I just became a MINI owner yesterday ('08 R50). My beloved $200 1994 Honda Accord had terminal cancer and I finally pulled the plug on her yesterday. I grieved for about an hour (until the MINI paperwork was done at the dealership) and now I'm a (mostly) happy MINI owner. Still poring through manual, but hope to get out later and resurrect the feeling I had when my main ride was an MGB. See you out on the road...I just hope it's not because I'm broken down on the shoulder

 

Welcome.

If you remember the MGB well, may I point out that the windows do not slide, nor is there a crank - there is actually a button!

Likewise you will not find the choke, nor is a rack of vacuum gauges necessary to balance the Strombergs.

Finally, you may expect the wipers to work, and the wrench you may still have for adjusting spoke tension is surplus to requirements.

Kind regards,

Charlie

 

Here is a local group you might want to get hooked up with. We just happened to be at Broom's Bloom for ice cream after a run up to Pennsylvania yesterday.

http://www.meetup.com/Central-Maryland-MINI-Motorists/

 

Welcome to NAM!

 

So Charlie, you're saying it's OK to take this thing out after dark?

 

Welcome Auto Doc!

 

Congrats n welcome... U I'll love the mini

 

I really liked that R50 I bought at the CarMax the other day, but...

It seemed that it needed more torque, so I fixed it by successfully testing the CarMax five day, no questions asked policy, and swapped it for an '08 R56 with 26K on the clock. Now I'm happier with torque and horsepower (never completely happy until in cardiac arrest from extreme G-forces), and stiffer suspension. Only two things are now bugging me...Engine noise at cold start, and I can't get that !#$%^ BlueTooth system to play nice with my Blackberry Bold. Still hacking at these issues.