Well, I pick my new-to-me car up tomorrow. I'm really thrilled.

I had a 2006 WRX that got hailed on, and not just a little.
Beat up WRX Pic 1
Beat up WRX Pic 2

I went looking for a new car, I was kind hooked on forced induction (having had a 2001 Miata with a Jackson Racing Supercharger setup, 2 Turrbo VWs, and most recently the WRX race car).

I decided on a pre-06 MINI because of the price, and it reminds me of my 1976 Mini that I sold a few cars back.

The one I found is Chili Red with a white roof, does not have a sunroof (yay!) and is the 6 speed manual.

I'm super excited to pick the car up tomorrow morning.

It needs a few things (hood paint, scoop paint, license plate light cover paint) but other than that it's a sound car.

I think I'll add a front brace to the car, some strut defenders, and maybe look at putting an LSD in. LSDs are 'free' in DSP!

 

Damn, I always wanted one without a sunroof. Congrats man! Welcome to the forums!

 

Congrats on your new MINI. Need pics!

Wow, surprised at the number of people who really don't want sunroofs. That's one of the must-haves for me with the R53's. If it doesn't have a sunroof, I won't buy it haha.

What do you mean by LSD's are free in the DSP? Sounds like a place I need to be...

 

Thanks for the welcome!

I autocrossed the Subaru and I was looking for a new car to autocross. The sunroof adds about 30lbs at the highest point of the car, the worst place if your goal is handling. Some people say it adds closer to 50...

I've had the car for a day and a half now, and I've put a little over 200 miles on it. It's awesome. It's not anywhere close to as quick as the WRX but the power comes on a lot smoother and the ride is much less harsh. (perhaps I'm getting old?)

As for the LSD, in some SCCA classes you can add them, and in some classes you cannot. In "D Street" you can't really do much to the car but a rear sway bar swap. In "Street Touring X" you have to be on street tires, but you can do quite a bit more to the car like add a strut bar and an LSD. In D Street Prepared you can run on R compound tires ("racing slicks") and have an LSD, and water injection, and I can put a JCW supercharger pulley on it.

 

IMO, and mine only, of the vehicles I've had, the sunroofs are nice, but they are a pita when they don't work or when the seals fail. The mesh 'covers' aren't much help from the sun. So much easier without one.

 

Congrats on your new MINI, any pictures? what are you plans for it? I'm an 04 wrx owner myself and it's sad to see such a sweet car all banged up. what happen to it? looks like a roll, maybe considering all the windows seem smashed. where you tracking the car?