[boogetyboogety]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

I once owned a cousin of the Mini... a 1966-model MG 1100. As I recall, it was similar (if not identical, if differently-badged) to the Austin America, and a bit larger than the Mini. Every once in a blue moon, one or the other pops up on eBay (usually as "parts cars"... siiiiiiiigh).

Front driver, seated 4... the enormeous trunk extended under the seats in back (you could slide a small folding card table under there and close the lid! :shock: )... went like stink and handled about as well as anything handled in the mid-60's. It was tiny (not much longer than an MGB as I recall, and about as wide). I remember it got 25-30 mpg back then on a tiny, east-west four-banger with the radiator in the left wheelwell :roll: ...

Got rid of it because of the electric gremlins (daily appearances... had nothing to do with the 12v positive ground system), a screaming speedometer (a mechanical bar would go left-to-right under a row of horizontally-oriented numbers, numerous trips to dealer for lubrication never cured the noise problem, think of a muted blender on "liquefy" for a sample), and non-existent dealership network for service farther than 20 miles from home...

But now that you mention it... why not a hybrid vehicle like that? It was very useful, large inside, small outside, a ton of storage room, fun to drive (I first learned how to do bootleg turns with the handbrake in this, my first-ever front driver... I'm grinning right now) ...

Let me think... Honda quality, all of the above virtues, none of the gremlins, and 50-60 mpg... Yes, I'd buy one tomorrow :mrgreen:

 

[boogetyboogety]

The Mini is not for everyone... but...

If you appreciate the Insight, you owe it to yourself to test-drive a Mini. It's just a hoot... and the smaller-is-better movement is not a bad thing as far as I'm concerned. I'm not saying you have to love it, just drive one to see what the hoopla is all about.

And if you get hold of a CooperS! Oh, my, gawd! That thing is just a little rocket.

I envy the Euros with their little Smart cars and other maneuverable, fun, small vehicles that we will never in a million years get here (because of our litigious society, our "gotta have some metal around me" attitudes, and our cheeep gas). When My Beloved and I hop the pond, I make every effort to drive and rent as many cool, unavailable-here vehicles in Europe as I can... and the Mini is just one available-to-us sample of the wares we don't get over here. We're lucky to have it... almost as lucky as we are to have the Insight! :mrgreen:

 

[boogetyboogety]

Yeah, Rick...

Given the choice between a Mini Cooper S and a "Stookey," I'd get the Honda fer shure. Yes, it's a little more "nervous" when you drive it, but that adds to the thrill, don't it...

I didn't mention before because I forgot, but the Mini runs on (gasp! :evil: ) premium fuel. That really good mileage idea sure takes a hit when you're spending more for gas from day one. As long as you're going a little deeper into the Visa, I'd leave the Mini behind for my trusted Honda reliability.

Your opinion is always valued; as they say, "that's what makes horse races." I'd just like to see more variety in the hybrid world, which I have no doubt is coming...

 

[boogetyboogety]

Mini look-alikes...

Oh, yes, the earlier Hondas looked a lot like the Minis. Other cars as well... there's a good reason for that...

Sir Alec Issigonis designed both the Morris Minor and the Morris Mini-Minor (the Mini), front-drive vehicles that carried the greatest payload in the smallest practical space. This "two box" approach maximized passenger space and minimized propulsion space. If you wanted that combo from any manufacturer, front-wheel-drive and a two-box design was the most elegant way to go.

My first Honda... a '80 retina-searing, VERY bright yellow 5-speed Civic (I called it "Tweety-Pie yellow" so My Beloved at the time [I forget which roman numeral she was :roll: ] picked the personalized plate "2ET PIE" :roll: ) looked just like a Mini from the side, at least to me. Sure was a fun little booger, would return 35 mpg, go 100+ mph, and cost us less than $5,600 with tax, title, and license... and air! I miss the old days...