Hi all,

Just joined the Mini movement with a mint condition 2002 MCS. Chili Red, with every option on it, it was a one-owner car that appears to have been an expensive plaything - only 30,850 miles on it when I bought it!

I'm an old enthusiast - first car was a '73 240Z, and have had many interesting rides over the past 30+ years. Looking forward to learning more about the site, the car, and the culture! What a blast it is to drive these cars!

Edgy out!

 

Have fun! I have been in for just a month, and learning daily!

 

'02 with 30K is quite low. Congrats on your purchase and have fun motoring in your new MINI!

 

Dittos on the thumbs up. I would suggest you have found an awesome R53 speciman. At 30K it's still a puppy. My '02 has 70K and still runs/looks like new, and I drive it daily. There are people running R53s with over 200K and still going strong. These are well-built cars with a few known weaknesses, but for the most part they are a blast to drive and make up for a few quirks. R53s are also fun to modify. Quite a few are showing up at SCCA and autocross tracks around the country for good reason; properly set up they are competitive cars and can win.

If you haven't already heard about the "magic switch" on the R53, here's the entire kit for a reasonable price: http://bit.ly/bs5HNA (assuming your car is stock). This kit plus a high-volume CAI and new cat-back pipes will help your MCS breath harder. These mods alone will put you around the 200WHP mark with little effort. From here, you'll have to dig into your engine and replace the head, cam and header for the 250WHP mark. This gets you in the 10lb/HP range which is nothing less than automotive ecstacy, at least in hot-hatch thinking.

Welcome to the asylum for MINIacs!

 

Welcome to the forum, sounds like a real low mileage MINI, good luck and enjoy.

 

welcone n congrats on yr fully loaded go kart..

 

Welcome

 

Hello! Pics, please!

 

Thanks! I'm still getting acquainted with my new baby - burned out driving light, sticky passenger window switch. Next week the front Aero kit apron comes off for a new shoot of Chili red paint to take care of a zillion rock chips. Then it will be one pristine MCS. Cheers!

 

Should be a few pics in my gallery. You have a nice set of ... wheels.

 

Thanks! I think.

The pic of the MINI next to the truck is great.

 

Both are 2002's. I like Red! There's more snow on the tops of the mountains today than last week when I took the photographs. The MCS came with a spare set of 8 spoke rims with Pirelli SnowSports mounted. I may mount them tonight as I'm planning a run over the mountain passes on Thursday.

For "Twisties" my personal favorite is Hwy 133 between Hotchkiss, Colorado and Carbondale (near Aspen) - a really beautiful stretch of road and a spectacular view from the top of McClure Pass.