINIs.

Seriously, though, they are perfect daily drivers. We have a six year old and a two year old, and in the last year we've driven to Florida twice and to the Carolinas once, plus my trip to the Dragon.

With both kids in the car, you DO learn to pack 'what you really need', but we got by just fine even over 10 days at Christmastime in Florida.

Without the kids in the car, fold the seats down and the MINI will haul stuff a lot of cars can't fit in their trunk.

I see no reason not to think the MINI is a perfectly reasonable daily driver.

 

I think there was a recent thread about this in the General Mini talk.

I am a motivational speaker and I live in a van down by the river!

so the mini isn't my only transportation.

 

Don't you mean a "VAAAAAANN down by the RIIIIIIIIVER?"

 

Yep!

In all seriousness, I do have a 15 passenger van. Great for hauling stuff.

 

Two Minis and a motorcycle; practical is as practical does, my Momma always used'ta say...

 

Si.

 

Living in NYC, only have our mini cooper. Expecting another kid and don't plan on up-sizing to a mini...van. May have to get a roof rack/box for family trips, though. Another mod!

Easy enough to park on the street that I don't need to pay garage space, saving me $400/mo. My bumpers get sacrificed, though. After the first few dings, I stopped caring.

 

Its my only car in Southern California. 11,000 miles & I still smile when I'm smoking and see the little guy.

 

One out of seven.

 

Yes. I drive with another passenger around 30% of the time, 60% on my own and maybe 10% with a full car. I love how small it is. I told myself that if I can live with a MINI for 3 years, then the next car is a Porsche.

 

My one and only car, great around Boston (but I do garage it because I'm afraid of bumper dings)

 

Mine is my only car and a daily driver. I find it very practical, as long as I don't have a backseat passenger.

 

My wife drives an 06 MCS daily while I drive the minivan...until our 08 MC arrives in April.
Greg

 

A Cooper's our only car. Everything's splendid, except now and again the cargo area seems a small and/or awkward. Solution? Making a cargo board to level the area accessed through the rear hatch when the back seats are lowered.

 

I have a 2007 MCS and my wife has a 2007 MC, so we have 2 MINI's as our only cars.

 

Yes, it is my only car and my daily driver. So far it does fine for a daily driver...only issue is lack of back seat and cargo room...but i knew what i was getting into. I drive by myself or with just one passenger the majority of the time. Ambrosia makes a very good city daily driver.

 

My Mini is my one and only....and it works great for me as a daily driver. I don't have kids...but I do have a lot of friends who want rides. I can do 3 adults (me as the driver and two others) very comfortably. And I've had no trouble with the cargo space - the boot is plenty for most daily stuff like groceries and I can fit lots on stuff in if I put the seats down (even more than I could in my old car that had a "real trunk"). Plus, I have to travel a lot for work and it gets great gas mileage!! I get paid for my mileage but the Mini is so good with the gas that I end up making money when the mileage checks come in...but - shhhhh! Don't tell my boss.

 

When I bought my 07 MC, I had a 99 Honda CR-V that I kept. It has 93,000 miles, still runs like the day I bought it, and useful for hauling around. I could use my mini as a daily driver, it has been extremely reliable, but I probably drive the mini to work twice a week and use it for all my around town stuff on the weekend. The one sore spot with me, and why I"ll never be a two mini family is service. When I do need service I have to drive 90 miles. Until MINI addresses the issue of allowing other BMW dealers to do routine yearly maintenance I'll remain a one mini family. (My wife drives a 04 accord, which I wouldn't mind replacing with a clubman, but alas the service issue is a non-starter for me.)

 

Nope.....upon arrival it will be the 4th vehicle in the stable. I am only getting the sport tires on it, so it will not see a day of driving when the snow falls.

I've got a BIG diesel pick-up, two motorcycles, and upon arrival, the MINI.

 

Lots of folks have only a MINI... there was a thread a couple months ago, IIRC, on the subject.

Us, we have a mid-size SUV also, for all those trips to Home Depot and the local landscaping nurseries. The poor SUV feels like a red-headed stepchild though. It only gets driven about 1,000 miles a year.

 

A 97 Honda CRV and my new 07 MCS. I see driving my MCS more than my CRV. A lot more fun.

 

I drive Ms. Brahms (a 2007 MCS) daily and love every moment of it.... have since November ... was a blast to motor in then and still is a blast to motor in.

 

I've been driving MINIs-only since 1/2003. Brilliant car!!! Actually, with a MINI I approach driving in a whole other way...super fun. Oh, and Coopers rock!!!

 

I switch back and forth between the MCS and a gas-guzzling V8 stationwagon (but uber-cool ).