Hello everyone!
Finally signed over the title on a gorgeous Electric Blue/White '02 Cooper S. My dad bought it new, one of the first in Philadelphia, right when the Coopers hit the states. Every time I would visit my parents in South Jersey, I would do my best to make sure I had a chance to borrow it for a drive. He babied the thing (only 25k ), which was good, but he definitely did not have enough fun with it

The time came for him to get rid of it (for a Smart, nonetheless) and he offered it to me for a great deal. I sold my beloved canyon-carving Protege5, then drove the Mini from NJ to my place in Los Angeles right after new years.

NJ plates are off, Cali plates are on. Monday I officially became the proud owner of the Mini. You may see me haunting Mulholland and the Canyons of Malibu. I've already exchanged some waves with a GP or two, and a nice and clean S. (All were Gray, coincidence?)

Already have plans with MINI Corsa for:
a)new windshield (original didn't last a week in LA)
b)Ireland Engineering fixed Camber plates
c)Craven Speed STDs
d)Alta 19mm sway bar.
Would love to do a pulley, but not before scouring these threads for info on how to do it reliably/finding the $$$.

I'm glad to have found a new set of forums to love as much as my former lurking grounds: mazdas247.com

 

Welcome to NAM.

I have a neighbor with a 2002 MINI with only about 20,000 miles on it as well. Just drives it back and forth from the park-and-ride to get to work. I may end up with 20,000 miles on mine by the end of the first year, and anticipate enjoying every last one of them. Happy motoring!

 

Welcome to the group. Sounds like a gain for you and a loss for your dad. You can have the fun he missed!

 

Thanks

His loss my gain... pretty much. I mean, I'm sure these people love their low-mileage Minis for all that they enjoy it, it's just that the car has so much potential its a shame that their concept of fun ends so short of it's peak. :(

 

Welcome and what a great way to have fun in your MINI - a cross country road trip - Wooottt!!!

Donna

 

Welcome Driver! What color was your P5? I had a White P5 and a Redfire 6 Sport Wagon before getting my MINI. I also spent time on mazdas247.com and I have to admit I like NAM so much better.

 

Welcome to the club and I know how hard core some you mazda guys can be! I work with a guy who ownes two Mazda 323 GTX's, that's an all wheel drive turbo mazda! that dude is Mazda CRAZY! Enjoy the Mini!!

 

Mine was "midnight blue mica". I painted the calipers red (matching the strut tower brace) and put blue neon lights under the front seats when I went through my Fast and the Furious phase. After that I just put on new struts, springs and a rear sway bar and the car handled so nice.

Haha, seeeriously. The first friend I made on the mazda forum bought a Protege MP3 having no experience ever working on cars. One year later he designed his own custom turbo setup. A little after that he rebuilt everything from scratch and had it at over 300 wheel hp, reliable enough to be a daily driver. He's done just about everything himself.

That being said, I'm not too crazy... yet.

 

Welcome to NAM!