A moment

October 15, 2000 6:42 AM

A moment of silence for the end of The Mini. "My theory is 'Buy a Mini, get a social life for free.' It's true, believe me."
posted by thc (5 comments total)

My dad's first car was a Mini 850. I was six, and it was small for me.

But they're gorgeous little cars, in spite of the dodgy acceleration and the water-conditioned footwells: you can't help thinking that they come with a sense of fun, unlike those fucking awful SUVs. I want one.
posted by holgate at 10:13 AM on October 15, 2000

Truly the end of an era.
posted by amanda at 12:05 PM on October 15, 2000

[The social life comment is a quote from the article]

Grrrr... So much stuff is sold as being the answer to people's social problems. If you want a social life, just try talking to people instead of worrying about money.

But yes, it's a pity they won't be made any more. I guess BMW is going to turn them into a rich kid's toy (like the new VW Beetle).

posted by andrew cooke at 12:18 AM on October 16, 2000

I saw 4 of the new 'minis' on the road the other day, I think they must have been on a test run (I believe they are made in Oxford, a little north of where I live), they're not mini at all, they're about the size of a VW Golf. They're like a normal small car made up to look like a mini. Not impressed.
posted by Markb at 1:52 AM on October 16, 2000

Yeah, I'm all full of nostalgia myself. My dad drove a mini when I was growing up and I have the best memories of being the perfect kids car -- tiny donut wheels (which coincidentally fell off once in a high speed turn) and such.

I've been itching to get a new one when they come out, but the new design doesn't quite capture the sentimentality I feel for the original design.
posted by josholalia at 4:51 PM on October 16, 2000