u/FriendshipRadiant121

I test drove a super cute 2013 MINI Cooper S convertible today — silver exterior with a black soft top. I went during peak traffic hours, and I struggled so much with restarting from a stop in traffic. There were small bumps / slight inclines, so I had to give it more throttle than I’m used to with a manual, and I was constantly stressed and I stalled over and over when I don't give enough throttle. Also I test drove by myself and get lost on my way back to the dealer since it doesn't have a carplay lol.. Overall I stalled a ridiculous number of times, and now I’m wondering if manual just isn’t for me :(((

It makes me really sad because I love the idea of a manual MINI, but maybe it’s not the most rational choice given my current skill level... Should I just give up on manual? Or how to improve if I want to give it another shot...? I am thinking about doing a 3-day of a manual car over the weekend to practice more, but I feel discouraged by this most recent experience...

Has anyone did this before? please help!

Hi friends, I get selected for H1b this year and was wondering if I can file H1b petition with an airbnb address? As it might take me sometime to finalize the address since I am planning to move in September/ October, but the filing deadline is coming close (end of June). Has anyone done this before? And what do I need to do if I end up having to change address after moving & before petition get approved? Thank you!

Hi friends, I get selected for H1b this year and was wondering if I can file H1b petition with an airbnb address? As it might take me sometime to finalize the address since I am planning to move in September/ October, but the filing deadline is coming close (end of June). Has anyone done this before? And what do I need to do if I end up having to change address after moving & before petition get approved? Thank you!

Hey friends! So I’m currently looking to get a MINI S as my first car. Absolutely loved it the first time I test drove one — I actually just randomly bumped into it at a dealership haha! My budget is relatively tight, and most cars within that range ($10k–13k) are usually 2014+ with 80k+ miles. 3rd gen is relatively durable but I still heard MINI maintenance can get pricey and issues will eventually come up. So I’m trying to leave some room in my budget for future maintenance & basic mods as well. I’m okay with spending time learning maintenance myself, and I also have friends who are familiar with fixing MINIs and adding mods (backup camera, CarPlay, etc), but want to know what will it look like realistically before I get it. I’ve driven my friend’s 2014 F56 S for a few days commuting just to get a feel for it. To be honest, it’s not the most comfortable car in heavy traffic, and it’s super noisy on the highway. The AC on that one also wasn’t working super well, but I still really love the engine feel and how light it feels. Weather also shouldn’t be a huge issue since I live in Northern California. Overall I’m pretty determined on getting a MINI S 😭 I’m a single 28F(5'5) so it should be enough room for myself and occasionally giving my friend a ride. Definitely not as roomy and comfortable as a Mazda/civic/bmw I test drove before, but adds a lot more excitement! But besides commuting, I also love road trips and usually drive around 200~300 miles on weekends. I also do some mountain driving with friends. I’d love to do longer road trips once I get a MINI too, but I’m a little worried whether the harder suspension will become tiring for long-distance driving or make it not ideal as a first car if I drive this much. For reference, my back actually hurts a bit even in a Honda Type R after an intense day trip, and that’s already a relatively comfortable sporty car in my opinion😂 I’m also considering getting an S with a manual transmission to make the driving experience even more fun, and would appreciate any thoughts on that as well. Haven’t really had the chance to properly test drive a manual MINI yet. My family got a Volkswagen Touran manual. I stalled it a few times when I first learned, but I’m confident I’ll get the hang of it! I’m thinking about renting a MINI for a longer period to test all these things out first. I want to keep the car for as long as I can, and I’ll definitely need it for both everyday use and weekend drives for at least the next 3 years, so I’m trying to be careful with my decision and do my best to get a reliable one. Overall my main questions:

• Is a 2014–2016 F56 S around 100k miles still a reasonable buy? What maintenance costs/issues should I realistically expect?
• Is MINI manual forgiving or hard to drive?
• Is it comfortable enough for regular 2–4 hour drives/road trips?

Thanks!! 🥰