New NAM User/Long Time MINI/BMW Owner
New NAM User/Long Time MINI/BMW Owner
Hey guys, how you guys doing? My name is Chris, I'm a new user, although I have referred to this site in the past for MINI info. I grew up as a teenager driving my dad's 1991 BMW 318i 5-speed. I loved that car, I took my driver's test at 16 in that car, and stalled the engine out, and I still passed (the guy giving me the test admitted to not knowing how to drive stick himself, lol)! I kept that BMW till 180,000 miles, and although the a/c was breaking, and there was a short in the radio, which effected the headlights and the entire electrical system as well, the engine and transmission still worked perfectly, and that little thing still drove great! I sold this BMW when I was 23, reluctantly.
Later that year, it was time for my girlfriend and I to buy a new car, and she really wanted a MINI. To be honest, I wasn't crazy about the idea. I'm a big guy, sort of, 215lbs.+, and I never pictured myself in this car. We went to the dealership here in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and took one for a test drive. The transmission felt like it came right out of the BMW, but the body of the car was more grounded and agile. My girlfriend bought the car in her name, and I convinced her to get a manual, under the argument that you can't be the stupid american in the automatic tiny european car. The car became completely mine soon enough, she can have my Nissan, who cares....my love affair began.
The MINI we bought was a R50 2006 Royal Grey MINI Cooper. We really wanted the "S" but couldn't shell out the cash at the moment. Honestly, driving stick hard, I've roasted some guys in an automatic "S", but I don't condone that driving, and I need a new clutch because of it. I do prefer the R50-R53 generation better than the new ones. I also hear they changed the suspension and there is some issues with torque steer on them (which the lack of is the beauty of the MINI's design!). Correct me if I'm wrong. I also have a little collection of pictures of MINI's old and new from all around the world, I would like to share those with this site. I love the original Mini Coopers a lot now, and would love to have a nice old one to complement a nice JCW R53. Happy Motoring!
Later that year, it was time for my girlfriend and I to buy a new car, and she really wanted a MINI. To be honest, I wasn't crazy about the idea. I'm a big guy, sort of, 215lbs.+, and I never pictured myself in this car. We went to the dealership here in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and took one for a test drive. The transmission felt like it came right out of the BMW, but the body of the car was more grounded and agile. My girlfriend bought the car in her name, and I convinced her to get a manual, under the argument that you can't be the stupid american in the automatic tiny european car. The car became completely mine soon enough, she can have my Nissan, who cares....my love affair began.
The MINI we bought was a R50 2006 Royal Grey MINI Cooper. We really wanted the "S" but couldn't shell out the cash at the moment. Honestly, driving stick hard, I've roasted some guys in an automatic "S", but I don't condone that driving, and I need a new clutch because of it. I do prefer the R50-R53 generation better than the new ones. I also hear they changed the suspension and there is some issues with torque steer on them (which the lack of is the beauty of the MINI's design!). Correct me if I'm wrong. I also have a little collection of pictures of MINI's old and new from all around the world, I would like to share those with this site. I love the original Mini Coopers a lot now, and would love to have a nice old one to complement a nice JCW R53. Happy Motoring!
Welcome to the NAM Fam, Have Fun and Wave at other MINI's. 
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Aug 11, 2015 09:01 AM