BALLISTIC is my one true love . . . I had to choose . . . my wife & kids nice house, etc, etc or BALLISTIC . . . Anyways, BALLISTIC now resides in a lovely spacious dwelling that has massive amounts of bench space, many perishable items when required, tv, dvd/video, surround sound, wood heater, fridge & most importantly a well stocked bar.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDMkVq1jRGU

no other car puts a smile on my dial...small car big attitude,looks good sounds good,handles better.

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First you get the money,then you get the power,then you get the Mini.

I've never tried spending a night sleeping in a mini - what's it like?

For me the mini is about feeling like you're moving - no other car makes you so sure you know what's happening (or what's about about to stop happening).

The attention is also nice - you can spend 150k on a semi-modern ferrari, and have everyone think "what a wally" as you carve them up... or you can spend 10k on a mini and get nothing but smiles (and pissed off ferarri drivers/ P platers trying to prove something by "racing" you )

There's also the cheekiness - I've gotten away doing little stuff in the mini that would get me pulled over in my daily, or at least have people shaking their heads... (Driving backwards down one way streets, etc) but in a mini it's endearing

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"smooth seas do not make skillful sailors"

Haha, that's so true. I remember back when i had my old clubby when i was on my P's . I tried to do a handbrake turn 90' into macas one day and ended up turning right around and reversing in the driveway. There was an old guy at a table watching the whole thing happen, and as i slowly reversed past him i looked over to see him looking straight back at me with a huge smile on his face.

I miss those smiles.. ... ... i cant wait to be back on the road in a mini again.

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Tim
Dusk Blue
1964 850

It soaks in slowly......as you start to flaver the enjoyment of the mini your start to crave more and more till you realise that there is only one thing (apart from you family) that has a large bearing in your life so you start to arrange holidays around Mini events and the family says you hav a desease.........that when you realise you hooked.

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61 van
63 countryman
63 saloon
67 auto
73 auto clubman
75 1000cc clubman
77 sccr 998 clubman
NZ 79 1275gt clubman estate
79 LE
80 meanee
Racecar
Fiat 500

Wasn't it the late motoring journalist Peter Wherret who said that if you only got a chance to drive one car before you die then it would have to be a Mini, no contest!

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Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
1970 Mk2 Cooper S (1310)
1978 Rover SD1 V8 (4.6)
1996 Land Rover Discovery V8 (4.0)

Because there's always the vaguely exciting chance that the noisy, smelly and shaky mini just might not get you to where you want to go.

If I wanted to always be dependable I would bought a Hyundai.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

So you don't have much faith in the swift then Mick?

Yeah, I wouldn't either

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You're so square
Baby I don't care

For me it's this feeling that such a basic, fun car is actually legal.

I drive them and feel I'm getting away with something.

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1964 Cooper UK 970 S 'CZ 4289'

Ahh you found my weakness! The swift is the next best thing to a mini! Except it is quiet, smooth and more likely than not will get me there... which is a little more less exciting than the chance of not.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

was not the old saying"to arrive at the pearly gates sedatly
untousled is boring.
the correct way is to slide insideways in a mini with a grin on your face exclaiming bloody hell that was fun"

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65 panel van Sprog
73 panel van Iggy

It all started in 1965 when as an 8yr old I was transported to the weekend soccer game in a team mates brothers new light blue with white roof cooper s slicing through the saturday morning traffic I was sold and so when it came time to buy my 1st car what else was it going to be but a mini, a number of minis later we have not long finished a refirb on on the car we bought 1 yr ago and in a tribute to the 1st cooper s I rode in we painted it light blue with a white roof , once they are in your blood you NEVER lose it !!!

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That's why it's good to be.............ME

Because I like debt.

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You're so square
Baby I don't care

for me it's in the blood...my grandfather owned a BMC dealership in the 60's, my father bought a brand new 850 in the 60's and then a 1100 in the 70's so it was appropriate for me to have a mini obsession. My very first car was a leyland 998, it was great until I flipped it on its roof! Mini ownership just continued from there...i love the look, the sound, the ride and the quirky a-series engine.....one of a kind!