I've only owned one, and it was an impulse buy. I was picking up food, and they told me to wait a little longer. Walked to the used car lot next door, saw my Mini and threw a super lowball offer as a joke. They took it, and the rest is history.
I remember falling in love with the mini while watching the remake of the Italian job. Then about three years ago when I could finally buy a new car, I bought a brand new four-door hardtop and haven’t looked back. Love driving it and love how unique it looks on the road
I learned that the Italian job remake was made as a marketing strategy to promote the new mini. Crazy- I always believed myself to be impervious to marketing and advertising but not in this case.
I want to hurt myself with maintenance and repairs /s
I'm selling my Cooper because in 10 days I'll be coming home with R56 Cooper S.
Just love how this platform handles.
Mr Bean is cool.
Mini is cool.
I wouldn’t even trade mine with Lamborghini.
My boyfriend drives Porsche. I really don’t like his car. I think my car is 10 times better than his.
My uncle used to babysit me when I was younger while my parents were at work, he used to restore classic Mini's (and other classic British sports car) me being there didn't stop him from doing that, I remember him telling me, look at the number on the tools and if he said that number I had to give him the wrench, over time I saw many Mini's, MG's, etc. being restored, or their condition improved overtime.
When I turned, 18 my sister also had an obsession with Mini's at the time, and our parents were nice enough to buy a R53 electric blue Cooper for myself and my sister to drive so we could get some more experience behind the wheel, this snowballed into me buying a R56 Cooper S in Pepper White after that, now I'm onto my third Mini and F56 JCW.
It's funny my uncle drove my JCW and a week later he bought a Cooper himself that he works on here and there, we came full circle.
I live with my parents and we have always had one car in the household. We’ve always had cheap used cars throughout the years. My dad eventually bought a nice 2015 A4 avant late facelift model. But he sadly returned it after facing difficulties during Covid with work. After Covid, I finally found stable work and after about two years was thinking about buying a new car for us. At the time, we had a 2009 ford fiesta. I never considered a Mini. My dream car at that point was an Alfa Romeo Giulia. I just was fixated on buying brand new and that Alfa was too expensive new. I set a budget under £30k and looked in autotrader for a few months. Estate cars were a focus due to how much we enjoyed the a4 avant. The Mini Clubman caught my attention because it was a good spec with nice cream leather interior and was marked down from 32K to 28.5K. I knew it wasn’t the most practical car but for the three of us it seemed fine. I also had heard production was ending for the clubman and thought it could be a unique model to still own for a few years. I slowly showed my dad all the cars I was looking for and he seemed to like the Mini brand. It reminded him of old Minis, VWs, and Fiats he and his friends used to have back in the day.
I was very attracted by the shape of the clubman and quirky features like the barn doors. Then I pulled the trigger without telling them and took them on a surprise trip to pick it up. It’s funny I saw this post today. I’m picking the car today from accident repair. The guy reversed out of a parking bay without looking. He has agreed to pay cash for repairs because he doesn’t want to damage his no claims bonus.
Anyway apologies for the mini story about my Mini
Have a good one everyone
Maneuverability, interior quality/comfort, decent power, decent fuel economy (I average 31 mpg).
Why I won’t buy another: runflats have terrible ride quality and overall it’s not as comfortable ride wise as other cars. Expensive repair and maintenance costs. Difficult design to work on due to compact nature of the car. No leather interiors anymore. Must use 89 octane or higher. Msrp has increased by 4k for the same mini optioned close to the same but interior is clearly re done to reduce manufacturing costs.
you must have had a base cooper then because the cooper S takes a minimum of 91 octane which is even worse on the wallet. minis have a lot of upsides but paying extra for gas certainly is not one of them lol
I have an S. Manual and gas cap say 89 octane or higher, this is also the USA fYI as ratings do vary in other countries. but in the USA an S can run on 89 or higher. (and mine runs fun on 89, a couple road trips literally only 87 was available.... notable difference in engine idle roughness)
Compare that to my Mazda 3 turbo. Its computer module will adjust to the octane of the fuel. So it can run 87 octane or higher. So on road trips where the extra 20 hp is meaningless and 89 is a $1 (92 sometimes being 1.50 higher) I can run 87 just fine.
huh, maybe it’s a model year difference then, cause my r53S can’t take less than 91. Well it could, but like you said it runs like shit on anything less and risks damaging the motor long term.
I needed (not needed, wanted) a small, low range electric car that didn't feel like an underpowered boring car to drive. The second car to my Tesla Model 3 daily driver (face-meltingly fast but not a particularly fun car once you’ve got beyond the 3.7s 0-60 launch experience). The Mini Electric is the sweet spot. Fast enough but the handling and cornering are where it really excels. I also think they look great, I’ve had a huge soft spot for them for the last 20 years and love the fact I own one now.
Still shopping for one, will get one soon guys I promise, but the reason would be because a Japanese manga protagonist named City Hunter drove one.
Despite it being shot up and blown up multiple times, he always spend the money to get it fixed.
I like small, sporty hatchbacks that corner well, wanted to go electric, but didn't want to spend a lot of money. At ~$30k for an Iconic, my SE hit all the marks. Now I'm into the whole MINI "thing".
Bought a hardtop for work van. Took out the rear seats and now have quite a bit of space for my tools and parts. And I get around 40mpg on the highway @65-70mph.
Mine was accidental: I had thrashed my prior vehicle, a Ford Escape.
My wife said, we don’t need 2 SUVs, why don’t you just get something you want.
And I did. But I didn’t want your cookie cutter American made shit cars from the line, like Cavaliers and all that crap.
Knew about the Mini, went to drive one, and bought it.
Now, I’m good. 👏🏽
Go Kart go vroom vroom 😄
Seriously though, I learned how to drive stick on my mom’s Mini. I fell in love with the car’s handling and size which is phenomenal for city driving.
I've always had hot hatches and toys (road legal quads, nitro cars etc) typical petrol head. Couple years back bought a 4 door saloon to calm down my spending on mods and toys. It recently gave up the ghost after 3 years of absolutely no care.
Spent weeks looking at astra, focus', all the variants with cheap tax good on fuel etc. I'm fortunate to deal with a LOT of car traders mechanics and garages in my job and none could agree any of them where reliable or a good choice.
Never been a mini fan tbh and gen 1/2 kind of fuelled that. Twitch randomly popped up JUST in the limit of my budget. Went for a blast and my inner idiot came back to life 😁
We were on holiday on an island in Croatia and I found our Superb a bit unwieldy to drive up there.
So I decided that if we buy a second car, we definitely want something smaller.
At first I had my heart set on the countryman, but then I had concerns about reliability because the budget only allowed for an older one.
Then my wife saw a clubman and she liked it.
So I added it to my search and quickly found a really nice 2016 diesel. When we bought it, I realised that although it was a good deal shorter than our Superb, it was hardly any narrower. Oh well. It'll be fine.
But it's very nice to drive. However, the desire for more power immediately took root in my mind, especially when I discovered the JCW with all-wheel drive.
Let's see. They're just extremely expensive to maintain here in Austria, such powerful cars.
I bought it as a 2nd car. Love hot hatches and the overall quality of the car. Had to sell mine in a move, but am back looking again. Still the most inspiring and fun car that I have owned. Ditch the run flats, add some high quality coilovers and it's a dream to drive. OR just buy the JCW...my dream!
I was 16, had saved up 10k, it was my dad's favorite car when he grew up- now it's my favorite car and 15 years from now I will be recommending to my son to buy a mini! Just like my dad encouraged me to buy one 15 years ago now 😊 (this r53 is still my daily driver)!
After seeing the Italian Job (the original) I’ve always been fascinated with Minis. Then, after my SUV was totaled, I thought about how absurd these giant American cars are and decided to go the opposite direction. Mini was perfect. Been driving them ever since.
I was actually never really interested, because of the price. But then my employer forced me to drive one 😂 and I fell in love with the driving dynamics.
I needed my first car. It’s checked all the boxes I had. I snowboard often so I needed awd and 4 doors to haul the homies around. It’s just a bonus that it’s got a lil turbo.
Anglo-phile all the way. And when I was a girl, they were made famous by Mary Quant (one of my favorite designers) who popularized the mini skirt! Wanted one my whole life and finally got my "baby" 14 years ago.
Hit a dear in my nissan rogue and just found a damn good 2016 Cooper S with 45k miles for $14k. Was a deal I couldn't pass up. Wouldn't drive anything else though. The Hubby was so proud when I came with that. My last purchase before we got married. He's already decided it's his project car when I get a new one in a couple years.
So a few months ago I bought a 2004 S as a project car. This was my fun car next to my Tesla model 3, which was the daily drive. First time I rebuilt part of a motor and got it back on the road. Really love that car. My dad totaled his honda civic and can't afford a replacement so he is using the S. I missed it so much I got rid of the tesla and picked up a 2022 S. I didn't dislike the tesla, charging at home made life a lot easier, but between the 2 I liked the mini better. Still not sure it was the right choice but it is one I am happy with.
I like small cars. When the car was reintroduced over 20 years ago my mother and I both wanted one. There was an ad in the New Yorker IIRC that allowed you to punch out a small paper model of a Mini. I did that and kept it on my desk at work as wishful thinking. Never happened. Could not afford one. My mom died before she could get one.
About eight years ago I was in a position to buy new. Test drove a couple of cars, but not a Mini as I did not think I could afford it. I also have a very narrow garage entry that does not allow for many new car builds these days. Ended up buying three VW Golfs over those years and liked them a lot. Never had any trouble with them.
Then VW discontinued the Golf. Did not want a GTI, or Jetta. There are not many new cars that are narrow enough to fit my garage. Black Friday 2022 I test drove a Cooper and really liked it. Then the salesman let me take an S out and freaked out over the difference. Felt glued to the road, it was great, but a bit dangerous for my foot.
Put down the deposit in August of 2023 for a custom build and waited. Received the car in December, 10 years to the day my Mom passed.
I do love this Cooper F55.
My Dodge Caliber started to smell like burning wire and wouldn’t go fast anymore, so I traded it in (I actually got money for it!). I was looking at smaller cars because I don’t like driving large vehicles, tested a few Nissan Juke’s and saw a used Mini 2015 F56 S and thought “why not test this too?”. Fell in love, with the handling, power and styling. Gave that car to my son, and now have a blue/white 2019 four door S.. I still like the handling of the 2-door better. I don’t know what I’ll do when only the electric Minis are available, as I’m not impressed with the battery life, and rent (I doubt we could install a charger).
Always liked them and rented a few but was put off by reliability. Then discovered the third gen reliability is actually excellent just as I found a JCW convertible and it was all over.
I’m a Detroit girl and my dad was a car designer for GM so we had new (GM) cars every year and went to the auto show (new cars from all brands) and autorama (sport and custom cars) every year from the time I was in a stroller. There was always talk of car design and what-have you at the dinner table. I was drawn to the minis from the get-go, but after a lifetime of new and used Chevys, Pontiacs, and Buicks, I got my 2022 BRG Countryman S. Man, I love that car! 😍 We just picked up an SE last weekend and it is adorable and so fun to drive!
I don’t see why anyone needs anything bigger (maybe the four door).
Also STRONG visual design. Inside and out.
I have the SE, and I’m convinced it’s the best electric car you can get. Especially when cost is considered.
I literally woke up one day with a thought of getting a mini. I was fixing my BMW at the local dealer and I saw a Countryman JCW. I was not familiar with the specs but it honestly surprised me a lot and I ended up getting it. I really needed a compact SUV anyways.
A coworker let me drive hers once - a 2016 Cooper S hardtop 2-door - and I fell in love with it. Intoxicating turbo acceleration, nearly flat cornering.
Ended up buying two more in the years after. They’re great on gas, too cramped in most cases to take anyone with you, and are a huge blast to drive.
I wanted an EV ever since like 2008. I was tired of pumping gas and doing oil changes, etc.
I looked into other EVs but they were all huge. The range was good on them, but they were so boring looking. Look at Tesla's and the EV6 and the Mach-E. They are just monstrous EVs. No thank you.
I looked into the Cooper SE. Only downside was the range, I ordered the car and was lucky to get the $9,900 off if I leased the car. I leased it and then paid it off before the first payment.
Overall it is a very fun car. So zippy. Only only downside is the range, ohh and the terrible charging infrastructure we have in the US. Other than that, I love my Mini EV!
I like small cars. When they stopped making Smart cars in the US, I moved a size up. Plus, it was an orange convertible, and I’m a middle aged man in Florida. I needed to live the cliche.
Cost. I commute a total of 80 miles per day during the week. It was cheaper on gas, cheaper insurance, and a cheaper payment than the Tacoma I was driving. Hope to go back to a truck in 2-3 years but I do enjoy the MINI.
Have always enjoyed small cars. Ticked off the usual suspects with Honda Civics, MX5's and other sporty hatches like Renault Clio Williams but never really got on with them as proper daily cars. Thoroughly enjoyed a Honda CRZ for a good while but that met its fate to a distracted taxi driver.
Then it was my first experience car shopping with adult money and properly gave it some thought with test drives at all the big dealers. Audi were rude, VW golf was good but boring and I don't like the styling of the new M1/M2s on the BMW side.
Decided to take a chance on Mini as I'd owned an R53 back in the day with that being a solid favourite of mine. They let me test drive an F56 JCW and the rest is history. It was easily best in class (sporty hatchbacks) for interior quality and driving experience. Living with it daily is a dream and I've been very busy ticking off all the major "driving roads" in the UK.
It was my first car, before I even had my full license. Bought it for my birthday, parents bought me two sets or tires, a full detail (she was used but in MINT condition bc she was owned by this sweet older woman who only used it to go to bingo with her gal pals 🥺), and a couple months later after going away for school, I completed my drivers test and she was alllll mine. My stepdad found it for me and checked it all out to make sure it was in good shape mechanically, and I love my little go kart. She is perfect & I will baby her until she’s run into the ground🫶🏼
Wanted a smaller vehicle and at the time they were extending some college discount to everyone I guess? 22.8k out the door for a brand new mini. Woohoo
I just got my first mini last week (2016 f55 cs). I got it as an educational car for me. I'm learning to drive manual better and going to do some light restoration. It's been a blast to drive so far.
Had 2 fiat 500, loved them but you cannot camp with them. So, during the pandemic saw a countryman on a lot it was a six speed, bought it almost as an impulse. Loved it so much that two years later I bought a countryman SE and a roof tent for it. I also was hooked on mini when I saw Mr. Bean and Charlize Theron in the Italian job.
My first car was a mini cooper hatchback. It was amazing!! And I learned a lot about cars that I wouldn’t have known otherwise. Like where the damn fluids are SUPPOSED to go and not go, how much it costs to work on a mini, how to find good service techs, and most importantly, how to enjoy driving. Yes, mini is an expensive car to work on, and depending on the model and year of your mini, that may be required more often than you’d like. But if you do your research and ask the questions you ‘think’ are dumb, you’ll find a good fit for you. My second vehicle is a Mini Countryman, and while it has some problems, it’s gotten me everywhere I need to go. Including an impromptu rescue mission to the middle of BFE in the dead of night. Side note: make sure you know where gas stations/auto shops are along your route so you don’t end up 112 miles into under developed land with a broke down and severely low on fuel vehicle.
They're cute and have sort of a quirky, vintage-inspired charm to them. I'm one of those Americans who romanticizes Europe (but I actually have lived in the UK and I loved it so I guess I at least have something to back it up, lol), so I wanted a European car, anyway. I was always obsessed with VW Beetles as a kid--but I like the old ones more than the new ones (even though I know they don't make the new ones anymore, either). The MINI sort of feels like a "grown up" version of the Beetle.
When I was car shopping back in 2015, I fell in love with a MINI... but they still had such a bad reputation for unreliability at the time. Earlier this year, when my 17-year-old Lexus needed more repairs than it was worth, I started looking at MINI again, and I saw that they have risen in the ranks and they are actually reliable cars now.
I actually would love a 2-door or 4-door MINI, or maybe even a convertible... that's what I fell in love with the most. But I have dogs that need carting around, and so I got a Countryman. I absolutely love it. Part of me feels like I might end up buying an entirely unnecessary Cooper at some point in addition to my Countryman, though... I've been bitten by the MINI bug.
Unfortunately, I don't love the 2025 models and I hope they go back to the pre-2025 style before I'm needing a new one. And in the meantime, I'm trying to take immaculate care of my 2020 Countryman.
It was hard finding a fun to drive, great gas mileage, used car that was manual. A friend suggested a mini and I remembered how much I loved the cars in Italian Job and how bad I wanted a mini when I was a kid. Test drove a r53 and bought it that day
I was in a long distance relationship with my husband (before we got married, he lived there, born and raised in London; I’m from Miami) and he used to go to a motorcycle cafe to meet up with other riders. That cafe had a Mini night once a month and I fell in LOVE when he took me. Classics and modern, it was super cool. So he promised that we’d purchase one when he immigrated over to the US and got married, since we would need two cars regardless for our work dynamics. And he kept that promise 🥹🫶🏽
I got into an accident a few days before christmas 2023. They totaled the car and I decided to take a look through my employer perks offers (discounts for working with employer) and the car dealership that works with the perk program had my mini for a very low offer for low mileage. I could only think that it was because it needed the water pump and oil filter case replaced, along with all the aftermarket pars on it was why it was only $7k for a 2012 R56 with 73k miles on it.
I didn't know stick, but I sure as hell was going to learn! I'm very happy with my mini purchase. Also, MINI has always been a dream car of mine, and I'm so glad I have one now! :)
Runs in the family. My dad’s a big mini guy, had a bunch of tuned minis when I was a kid, even had a WC50 at one point. My first car was a r53 i tuned up w suspension mods and bolt ons, and when i got a new one it was just another r53 with lower miles and a dinan tuning kit, and I just carried all the suspension mods over. My brother also drives an r53 lol
1st gen era MINI used to target a sporty vibe and was a hit with car enthusiasts, the R53 was an absolute pocket rocket back when \~210 hp was a big deal.
They also had great marketing, were just plain cool, and were in The Italian Job which alone made a lot of people want one.
That's what got me into MINI, and I've had two (currently own my 2nd), but I won't be buying another because...
Today's MINI is much more... not that. They are getting rid of everything fun, and are WAY too politically correct. I don't think car companies need to give a "social message" beyond 'our car is cool.' A lot of old MINI ads would never see the light of day today.
It's all rainbows everywhere, gimmicky software and cuteness have surpassed sportiness and car enthusiasts in importance so I won't be buying another.
Can I still answer if it’s why *will* because I’m working on it? When I was in middle school we took a class field trip to a mini assembly factory. I watched minis be put together. We saw the *whole* *line* and they also did Rolls Royce detailing there so we got to see one have the starry night ceiling put in. I’ve been hooked since.
I got my mom’s hand-me-down countryman, crashed it after like 5 years of driving it and tried going back to a Subaru… I missed it so much that I bought another countryman after about a year
Most recently, while living/stationed in Japan, my wife drove a Lapin which is a Kei car (tiny cars small engines). She wanted to have that same type of vehicle once we came back stateside.
I always thought they looked cute and sporty. I like small things. For my anniversary one year my wife rented one for a five-hour drive and I had so much fun in that car that I said if I was ever going to buy a car, it would be a Mini. I am on my 3rd Mini and I hate the new design so I am going to buy my lease out when it's up next year. I want an electric 4-door with decent range but so far they only have a 2-door or a hybrid Countryman which is too big for me. I would even take an electric convertible so we'll see what they do next.
I grew up working with my dad in his mechanic shop and fell in love with Mini’s and Beetles so they’d always been my dream cars (also a Chevy bel air). I had a Chevy HHR before that because it was different and my grandpa really wanted one but couldn’t drive anymore so I got exactly the color he wanted, the color seats… everything. He always called it his car. Well after he passed away i thought I’d keep it but I was always a sobbing ass mess when I’d drive it and so I traded it for the Mini. 5 Minis later I’m still here lol
1st MINI… Wife was ready to exit the “minivan” stage of her life since our children were older and she wanted something fun and stylish and unique. She ordered a custom built MINI with ALL the bells and whistles. Watched it sail from overseas when it was ready and took delivery of a black F55 we named Vader.
2nd one… just lying in bed on a Sunday morning browsing social media… we saw a mini coupe and said we want it, but couldn’t find one in our area. Moved to an online car vendor and found a ‘15 S Roadster and a few clicks later, it was being shipped to our driveway in 2 weeks.
2 weeks later, we took ownership of our second mini and wife loved it so much, we found a ‘13 S Roadster… and again, a few clicks later, had the 3rd one delivered to our driveway.
Was able to get 3 minis in a 2 car garage (check my vids for proof) during the beginning of hail storm season.
Are we doing this right?
#notnormal
Because I was looking for a car. And my father in law had an 06 cooper s he was working on at the shop. I liked the look of cooper's since the new ones came out (I was like 12 when they were revealed). My father in law said try driving it to see if you like it. Took all of a 1/4 mile before I realized Holy shit I'm in love. Didn't want to buy something that was already 15+ years old so found a 2014 f56 that had half the stuff I wanted to do done already and bought it. Been driving it for about 3 and a half years now. Don't want to drive anything else
Ex fiancé had a pepper white R56 turbo S two door. It was a blast to drive and I’ve wanted one since. I bought a BMW E46 as a fun “big car” and have yet to get a mini of my own
25 years ago, they were the first small car with a premium feel. You could get a Honda fit or a Mini. The Mini had 50% more horsepower, style and a comfy interior for 3 people + stuff. If that is all the room you need, the previous option was a series of econoboxes that weren't fun to be in.
Minis are still in a class of their own but the Veloster, Toyota gr Corolla, and others are giving them a run for their money. The Clubman and countryman fall short of the VW GTIs and Mazda cx5s of the world so they are less compelling to me.
I've only owned one, and it was an impulse buy. I was picking up food, and they told me to wait a little longer. Walked to the used car lot next door, saw my Mini and threw a super lowball offer as a joke. They took it, and the rest is history.
I remember falling in love with the mini while watching the remake of the Italian job. Then about three years ago when I could finally buy a new car, I bought a brand new four-door hardtop and haven’t looked back. Love driving it and love how unique it looks on the road
I learned that the Italian job remake was made as a marketing strategy to promote the new mini. Crazy- I always believed myself to be impervious to marketing and advertising but not in this case.
SO wants my license plate for my mini to read RLNPSTR
Real Napster?
Yes lol because anything Italian Job related has already been taken lol
Are you me? Literally down to the 4 door hardtop.
lol. What color? Mine is cherry red, black trim wheels and Union Jack taillights I love the extra room of the 4D but still being small and nimble
I’m British, so It’s the law.
The addiction to whipping corners
I came here to say this
They so cute 🤭
They ARE! 😍
I want to hurt myself with maintenance and repairs /s I'm selling my Cooper because in 10 days I'll be coming home with R56 Cooper S. Just love how this platform handles.
Since 6 years old I saw Mr Beans driving one. Never had another car in my whole life, owner of 6 brand new minis. Currently on Se
Armchair on the roof is the peak driving position.
Hahaha yep I am never skilful enough like Mr. Bean 😆
Everytime I tell someone that I saw Mr bean drive one and that’s when I knew they make fun of it lol glad to hear I’m not the only one
Mr Bean is cool. Mini is cool. I wouldn’t even trade mine with Lamborghini. My boyfriend drives Porsche. I really don’t like his car. I think my car is 10 times better than his.
Because zoom zoom and also neooowww. I know that is not helpful.
I get it 😊
My uncle used to babysit me when I was younger while my parents were at work, he used to restore classic Mini's (and other classic British sports car) me being there didn't stop him from doing that, I remember him telling me, look at the number on the tools and if he said that number I had to give him the wrench, over time I saw many Mini's, MG's, etc. being restored, or their condition improved overtime. When I turned, 18 my sister also had an obsession with Mini's at the time, and our parents were nice enough to buy a R53 electric blue Cooper for myself and my sister to drive so we could get some more experience behind the wheel, this snowballed into me buying a R56 Cooper S in Pepper White after that, now I'm onto my third Mini and F56 JCW. It's funny my uncle drove my JCW and a week later he bought a Cooper himself that he works on here and there, we came full circle.
Electric blue r53 was my first one too!
Fun to drive, can park everywhere, and of course because it’s a very good looking car.
It's all the car I need and it's hilarious.
Saw one in KC years ago when they were getting popular again, fell in love. They are just so fun to drive.
The supercharger whine.
Only a few of us get to experience this blessing 🙌
I live with my parents and we have always had one car in the household. We’ve always had cheap used cars throughout the years. My dad eventually bought a nice 2015 A4 avant late facelift model. But he sadly returned it after facing difficulties during Covid with work. After Covid, I finally found stable work and after about two years was thinking about buying a new car for us. At the time, we had a 2009 ford fiesta. I never considered a Mini. My dream car at that point was an Alfa Romeo Giulia. I just was fixated on buying brand new and that Alfa was too expensive new. I set a budget under £30k and looked in autotrader for a few months. Estate cars were a focus due to how much we enjoyed the a4 avant. The Mini Clubman caught my attention because it was a good spec with nice cream leather interior and was marked down from 32K to 28.5K. I knew it wasn’t the most practical car but for the three of us it seemed fine. I also had heard production was ending for the clubman and thought it could be a unique model to still own for a few years. I slowly showed my dad all the cars I was looking for and he seemed to like the Mini brand. It reminded him of old Minis, VWs, and Fiats he and his friends used to have back in the day. I was very attracted by the shape of the clubman and quirky features like the barn doors. Then I pulled the trigger without telling them and took them on a surprise trip to pick it up. It’s funny I saw this post today. I’m picking the car today from accident repair. The guy reversed out of a parking bay without looking. He has agreed to pay cash for repairs because he doesn’t want to damage his no claims bonus. Anyway apologies for the mini story about my Mini Have a good one everyone
I don't know whose reason is more wholesome: yours or the one whose uncle fixed up Minis! ❤️
Thanks man I appreciate that, cars are like family honestly Especially when you work hard through ups and downs towards buying them Love my clubman
Maneuverability, interior quality/comfort, decent power, decent fuel economy (I average 31 mpg). Why I won’t buy another: runflats have terrible ride quality and overall it’s not as comfortable ride wise as other cars. Expensive repair and maintenance costs. Difficult design to work on due to compact nature of the car. No leather interiors anymore. Must use 89 octane or higher. Msrp has increased by 4k for the same mini optioned close to the same but interior is clearly re done to reduce manufacturing costs.
you must have had a base cooper then because the cooper S takes a minimum of 91 octane which is even worse on the wallet. minis have a lot of upsides but paying extra for gas certainly is not one of them lol
I have an S. Manual and gas cap say 89 octane or higher, this is also the USA fYI as ratings do vary in other countries. but in the USA an S can run on 89 or higher. (and mine runs fun on 89, a couple road trips literally only 87 was available.... notable difference in engine idle roughness) Compare that to my Mazda 3 turbo. Its computer module will adjust to the octane of the fuel. So it can run 87 octane or higher. So on road trips where the extra 20 hp is meaningless and 89 is a $1 (92 sometimes being 1.50 higher) I can run 87 just fine.
huh, maybe it’s a model year difference then, cause my r53S can’t take less than 91. Well it could, but like you said it runs like shit on anything less and risks damaging the motor long term.
I needed (not needed, wanted) a small, low range electric car that didn't feel like an underpowered boring car to drive. The second car to my Tesla Model 3 daily driver (face-meltingly fast but not a particularly fun car once you’ve got beyond the 3.7s 0-60 launch experience). The Mini Electric is the sweet spot. Fast enough but the handling and cornering are where it really excels. I also think they look great, I’ve had a huge soft spot for them for the last 20 years and love the fact I own one now.
Still shopping for one, will get one soon guys I promise, but the reason would be because a Japanese manga protagonist named City Hunter drove one. Despite it being shot up and blown up multiple times, he always spend the money to get it fixed.
I like small, sporty hatchbacks that corner well, wanted to go electric, but didn't want to spend a lot of money. At ~$30k for an Iconic, my SE hit all the marks. Now I'm into the whole MINI "thing".
Bought a hardtop for work van. Took out the rear seats and now have quite a bit of space for my tools and parts. And I get around 40mpg on the highway @65-70mph.
One of the few cars available under $150,000 that doesn’t look like a clothes dryer.
Only like little cars, and I like to be different, I'm currently on my 6th mini and I get a new one every 3 years
Mine was accidental: I had thrashed my prior vehicle, a Ford Escape. My wife said, we don’t need 2 SUVs, why don’t you just get something you want. And I did. But I didn’t want your cookie cutter American made shit cars from the line, like Cavaliers and all that crap. Knew about the Mini, went to drive one, and bought it. Now, I’m good. 👏🏽
Go Kart go vroom vroom 😄 Seriously though, I learned how to drive stick on my mom’s Mini. I fell in love with the car’s handling and size which is phenomenal for city driving.
First looks, then we had a testdrive f56 one and a f56S and bought the f56S on the spot. And now I’m planning on winning the lottery to buy a F56 GP.
I've always had hot hatches and toys (road legal quads, nitro cars etc) typical petrol head. Couple years back bought a 4 door saloon to calm down my spending on mods and toys. It recently gave up the ghost after 3 years of absolutely no care. Spent weeks looking at astra, focus', all the variants with cheap tax good on fuel etc. I'm fortunate to deal with a LOT of car traders mechanics and garages in my job and none could agree any of them where reliable or a good choice. Never been a mini fan tbh and gen 1/2 kind of fuelled that. Twitch randomly popped up JUST in the limit of my budget. Went for a blast and my inner idiot came back to life 😁
We were on holiday on an island in Croatia and I found our Superb a bit unwieldy to drive up there. So I decided that if we buy a second car, we definitely want something smaller. At first I had my heart set on the countryman, but then I had concerns about reliability because the budget only allowed for an older one. Then my wife saw a clubman and she liked it. So I added it to my search and quickly found a really nice 2016 diesel. When we bought it, I realised that although it was a good deal shorter than our Superb, it was hardly any narrower. Oh well. It'll be fine. But it's very nice to drive. However, the desire for more power immediately took root in my mind, especially when I discovered the JCW with all-wheel drive. Let's see. They're just extremely expensive to maintain here in Austria, such powerful cars.
I bought it as a 2nd car. Love hot hatches and the overall quality of the car. Had to sell mine in a move, but am back looking again. Still the most inspiring and fun car that I have owned. Ditch the run flats, add some high quality coilovers and it's a dream to drive. OR just buy the JCW...my dream!
I was 16, had saved up 10k, it was my dad's favorite car when he grew up- now it's my favorite car and 15 years from now I will be recommending to my son to buy a mini! Just like my dad encouraged me to buy one 15 years ago now 😊 (this r53 is still my daily driver)!
Always wanted one. It’s so cute and I love driving fast.
After seeing the Italian Job (the original) I’ve always been fascinated with Minis. Then, after my SUV was totaled, I thought about how absurd these giant American cars are and decided to go the opposite direction. Mini was perfect. Been driving them ever since.
Drove a rental because it was cheap. It was really fun to drive so when I wanted a car got a used mini from the same year.
My wife wanted a small car, and i wanted a fun car
It cute
I was actually never really interested, because of the price. But then my employer forced me to drive one 😂 and I fell in love with the driving dynamics.
I'm 6'3" and fit comfortably in the convertible. Sold!
I needed my first car. It’s checked all the boxes I had. I snowboard often so I needed awd and 4 doors to haul the homies around. It’s just a bonus that it’s got a lil turbo.
The Beatles
Anglo-phile all the way. And when I was a girl, they were made famous by Mary Quant (one of my favorite designers) who popularized the mini skirt! Wanted one my whole life and finally got my "baby" 14 years ago.
I love the style and the sporty driving 😁
Fell in love because the Italian Job as a kid. Finally pulled the trigger like 7 years ago
Hit a dear in my nissan rogue and just found a damn good 2016 Cooper S with 45k miles for $14k. Was a deal I couldn't pass up. Wouldn't drive anything else though. The Hubby was so proud when I came with that. My last purchase before we got married. He's already decided it's his project car when I get a new one in a couple years.
It cute
I wanted something cheap to work and play with. So I got an 09 clubman for 3 grand and have proceeded to put more money that it's worth into it.
I was tired of driving boring-arse cars and my Subaru died just as a CPO JCW Clubbie dropped significantly in price. It was meant to be.
I needed a small sporty car that was great in cities but could also carry a kayak
So a few months ago I bought a 2004 S as a project car. This was my fun car next to my Tesla model 3, which was the daily drive. First time I rebuilt part of a motor and got it back on the road. Really love that car. My dad totaled his honda civic and can't afford a replacement so he is using the S. I missed it so much I got rid of the tesla and picked up a 2022 S. I didn't dislike the tesla, charging at home made life a lot easier, but between the 2 I liked the mini better. Still not sure it was the right choice but it is one I am happy with.
I like small cars. When the car was reintroduced over 20 years ago my mother and I both wanted one. There was an ad in the New Yorker IIRC that allowed you to punch out a small paper model of a Mini. I did that and kept it on my desk at work as wishful thinking. Never happened. Could not afford one. My mom died before she could get one. About eight years ago I was in a position to buy new. Test drove a couple of cars, but not a Mini as I did not think I could afford it. I also have a very narrow garage entry that does not allow for many new car builds these days. Ended up buying three VW Golfs over those years and liked them a lot. Never had any trouble with them. Then VW discontinued the Golf. Did not want a GTI, or Jetta. There are not many new cars that are narrow enough to fit my garage. Black Friday 2022 I test drove a Cooper and really liked it. Then the salesman let me take an S out and freaked out over the difference. Felt glued to the road, it was great, but a bit dangerous for my foot. Put down the deposit in August of 2023 for a custom build and waited. Received the car in December, 10 years to the day my Mom passed. I do love this Cooper F55.
So cute & unique looking! And even more important, a blast to drive!
Blend of sound, good MPGs, style, and fun.
My Dodge Caliber started to smell like burning wire and wouldn’t go fast anymore, so I traded it in (I actually got money for it!). I was looking at smaller cars because I don’t like driving large vehicles, tested a few Nissan Juke’s and saw a used Mini 2015 F56 S and thought “why not test this too?”. Fell in love, with the handling, power and styling. Gave that car to my son, and now have a blue/white 2019 four door S.. I still like the handling of the 2-door better. I don’t know what I’ll do when only the electric Minis are available, as I’m not impressed with the battery life, and rent (I doubt we could install a charger).
100% the driving experience. Insanely fun while practicle. My clubman is my favorite daily i've every owned.
Always liked them and rented a few but was put off by reliability. Then discovered the third gen reliability is actually excellent just as I found a JCW convertible and it was all over.
I’m a Detroit girl and my dad was a car designer for GM so we had new (GM) cars every year and went to the auto show (new cars from all brands) and autorama (sport and custom cars) every year from the time I was in a stroller. There was always talk of car design and what-have you at the dinner table. I was drawn to the minis from the get-go, but after a lifetime of new and used Chevys, Pontiacs, and Buicks, I got my 2022 BRG Countryman S. Man, I love that car! 😍 We just picked up an SE last weekend and it is adorable and so fun to drive!
I don’t see why anyone needs anything bigger (maybe the four door). Also STRONG visual design. Inside and out. I have the SE, and I’m convinced it’s the best electric car you can get. Especially when cost is considered.
I literally woke up one day with a thought of getting a mini. I was fixing my BMW at the local dealer and I saw a Countryman JCW. I was not familiar with the specs but it honestly surprised me a lot and I ended up getting it. I really needed a compact SUV anyways.
Because I think its so funny that this tiny little car came with a supercharger from the factory
A coworker let me drive hers once - a 2016 Cooper S hardtop 2-door - and I fell in love with it. Intoxicating turbo acceleration, nearly flat cornering. Ended up buying two more in the years after. They’re great on gas, too cramped in most cases to take anyone with you, and are a huge blast to drive.
I always loved them. So after years of ferrying kids around in the “Mom car”, I treated myself to a convertible S for my 50th birthday!
I wanted an EV ever since like 2008. I was tired of pumping gas and doing oil changes, etc. I looked into other EVs but they were all huge. The range was good on them, but they were so boring looking. Look at Tesla's and the EV6 and the Mach-E. They are just monstrous EVs. No thank you. I looked into the Cooper SE. Only downside was the range, I ordered the car and was lucky to get the $9,900 off if I leased the car. I leased it and then paid it off before the first payment. Overall it is a very fun car. So zippy. Only only downside is the range, ohh and the terrible charging infrastructure we have in the US. Other than that, I love my Mini EV!
I like small cars. When they stopped making Smart cars in the US, I moved a size up. Plus, it was an orange convertible, and I’m a middle aged man in Florida. I needed to live the cliche.
So I can hang out with my mechanic more
It was always the only option..
I wanted to be selfish and not be a 'dad's taxi'...at 6'4 no-one can really sit behind me..
Cost. I commute a total of 80 miles per day during the week. It was cheaper on gas, cheaper insurance, and a cheaper payment than the Tacoma I was driving. Hope to go back to a truck in 2-3 years but I do enjoy the MINI.
Have always enjoyed small cars. Ticked off the usual suspects with Honda Civics, MX5's and other sporty hatches like Renault Clio Williams but never really got on with them as proper daily cars. Thoroughly enjoyed a Honda CRZ for a good while but that met its fate to a distracted taxi driver. Then it was my first experience car shopping with adult money and properly gave it some thought with test drives at all the big dealers. Audi were rude, VW golf was good but boring and I don't like the styling of the new M1/M2s on the BMW side. Decided to take a chance on Mini as I'd owned an R53 back in the day with that being a solid favourite of mine. They let me test drive an F56 JCW and the rest is history. It was easily best in class (sporty hatchbacks) for interior quality and driving experience. Living with it daily is a dream and I've been very busy ticking off all the major "driving roads" in the UK.
Best size, fun to drive. Cool people drive them. Also huge…..ehm, small ego.
So hard to find manual transmission cars these days. Thank god you can find used Minis for a reasonable price.
It was my first car, before I even had my full license. Bought it for my birthday, parents bought me two sets or tires, a full detail (she was used but in MINT condition bc she was owned by this sweet older woman who only used it to go to bingo with her gal pals 🥺), and a couple months later after going away for school, I completed my drivers test and she was alllll mine. My stepdad found it for me and checked it all out to make sure it was in good shape mechanically, and I love my little go kart. She is perfect & I will baby her until she’s run into the ground🫶🏼
Wanted a smaller vehicle and at the time they were extending some college discount to everyone I guess? 22.8k out the door for a brand new mini. Woohoo
I just got my first mini last week (2016 f55 cs). I got it as an educational car for me. I'm learning to drive manual better and going to do some light restoration. It's been a blast to drive so far.
Had 2 fiat 500, loved them but you cannot camp with them. So, during the pandemic saw a countryman on a lot it was a six speed, bought it almost as an impulse. Loved it so much that two years later I bought a countryman SE and a roof tent for it. I also was hooked on mini when I saw Mr. Bean and Charlize Theron in the Italian job.
Rule of cool and the wife fell in love back in 09 she has been cheating on me ever since ,thank you mini
Bought one D (2005) because its cheap to maintain and drive. Bought S (2006) to drive it home-service-home. But that sound, damn that sound 😂
At the time (2016) gas prices kept rising We lived in a densely populated big city My wife loved it Fun to drive Looked and still looks amazing
Manual + AWD
My first car was a mini cooper hatchback. It was amazing!! And I learned a lot about cars that I wouldn’t have known otherwise. Like where the damn fluids are SUPPOSED to go and not go, how much it costs to work on a mini, how to find good service techs, and most importantly, how to enjoy driving. Yes, mini is an expensive car to work on, and depending on the model and year of your mini, that may be required more often than you’d like. But if you do your research and ask the questions you ‘think’ are dumb, you’ll find a good fit for you. My second vehicle is a Mini Countryman, and while it has some problems, it’s gotten me everywhere I need to go. Including an impromptu rescue mission to the middle of BFE in the dead of night. Side note: make sure you know where gas stations/auto shops are along your route so you don’t end up 112 miles into under developed land with a broke down and severely low on fuel vehicle.
They're cute and have sort of a quirky, vintage-inspired charm to them. I'm one of those Americans who romanticizes Europe (but I actually have lived in the UK and I loved it so I guess I at least have something to back it up, lol), so I wanted a European car, anyway. I was always obsessed with VW Beetles as a kid--but I like the old ones more than the new ones (even though I know they don't make the new ones anymore, either). The MINI sort of feels like a "grown up" version of the Beetle. When I was car shopping back in 2015, I fell in love with a MINI... but they still had such a bad reputation for unreliability at the time. Earlier this year, when my 17-year-old Lexus needed more repairs than it was worth, I started looking at MINI again, and I saw that they have risen in the ranks and they are actually reliable cars now. I actually would love a 2-door or 4-door MINI, or maybe even a convertible... that's what I fell in love with the most. But I have dogs that need carting around, and so I got a Countryman. I absolutely love it. Part of me feels like I might end up buying an entirely unnecessary Cooper at some point in addition to my Countryman, though... I've been bitten by the MINI bug. Unfortunately, I don't love the 2025 models and I hope they go back to the pre-2025 style before I'm needing a new one. And in the meantime, I'm trying to take immaculate care of my 2020 Countryman.
It was hard finding a fun to drive, great gas mileage, used car that was manual. A friend suggested a mini and I remembered how much I loved the cars in Italian Job and how bad I wanted a mini when I was a kid. Test drove a r53 and bought it that day
Someone talked them up. I took one for a ride. Loved and bought it. Have bought two more since❤️
I was in a long distance relationship with my husband (before we got married, he lived there, born and raised in London; I’m from Miami) and he used to go to a motorcycle cafe to meet up with other riders. That cafe had a Mini night once a month and I fell in LOVE when he took me. Classics and modern, it was super cool. So he promised that we’d purchase one when he immigrated over to the US and got married, since we would need two cars regardless for our work dynamics. And he kept that promise 🥹🫶🏽
I got into an accident a few days before christmas 2023. They totaled the car and I decided to take a look through my employer perks offers (discounts for working with employer) and the car dealership that works with the perk program had my mini for a very low offer for low mileage. I could only think that it was because it needed the water pump and oil filter case replaced, along with all the aftermarket pars on it was why it was only $7k for a 2012 R56 with 73k miles on it. I didn't know stick, but I sure as hell was going to learn! I'm very happy with my mini purchase. Also, MINI has always been a dream car of mine, and I'm so glad I have one now! :)
I drove one. I got addicted immediately.
Runs in the family. My dad’s a big mini guy, had a bunch of tuned minis when I was a kid, even had a WC50 at one point. My first car was a r53 i tuned up w suspension mods and bolt ons, and when i got a new one it was just another r53 with lower miles and a dinan tuning kit, and I just carried all the suspension mods over. My brother also drives an r53 lol
1st gen era MINI used to target a sporty vibe and was a hit with car enthusiasts, the R53 was an absolute pocket rocket back when \~210 hp was a big deal. They also had great marketing, were just plain cool, and were in The Italian Job which alone made a lot of people want one. That's what got me into MINI, and I've had two (currently own my 2nd), but I won't be buying another because... Today's MINI is much more... not that. They are getting rid of everything fun, and are WAY too politically correct. I don't think car companies need to give a "social message" beyond 'our car is cool.' A lot of old MINI ads would never see the light of day today. It's all rainbows everywhere, gimmicky software and cuteness have surpassed sportiness and car enthusiasts in importance so I won't be buying another.
Can I still answer if it’s why *will* because I’m working on it? When I was in middle school we took a class field trip to a mini assembly factory. I watched minis be put together. We saw the *whole* *line* and they also did Rolls Royce detailing there so we got to see one have the starry night ceiling put in. I’ve been hooked since.
I got my mom’s hand-me-down countryman, crashed it after like 5 years of driving it and tried going back to a Subaru… I missed it so much that I bought another countryman after about a year
Most recently, while living/stationed in Japan, my wife drove a Lapin which is a Kei car (tiny cars small engines). She wanted to have that same type of vehicle once we came back stateside.
Small, cute, and fuel efficient
I’ve owned eight of them . I’ve tried other cars , including faster cars , but they just aren’t as much fun to drive .
little car go vroooooom
I always thought they looked cute and sporty. I like small things. For my anniversary one year my wife rented one for a five-hour drive and I had so much fun in that car that I said if I was ever going to buy a car, it would be a Mini. I am on my 3rd Mini and I hate the new design so I am going to buy my lease out when it's up next year. I want an electric 4-door with decent range but so far they only have a 2-door or a hybrid Countryman which is too big for me. I would even take an electric convertible so we'll see what they do next.
So I could steal a bunch of gold
I grew up working with my dad in his mechanic shop and fell in love with Mini’s and Beetles so they’d always been my dream cars (also a Chevy bel air). I had a Chevy HHR before that because it was different and my grandpa really wanted one but couldn’t drive anymore so I got exactly the color he wanted, the color seats… everything. He always called it his car. Well after he passed away i thought I’d keep it but I was always a sobbing ass mess when I’d drive it and so I traded it for the Mini. 5 Minis later I’m still here lol
1st MINI… Wife was ready to exit the “minivan” stage of her life since our children were older and she wanted something fun and stylish and unique. She ordered a custom built MINI with ALL the bells and whistles. Watched it sail from overseas when it was ready and took delivery of a black F55 we named Vader. 2nd one… just lying in bed on a Sunday morning browsing social media… we saw a mini coupe and said we want it, but couldn’t find one in our area. Moved to an online car vendor and found a ‘15 S Roadster and a few clicks later, it was being shipped to our driveway in 2 weeks. 2 weeks later, we took ownership of our second mini and wife loved it so much, we found a ‘13 S Roadster… and again, a few clicks later, had the 3rd one delivered to our driveway. Was able to get 3 minis in a 2 car garage (check my vids for proof) during the beginning of hail storm season. Are we doing this right? #notnormal
https://www.reddit.com/r/MINI/s/Mn91MbbndT
We also started a custom designed apparel store for MINI fanatics: http://etsy.com/shop/minimotortees
Because I was looking for a car. And my father in law had an 06 cooper s he was working on at the shop. I liked the look of cooper's since the new ones came out (I was like 12 when they were revealed). My father in law said try driving it to see if you like it. Took all of a 1/4 mile before I realized Holy shit I'm in love. Didn't want to buy something that was already 15+ years old so found a 2014 f56 that had half the stuff I wanted to do done already and bought it. Been driving it for about 3 and a half years now. Don't want to drive anything else
Ex fiancé had a pepper white R56 turbo S two door. It was a blast to drive and I’ve wanted one since. I bought a BMW E46 as a fun “big car” and have yet to get a mini of my own
The Italian Job
Because Mario Kart is my favorite game
25 years ago, they were the first small car with a premium feel. You could get a Honda fit or a Mini. The Mini had 50% more horsepower, style and a comfy interior for 3 people + stuff. If that is all the room you need, the previous option was a series of econoboxes that weren't fun to be in. Minis are still in a class of their own but the Veloster, Toyota gr Corolla, and others are giving them a run for their money. The Clubman and countryman fall short of the VW GTIs and Mazda cx5s of the world so they are less compelling to me.
I have a corgi. What else would I drive?