[dtp105]

Hi everyone. I am not a Mini owner. Perhaps someday I will be. At any rate, I do find it fascinating that there is such a community built around the car. There are forums such as this one with 45000+ members. There are owners clubs around the world...times where Mini owners get together.

Out of curiosity, again from a non-Mini owner perspective, what is it with the community that is built around the Mini? I know Saturn owners kind of had the same thing that the company pushed. I know Harley owners have gatherings and clubs as well. Anything in particular about the Mini?

[ned78]

It's more the people who drive the cars for me. The type of person, who buys a MINI puts a bit of themselves into the car in terms of options, specifications and equipment. That makes the car interesting, by virtue of the owner already being interesting. Most car clubs are about the people in it, and the cars, while we like to think they come first, come second.

[dtp105]

I see. So the Mini, versus other types of cars, allow for a greater individual customization? Kind of like Dell computers allow you to pick and choose, fairly easily, on what you want in your computer?

[ned78]

Absolutely. The MINI has literally tens of thousands of permutations, between factory options, retrofit options, aftermarket options, custom graphics/wheels/paint, etc.

[dtp105]

Thanks Ned. Yeah, I guess when your personality goes into a car, that makes it more conducive to sharing, which in turn builds the community. Pretty cool. Thanks again.

[Rakey]

MINI owners generally like to have fun, and driving a MINI gives massive grin factor

So then put them all together, they have great fun driving twistie roads, or put them in a room full of beer they have great fun seeing who can have the most fun there

[yellowmininy]

I've never seen another Mini just like mine. I think it's a car that draws people with a strong sense of self to it. And in the Mini community, the car brings us together, but it's the people that make the community. In fact, there's even a few former Mini owners among us, and we like them too!

[Hartge210]

I think a lot of it has carried over from the original mini, it's a classless car. When a lot of the old TV stars from the 60's started driving about in the same car as the 'normal' people in the street it was taken to everyones hearts. You couldn't tell if the owner was rich & successful or a road sweeper (no offence ).

Much the same with the latest model, if you compare it to the 'jealousy' shown to owners of big Beemers & Mercs etc. The fact that you can spec them up to over 20k people still take the Mini as a 'peoples' car.

[GBMINI]

What part of USA are you from? Maybe you should check out one of the big MINI events that happen sometimes ... AMVIV in Las Vegas, MINIsOnTop in New England, etc ...