You know you're a MINIac when... by A Dozen MINIac's.

You know you are a MINIac when...

Coasterguy:

• You intentionally stop at the store even when you don't need anything, just to watch people point at your car.
• Your favorite hobby is now sitting at the coffee shop and counting how many people stop and look in the windows of your MINI. *
• You ride the Skyscraper ride at the local carnival so you can check out the Union Jack on the roof from high up in the air.
• You signed the papers and bought the car before you had even given one a test drive. *
• You NEVER eat in the car anymore, even though you ate almost all your meals in the previous car.
• You actually look forward to traffic jams because the other drivers can safely gawk and roll down the windows and ask questions. *
• You offer a ride home to co-workers you don't even LIKE. *
• You take your camera with you everywhere you go, just in case you find a scenic background that your MINI will look good against.
• You spend as much on car washes as you do on gas. *
• You've been banned from several Toyota, Honda, and Mazda dealerships for cruising the lots in your MINI and telling prospective Camry, Accord, and Protege buyers "Hey! For less money, you could be driving one of THESE!"
• You roll alongside a Lexus, Mercedes, Jag, or Acura for awhile just to nod to the driver in a "Your payments are twice as high, but my car is twice as cool" acknowledgement.
• You know the car wash manager by name.
• That same car wash manager knows your MINI by name.
• You've had your car for less than a month, and you're already thinking of what accessories to get on your NEXT one. *
• You worry that your spouse's new car might make your MINI jealous.
• You seriously consider divorce (irreconcilable differences) because the spouse is considering buying something OTHER than a MINI.
• You buy a die-cast replica of your car to hang from the rearview... LOOK! A mini-MINI! (Got mine on EBAY for $3) *
• You peruse the isles of accessory gadgets in the auto store, only to realize that none of that cheap crap is worthy of your car. *
• You wait by the exit of the store and don't go out until you see someone gawking at your car. Then you casually exit, and cheerfully answer all their questions.

Bennus:

• You can't sleep and cry all night because your MINI is still at the distribution center.
• You hate your spouse for suddenly having an interest in learning to drive a stick. *
• You seriously think you 'need' the special MINI luggage.
• You're upset that the Nav system moves the speedometer to the 'proper' place. *

Minimom:

• Your a woman and are at the doctor sitting on a table under the wonderful paper sheet and ask that the blinds be opened so you can watch your Mini in the parking lot.
• You awake from surgery and ask how your Mini is, instead of "how are the kids".
• You find really cool office buildings that reflect so you can drive past and see yourself in them. *

3D_geek:

• You spend more on car washes than gas. *
• You try to get out of other people's cars by yanking twice on the door handle. *
• You have four or more die-cast MINI toys. *
• More people know the name of your car than know your name.
• 03BRGMCS means something to you. *
• You wear a glove on your right hand on cold days. *
• You spend more than 20 minutes racking your brain to think of something clever and original to add to this thread. *
• You stop worrying about the speedometer being in the middle. (That's not because you got used to it being there - it's because you know your gear ratios well enough that you can drive at any speed you want using just the tachometer). "Oh-oh I'm doing 3600 in a 3200 zone!" *

Vtlsgns:

• Your wife knows that when she wakes up a 2am and your not in bed you are in the garage "getting to know your MINI".
• Your wife doesn't think that this is too weird, and promises not to tell the neighbors. *
• You have been pulled over buy a police officer for speeding, but instead of a ticket you got him interested in buying a MINI
• You have to get to work a half hour early so that you are sure everyone will see you get out of your MINI
• You don't mind getting to work an hour early the next day so that you can give all those same people a ride in that "crazy little car"
• You have set up MINI briefings in the cafeteria at work to explain what it is and how "You too can get one!"
• Your friends and family now call you by your MINIs name
• You have spent countless hours at the DMV searching for that perfect license plate for your baby
• You agree that this is the best thread ever started at the Owners Lounge.
• Your news year resolution is to "Love my family as much as my MINI".
• Your wife said it's me or that car and you really had to think about it.
• All the single women at work are now talking about "that guy who drives the MINI".

Taulfinger:

• You constantly scan oncoming traffic in hopes of crossing paths with a fellow motorers. *
• You know, day by day, since delivery of your MINI, if/when you saw another MINI on the road. *
• You not only remember which days you saw another MINI, but you can tell everyone what color, which model, which optional wheels, etc! *
• You actually DO tell everyone you know that you saw another one... including interrupting your spouse at work with a cell phone call.
• You skip a trip to the doctor to X-ray a hurt elbow instead take your poor MINI to the Dent Doctor to have a door ding fixed. I mean really, my elbow will heal ITSELF, right?
• You have all your upgrades and accesory purchases planned for the next six paychecks.

SingaporeJim:

• You cleaned, waxed and detailed your mini after every drive, even one to the drugstore and back.

Sgleason:

• You are not driving your Mini - you spend countless hours reading and commenting on the Message Boards. *
• You read EVERY word in the owners manual - twice
• You get your Production number from MINI - you check it three to four times a day to see if the status has changed.
• You shave your dogs before you let them in your MINI.

Phil_Kidd:

• Your parents call you from their cell phone every time they see another MINI so they can tell you about it (model, color, options etc).

Sam:

• Your spouse tells you every time he sees a MINI
• Your spouse cleaned out the garage, painted it, put in shelves and reorganized it "So you can open the door of your MINI easier, honey."
• Clients calling for service support ask how your MINI is first
• Coworkers no longer go out front for a smoke break, they're visiting your MINI.
• You tell people "I used to work for <fill in blank>, but now I'm a sales person for MINI and it's kinda true.
• You used to detest traffic, now you enjoy it.
• Washing the car is now an event even your dogs enjoy.

Shamrock:

• You get a desire for MINIMints when you get in the car and the smell of leather hits your nose.
• You have the complete demo of all the features down to a set patter.
• You buy a Topo map disk to look for the twisty roads
• You spend hours ranting and raving over the fact that there is no shop manual available to learn every part of the mini.