I guess I'll uphold the tradition of posting last for the day!

Just filled the tank and by hand calculation I got 31 mpg on my Clubbie S! Last tank I got 33.5 hand calced, but I was driving like a turtle in rush hour traffic. This time, I drove 'normal' which is 70-75 on the fwy and accelerating briskly from stoplights. Even if I got less than 30 I would be happy since Trooper is so fun to drive, but this is just icing on the cake and makes owning a mini that much more fulfilling. I mean, I don't know if there are ANY other cars out there that come even close to BOTH the fuel economy and power! I noticed that right after the break-in period, I got somewhat better fuel economy, but this still exceeds my expectations.

Ok, I know I am preaching to the choir, but just had to brag a little.
Good night!

 

I forgot to post that I saw the (or one of the) Red Bull MINI the other day as I was driving home from work. I think it looked like this:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...&ct=image&cd=1

Anyone else seen this car, or any other MINI or Mini used for advertising? I've seen another one that appeared to be wrapped like a bus with a beer advertisement (forget which beer). It was a back in mid-summer when I saw it.

 

There's one of them around my college town. My friend works for Red Bull, but I'm not sure if she drives it.

 

Gbsim, glad you made it home and Bernard is all better!! Sounds like all and all you had a great time!

Phantom, where did you spot that Red Bull Mini!!??

As I drive around town, there are more and more Mini's!! Only Clubbie so far that I have spotted is my husbands!

 

Dayton, OH. I wonder how many of them there are?

I also saw a great-looking red Cooper the other day. Black roof, with black angled stripes and the word "Cooper." Like the angled side stripes in this pic, but solid black and with "Cooper" instead of "Custom." http://www.aestheticreations.net/sidestripes.htm Oh, and I got a nice, friendly wave from the driver!

 

Kechman8,

By the time it's getting late in your time zone, I've been asleep for hours! You will probably always get the last post of the day!

Congrats on the fuel economy. Seems to be pretty consistent with what I've been getting. I forget if Trooper is a manual or auto? I like not having to visit the gas pump very often.

 

We have a Red Bull Mini here in the St Louis area. We have seen it a couple of times already...

 

I forgot to mention that our neighbor is supposed to take delivery of his JCW today. If he gets it, he is going to stop by. It will be great having two Mini's next door to each other...

 

I've spotted one in Houston at least 3 times. I don't know if it's the same one or are there more than one in town!!

 

So how does he like the Clubbie?

 

Yeah, sometimes it's like talking to a wall at night.. just kidding.

Trooper is an automatic! I've been playing around with the paddle shifters a little bit to keep the revs down when appropriate. That may have helped the fuel economy a tad, but I think the incremental increase in mpg is mostly due to getting into the post-break in period.

re: Red Bull. Haven't spotted one of those, yet. There are so many minis motoring around the Bay Area but 99% of them are Coopers, not Clubmans. It's nice to be unique, at least for a little while longer!

 

The Red Bull MINI has been around in St. Louis for years. I've seen it many times.

 

Haven't seen the Red Bull Mini, but we saw a sad, sad thing in Alabama while on our trip.

We were eating at an outside table near U of Alabama and a Mini went by that was covered with dust and sporting a Domino's pizza delivery light slung on the roof. Cut me to the quick! My husband has embraced the whole Mini personality thing and shook his head and said too bad we couldn't rescue it!

 

sikimain, he was not into the whole Mini thing like I was, and I was wondering how much he would like his Mini Clubman.. but he really loves the car! There are a few things that bug him, like the road noise the runflats make, and he didn't listen to me about how to order - so he spend $36,000 and doesn't have cruise control. Otherwise, I have to keep warning him that he better not get a speeding ticket!!

One thing - hardly anyone waves at me!! Maybe it's my PW color - because he is shocked at how many mini's he passes and they all are waving!!

 

I've read a lot of comments on the runflats. I'm kinda lucky in that I haven't had a better car in years to compare it to. They seem fine to me, but I've put on only a quarter of my miles on the highway. I've also had the full suspension options from the factory and dealer installed right from the start, but I don't have any comparison point to go from to see if that makes any difference. I guess it shouldn't really change the road noise level much, so I think maybe it's my old age and hearing loss that makes the difference!! He can always change the tires to non-runflats if it bothers him too much.
As for the cruise control, Hilla has it, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet!! I didn't want to try it until I was beyond the break in miles.
I get some waves and some who just ignore me totally!! I think the people who bought a MINI for just an economy car, might not wave. But, it's alway nice to get a return wave! I've missed a couple and almost felt guilty - like maybe I should go back!!

 

That's like a MINI in indentured servitude, for shame - free the MINIs!!!!
I've seen a realtor's MINI plastered with their ads!

 

tinker - glad your hubby loves the clubby. I love mine! (clubby, not hubby - I am the hubby).

Too bad about the lack of MFSW. I have the MFSW but what bugs me about HAVING ONE is that every time I use the MFSW I am reminded that I didn't get the bluetooth/usb option since those buttons are still there - wish I could take those useless buttons out, somehow. Just cheapens the look a little to have non-functional buttons.

re: runflats. I think they are a little firm but not overly so. Also, I figure I can live with it since I've read that the runflats do not last very long - seems at most 15k miles, which would be at most a year's worth of driving for me. I am definitely going to be spending some time in the tire forums on NAM and doing my research in advance on what non-runflats to consider. Also need to figure out how I can get a cheap donut to throw into the rear recess.

update on my flaps - excited that it rained today! Alas, when I parked and glanced at the side of the car, it was splashed with mud. Still in denial, I am thinking it must be other cars/trucks driving alongside of me kicking up mud.
At least the front flaps look good.

 

I never have understood the flap about the runflats. We have them on the Mini and the 2008 Corvette. Also, had them on our 2000 Corvette. I don't think they have much road noise or a poor ride, then again I'm getting a bit hard of hearing and have plenty of bottom padding.

Now if you want to talk about a harsh ride and noise - my first sports car in 1967 at age 18 - was a 1956 Austin-Healey 100-4. It had leaf springs in the rear and oil-filled dampners on all four corners with bias ply tires. Shake-rattle-and-roll, bumpity-bump on down the road... Even so, I would love to have her back. Had to sell her to finish college.

 

Yeah, I can relate, RoadTrip. I've had my share of harsh riding cars. My bro's 1980 Z28 comes to mind, not to mention my dad's econobox Honda Civic from the mid 80's - both with reg tires, of course. The runflats on the mini aren't bad.

I guess my ultimate harsh ride must have been my old Big Wheels plastic tricycle when I was 8 years old . It DID have a nice 'exhaust' note from some sort of plastic mechanism clicking when the front wheel rotated.... THUGA THUGA THUGA THUGA!! For those curious what a Big Wheel looks like, or those seriously bored, here's a link: http://www.originalbigwheel.com/

did anyone have one of those as a kid?

 

the runflats don't bother me either. What is all your tire pressure set at? The other morning ( it was chilly out) I was leaving and as soon as I started my car, it tolf me I needed air in my left front. I didn't know what to do, and called hubby - who came home and checked. He said the manual said 33 pounds. They were just under that. He had to fill all four with a couple pounds and I had to reset the TPM and all was good. Do you all have about 33 pounds in?

kechman8, I know what you mean about buttons there that do not work! It was the same way on my last car and it bugged me too, so I loaded my with every option (except sunroof)! I think I have read that he could add cruise because the wiring is there. He really doesn't want it or need it - but felt that the price he paid - it should have been on it.

 

Kechman8 - you are too YOUNG for me! I think Big Wheels were popular when my kids were little! When I was a kid, it was just bicycles. I do remember the sound of Big Wheels on the sidewalk (and sometimes street) around my house when the kids were little. Nice reminder. Thanks!

 

Mine doesn't call for 33 lbs. The correct pressure is 38 lbs, which is what I have. When I switched from runflats to my all-season non-runflats the ride and noise improved a lot.

 

Well, I received my NAM Week 32 decal from Cooper Flags. Very nice! Thanks again RoadTrip2 for the design.

Now, any suggestions about where to display it? Anyone else getting a decal? If so, where do you plan to display it?

 

Kechman8 - I hear what you are saying about the Big Wheel. I am familiar with them because my nephews had them when they were younger.

Tinker 06 - our MCS calls for 33 psi front & rear. I have been running 35 psi in all four tires. I usually run 2 lbs over in all our vehicles.

PhantomMC - Glad you like the decal. We are thinking about the lower driver side on the boot window, but have not put it on the car yet. Any ideas as to the best location?

RaceTripper - Did you attend the BMW Driving School this weekend? It's great weather for it...


By the way, our neighbor got his new JCW. It's Dark Silver with Black Top/Mirrors, Black Lounge Leather and lots of other goodies. We had our CR MCS over with him yesterday - comparing the two. As soon as we can, we want to get some photos of them together. I'll post pics when we can make it happen.


Have a great weekend everyone!

 

Sadly, I did not participate. I spent a lot of money getting the JCW and extra stuff for it, so I decided not to do the school this round. I'll be back on the track next season. I did drive out there today to hang out for about 2 hours, and check this out...I ran into the guy who bought my M3. He was out there tracking it. We talked for a while. He's real happy with the car, and got a pretty good deal on it. So even though I missed the school, my M3 didn't.