Otherwise, enjoy your Works S, common or otherwise!!!

Yes, late model Porsches are way too common for me – but that’s just me. You’d have to go back to the 60s or early 70s cars to get what I’m looking for. A classic Mini is definitely on the radar, but I would probably go with something that’s a bit more composed at 80mph.

Don’t get me wrong. I think the new Mini is a fabulous driver’s car. But that’s just a minimum hurdle for me. I need to feel like my car is not just another mass-market commodity. Even my Works S is beginning to feel that way.

Have you thought about a classic Mini instead? Less practical, less reliable but definitely rarer and worth much more now than sticker price when new!

And no, this is not a “personal attack”!

Hmm…that sounds suspiciously like a derogatory personal attack.

Hey, I just like my cars to be distinctive, and the community of owners to be small and dedicated. This is what you find with many vintage cars, but few new ones. It was the case with the new Minis for the first few of years of production, and it was great. But it seems like now the “MINI Republic” is rapidly becoming indistinguishable from the Walmart Nation, and BMW is actively pushing things in this direction. Me no like.

Just my opinion, of course, but I think I’m entitled to it.

1) People are absolutely sick of big, technically outdated truck-based vehicles.
2) Some folks liked the hatchback they started their car driving years with, but they wanted more performance, creature comforts and a bit more prestige, the MINI hit it’s mark on this.
3) People are sick of having just another car on the lot. They want their own special car. My MINI was built especially for me. In fact there were none available to buy off the lot when I got mine. When we bought my wifes Ford Explorer, she had 72 nearly identical Explorers to choose from, not much personalization there. 4) Rebates play havoc with resale value and always leaving you wondering if you got a better deal. My wife’s Ford Explorer had $11,000 worth of rebates. Imagine the poor suckers who paid full price for the same vehicle? Even though I paid $21,000 for my MINI. I felt the car was worth every penny and everyone else has to pay at least the same price for a MINI like mine.

Frank is right, the MINI has blown away the pre-existing notions of cars in this country. That is exactly one of the big reasons why we love it!

Uh… I’ve been there – twice – and I was able to find Mini’s even in the supplied-challenged SF Bay Area with a minimum of effort. I have no sympathy for someone who gets frustrated because the exact car he wants is not sitting on the local dealer’s lot. One of the things that attracted me to the Mini was it’s relative rarity and what I perceived to be a Harley-esque strategy of constraining supply to maintain value. Sure I love to drive it, but I also value its (fading) exclusivity. Well, it may be back to the vintage market…

BTW, I love jello shots!!

Put yourself in the place of someone wanting a MINI but not yet lucky enough to be motoring. Also, 100,000 MINIs in a country of nearly 300 MILLION vehicles is still very very few!

That is very true, sometimes I see the sales numbers, and I just wish that BMW would stop production.

’05 MCS, Chili Red/Black with red dash, black/gray leatherette, Sport pkg, Premium pkg (minus the auto a/c), LSD, rear fog.

I ordered early to get my spot in line, but will not be taking delivery ’til June 1 (tho Dreyer & Reinbold would have been able to get it to me sooner…)

Nuff said!

          BCNU,
         Rob in Dago