Surprising the mrs with a new car, inspire me!
Surprising the mrs with a new car, inspire me!
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Discussion

MBVitoria

Original Poster:

2,533 posts

250 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
quotequote all
Mrs has always wanted a classic mini. I've bought one without her knowing and want to surprise her this weekend.

Inspire me with your stories!

Thinking along the lines of lunch at a nice pub on Sat afternoon and leave the mini in the car park in advance. She's bound to comment on it and then I'll hand her the keys.

limpsfield

6,645 posts

280 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Scrooge is about 6 months early this year.



OP: well done! Make sure you let us know how it goes.

PositronicRay

28,855 posts

210 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
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Are you a member of the owners club?

If so ask if one of them can park a 1/2 finished knackered project there, present her the keys and hide. Once she regains her composure show her the little cutie you've purchased.

J1990

847 posts

80 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Even if it does turn out to be a 'never meet your hero' type scenario with the mini, OP is still getting the credit from her for giving her something she's wanted for a long time. Sometimes we yearn after cars and then find that the shine quickly wears off when you realise they're not practical, awkward to drive, uncomfortable etc. However, some people love the cars regardless, especially if it's only an occasional driver.

Our defender barely got used after we purchased it but it felt good to finally own one after wanting one for over 20 years, it felt like a great tick box exercise whilst I could still drive it around most parts of the country and, regardless of cost, I'm really glad I was able to experience defender ownership.


As others have said, the act of surprising your other half with something they've always wanted is always a positive thing, so long as cost of ownership, storage needs etc are all non-issues.

Sycamore

2,185 posts

145 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Go wk over your volts somewhere else mate and don't ruin what should be a nice post smile

ClaphamGT3

12,190 posts

270 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
I have to say I agree with this - inevitably it becomes apparent at some point that it isn't actually what they wanted - the colour will be slightly wrong/she'd actually have preferred a slightly different model/she never actually *wanted* one - she just thought they looked cool.


This works both ways by the way - some while ago, I bought Mrs C an R107 Mercedes that, after about a year of only me ever using, she sheepishly admitted she didnt really like. A number of years ago, I sold a Range Rover classic to a lady to give to her husband for his 40th birthday because he'd always loved them. Less than a week later she phoned to ask whether I fancied buying it back because, after one drive, he hated it

roboR

203 posts

134 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
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Shame this thread was moved, think it's more a GG thread than car buying. Goodluck OP hope it goes well and tell us the story after! I'm sure she's going to be delighted.

RB Will

10,786 posts

267 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
I guess it depends on the wife. My wife would definitely fit your thinking. Mine has been infatuated with ye olde VW buses since we saw a nice one at a local show the other week but I 10000% know that it would take all of one short journey to put her off it completely and she would never drive it again.

I can see it working out if your Mrs is a bit more mature and used to driving classics or a very confident driver who won’t get flustered with classic foibles.

Haven’t really got anything useful to add for OP, don’t know anyone that has done similar.
I probably would be up for doing similar if I had the money to spend on it and not worry if it just ended up being a few fun experiences.

BlindedByTheLights

1,994 posts

124 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
quotequote all
MBVitoria said:
Mrs has always wanted a classic mini. I've bought one without her knowing and want to surprise her this weekend.

Inspire me with your stories!

Thinking along the lines of lunch at a nice pub on Sat afternoon and leave the mini in the car park in advance. She's bound to comment on it and then I'll hand her the keys.
I think this sounds a really nice plan, what a great surprise. Let us know how it goes and pics of the car of course!

alscar

9,096 posts

240 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
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BlindedByTheLights said:
I think this sounds a really nice plan, what a great surprise. Let us know how it goes and pics of the car of course!
I second this - even if she decides it’s not the car for her for whatever reason it’s still a lovely thing to do.

Glenn63

3,854 posts

111 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
quotequote all
MBVitoria said:
Mrs has always wanted a classic mini. I've bought one without her knowing and want to surprise her this weekend.

Inspire me with your stories!

Thinking along the lines of lunch at a nice pub on Sat afternoon and leave the mini in the car park in advance. She's bound to comment on it and then I'll hand her the keys.
That sounds like a great plan OP. And if the off chance she comments that she hates it you can abort and pretend it’s someone else’s laugh jokes aside forget the other comments above I’m sure she’ll be over the moon with such a thoughtful gift.
Reminds me of car sos and some of their ‘reveals’ some great ones done there.

Kuwahara

1,488 posts

45 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Father in law surprised MIL with a SLK couple of years back for a birthday present,the pictures looked she’d had it repossessed,she can be a miserable bint though…biggrin

AndrewCrown

2,496 posts

141 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
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MBV
Sounds like a great plan.
You asked about other stories… Mrs C presented me with my Landie on my 40th at a London hotel… all covered in ribbons and balloons etc.
It was a very special moment…. Driving home lots of toots and waves from other drivers. So I am sure she will be thrilled.

Is it her birthday or special celebration?


Edited by AndrewCrown on Thursday 15th June 09:37

akirk

5,778 posts

141 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
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I did see a story once of a chap who gave his wife an ironing board wrapped up at the foot of the bed for their 25th wedding anniversary...
when she had finished killing him and he had persuaded her to open it - she found taped inside the keys to a brand new sports car on the drive

perhaps a risky approach - I think the pub approach sounds best!

Gad-Westy

16,440 posts

240 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
quotequote all
BlindedByTheLights said:
MBVitoria said:
Mrs has always wanted a classic mini. I've bought one without her knowing and want to surprise her this weekend.

Inspire me with your stories!

Thinking along the lines of lunch at a nice pub on Sat afternoon and leave the mini in the car park in advance. She's bound to comment on it and then I'll hand her the keys.
I think this sounds a really nice plan, what a great surprise. Let us know how it goes and pics of the car of course!
Yep, agreed. Sounds like a great plan.

Bobupndown

2,884 posts

70 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
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Lovely plan. What model have you bought her?

JagYouAre

684 posts

197 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
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What a really, really nice idea OP, I am sure she will love it! My wife is similar but her dream is a Morris Traveller - I'd love to do similar one day if I have somewhere sensible to keep it.

Weird negativity further up thread - what's the worst that can happen? She doesn't like the reality and it gets moved on, but she'll sure have appreciated the gesture and it will create a lasting memory. Pretty sure no-one buys a car of that vintage expecting all the mod cons. Hell I've just bought a 12 year old 911 and even that feels a bit dark ages compared to what I'm used to these days!

Please do come back with an update thumbup

cholo

1,177 posts

262 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
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I'd actually love to do this for my wife. Trouble is she changes what she likes every 5 minutes!

Whataguy

1,129 posts

107 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
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One of the best cars I've had was a 1994 Classic Mini Cooper, bought from new.

0-60 might only be 12 or so seconds, but the cornering really is like a go kart. You can actually get quite a bit inside one as the packaging is good. Driving position is different to ordinary cars, it's a bit like a bus. I actually liked the whine from the gearbox in lower gears. No aircon on mini, but you can have it fitted if you really want to (costs quite a bit.)

I much prefer it to the new MINI, I've driven new coopers and cooper convertibles but just never gelled with them at all.

Even if she doesn't like it, you won't lose any money as they are classics now and there is a big market.

pb8g09

3,146 posts

96 months

Thursday 15th June 2023
quotequote all
Sycamore said:
Go wk over your volts somewhere else mate and don't ruin what should be a nice post smile
laughlaughlaugh