Minis are fantastic. I almost bought one when I sold my Miata, but I let the wife talk be out of it. :scowl:
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Any MINI owners here???
- Thread starter ExaltBass
- Start date
Here's why I find the idea so goofy:
ALL 3 are SAWEET!
I especially like the 124 (had a '69 124 wagon - still fun)The MINI is a 3rd vehicle for us - a weekend runner - not a mail driver)
Did you actually sit in one? Just curious. With the seat lowered and all the way back, I have to reach to touch the pedals and I'm 6'2". I had a friend who's 6'5" sit in mine and he was shocked at how much room he had. The car is very deceptive from the outside.
Sounds like you've never driven one
. I know the looks aren't for everyone but I've also run into several people who didn't like the looks until they saw one IRL.
ALL 3 are SAWEET!
The MINI is a 3rd vehicle for us - a weekend runner - not a mail driver)
Our daily drivers are a 92 Civic Si (original owner) and a 2003 Element EX-S. Then again I drive the Z3 Coupe way more than I probably should
I like the 124 Spider, it's like owning a time machine. And even though it was considered very small in it's day, it's roomier up front than any of our cars except the Mini. Mine has ~37k miles on it.
That's understandable, they're not for everybody. Instead of having one do-it-all vehicle, my wife and I like buying used vehicles... with the depreciation hit already taken, there are some pretty amazing deals out there.
Instead of getting a $45k SUV, we got the BMW, Mini Cooper S... and Element EX-S (over a four year period) for around the same money. And overall we doing very good as far as resale value.
That's understandable, they're not for everybody. Instead of having one do-it-all vehicle, my wife and I like buying used vehicles... with the depreciation hit already taken, there are some pretty amazing deals out there.
Instead of getting a $45k SUV, we got the BMW, Mini Cooper S... and Element EX-S (over a four year period) for around the same money. And overall we doing very good as far as resale value.
Yep. We did that with our Volvo V-70.
Bob Lee (QSC)
In case you missed it, I work for QSC Audio!
- Jul 3, 2001
- 12,668
- 2,036
- 67
- Disclosures
- Former Technical Communications Developer, QSC Audio
I agree about buying used. You can get pretty good values on cars.
My daily ride burns an average of about eight gallons a week and fits all my bass rig and gear in the back with part of the rear seat folded down:
I'd seriously consider a Mini any time, though. Especially if there are good performance/diagnostic systems you can plug into the OBD-II port (I use VAG-com software and a couple other programs on my GTI).
My daily ride burns an average of about eight gallons a week and fits all my bass rig and gear in the back with part of the rear seat folded down:
I'd seriously consider a Mini any time, though. Especially if there are good performance/diagnostic systems you can plug into the OBD-II port (I use VAG-com software and a couple other programs on my GTI).
I agree about buying used. You can get pretty good values on cars.
My daily ride burns an average of about eight gallons a week and fits all my bass rig and gear in the back with part of the rear seat folded down:
I'd seriously consider a Mini any time, though. Especially if there are good performance/diagnostic systems you can plug into the OBD-II port (I use VAG-com software and a couple other programs on my GTI).
GTI's are sweet. I had a 2003 VR6 GTI for a year. That thing moved. Great car.
I agree about buying used. You can get pretty good values on cars.
My daily ride burns an average of about eight gallons a week and fits all my bass rig and gear in the back with part of the rear seat folded down:
I'd seriously consider a Mini any time, though. Especially if there are good performance/diagnostic systems you can plug into the OBD-II port (I use VAG-com software and a couple other programs on my GTI).
Nice car. It's funny that people typically think that if they see you with a car, you bought it new. My BMW was about 1/4 of what the original sticker was. I figured that at the price I got it, even if the engine blew I'm still ahead of the game. Fortunately the car as is has been pretty much problem free for two years.
Scangauge II seems decent for diagnostics, especially for the money ($150)and gives some pretty useful readouts. It's made for mounting in the vehicle, multiple vehicles only require additional cables. I'm thinking about picking one up, I just have a basic code reader/reset tool.
They pay for themselves in no time IMO. I still haven't done any performance tweaks (the underpulley being the first obvious one), the car can easily get me in trouble if I don't pay attention to how fast I'm going.
Even worse in that respect is the BMW. 70 feels like 40 and it jumps to triple digits way too easily and quickly. And mine isn't an M. The torque is addictive. Fortunately I've been getting warnings... the last one the cop walked up, smiled and asked if I was just out for a ride and immediately said if my record was clean he was giving me a warning. I was moving just a bit too effortlessly
I agree about buying used. You can get pretty good values on cars.
My daily ride burns an average of about eight gallons a week and fits all my bass rig and gear in the back with part of the rear seat folded down:
I'd seriously consider a Mini any time, though. Especially if there are good performance/diagnostic systems you can plug into the OBD-II port (I use VAG-com software and a couple other programs on my GTI).
Very Sweet! I really dig the wheels. Here's mine:
It's an '07 that's all-stock right now, but it's a blast to drive. I want to put different wheels on mine and then lower it until it's about like yours - not slammed, but not SUV-high like it currently is. Mine, too, gets great gas mileage as long as I behave myself (which I don't do enough
), and I can fit tons of stuff in the back with the seats down.
Bob Lee (QSC)
In case you missed it, I work for QSC Audio!
- Jul 3, 2001
- 12,668
- 2,036
- 67
- Disclosures
- Former Technical Communications Developer, QSC Audio
Very Sweet! I really dig the wheels. Here's mine:
It's an '07 that's all-stock right now, but it's a blast to drive. I want to put different wheels on mine and then lower it until it's about like yours - not slammed, but not SUV-high like it currently is. Mine, too, gets great gas mileage as long as I behave myself (which I don't do enough
Those wheels on my car are 19" Motegi FF7s. I'm not looking forward to when I buy my next set of tires.
I think I would've settled for 17" myself.
I would have expected better.
My 95 Lumina gets 30+ on the highway, and 20 in the city. Not bad for a car that's twice the size and has 2x the engine as the Mini.
I love mine, and all my gear fits quite nicely!!
I LIKE it too!
(Astro Black?) it looks great with the black tinted windowsI carry waayyy too much gear to every gig...
Those wheels on my car are 19" Motegi FF7s. I'm not looking forward to when I buy my next set of tires.
Really? 19"? I think that's the 1st time I've seen above 18" not look ridiculous on a small car like that. Very nice!
I'm planning on doing 18's (those are 17" in the picture), then getting a sport suspension kit that will drop it maybe 1.5" all around... just enough to make it sit right, like yours does. I'm kinda leaning towards anthracite or black wheels, though. I think they'll look really sweet with the red car and black nose.
...then once the warranty expires, I'll really start to have some fun
There's an aftermarket chip that bumps the hp up to 250. Combine that with an intake and exhaust makeover, and I've got a fast little sleeper hatch
And no doubt the same handling and performance
The Mini Cooper S has a small four delivering 160+ hp. If you drive a regular Mini with a lighter foot or the MCS that way for that matter, you can get better gas mileage. The problem is, it's fun to put your foot into these things.
Really? 19"? I think that's the 1st time I've seen above 18" not look ridiculous on a small car like that. Very nice!
I'm planning on doing 18's (those are 17" in the picture), then getting a sport suspension kit that will drop it maybe 1.5" all around... just enough to make it sit right, like yours does. I'm kinda leaning towards anthracite or black wheels, though. I think they'll look really sweet with the red car and black nose.
...then once the warranty expires, I'll really start to have some fun
My Z3 Coupe is running staggered 19's.
