[Becca3003]

I was looking for MINI clubs to join towards the end of 2004 (depsite getting my MINI in Oct 2003) and came across here! Browsed it as a non-member for several months before joining up in Feb 2005 Took me a while to get into the hang of it on here, but thanks to Matt (matrog) who was the first person to say hi and got me into posting more and joining in on MINI runs - he then also became my boyfriend!

Owned 2 MINIs in my time on M2, learnt a lot about them from here, met loads of great people and made many great friends and been on many MINI adventures and hope to go on many more!

[Gravity]

One of my workmates recommended M2 to me when I was having trouble with my first MINI's CVT gearbox. Joined but didn't post or banter for ages, but eventually did, and never looked back... Got some great friends from here and soon a new surname too. My workmate has a lot to be responsible for!

[Woody'sCooper]

I was browsing for information on google about fitting instructions for an armrest i think.

First site i came upon was MINI2 and i got the info i needed. I then also searched MINI2 for local meets and clubs and stumbled across Kent and East Sussex MINI Club as well - so I have alot to thank M2 for!

[I love MINI, Laura]

I first specced my MINI back in summer 2003 my last year of university. I was searching for the different options and colours etc to see which I loved the most and MINI2 helped me sooo much. After getting my first "professional job" I ordered my MINI in September and MINI2 helped me control my 3 month anticipation/obsession. To stop my family and friends killing me with talk of my MINI I came on here to speak to like minded people who understood!

I also wanted to find different stripe options then the modding started and couldn't stop! MINI run events and group buys I have definitely benefited from and have met so many brilliant people! My MINI became my hobby, modding adding and changing, cleaning and driving around. I also love finding out more information that I know more than the local dealers!

I was MINI-less for a year in 2006-7 (very hard time!) but found my new amazing MINI in August 2007 and without this forum I wouldn't of realised how much of an amazing find she was! I wouldn't leave here its too much fun!

THANKS MINI2!

[unionjackbeck]

I brought my Mini in September 2006, and I fell in love with her straight away, We had gone shopping for a 3 series BMW and come back with a Mini Cooper S!!!!!!

[Lorraine]

Quote: Originally Posted by unionjackbeck (original)

I brought my Mini in September 2006, and I fell in love with her straight away, We had gone shopping for a 3 series BMW and come back with a Mini Cooper S!!!!!!

But how did you come across MINI2?

[Shaun]

I met DNG at an Oldham Mini meeting had got a MINI One in March 2002 so I watched and learned for a while and did some posts you know one or two they said its alright its not addictive but thats how they get you hooked.

[Electric Sheep]

Probably through a Google search, I don't remember exactly. I was considering buying a MINI to replace my hated Fiat Punto HGT in summer 2002. I like to do my research, so MINI 2 came in rather handy, especially as I was reading the brochures umpteen times a week. Ordered the car in September '02 and stuck around due to the wonderful community atmosphere that abounds in this corner of the Internet.

Now, I loved my MINI dearly and was deliriously happy until I had an accident in March '04, after which I started falling out of love a little. Lots of annoying rattles and other problems that the dealer was slow to resolve. And, for some reason, I decided I wanted something more grown up. So I started entertaining serious thoughts to parting with my MINI.

Come April '06, that's exactly what I did. I bought a VW Golf GT TDI with all the trimmings, thinking that I'd spend a bit more than I would usually and get something that would last. And with that, my reasons to stick around MINI2 went away. I liked the community, but there seemed to be a hardcore clique of people who hung around the lounge-type forums - I never felt like I fitted in there. So I left, thinking that would be the end of my MINI and MINI2 adventure.

But no! I was mistaken. Now, don't get me wrong. My Golf is a very nice car. It gets ridiculously good mileage (I got 58mpg on the computer this evening). It goes like a scalded cat (DSG gearbox is fantastic). It's got loads of toys - sat-nav, heated seats, automatic everything. It's dead easy to drive and has plenty of room.

One thing it doesn't have is a soul, or any character. It's just a car. I don't feel the bond with it that I felt with my MINI and the VW community is somewhat lacking compared to MINI2. Cleaning it out a few weeks ago, I was sitting in the back and suddenly thought "This car is way too big for me". 99% of the time, I'm the only one in the car. I don't need a five door family hatchback, I can quite easily do with a smaller car. The running costs are quite high (fuel, tax, servicing) and there's also the dealer factor. All that you've heard about VW dealers is correct: they'll gladly sell you a car, but they're awful after that. I needed four plastic new centre hub caps for my alloys. The cost: £63. For four pieces of plastic. Each service costs me upwards of £200.

So, I'm wanting another MINI. And I've come back to MINI2 in the meantime, until the time comes when my Golf turns three (next April) and I can get myself a new car, which, unless something strange happens, will be a Cooper S. Servicing: £150 for five years. Fuel consumption: almost the same. Tax: less. Dealers: slightly less evil. Smile factor: present. Community: miles better.

I've been a member and viewer of many internet discussion boards, and not one of them compares to MINI2, even if it seems somewhat quieter than it did when I was a regular member back in 2006.

[KillerByte]

Found through Google back in 2006 when I was still looking for my first MINI. Bought my Liquid Yellow/Black Cooper but stayed fairly quiet on MINI2 for the first year of my MINI ownership.

My first run was the Guinness World Record attempt up in Blackpool in March 2007 earning my MINI a place in the record books. I became more active on MINI2 following that and have been on many runs since and made many new friends. I've also created a neat little sideline producing signatures for various people on here.

Bought my 2006 Hyper Blue/White MINI Cooper S in March 2008 and I'm now looking forward to taking that on its first run in a couple of weeks - *ahem* Charity Ball run.

[big-kev]

I bought my MINI in september 2006 , and then set about finding a good members club to join to find out any common faults to look out for and if i needed any advice..Couldnt find a good club so i thought M2 would have to do!!

I now spend some time partaking in some banter and stuff even though the MINI is now gone !!

Probably found it through Google like many on here . This tinternet thingy is brill!!

[NickyJ]

The salesman who sold me my second MINI told me about MINI2 in March 2006 and I've been here ever since

Through MINI2 I've made some brilliant friends and had some amazing MINI adventures

[Jordan210]

Well my brother was a member when he got his car, after Bang MINI photo shoot i joined up after meeting MINIcabrio and a few other people this was when i was little think i was about 15 or 16 cant realy rember.

Then a few months after the shhot i joined up, then on the 19th of july off 2006 i got my little MINI

[Streeters]

Wife bought the MINI last may, and I thought the club scene was interesting, so we went to bealiueu last June and I then got hoked and trawled the net lurking on a few sites and lots of them referred to M2 as a good reference point, so I took the plunge. Met some nice peeps gotto go to TG this year and hope to meet more of you during show season

[Fevs]

yeah where do i start got a mini in 2003 after i came home got shut of that one in 2004 got another lost that to the ex wife in 2006 got another one right away met a cracking lady on here and lots of great friends and the rest if history

sure as i hell i found the site through google mind

[Banana Panceyette]

I'm really enjoying this thread so thought I would add to it

I've loved MINIs since the release but couldn't afford one while I was at Uni so when I left Uni and got a job and the first thing I did was buy a Cooper! Decided to do a few mods and did a Google search for what was available,at that point I stumbled upon MINI2! Got straight into it due the the friendliness of everyone and went on my first run 10 days later!
I've gone through 3 MINIs in that time, have met some of my best friends and my soulmate

An excellent Google find methinks

[murattaner]

Great stories, great thread. For me it was the Clubman. I did a lot of Googling to quench my thirst for Clubman/Traveller info in 2006/2007. Many times I ended up in MINI2. The atmosphere here lead me to stay. Admittedly I don't post very often but I don't even have a MINI yet.

MINI2 is the second best thing to owning a MINI for me at the moment. To explain why,
I must tell you about my MINI story, too:

In 2002, I had just returned to my country from England and was looking to buy a new car. My first choice was the (then) new MINI. The dealer here had only received one batch of MINIs so far and had sold all of them except a Liquid Yellow Cooper. My wife, who did not know about the MINI until then, loved the car at first sight.

Even though that car had a lot of extras I didn't want, I was ready to sign the papers that moment. The dealer was, too, until he had a phone conversation with his manager who told him they wanted to keep this last car on display for "potential customers".

The next shipment of MINIs to Turkey was months away and the currency conversion rates at that time were very volatile. That meant I couldn't wait and I sadly walked away.

And then we had twins and we postponed buying a MINI even further (not because of car size - we have one small & one large car anyway - but because of financial aspects). Our current plan is to buy one late 2009 or early 2010. Not sure about Clubman vs hatchback, though.

[Tombles]

I have always liked MINI's since they came out but never thought i would end up owning one (they came out when i was 17 and didn't even have a license).

A few years passed and i finally was in a position to buy a MINI. I was set on getting a Cooper and somehow managed to end up with a Cooper S lol. One of my friends has a MINI ONE and after i bought my Cooper S (back in Nov 2006) my friend told me of this site but i don't think he ever used it himself.

I then sold my Cooper S in the summer of 2007 as i was trying to be sensible and keep costs down (stupid) but my MINI urge came back as i really missed it. I missed it so much i have bought a MINI Cooper S JCW which i will be picking up tomorrow and i cannot wait

If only today would go quicker whilst im stuck at work!

Not only did I miss my MINI and the characteristics of it but I missed the great community. I have joined many forums when I was in search of a new car and none were anything quite like the MINI community