I was thinking the same thing. We bought a new 2004 Civic Hybrid but those days a $7,500 tax credit was in play here in CA. Best I could get out of it was 36 mpg and always wondered it the difference in price between a conventional engine and hybrid was worth it.

We then bought an Mini Cooper (2008?) after she totaled the Civic and the Mini is going strong but she babies it and only drives if she cannot take one of our cars. So no idea what the long term reliability is going to be or how many miles on it.

Friend really wanted a Mini and bought one. Turned out to be a costly mistake, he took a not inconsequential loss to finally get rid of it.
Now he's back to bimmers, go figure.

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Did your friend know that the Mini is a 'mini-bimmer'? :)

"La la la" (fingers in ears), he can't hear you.

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Mini are very cool but I have a problem with any car that you have to call a tow truck when ya get a flat. No spare is silly, but there's no room for one..

They give a can of Fix-A-Flat with the car?

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Just pick it up and carry it to the shop! :)

Or kick it there, assuming exasperation and local dealer/service. Drop kick if further.

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Have you ever seen a "Mini" next to a real Mini? The fake ones aren't really so small.

http://images.caradisiac.com/images/...car-255279.jpg

I used to go to a hill climb event at Chimney Rock in the hills of North Carolina. One year it was raining pretty hard and the Mini-Coopers were king of the hill. Light weight and front wheel drive ruled the day.

http://www.chimneyrockpark.com/event...gofthehill.pdf



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