Unexplainable love for a metal box

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  1. #1
    Mark Johnston
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
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    St Fergus, Aberdeenshire
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    Horizon Blue 2009 R56 S
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    959
    Finding myself really torn just now. Keep trolling through auto trader looking at different arguably better hot hatches than the mini. But I don't know if I could say bye to the mini.

    I've only had this one (Nigel) a year but its already dug its heel in. I had fully accepted that my last mini (Benji) was going to be a forever car, that didn't quite pan out that way,

    Chatting with friends the other day we were throwing out ideas of what we were planning on getting next and I'm really fond of the 208 gti, I've test driven them a few times, but walking back to the mini the other day I took this photo and thought nah I'm not ready to get rid of it yet.

    Is it just a mini thing? Are we all mad?

    No real reason behind this post just wanted to start a discussion of cars that you haven't been able to sell.

    Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

  2. #2
    Handbrake Turner CiderFex's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Car
    JCW S GP1499 & R59 JCW
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    3,693
    I always said that I would never sell 1499.
    But....
    You know the rest.
    I personally can not think of one other car brand out there that completely takes you over like a MINI does.
    I’ve beaten many a more expensive cars in 1499, too many GTi’s to mention, M3’s, one R32 300, Leon and Cupra FR’s and one 600cc sports bike which just could not keep up around the bends. It’s a lot of fun for not too much money.
    A MINI is an all round cruiser, shopping trolley, commuter and back whack hooner.
    The fact they are so easy to personalise as well gives them an extra edge in my book.
    I struggled to decide that I really wanted another MINI and sell 1499 but I knew that I was making the right decision.
    I have only ever had two proper dream cars, within the bounds of reality and sensibility, and I am lucky to own them both at the present time.
    It’s a hard decision to make and one that I just could not take to the level of buying a non-MINI.
    My views on MINI ownership have been aired before...
    It’s 5% actually owning a MINI, the other 95% is about the people I’ve met and the ones that I will meet.




    Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.

  3. #3
    Mark Johnston
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    St Fergus, Aberdeenshire
    Car
    Horizon Blue 2009 R56 S
    Posts
    959
    It was numbers that brought me to mini tbh. None of my family ever owned a mini none of my friends have minis. I was on motors and knew I wanted a hot hatch but my heart was actually set on an Abarth grande punto. But every time I put in my criteria for a car I was bombarded with minis and after seeing what would be my first mini and having a shot of one I was hooked.

    That's the other thing about Mini the community is great. There's never been a time I've come away from an NMS weekend without my face hurting because of laughter and smiling too much.

    The runs are always brilliantly organised and the pace is just right.

    You don't seem to find that outside of mini certainly up this way anyway. There is a vxr club that only seem to park up in dark multistory car parks and a ford group that don't seem to do much other than going to driftland and Knockhill occasionally.

    Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

  4. #4
    Handbrake Turner CiderFex's Avatar
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    Apr 2013
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    JCW S GP1499 & R59 JCW
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    3,693
    Yeah, that about sums it up for me as well.
    I honestly can not see me willing to do a 577 and then a 570 mile round day trip to meet up with anyone else.
    I know that the MINI community is pretty friendly but NMS do take it beyond that to a whole higher level.


    Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.

  5. #5
    Bob the belter stoney's Avatar
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    Jul 2005
    Location
    blackwood, United Kingdom
    Car
    R53 heavy moded
    Posts
    10,990
    It was very hard for me to let go of GP0668 when Christine fell pregnant but needs must I have never pinned for a car like I have for my GP I would love it back but with family ECT it's just not possible I did also love my clubman but not in the same way I did my GP !!

    I love the R53 as a driver's car it's so much fun and much more raw than the later models. The later middle are good for more comfort and refinement IMO.

    But as Pete said it not just the car but the people you meet along the way that make the whole thing enjoyable.

    Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk
    New sig coming soon

  6. #6
    I've heard of too many people regret selling a car they love which is why my 13 year love affair with my R53 JCW will continue. I'll spend whatever it takes to keep it alive - the underside was refreshed this year and I now try and avoid salted roads with it.

    As Rob said, it's the rawness about the R53 that appeals. I honestly don't think BMW could have made such a great drivers' car on their own - the character of the R53 benefits massively from being a Rover/BMW mongrel. And that for me is what it's all about - character. Not ultimate speed, or equipment etc.

    I also dislike the way modern cars are going - I'm not keen on the power delivery of a modern turbo, and I've never driven a car with electric steering that gives me the feedback I want. We had a 420d as a courtesy car recently, and apart from the hateful engine, getting back into our 12 year old 5 series was a revelation - I could actually feel the front wheels again! The R53 has epic steering, one of the most important things about a car for me.

    I don't want to sound like an obnoxious prick, but most of you know I'm lucky enough to own a Ferrari 550. Despite having such an epic car, the R53 more than holds its own against it and will never be sold. I think that says a lot


    Feet were made to fit car pedals. If we were meant to walk, we'd have pogo sticks for legs

  7. #7
    Mark Johnston
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    St Fergus, Aberdeenshire
    Car
    Horizon Blue 2009 R56 S
    Posts
    959
    One of the reasons I'm drawn towards the 208 is because it uses the n18 so it like a new r56 powertrain wise. It ticks all the boxes I'm looking for I like the 1.6, it's still nice and small, being curvy it's got some off the cuteness I think gives the mini so much character, it's been properly fettled over the standard car and you don't see that many on the road. It drives like a mini imo did get to have a bit of a hoon in one of the cars I drove and it is a playful car.

    The by Peugeot sport is the equivalent of a Jcw 4 pots, tweeted suspension, mechanical lsd, forged alloys and a throaty exhaust. That is one area the Standard gti seriously lacks there is very little in the way of noise

  8. #8
    Handbrake Turner CiderFex's Avatar
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    Apr 2013
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    JCW S GP1499 & R59 JCW
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mon the fish View Post
    I don't want to sound like an obnoxious prick, but most of you know I'm lucky enough to own a Ferrari 550. Despite having such an epic car, the R53 more than holds its own against it and will never be sold. I think that says a lot
    Gordon, the above says more than enough about MINI ownership.

    It must be awesome to own one of THE best cars out there for the roads in Scotland and to also have a Ferrari as a second car.



    Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.

  9. #9
    Pantomime Villain & Car Plan Ambassador Crombers's Avatar
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    Mar 2004
    Location
    G76 South
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    R50 Cooper & F55 SD
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    7,851
    Quote Originally Posted by Mon the fish View Post
    120bhp-ish in a Mini is plenty to have fun with.
    & with a couple of tweaks that has kept me more than happy for nearly 14 years. As you say it's the handling for me as well, the R50/3 is superb drivers car

    I still feel the same way about my MINI as I did back in early 2004 when I passed Henry Bros in Glasgow & saw a brand new yellow Cooper on 17 'S'spokes sitting in the showroom window. I was looking to brighten up my life after a piss poor year & that car made me say 'want'
    Last edited by Crombers; 18th April 2018 at 01:53 PM.


    R50 Cooper ..... Mini Plant Oxford

    19 years of MINIfascination

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by CiderFex View Post
    Gordon, the above says more than enough about MINI ownership.

    It must be awesome to own one of THE best cars out there for the roads in Scotland and to also have a Ferrari as a second car.


    Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.
    it's just as well it's a second car...
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    Feet were made to fit car pedals. If we were meant to walk, we'd have pogo sticks for legs

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