With this.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]83974[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]83975[/ATTACH]

 

Not the car I would have pegged you into getting but nice pick up!

I HATE HATE HATE the new ones...they are the antithesis of Mini...they are bigger than some crossovers...

 

I may be a fan of big American V8s, but I do like the small European turbos. This is the first 6-speed I've owned. So far, I've only tried to back up in 6th gear once (reverse is completely opposite of the typical 5-speed). I was looking at the Miata, but those were running around $3k more, so I figured this could provide almost as much fun for less money. Gas mileage should be somewhat decent as well (certainly better than the Jeep).

 

^ Not bad, can honestly say I didn't even think about that coming up. What's the gas mileage like? And what is the HP and weight? I wouldn't mind ripping one up just to see what the new ones are like.

 

This was a challenger as my next car... but price tag, insurance and size really hurt its chances.

 

Cool car. I do like them Minis. Your screen name and the car remind me of a story...

Back in 2002, one of my college roommates (Avery) got a new Mini as a gift from his parents (wealthy parents, etc.). This was right when they were coming out, and his car was the first Mini most people had seen at that time. This particular roommate grew up in San Antonio, TX, and was at CU-Boulder as an out-of-state student. One year we road-tripped down to San Antonio to watch the Buffs take on Wisconsin in the Alamo bowl. We were always giving Avery shit about his Texas origins, about rednecks, lack of education, etc. He was always getting riled up and talking about how Texans aren't really like that, they are normal, educated people etc.

Driving the Mini to Texas, shortly over the Texas border we pull over in some tiny, podunk town to get gas. There is an ultra-cowboy looking guy leaning against a pickup truck in the parking lot at the gas station. Cowboy boots, hat, belt buckle, flannel, the whole nine yards. He's got a massive wad of chew in one cheek. This is the first Texan we've seen. He comes over us and says, in an incredibly lazy, heavily accented drawl:

Texan pointing at car: "What is that?"
Avery: "It's the new Mini."
Texan: "Is that by Dodge? I like them new Dodges."
Avery: "No, it's a new European brand."
Texan: "I don't like nothin' but domestics."

..and the Texan walks away without looking back. Avery never lived down the fact that the first Texan we saw in his home state conformed to every stereotype we'd ever given him shit for.

I have to say that story was much funnier when it happened than when I read it written out. I think it has to do with the ability to imitate the guys accent.

 

Haven't had it long enough to determine mileage - supposedly it's 26/34. Horsepower is 172 @ 5500 rpm, torque is 177 @ 1600 rpm, don't know the weight. Feels pretty quick. You can definitely hear the turbo whine when the windows are down. Suspension is stiff as hell.

 

You sure the Texan knew the word domestic? That seems like it would have too many syllables.

 

Yeah it was probably more likely that he said he don't like nothin' but 'Murican.

 

Nice pick up!
My homeboy has the automatic version and it rips!

Funny story^^^^:lmao: