Brian,
I'm afraid it wasn't your influence for the MINI although I wanted a mini because of you and still do!
My wife really wanted her own car so I sold my saxo to buy her a car. Little did I know she had such expensive taste! Not that I was really complaining. After my first test drive I was hooked.
Will look for you in westhill. Where abouts? I'm in sauchen so most days at least passing through.