Click above for live high-res images of the JCW Minis from Geneva
So, with that information established, what kind of car is most likely to attract attention? According to a recent survey by the U.K. "used car hypermarket" Carcraft shows that MINI owners are the most likely to reach out on the interwebs, with Honda Civic owners coming in at a distant second. Follow the break for Carcraft's list of the Top Ten "Friendliest" Cars, along with the accompanying press release.
[Source: Carcraft]
PRESS RELEASE
WANT MORE FRIENDS? BUY A MINI
Could the car you drive really boost your social life? It could if you choose the right model according to new research into online social networking.
Research published this month by Carcraft, the UK's longest established used car hypermarket chain, found that many thousands of car owners are joining Facebook groups set up specifically to exchange messages and advice with fellow owners of the same make of car.
Mini Cooper drivers were the friendliest of all, according to the Carcraft survey, with more than 20,000 drivers networking across more than 300 groups.
Barry Nightingale, managing director at Carcraft, says: "It is interesting to see that cars are not only viewed as a symbol of wealth and status but they are increasingly becoming a crucial part of people's identity and social life. This is reflected online with large numbers using sites such as Facebook to network with like-minded drivers.
"The website is even encouraging the trend by introducing a 'garage' application, which allows users to publish the make and model of their car on their personal profile page."
Since it launched four years ago, Facebook has become one of the most popular social networking sites, with more than 61 million active users and countless special interest groups.
Frances Brown, a 26-year-old Mini Cooper driver from Manchester has discovered that car interest groups have a number of uses besides boosting her tally of Facebook friends.
She explains: "Facebook groups are a good way to chat to likeminded people and to discuss different car makes, as you can read about people's actual experiences. They can help you save money and keep you up to date with new launches. I regularly post messages to other Mini drivers in the group to share information on anything from repair costs to different models and new accessories."
The top 10 'friendliest' cars according to Carcraft's research* are:
|
Car |
Number of fan groups |
Total number of fan group members (approx) |
|
Mini Cooper |
310 |
23,756 |
|
Honda Civic |
187 |
11,102 |
|
Ford Fiesta |
145 |
3,603 |
|
Ford Ka |
81 |
1,902 |
|
VW Golf |
70 |
1,455 |
|
Renault Clio |
68 |
1,343 |
|
VW Polo |
56 |
1,247 |
|
Vauxhall Corsa |
41 |
1,369 |
|
Toyota Yaris |
30 |
1,869 |
|
Audi A3 |
23 |
1,610 |
*Research based on the top 30 makes and models of car and figures calculated in March 2008.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Juan @ Mar 27th 2008 11:08AM
In the US, Jeeps would be near the top of the list, too.
Monkey @ Mar 27th 2008 11:17AM
I completely agree...we Wrangler owners wave to one another.
Morgan @ Mar 27th 2008 12:35PM
If you count all the jeep clubs and members it would dwarf the mini number.
adsfas 2342341 sadf @ Mar 31st 2008 12:15AM
Jeep Wrangler - very popular with San Francisco hair-dressers cruising the Castro!
In the gay section of SF, there are two types of cars: Minis and Wranglers.
Sadly, I'm not joking. I like the wrangler a lot, but it is one of the top 5 "gay" cars.
Dan Gemmell @ Mar 27th 2008 11:19AM
I am a Scion driver and there are a few forums I know that we are involved with like ScionLife.com and YourSciontC.com are the 2 that I am involved with, there's gotta be thousands of people on those sites. I think they are generally cool places to find out stuff about your car but also meet like-minded people like the article said.
Kaptain75329 @ Mar 27th 2008 11:20AM
Hey.. where's the Mazda3? You get a lot for the money. Who wouldn't be enthused about snaggin' a top-end Grand Touring model loaded for less than $19K when it normally comes in just over $24K?
There should be a "Cheapskates Livin' Large" group or something. :-P
Chris @ Mar 27th 2008 11:22AM
Gee, just like the Miata, go figure
Peter @ Mar 27th 2008 11:25AM
bought a Mini for my wife - it certainly improved my life!!!
MCS05 @ Mar 27th 2008 11:27AM
i found those MINI forums quite helpful when I had questions about tires/wheels etc. But I thought a lot of those folks were really weird as well. A good percentage named their cars are referred to them as living beings. That creeped me out so I sold mine.
tenfifteen @ Mar 27th 2008 11:40AM
LOL... I was writing mine while yours posted, I guess. I see we're on the same page. My wife still loves hers, I still like mine (mine was the last Reader Ride of the Day here, btw), E46 M3 time soon though.
tenfifteen @ Mar 27th 2008 11:38AM
We are a two Cooper S family for the time being, and I've certainly gained a lot of modding knowledge online at one forum in particular, but really... the 'MINI Community' can be a little annoying; in a lot of ways, not unlike Trekkies, Maccies, console fanboys, and any other too-obsessed group united around something.
The article's correct--there are monthly meetings with my local club that are well attended, regular weekend drives, the "Tail of the Dragon" run, all of which I've been to (once each). But you're not really surrounded by sportscar/gearhead types so much as the type of people who name their cars (not kidding, very common).
If that's your idea of a good time, you'll meet a lot of people just like yourself. If that's a turnoff, well... you still have a solid little ride that is a joy to drive.
p.s. I use a Mac before anyone hops on that comment. ;)
YouFaceTheTick @ Mar 27th 2008 11:42AM
I own a Cooper S and Mini people are weird. Cultish. They wave at you , beep, etc when they pass. I just follow along at this point but I really don't grasp the concept of "I'm connected to you because we bought the same brand of car."
tenfifteen @ Mar 27th 2008 11:49AM
Yes... the level of expectance on the waving thing in particular is a real turnoff. I rarely even look up anymore when I see an approaching MINI, because I know there's a 90% chance it's being piloted by some bouncing douche who is waving frenetically and grinning like he just won the lottery.
If I see an MCS with an aftermarket exhaust, I know it's probably modded elsewhere, and I may give a little beep and approving nod. But then I'll do that with a nice R32, S4, Corvette, etc. as well.
But there are long threads about the waving etiquette thing at MINI forums, with lots of people decrying those who choose not to be a dork as "rude." Great, we both chose the same car, yay us!!!, /wave/, OMG BFF!
WTFE. So lame.
psarhjinian @ Mar 27th 2008 11:56AM
I get a bit of the from driving a Saab, but truthfully not as much as I'd expect. Of course, I dont actually see that many on the road, so...
Jason @ Mar 27th 2008 12:17PM
Don't ever buy a motorcycle then...
LoneWolf @ Mar 27th 2008 12:01PM
Are you talking about the classic Mini Cooper or the Bmw?
Tsunami Racer @ Mar 27th 2008 12:09PM
if i were mini's ad agency, i'd change my strategy immediately from "Mini. Let's Motor." to "Mini. Buy One and Get Some."
bonh @ Mar 27th 2008 12:30PM
mmmmm.. honda-tech has 280,000+ members.
Harrison @ Mar 27th 2008 1:33PM
What you're saying is... if I buy a Mini, I'll get laid?
Sign me up!
MikeInNC @ Mar 27th 2008 1:36PM
I ordered a Cooper S about a year before it came to the US and got one of the first S's in North Carolina (Dark Silver/Lapis-Black w/ Stripes and Spots). I tell you, it was like being the best friend of a rock star driving that thing around. I can't tell you how many attractive single women would just walk right up and talk to you out of the blue. On that note, my wife also loved it, despite the attention I (the car) was getting. I've moved on but that car was a blast and the web community was second to none.