Monday, November 8, 2010

"So Long" to the Mini

After a year or more of talking about selling the Mini Cooper, we have decided to do it. With winter fast approaching, having a vehicle that sits so low has never been a good idea for Wisconsin country weather. We have a station wagon (and the work van) that we have been using (neither one of them make it up the farm driveway very well) and the Mini has been stored at the farm for a while. We brought it home this weekend to get ready to sell. It has been my vehicle to drive around since we bought it in the fall of 2005 new. Steve has always loved Mini's (esp. the old ones from the 60's), and that is why we bought it. I fell in love with it when we test drove it. The kids were never that crazy about me driving such a "mini" car and I have to say that after the accident, I never have "loved" it the same. Still, we will be sad the day it sells. What to replace it with? Hopefully, a Subaru Outback wagon. They are all wheel drive and sit up a lot higher. Same gas mileage too. We are looking for a used model, probably around 2005 or 2006. (Not the kind that looks like an SUV) We really like the two-toned green the best, like the ones below. We can't be too picky with a used car color though.


Here's the mini the day after we bought it.

So now I will start detailing it and buy a couple signs to throw in the windows. Hopefully it won't take too long. Snow is not far off...

9 comments:

SkippyMom said...

Adorable! I have always loved small cars. But ever since a drunk driver hit and totaled my compact Chevy Aveo I won't own anything small.

I thank god everyday no one was in the backseat when it happened.

Anonymous said...

Shame you have to sell your "Cooper" but, you'll need a good snow car. Jeeps are also great snow cars. Good luck selling it. Shouldn't have too much trouble with it being cute and red!! Good luck!! debbie

ANichols.Too said...

Well, that answers some of the questions I had about Minis! We sold our Miata for similar reasons. Hope you get the car you want!

the wild magnolia said...

Snappy looking little baby car!

Happy sales to you! :))

Anonymous said...

Mini Coopers are great summer cars, but I have to admit that I would hate it in winter. Thankfully the road here in the village is great, but that doesn´t help when the roads outside the village is terrible :-) :-)

I would love to have a bigger all wheel drive car, but they cost to much for me I´m afraid.

Good luck in finding a good car!
Christer.

Nancy said...

Minis are for California or Arizona. I bought my 2000 Ford F150 4WD new, and I've never regretted it. We have horrible blizzards and large drifts in the winter, but my F150 got me home, no matter what. Hope you find your Outback soon, and with a low sticker price!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Hi Barb & Steve, just dropped in for a visit from Christer's blog which we follow. Your red mini Cooper looks like a fun car and it would be great on the VA eastern shore because we don't get snowy winters. Subarus are good bad weather vehicles, but we are now a Jeep family. Feel free to drop by our blog anytime; we do enjoy company: http://thefrogandpenguinn.blogspot.com/

angie said...

Hi Barb,

We have an 2002 Subaru Forester and we love it. It can handle those SW Wisc hills (!!), we can throw our canoe on top, we can load it down with tools and it is safe - all while still being a good city car. Good luck!

Lynn said...

I've always thought the mini-Cooper is a neat, neat car. But, like you, living in a rural area, hmmm, way too low to the ground. Our roads are not exactly the best and then there are times one has to go off road...too many dips, bushes and "hills" to worry about dead-centering. lol