The Mini Turns 50

[austin552]

[m21sniper]

Putting the G in Ghey for half a century.

[David McLaughlin]

I disagree. It's a fun little car. My new car should be stateside in a few weeks.

[The Gaijin]

Transverse engine, front wheel drive. Lots of that original mini's DNA in most of what we drive today.

Silly Limeys never could get any electrics to work. Still stuck in the gas lamp era!

[Jims5543]

I have an opportunity to buy this well sorted Mini from a friend. The temptation is overwhelming. I am having a hard time not buying it.

[austin552]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Putting the G in Ghey for half a century.

I never thought of a Mini as a Miata.

[onlycafe]

you should get that mini for sure. looks like a barrel of fun.
might one ask, how much?

[dd74]

A well-known Euro car magazine was rated the most popular 100 cars of all time. Mini was first, the Porsche 911 was second.

The 928 didn't even make the cut...

[austin552]

Originally Posted by onlycafe

you should get that mini for sure.

+1

[Paul K]

Pity they never made any money selling the old ones. And the original cooper sucked- terrible brakes. Wife has an '04 Cooper S we bought new. She really likes it. We looked at a 'Classic' for grins, but they are silly money considering how plentiful & cheap they were when new. I think the movie 'The Italian Job' helped that!

Interestingly, the old style Mini was one of the few vehicles that was completely classless. By that I mean you had no idea whether a blue collar person or a Lord was driving it. The only other vehicle that I can think of which is classless is the old Series Land Rover.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by Jims5543

I have an opportunity to buy this well sorted Mini from a friend. The temptation is overwhelming. I am having a hard time not buying it.

That snickering sound you hear is just me.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

That snickering sound you hear is just me.

Uh huh. Have you any idea what that Mini will do to you and your 928 on even the slightest twisty road or race track?

BITD, I've seen original Minis hold off a good share of Porsche Carrera cars at Riverside Raceway; a road course that wasn't all that twisty to begin with. (RIP Riverside Raceway).

Just like the Miata and Elise, the Mini is no joke when it comes to performance.

[m21sniper]

Dude i would destroy a mini in any kind of race. Stop being deluded. For that matter i've crushed my cousin's supercharged Miata on several local windy roads late at night.

PS, there are 4 of us in the room here, and every one of us agrees, that car is as Ghey as the day is long.

[porsche4life]

Yes Sniper but we all know you and all of your friends are insecure in your manhood as evidenced by the guns, V8s, and macho attitudes. Take your tiny winkies and go get in your car that is better than anything ever built and go find something else to ***** about. Honestly I "usually" like you but anytime anyone mentions a car you get all worked up and make fun of it and say how much better your 928 is.


Hell I'd drive a mini. I'm secure. They are cool fast cars.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Dude i would destroy a mini in any kind of race. Stop being deluded. For that matter i've crushed my cousin's supercharged Miata on several local windy roads late at night.

Doubt it if your cousin could drive worth a crap.

Originally Posted by m21sniper

PS, there are 4 of us in the room here, and every one of us agrees, that car is as Ghey as the day is long.

I've seen more queers in 928s than Minis. It's one of the queer car designates of L.A. gay culture. Convertible Golfs, BMWs, Audis and the old has-been 928.

Must be the phallic look of the car's shape or something.

More often than not such drivers also enjoy eating whole lengths of french bread without chewing.

[Aerkuld]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Putting the G in cornering for half a century.

Here, I corrected it for you.

You've NEVER driven one have you?

Not a proper one at least. Once you do the snide smirk will be wiped off your face and it will be replaced with a huge grin - after you've picked your jaw up off the ground.

The original Mini is a fantastic piece of engineering design. Intended as a compact economy car, yet it could run rings around much bigger and powerful sports and muscle cars on a track because of it's light weight and stunning handling. So simple too.

Sure, it's very small and looks a little funny compared to the average car, especially in the USA, but you would be hard pushed to find anything this much automotive fun for the same amount of money.

Honestly snipe, I really think you NEED to find someone with one and beg for a drive. Trust me.

[Aerkuld]

Sir Alec Issigonis is one of my engineering heros, I'd love to have been able to meet him.

I always think the 911 and the Mini were two cars that were well ahead of their time. Just look at either of them next to anything else that was on the market at the time and you'll see what I mean.

[924slover]

everyone says the mini and miata are gay but i know of a certain miata that would make you rethink you're whole miata's are slow gay cars. it would wipe the track with your 928.It made the 911 look slow . i've driven a new mini and they're fun to drive little cars. they're both fun cars.
p

[dd74]

I've always thought that if something detrimental happened to my 911 and I wanted to leave the brand entirely, I'd replace it with:

1) A Miata
2) A Mini - preferably an original Mini

And not necessarily in the above order.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Mine is a blast. On our recent BMW club drive, I was able to easily gain ground on a new Z4M roadster and a LS1 240Z during the twisty bits. This was in a standard stock Cooper. It's really a fun car.

Snipe, unless you have some serious suspension and performance mods, I think you're pretty well full of crap.