Adage is offering a review and some commentary on the latest MINI magazine advertising in case some of you missed it. Here's an excerpt:
In buying a Mini, a person pays a premium for a very small car in order to make the point that he's cooler than most owners of most other cars. As such, people who don't buy Minis may harbor some resentment (conscious or otherwise) against those who do. Meanwhile, spoilsports who view recreational driving as an anti-social act will interpret Mini's “Let's Motor” slogan to mean: Let's pollute the air, increase traffic, leave the U.S. even more at the mercy of OPEC, etc. Now, none of this would bother the people who buy Hummers, for whom the brand's screw-you aura constitutes much of its appeal. But it will prey on the more tender minds of people who like their cool-and-fun cars to be diminutive. So, this ad, with its detachable “Motoring Score Card,” offers “good karma” as a kind of no-cost option to the basic Mini. “Let's rack up points on the way to the office, the movies and the dentist. Let's add it all up to prove we're the best at doing good. Let's try not to rub it in.”
You can read the rest of the article here.
<p>Not sure about everyone else…but I can relate to the part about some resentment.</p>
<p>This occurrence is frequent and I've been quite amazed at what people have done. Most recently, a big white van pulled out in front of me only to be slow in speeding up. As I pulled around, the van sped up, leaving me no room to pull back into the lane. (guess you had to be there and unfortunately in this case, my patience has begun to wear thin).</p>
<p>Seems like situations happen at least once or twice a week.</p>
<p>I get this all the time too, and I often wonder if the extroverted looks and image of this car are worth all the road rage that seems to be aimed my way. Women think the car's “cute” and they readily let you have the right of way, but guys who are insecure, driving trucks and “muscle” cars- those are the ones to watch out for.</p>
<p>I think I'll go with something more toned-down next time around…the Q-ship factor is a good thing.</p>
<p>Would be good to see a survey of MINI owners relating to the prevalence of this resentment. The mere creation of this ad lends some legitimacy to the problem. I am leery of parking my car downtown ever snce I came back to a big spit goober running down the side. A new indi blue car showed up in town and in a week it was in the police blotter that it had been vandalized to the tune of $4000. Doesn't happen to your more expensive standard greeny Subaru Outback in this town. Probably nothing to be done about it until the novelty wears off and there is a MINI on every block. This perceived problem is no doubt more a statement on our society and the misdirected frustration and anger that many of those less fortunate feel with their lot in life. Unfortunatly it is our MINI's that are targeted.</p>
<p>I get none of that nonsense and I live in LA….Road Rage City. Aggressive attitudes create aggressive response.</p>
<p>I do get a lot of “TUNER” kids wanting to race from signal to signal. At my age the Cute factor is very kool, lots of young ladies smile and wave., why would I want to change that…………….R</p>
<p>In two years of ownership living in Chicago, I've never seen anything like the vandalism listed above. With so many MINI's (I see 10-15 daily on most Saturdays) I think there really isn't much of a novelty anymore.</p>
<p>I have, Gabe. Someone from the car in the next lane spit on my car when we were at a light last year.</p>
<p>I constantly have people wanting to race me or cut me off. Last night a kid in a Cadillac tried to race me.</p>
<p>Where were you? I imagine it might be worse the farther out in the suburbs you get.</p>
<p>On Roselle Road in southern Schaumburg.</p>
<p>I live in rural PA, about 40 minutes from Philly. Maybe that explains some of it.</p>
<p>I agree with Matt regarding the racing and cutting off. </p>
<p>The act of trying to race from a stoplight insights a furrow in my forehead. Can't understand the reasoning though I recall it's happened with 'tuned autos previously. The sound of the muffler is what I seem to remember. (it's still a honda or toyota no matter which way you go with it. this isn't meant to be or sound deragatory with those brands, I previously owned a honda prelude that I kept for ten years. It was a good car.)</p>
<p>Others that I've noticed are Audi's and (I hate to say) 3 series. Very aggressive driving with tailgating and passing on a solid line.</p>
<p>I joke that I drive like a little ol' lady….honoring the speed limit and traffic laws so I can't say that my driving would be construed to be “aggressive” under most circumstances.</p>
<p>Is this all happening in IL? I really never see that kind of stuff, ever!
I even get the thumbs up from muscle cars, BMWs, low riders, bikers, even tuners I blow away out here in LA LA LAND!………………R</p>
<p>Sounds like it's only happening to one person from IL (on here at least). </p>
<p>Again I've never seen anything but smiles and waves and I'm also in IL.</p>
<p>I drive a Geo metro and a silver MCS and being pushed around for me is not so much having a MINI as it is being the smallest on the road. The Metro is much worse.In the MINI they want race me.I live in Portland,Ore.</p>
<p>In Santa Monica I have experienced some attempted stoplight racing from owners of 3's, 5's, X5's, A4's, and one owner of an Expedition (strangest stoplight matchup I have ever been apart of).</p>
<p>The strange part is it has only happened to me in Santa Monica and no where else in Los Angeles. Also, other than the Santa Monica stoplight race instigagors, I haven't seen any agressive behavior from other motorists toward the MINI. </p>
<p>Actually, the opposite is more the case. I continue to get positive comments about the MINI from other people and this is almost two years after I purchased the car.</p>
<p>I always seem to find people who get peeved that I flew past them around a bend, or off of a stop light. Sorry, but I drive my MINI like I like to, not so I can feel better about myself for passing people.</p>
<p>Nothing but thumbs up in Pasadena as well….R</p>
<p>Can't see the article, 12:25 EST on 4/15…and going to the adweek site and searching is not working either. Must be all those MINI owners hitting the site ;-)</p>
<p>Try <a href="http://www.adweek.com/aw/search/search_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000462672">this</a>.</p>
<p>Well I have emailed Gabe about this phenomena before, at least twice a week I have a guy pull up next to me at a stop light take off really fast and try to race me. Of course living in “cornfield” Indiana, home of the Northern Redneck population I expect nothing less. So far my only contender in a race has been a BMW 5 series, tho most cars who decide to race shouldn't!!</p>
<p>Great Redneck story would be at the gas satation where I was waiting in line two guys were talking about my MCS and one guy said “they are supposed to be fast cars.” To which the other replied, “I can't see the mice going over 80mph.” I simply turned around and told them, “I have only seen 120mph with plenty left, but the car is made for motoring not speed!” After both Rednecks gave me dirty looks, I wanted to add, “my car has more gears then you have teeth!”</p>
<p>Much better, thanks Gabe..</p>
<p>I'm with Gabe, a Chicago area person that experiences almost entirely positive responses to my MCS.</p>
<p>Happy Motoring!</p>
<p>Jim</p>
<p>Live 20 miles out of Philly in semi-rural PA – haven't had any “negative” responses from others (not even when leaving my area and going to others). Drove to NYC a few weeks ago and did real well in heavy traffic…everyone wanted to let me in! Even the parking valets loved the car and took extra good care of it!</p>
<p>When driving…don't seem to have much of a problem at all. Have driven the car from Northern NY to Northern FL and haven't experienced any cutting off, racing, etc. </p>
<p>I feel for all of you, but hoping that the idiots you've been up against don't begin showing up in my neck of the woods!</p>
<p>Wonder if it's a male vs. female driver issue??</p>
<p>No problems to report here in Chicago… </p>
<p>Everyone lets me in, gotten waves n thumbs up.</p>
<p>Anyone else notice Foster Ave turns into the autobahn at around 12:45am?</p>
<p>Some of my friends gave me shit for a while until I let them drive the car. Now all they have is respect for my MCS.</p>
<p>I am in the Chicago suburbs and have only had problems with soccer moms in H2s. They just don't understand. I do have a hunch though that some don't cut me off on purpous, they are just generally bad drivers and are tryin to pilot a tank around town. Overall though, it almost all positive.</p>
<p>Things have changed since I took delivery of my Mini in late 2002. I can remember that most people would just stop and stare at the car, usually with a strange look that got plastered on thier face. These days, thanks to great marketing and the Italian Job, the general public knows about the Mini. I don't usually get people giving me any problems, but people either love the Mini or they hate it. I see a lot of people laughing at my little coopah. I think it's the Austin Powers thing (UJ decal). </p>
<p>All in all my biggest gripe is that when I am driving behind someone and they notice the Mini, they forget that they are driving. It's like they take thier foot of the gas, coast and stare. It happens to me daily.</p>
<p>Nah, if you want abuse you've got to drive the Ike. On those rare occasions when I do see another MINI, I have to be aggressively <em>friendly</em> to get a wave. It's cut-off after cut-off and very little of the good karma that I attempt to accrue with non-MINI drivers is returned. I commute a route where “No turn on red” means “honk if you're behind someone not turning on red” and using a turn signal signifies “please don't let me merge.” </p>
<p>Which doesn't mean I don't still try to be civilized…usually :)</p>
<p>I don't get treated differently out here in DC, but MINIs are pretty common here. Maybe it's something about whether a girl or guy is driving. I get a lot of smiles from guys in big trucks and sportscars and kids in the MomVans love my Sebby too. I can't think of a time since I left Chicago last summer that I've been “invited” to race at a stoplight — that was a 5 Series who just wanted a friendly game of chase kissing the curves of some back highways.</p>
<p>Off topic, but I saw a LY/W MINI with really cool plates today… JIMINI, as in Cricket, I imagine! LOL!</p>
<p>Any one see the new Docker's comercial, the whole comercial revolves around a classic Mini?</p>
<p>Wish I could say NJ wasn't bad… But, yeah most of the stories are true. NJ drivers are terrible to you no matter what car you drive! They'll cut you off just because. And yes soccer moms in those dang Ford Excursion / Expedition / Excuse to waste gas just can't drive…</p>
<p>Once and a while I'll get a grin out of another driver as I pull up next to them. Not too much stop light racing near me. Though, exiting toll plazas next to Mustangs are just starting to get boring. :)</p>
<p>just remember, when in NJ, pull to the right if you see an EB/W MCS catching up to you. I promise I'll wave!</p>
<p>Because of the MINI's fame (or notoriety) coming from movies, rave car driving reports, etc and its good looks, you will get the inevitable person, male or female who will occasionally sneak up as close as possible to your rear bumper, or who will accelerate past your car from a stoplight.</p>
<p>Used to be that in the early days of the MINI's introduction to the U.S. we would get thumbs up recognition from other drivers, but i don't see that anymore.</p>
<p>If you drive aggressively, you'll be challenged, so I don't invite rice racers and SUVs to “challenge” my MINi by ignoring them when they pull aside my car.</p>
<p>And yes, even young women drivers can be annoying to the MINI with their driving habits. I think they're wanting attention themselves. And what better than from a MINI owner (folks with class and good taste?)</p>