I'm thinking of buying a MINI. Yay? Nay? Thoughts? Any of my tens of people out there have a MINI? Any regrets? Should a grown-ass man be driving such a wee car? I feel like it goes with the current "minimize my impact" wave I'm riding. And, yes, I know that wave is annoyingly au courant. It's hella fun to drive.
PS I'm bringing back "hella."
29 comments:
Yes, yes and yes! Love those. I just bought a Scion xD for the gas mileage, etc., but if I had the funds, a Mini would be my car. Preferably red with white stripes.
I say go for a Smart car! Even smaller but significantly better gas mileage than the Mini. And less expensive.
Maddie, my only reservation is that, as you say, it's pricey for what you get. On the plus side, the resale value is great and they have 3 year/36,000 miles free maintenance. But $25,000+ for such a teensy ride? Really fun to drive, though, like a go-cart, and they can get 37mpg on the highway.
Mel, but I do need SOME space. I can't get skis in a Smart. And the MINI does have a back seat, however vestigial.
PS I LOVE the Scions. So techy and they JUST FEEL YOUNG. I drove the xB and it was fun. Surprisingly, the mileage wasn't that great. How does your xD do, Mads?
Mine averages 26 mpg but is driven half the time in rush-hour traffic.
I've driven a Mini before, though, and they're quite roomy inside to be so small. I was impressed and wanted. Also increases gay visibility which is a necessity for someone like me. If your Kenneth Cole shoes don't say it to the guy cruising you, he'll know for sure once he stalks you to your car.
Get it!
I kinda thought it might be a BENTMOBILE, but I wasn't sure.
Originally I would have though Minis were a trend, but they still warm my heart after, what, four years?
Yeah, it was 2003, I think. The look is kind of classic and they are well-built. Still....
It is pricey for the size. I guess you'd have to look at the long-term benefits of it with the resale value and maintenance.
Did you test-drive a new xB? They have a bigger engine and do not get excellent mileage. My stepfather has an original YELLOW! xB, and it gets fantastic mileage and has more of the cute, boxy look.
I LOVE my little red xD. It's the newest version, they did away with the xA. It gets pretty good mileage, average of 30-32 driving around town. The car I picked just happened to have a kick-ass stereo too with a computer screen and downloadable backgrounds, i-pod connection, etc. Very techy and young. Very zippy car, too. It's pretty compact, has a hatchback (so handy) and the seats fold all the way down.
Didn't you just get an awesome new car? I might be making that up.
In other news, my husband wears Kenneth Cole shoes. Come to think of it, he IS thin and neat. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Maddie, yes, it was the new xB. Your xD sounds great. I'm in the mood for a lil' hatchback. Plus, I think I need a new car just for iPod connectivity. ;-)
Susie, no, this car predates my blog life. It's nice and there's nothing really wrong with it, which only adds to my dilemma. Oh, and apropos of nothing, what magazines does your husband read?
Hm...did you test drive something recently? I swear, I'm losing my mind.
As for my husband...WIRED! He's a major technonerd. It's no accident he and the geekboy have been friends since 1st grade.
Oh yeah! I think I posted about test driving the Infiniti G37 coupe, which is just sex on wheels. I decided it's a ridiculous thing to buy.
WIRED trumps Kenneth Cole. No occasional newsstand copies of DETAILS?
No, I've seen him pick up many a magazine during our many years (closing in on 20) together, but I've never once seen him pick up Details. Or any other men's magazine, for that matter. I guess I'm in the clear?
Stop talking about Susie's husband this way or I WILL DIE. DIE.
Michael, I have two close friends who both drive Minis -- if you have any questions, they'd be happy to offer advice. I love them; like Sam said, they feel so roomy compared to what they look like from the outside.
There's a "DIRTY" in there somewhere. I just can't find it.
Uh, that's what she said.
get a Prius.
OK, fine, I think Susie's husband has passed the litmo test. (See what I did?)
FG, so they love their MINIS? I'm going to look at one on Friday.
CB, I know the Prius gets great mileage and is roomy, but it drives like a toaster. Still, my good friend/second mother might be selling hers, so I have to consider it.
You. A mini. Wouldn't there be some degree of Origami Factor still involved?
Hybrids are only useful for city driving with lots of stop signs, lights and rush hour traffic (low speeds). On the highway and at high speeds, the mpg increase is negligible if noticeable at all. Lots of people who have long commutes are often disappointed. I'm sure you know that, but this is my PSA to those who don't.
Andrew, I know! I thought the same thing. I'm 6'1", so it's not like I'm a giant or anything, but there are cars I can hardly get in. The MINI was fine! I had to adjust the seat back and down, but it was very comfortable. Of course, no one could sit behind me, but I rarely have more than one passenger, so.....
I'll save my newly yoga-limbered bending for you, darling.
Sam, yeah, I'd read that. Right now, MOST of my miles are on the highway.....leaving this place to go ANYWHERE else for something to do.
Yes!
I just had to buy a new car due to my unfortunate near killing...
and regret not getting a mini every day.
you think so? my parents have TWO, and we think they're very zippy.
Of course, compared to the Ford Taurus and Lincoln Landyacht they replaced, a toaster would be zippy!
Two? What is the plural of Prius? Seems like it should be Prius. Two Prius. Priuses?
Anyway, I'm going to Michigan to run a race in a few weeks and I'm going to check it out then. Still in the running.
Our friends Anne and Mike bought one with the fancy doors in the back that are hinged like an ambulance. When they were ordering, the guy said there was a special $800 fee to tack on that would "help them jump to the head of the waiting line for it." Since everyone else was paying the same premium to get in line, they figured they'd all be in the same line anyway, so they said no, waited something like 7 weeks and are finally getting it next weekend. They must be good at delayed pleasure, I suppose.
We've been using "Prii," (pronounced PREE-eye) but that's just because we're pretentious.
I had a MINI for 3 and a half years. great car. lots of fun to drive, very enjoyable. there was so much I lvoed about that car. surprisingly roomy inside (I'm not tall, but am big, and it was fine for me). But after 3.5 years, I got rid of it as my warrantee was expiring. I had so much trouble with it. It was in the shop a lot. Sure, the shop (the BMW dealership, as it is a BMW, essentially), was shit, but still...there was an issue the first weekend I had the car. And in AZ, having the a/c die all the time is unpleasant. (speaking of, the a/c isn't very powerful, one of the drawbacks other than service).
So I loved it, but having it was, at times, a huge pain. People stopped me in parking lots to see it, etc. (I had it until almost 2 years ago), but then friends would ask to ride in it, and get the response, "sorry, it's in the shop. yes, again."
Oops! Not exactly what I wanted to hear a few hours before I close the deal. Hmmm. They did a complete redesign for 2007 and Consumer Reports recommends this one. Maybe you got a bad one? I don't know. A lot of service would be a big pain because the dealer is 75 miles away.
then know this:
1. any problems, if they still exist, will be covered under warantee.
2. more importantly, it's an immensely fun car to drive. many times a week, even after having it 3+ years, while driving, I found myself thinking, "wow, this is a fun car to drive."
3. less so than it used to, it still gets noticed. and if you like that...it can be fun.
congrats on your purchase then. enjoy it.
what color? model? features/packages?
Chips, thanks for all the info!
I haven't signed anything yet. I'm still negotiating on trade, etc. It'll be tomorrow if I do it. I'm not feeling SURE right now. I'm used to a little more car.
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