| Author | Message | ||
     Sus (Susannah) Senior Member Username: Susannah Post Number: 428 Registered: 06-2002 |
So, I finally got into one this weekend and I love it. Haven't driven one yet, but a friend is looking for a new, small car so we will go sometime this week. Just wondered if anyone here owns one? New or classic? But I'm wondering mostly about the new ones. Since we are all such British car fans...  | ||
| Jason Gustavson (Prescottj) Senior Member Username: Prescottj Post Number: 480 Registered: 12-2002 |
There was an article in Playboy or maxim i forget which one, about 2 months ago that explained how to have sex in one. I'm a tall guy so I would never consider one but I do like the way they look | ||
| Eric Pena (Evalp) Senior Member Username: Evalp Post Number: 440 Registered: 06-2002 |
I've only test drove one but I like them alot. I would buy one! | ||
| Sus (Susannah) Senior Member Username: Susannah Post Number: 429 Registered: 06-2002 |
I would too, especially for the mpg...although for the price I could buy a Freelander! Baby ROVER! | ||
| Sus (Susannah) Senior Member Username: Susannah Post Number: 430 Registered: 06-2002 |
Jason, Why am I not surprised you wrote that?! J/K My fiance is 6'3 (i'm 5'4) and he got in and fit with about an inch to spare. Was surprised by the space, although he too would never consider one. Doesn't seem to think they are cute like I do!! HaHa...but the Rover is always my first love. | ||
| Jason Gustavson (Prescottj) Senior Member Username: Prescottj Post Number: 482 Registered: 12-2002 |
Too bad it's not a little bit bigger. I really like the design of them. Plus I think they look great. I just don't like the feeling of getting into cars that sit like 2.5 inches off the ground. | ||
| Glenn Guinto (Glenn) Senior Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 517 Registered: 02-2002 |
Sus, the base model Mini is around $17K and the top Cooper S model is a little over $20K. I think it's a better (read cooler) alternative to an econobox IMHO. Glenn | ||
| Susannah Seith (Sus) New Member Username: Sus Post Number: 1 Registered: 03-2003 |
Wow, the one I saw must have been loaded. It was listed at $23950! But it was really cool looking..teal green with white roof. I agree Glenn, I'm an environmentalist, except for my weakness for Rovers...so I'd buy one to balance things out! Jason, I feel the same way now that I've driven SUVs for so long. My sister has a BMW 328 and it feels so low! But I can get used to a car after a while. It's short person syndrome that I like sitting up in a big truck! | ||
| Jason Gustavson (Prescottj) Senior Member Username: Prescottj Post Number: 485 Registered: 12-2002 |
My brother managed to go from an old bronco to an m3. I talked to him about it once and he said it was really wierd for a while but he doesn't notice it anymore, but I sure in the hell do and hate having to mangle my body just to get in a car. The disadvantges to being tall but I still think being tall is way better than having short mans syndrome | ||
| phil (Powerslide) Member Username: Powerslide Post Number: 72 Registered: 11-2002 |
I test drove the Mini S and enjoyed the ride though IMO still lack some punch even with the supercharger. It handles like a go-kart and certainly looks cool. It is still on my list of a commute car since my DII is a gas hog and reserve it for weekend duty. | ||
| Gabriel Guay (Gearhead) Member Username: Gearhead Post Number: 45 Registered: 04-2002 |
 I bought my wife an 03 cooper S and she loves it. I'm an old gearhead from way back and we both always had big block four speed muscle cars. The Mini s turns heads more though, in fact it's almost embarrassing to drive it at times. It feels pretty peppy until you get used to the fact it's a high revving motor and figure out where the power band is, it’ll flat haul ass for what it is. That is, when she let's me drive it. But I still feel more at home in my aerodynamic as a barn disco. But that's just me. Gabe | ||
| Ron Brown (Ron) Member Username: Ron Post Number: 151 Registered: 04-2001 |
I would have one if alyssa did not hate them. A LOADED grey S was traded in at the dealer but alyssa balked. Ron | ||
| Michael Noe (Noee) Senior Member Username: Noee Post Number: 498 Registered: 03-2002 |
Our neighbors just got a light blue/white top S model. Beautiful little thing, tight and small were my first impressions, seems to have excellent fit and finish. He got it right before that snow hit and when I went up there to check on them, he was sitting in it listening to CDs. His wife said he'd been in there for hours. BTW, they love the car. He rarely gets to drive it, however. | ||
| Rans (Rans) Senior Member Username: Rans Post Number: 412 Registered: 08-2002 |
Is the mini still British? When BMW bought the whole British Leyland thing (or whatever it was called at that moment) they tossed just about everything except the Rover and the Mini and then sold Rover to Ford and kept the Mini. It has a BMW engine right? Is it still made in Britain? Or in Germany? | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 1907 Registered: 02-2002 |
Mini is owned by BMW, but made in Britian. A fellow here in town has one, really sweet. I drove it a bit, but couldn't really push it since it was still in its break-in period. It corners very well, and is very quick. Well built, too... the little details are all well thought out. Compared to my Roo, well, it's a bit higher quality, but it isn't all-wheel-drive. (The fellow said the Mini was the worst thing he'd driven in the snow, it couldn't get up his driveway after a light skiff. But, this fella has a pair of Series and a 110, so, he's got other things to drive, too). If I could have fit the five of us in it, I'd have considered it instead, tho'.... but that 2-only in the back seat prevented us from getting a baby-seat in there, too. It's bigger than the old Mini, and very posh when compared to the same. It would make a good 2-person commuter, that's for sure. -L | ||
| TPH (Snowman) Senior Member Username: Snowman Post Number: 324 Registered: 12-2002 |
Hi Leslie- Which "Roo" do you have? We are considering one again after owning two in the past. Is there a good workshop manual available for them now? S- | ||
| David Gage (Davidg) Member Username: Davidg Post Number: 123 Registered: 02-2002 |
Once you turn the ETC off on a new mini it gets around better in the snow. What it did was apply the brakes electronically to prevent wheel spin untill it came to a complete halt and killed the engine, Turned ETC off and right up the hill it went, with wheel spin, Sus, I am considering getting rid of the •••••••••• to get a new Mini. One day at the shop...  what I can't say "•••••••••••" (freelander) David | ||
| gp (Garrett) Senior Member Username: Garrett Post Number: 1918 Registered: 10-2001 |
i was told Rover makes the Mini bodies in their plant. my girlfriends father was at the Rover plant and they told him that there. true? | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 1908 Registered: 02-2002 |
I've got an '02 Impreza 2.5RS... think WRX w/o turbo (ie, cheaper insurance), w/ bigger engine (torquier off-line than the 2.0, but, once the turbo on 'em spool up, they'll catch ya quick).... Good car. It's a small commuter sedan, that's AWD so you can go to work in any weather. It's done fine in the snows we had this winter (though I like the weight of the Disco, makes it feel better in snow). Enough room for family; the kids aren't huge, so, the smaller backseat is okay... when we go places all together, we'll take the Disco instead usually, unless it's a longer trip where gas mileage factors in... Paint is thin on 'em, tho'... they chip easily.  Oh well, was under $20k, is a hoot to drive, gets double the mileage that the Disco does, and is *reliable*, lol.... Garrett, could be... David, d'you know? -L | ||
| Steve (Steve2) New Member Username: Steve2 Post Number: 23 Registered: 09-2002 |
i love the mini. having spent my formative years in a british colony - the mini brings back more good memories than the beetle. the morris 'jallopy' is another story. from what i know the new minis are made in germany. take a look at the 1st letter of the vin #. if it is a W then the vehicle is made in germany, if an S then england. the minis i have seen all indicate german mfg. steve | ||
| Susannah Seith (Sus) New Member Username: Sus Post Number: 3 Registered: 03-2003 |
David...so...I shouldn't buy a Freelander but a MINI instead?! I would do it, if I had the money right now (and the Disco was paid off) to have a 'town' car! I have a friend who has a Hyundai Accent and wants to trade it (though she admits it's been a good car) so I'm pushing her towards the MC! (Ulterior motives being that I can drive it! ) | ||
| David Gage (Davidg) Member Username: Davidg Post Number: 124 Registered: 02-2002 |
Sus, you got it, buy a Mini. Although I love the Freelander I have always said it is not the best "value" for the money. It is the best cute-ute, but not the best value, that would be the Subaru Forrester (IMHO). But the Mini is good value, sporty, cute, economical, no wonder it's the 2003 car of the year.... | ||
| B-Mc (Mcartist) Member Username: Mcartist Post Number: 70 Registered: 05-2002 |
FWIW- the mini is built in Oxford England and the engine is built in Brazil as part of a joint venture with Diamler-Chrysler. |
