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I just wanted to do another spring update. I was driving down Wilshire Blvd here in LA, near LACMA/La Brea Tar Pits. Ask your friends about that stretch if you have any that live around LA, and they can tell you how bad it is. OR you can just trust me and imagine giant potholes, pothole repairs the shape of shitake mushrooms, 3" unfilled cracks in the road, etc AND it's sloped down towards the gutter @ about 15-20 degrees.
Basically, I was off-roading while going to my friends house. The springs held up wonderfully. No underbody scrapes, the ride was fairly smooth considering the surface. Except for one storm drain where the road drop about a foot, i was able to do a consistant 30mph, where about a month earlier I was only able to do about 20mph and my friend's teeth were chattering while she was talking to me.
I think I made a good choice since this is a DD and little if any serious track time. No rubbing, underbody is intact and no scraping my driveway at home or at work. I've been able to traverse every parking lot speed bump so far as well. I'd probably consider the NM if roads were better and i'd be attending track events.
Pickin up my NM springs from a local shop tomorrow. They won't be installed till the 16th. i'm a little nervous about the crappy roads around here, but their drop isn't as drastic as the eibach or H&R, so I'm okay with it. I just really want the more aggressive drop, and I will be seeing some track time. probably will be upgrading to the koni fsd shocks at some point down the line.
if these were a tad lower and still ran the same, i'd be in total love. then again, i'm trying to be more low key, i would like to look as stock as possible.
i'm going for the modded, yet "clean" look. I want it to be apparent that I have aftermarket stuff done but I'm staying as far away from the tuner scene as possible.
It looks like my MINI is going to be the 1st W23 '08 to be adopted by another owner. (at least I think so?)
Back in April of 2008 I was notified that my team was being transferred out of my Manhattan office to an office 20 miles deep into the suburbs of New Jersey. They offered to leave me in Manhattan (alone on an empty floor) as I was at the time without a car (quite happily too) and it was going to be difficult to require that I buy a car without coughing up similar compensation. While clearly not a great choice for me in terms of being out of the big city and having to buy a car, I opted to move with the team as a means of maintaining my connection with my coworkers. Career over social life if you will. With the whole recession over the last year, I was very glad I made this choice!
So I bought a MINI with all of you folks, weeeee!
Sadly, as the economy unwound and took the financial industry with it (or was it the other way around? ) and natural organizational politics altered the make up of my group, the team I moved out here to work with has slowly broken off. Today the last official tie I had to this remote office was severed as my manager opted to transfer to another job. I have a new internal position in the works that would lead me back to Manhattan (and I'd likely move back, or home, no matter what, this place is empty now ).
As such, I can no longer justify the cost of my loan, parking, and insurance that comes with living around NYC. I *can* afford it, but I will no longer need to drive 40 miles round trip 4 days a week. Therefore it makes far more sense to put that money into my savings, than into my MINI despite how much I love it.
I think I'm going to keep it through at least the end of June so that I can still go to Minis On Top, but after that, I'm going to have to let him go
Anyone know someone looking for a beloved MINI?
__________________
Previous: 2008 MCSa LiB/W/W -- Sold Jun. '10 :(
Current: Walking the streets of Manhattan. Jealous of all the MINIs I see.
well you are still welcome here in the week 23ers even after you no longer have a MINI.... but of course we will have lost all respect for you hahahaha j/k
well you are still welcome here in the week 23ers even after you no longer have a MINI.... but of course we will have lost all respect for you hahahaha j/k
Aww shucks, thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DChap
oh yes..... i just recorded a new guitar piece and put it up online... if you want to take a listen
As such, I can no longer justify the cost of my loan, parking, and insurance that comes with living around NYC. I *can* afford it, but I will no longer need to drive 40 miles round trip 4 days a week. Therefore it makes far more sense to put that money into my savings, than into my MINI despite how much I love it.
I think I'm going to keep it through at least the end of June so that I can still go to Minis On Top, but after that, I'm going to have to let him go
Anyone know someone looking for a beloved MINI?
Good rational choice! ZipCar seems to be a possible in Manhattan. They have MINI's in their fleet mix. They even come with names
Let me echo the invitation to hang around!
__________________
MC Clubman|SS/SS/Black|Hot Chocolate Lounge Leather|English Oak|Convenience|Cold Weather|15" 5 Star Spooler|MFSW|NAV|PDC
Production Week 23 2008 - Delivery #33 Ordered 3/28, Born 6/11, Arrived FEDORA 6/26, At dealer 7/3, Delivered 7/12
Final Repair cost ....
$18633.35
$8,614.73 in parts
$5,862.00 in labor 78 hrs in body labor, 3 hours in frame labor, 12 hours in mechanical labor and 32 hours in refinish labor.
$3655.35 in other costs.
A well done repair.
__________________
MC Clubman|SS/SS/Black|Hot Chocolate Lounge Leather|English Oak|Convenience|Cold Weather|15" 5 Star Spooler|MFSW|NAV|PDC
Production Week 23 2008 - Delivery #33 Ordered 3/28, Born 6/11, Arrived FEDORA 6/26, At dealer 7/3, Delivered 7/12
Well, i went out to some supertwisties near my work so i could snap some photos and test out how the springs work under some more pressure.
results:
no photo. it was the furthest thing from my mind.
that good?
nope. that bad.
I was about 3 turns away from puking. This is the second time i've tried this road, it's about 18 miles total and about a thousand turns, mostly short banked S sequences.
The first time I took a buddy w/ me and we stopped along the way so he could have a smoke and check out the view. I had one too for some stupid reason and we kept going, well, I got sick and we took the shorter alt route and went home.
Second time, i thought it was the cig that cause me to get sick and took that road as a longcut to my ex-coworkers house for dinner. That road is pretty much deserted on weekdays, so I thought I could get some nice shots parked in the middle of the road. Well, I got to about half way and I started to feel sick again. About 10 miles left, I basically limped to the end of the pass, driving no faster than about 15mph. I had to pull over a few times, catch my breath and step out of the car in case I hurled.
Today was NOT a good motoring day. I'm starting to wonder if I have inner ear issues... rollercoasters aren't very fun for me anymore since I can only ride about 3 before i get sick. Or maybe, im just getting old.
Well, it was exactly a year ago today that I ordered my SS/B MC. The ensuing 2 month wait was brutal, but the 10 months of motoring (8000+ km) since then have been bliss! I haven't regretted my decision for a second.
Cheers to all the other Week 23 members!
__________________
Ordered: 9 May 08, Born: 5 Jun 08 (Production Week 23), Arrived in North America: 18 Jun 08 (via MV Mignon), At home: 15 July 08
08 MC | SS/B | Xenons | Sunroof | Auto climate | Heated seats | Electric heated front windscreen | Front&Rear fogs | Hi-Fi | White side markers | JCW grill | Front&Rear mud flaps | JL Audio TR650csi and TR400cxi speakers | Retrofitted Sport button ($4UF) | Many other NCS Expert tweaks
Final Repair cost ....
$18633.35
$8,614.73 in parts
$5,862.00 in labor 78 hrs in body labor, 3 hours in frame labor, 12 hours in mechanical labor and 32 hours in refinish labor.
$3655.35 in other costs.
A well done repair.
Back on page 183-184...
Quote:
Originally Posted by OWG
krim - Yes the casting shard, suitably mounted for display
Good rational choice! ZipCar seems to be a possible in Manhattan. They have MINI's in their fleet mix. They even come with names !
You betcha! I was a ZipCar member before my MINI, and will continue to be one afterwards. There is a ZipCar MINI that "lives" nearby. Though it is only a justacooper I'm gonna miss me my S
__________________
Previous: 2008 MCSa LiB/W/W -- Sold Jun. '10 :(
Current: Walking the streets of Manhattan. Jealous of all the MINIs I see.
YAY Maxwell!!! great to have him back with us! He's lookin good!
__________________ Oliver, MCS, Hardtop, Astro Black, Black checked cloth, dark grey line, piano black, anthracite headliner, MFSW, cold weather package, sport package, Limited Slip Dif. and many accessories to come.... :)
Week 23 2008.....Ordered 5/13...In Production 5/30...Born 6/5...Arrived Asian Chorus 7/3....came home July 17, 2008
Final Repair cost ....
$18633.35
$8,614.73 in parts
$5,862.00 in labor 78 hrs in body labor, 3 hours in frame labor, 12 hours in mechanical labor and 32 hours in refinish labor.
$3655.35 in other costs.
A well done repair.
wow, im surprised they didnt total it. I know 18K is less than the value..but good grief..
__________________
Alex / Woodbridge VA
Week 23 Delivery/ Delivered 7/1/2008 SOLD 5/29/2009
Mellow Yellow Cooper S, White Signals, Black Roof/mirrors, Conv Package, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, DSC, PDC, Xenons, Anthracite,
Brushed alloy int, Sport Stripes, JCW Strut, JCW Suspension, JCW Tuning, Rally lights.
I sold my 2006 e46 M3 cabrio that had 7500 miles on it. I am waiting for my MCS to arrive.
Just about every person says the same thing. "you sold your beautiful M3 for a mini???"
I bought it brand new and it was loaded with everything. However, being it only had 7500 miles on it since I bought it new, I obviously didnt drive it. It was the only vehicle we have that we had a car payment on..
Once the mini arrives, it will be driven every day. Still in our garage is my F150, the wifes 2005 330i, a honda VTX cruiser, and a kawasaki ZX-10..
So i still have choices for speed and wind in my face..
But still annoying when folks give me that "look". Dont get me wrong, the m3 was a BLAST to drive....
I am quoting myself to rescind my opinion.
Every day now I have never had so much regret. My MINI has so many rattles..sounds..and issues (chain tensioner, sunroof, clutch plate sound)
I have never in my life wished so much that I could go back in time and beat the crap out of myself.
Now I am stuck with a MINI that I cannot sell to get anywhere near the $$ i put into it.
All those options (JCW stage 1 kit, suspension, rally lights, and strut bar) added up big $$ on the purchase price. Now when the car is valued, it is valued as a regular MCS.
All of which I knew going into it. But damn sometimes we make mistakes that we will regret the rest of out lives. This definitely being one of them.
__________________
Alex / Woodbridge VA
Week 23 Delivery/ Delivered 7/1/2008 SOLD 5/29/2009
Mellow Yellow Cooper S, White Signals, Black Roof/mirrors, Conv Package, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, DSC, PDC, Xenons, Anthracite,
Brushed alloy int, Sport Stripes, JCW Strut, JCW Suspension, JCW Tuning, Rally lights.
shakes, rattles, and sw glitches bug the ever livin crap out of me. I drive the car every day and it gets under my skin easily..
im just saying i wish i didnt swap out my M3...between the two i would have a much better daily driving experience..
to add it up. I just had to argue with the dealer to just verify the information that was presented in the cam chain thread. they want me to bring it in again first.
I just want them to look up the puma numbers, verify that they put on the older part B4 dealing with it again.
they gave me the "we dont do that sir". i explained my 1.25 commute to their dealer and god awful DC traffic and they finally agreed to research those facts first.
just a PIA. id rather worry about something more important.
__________________
Alex / Woodbridge VA
Week 23 Delivery/ Delivered 7/1/2008 SOLD 5/29/2009
Mellow Yellow Cooper S, White Signals, Black Roof/mirrors, Conv Package, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, DSC, PDC, Xenons, Anthracite,
Brushed alloy int, Sport Stripes, JCW Strut, JCW Suspension, JCW Tuning, Rally lights.
Yuko Inane Week 23 Member
) and natural organizational politics altered the make up of my group, the team I moved out here to work with has slowly broken off. Today the last official tie I had to this remote office was severed as my manager opted to transfer to another job. I have a new internal position in the works that would lead me back to Manhattan (and I'd likely move back, or home, no matter what, this place is empty now 
).
