Hello all. A few months ago my wife picked up a 2007 Cooper S while I was deployed. Since returning home and driving it I have come to realize that I love this car! It is an absolute blast to drive. Since she doesn't work i have been using it as my daily driver to and from work on Ft Bliss. Fortunately my wife is into cars so she has given me free reign to modify it as I see fit. I hope to add more power(reliability being most important), maybe improve upon the already awesome handling, and take it autocrossing every now and then. The car is currently a stock(as far as I can tell) S with JCW brakes and the JCW spoiler. I am fairly mechanically inclined, and love to do my own work. I must admit that I am completely stupid when it comes to Minis as my gearhead background is in American V8 muscle cars. I look forward to everyones' input and definitely have some research to do! Anyway, here's pics:



This is my other car(mainly driven on weekends due to the price of gas lol), a 2005 Cadillac CTS-V. It is pretty much stock other than a Magnaflow cat-back, a short shifter(yes it's a manual), and a few other bits.

 

Thank you for your service....and, welcome to the club! Grab a Bentley manual to help you learn the ins and outs and then do some searching on here. There is a ton of information and a lot of how to's. Hopefully Ft. Bliss has one of those garages with all the tools, lifts etc. that are there for the service members to use.

 

Thank you for yor service from a retiree and nice cars you have there. have fun in the Mini............

 

Wow! Great looking Mini! Welcome aboard!!

 

Welcome to the board. Not many twistys down there, but Bliss's new PX kicks @$$!

Get a ProCharger on that Caddy!

 

Yeah the new PX is pretty awesome. I've never seen anything like it anywhere else. Bliss has grown so much just in the two years that I've been stationed here.

I'm actually considering a Magnusson for the V(Procharger doesn't have a CTS-V specific application and would require fabrication) if I keep it along with headers, axles, and a tune. I recently drove a STS-V and may try to find one to buy in a few months. I love the added luxury features that the STS-V has over the CTS-V. I'd love to find a '09 CTS-V but they haven't depreciated into my price range yet lol!

Anyway onto what this forum is about! There really aren't any twisties out here but there is SCCA autocross like once a month at the stadium and the Mini dealer sponsors a Mini road rally once a month that goes to different places within about a 200 mile radius. I have yet to get to either of these events due to time, but I definitely look forward to participating. I love the sense of community that Mini ownership brings! Nearly every time I run into another one I usually get a big smile and a wave! Both me and my wife were remarking just the other day that the Mini is overall one of the most fun cars that either of us has owned. Even my friends who have rode in it are surprised how such a small car has so much room. Then they are even more surprised when I tell them that I can fit myself, my wife, my two year-old, and $200 worth of groceries comfortably!