I have been in the decision process now for about 3 weeks about purchasing a MINI Cooper. It was suggested I come here to look for the outs, the in's and the stuff in between. Its all this in between stuff that gets me to thinking, specifically, this site seems or so it would seem to be populated by folks who predominately modify from stock. Wheels, sways, intercoolers, blue catch cans, percentage pulleys, M7's, etc., etc., etc., etc., X100 at least and thats just on the outside. My desire is quite the opposite. I want a stock MINI. Am I in denial? Does all this change once title is acheived? Will I spend more time at the computer researching the MINI 3rd party vendors? Quite frankly, I am still trying to figure out half of the terms used here. I still don't know what autoX is. I know that is auto cross, but haven't much of a clue what that is. I have never ever been to a auto race track but of the 30 minutes of racing I saw on TV once, it was when Dale Ernhardt crashed and unfoutunately perished. Are there folks like me here? Am I a freak? Should I just go away and eat my cookies? I really am curious. Frankly, the thought of getting a "car" just does not appeal to me, the MINI does. I have yet to purchase a new vehicle, I buy used. This would be my first new purchase other then stuff like milk, bread, toilet paper. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks, Mr Stock...

 

Wow....its just like I could have written that!!!

 

Jato, both of my MINIs are 100% OEM bone stock. I would suggest, at first, enjoying your new MINI stock off the showroom floor. Once you become more acquinted with the car, you'll be in a better and more "educated" position to see if modding is really needed or not. I find these cars to be extremely fun and enjoyable right out of the box. Modding for the sake of modding is sort of a misguided thing. Modding is very popular in this site because the great majority of posters are enthusiasts, but don't feel the "peer pressure" to do so. Some people may give me weird looks because my MCS does not have a 15% pulley or a catch can or fancy aftermarket wheels. I love the car the way it came off the assembly line and it is more than enough for my needs/wants. It also helps to keep the resalve value if you go stock or JCW.

Like I said, become familiar with the car and the community. Join your local MINI club and get to see the mods other people have done to their MINIs and why they have done them.

This may all sound a little to overwhelming to you as you are just in the process of becoming a car enthusiast! Take it all in strides and you'll have fun in the mean time.

 

I'm on my second MINI Cooper and have been very happy with them the way I specified them from the factory. I have added tint to the windows on both my cars because I like the appearance and feel it sets them apart from stock, which is what modding is all about...making it unique to you.

THe MINI is a fantastic car and you can find complete happiness with a stock vehicle

 

Ownership is the first step. Aftermarket modding is only optional, not mandatory (but try telling that to "we happy few, we band of brothers"). I actually enjoyed my MCS in all of its OEM glory for seven whole days. That was when my Alta stubby antenna arrived. Been all downhill since. But enough about me. Get thee to a MINIry (dealership) and order away.

 

Ok--I am also your basic, run-of-the-mill...."I like that one ....."
Mine is straight off the showroom floor...I love it and for me it is just right...
I guess it just depends what you want and what you want to do with the car...
I drive it around day to day and it is just great...
Good luck.....I find the real and only problem with them is deciding on the color...I like them all.....

 

I'm just like you; I have no idea what a pulley or sway is My only 'mod' will be a 20% window tint Don't go away; we need more people like us FYI, autoX = auto cross. You know like the pedestrian crossing signs have the people walking followed by 'xing.' BTW, check out the MINI Model/Color Abbreviation Cheat Sheet thread for a guide to a lot of acronyms.

 

Jato,

Everyone needs something different from our cars. Some people buy them just to get to work and back again. Others buy them just for racing or autocross (racing in a parking lot around cones). Most of us have many different needs from the car, but just like the smile that the MINI gives us.

I fell for the MINI on sight and the handling/power kept me hooked. I've been able to resist the engine mods, but I did a lot of work to make the exterior and interior my own... This is the first car that I've ever wanted to do that to, so I understand exactly how you feel. There is just something about these little cars that gets under our skin...

Give yourself a while to enjoy the car and let its personality come out.

Welcome to the community!

 

Jato,

MINIs are great little cars for fun motoring (a bit unreliable, bit that's several other stories) as they come dead stock from the factory.

On the other hand, for those of us who are gearheads (probably a small but vocal minority of MINI owners) and played with Erector set as kids, the MINI is a great platform for tinkering...mechanically, electrically, electronically and from a software development standpoint.

Enjoy the MINI as you see fit.

 

Maybe yours has been unreliable, But I've had but two "issues" in 75k of Motoring. A wheel speed sensor went duff, and the dipstick broke. That's it.
I say,buy,drive and enjoy!
Jim

 

There's lots of folks that have been blessed with a reliable MINI, especially the more recent builds. Unfortunately, the history on mine is pretty much in line with what Consumer Reports is posting on the '02s.

 

Hey, don't worry. I plan on keeping mine stock, just the way I ordered it. Just buy the car and enjoy looking at it and driving it. And, if you ever get the bug for more whatever, you know where to come for your info.

 

Is that what autocross is, Rracing in a parking lot around cones? Wow, I had something totally different pictured in my mind. I saw rugged mountain curves, ocean views, steep cliffs, hair pin turns, inclines, declines, jet skis, girls in bikinis spiking volley *****.... wow, was I off

 

Actually, that pretty well describes the scenery along the routes we take to get to that "auto-x" parking lot and begin our racing.

 

If you are looking for the cool drive, look for events with 'Rally' in the title... The Metroplex MINI club (Dallas & Fort Worth area) join in with the local Porsche club when they organize their rallies... lots of fun!

 

The best way to learn stuff is to join your local MINI club, and read a lot on NAM. Most importantly - love your MINI and enjoy motoring.

 

Your normal. 95% of the buyers are just like you. This is an enthusiasts board and the MINI is very easily modified. So, what your reading is about mods. Your not going to read about the people who don't mod very much because they are the "silent majority"

There are at least 150,000 MINIs sold in US. I would bet the VAST MAJORITY ... have no mods at all.

 

Hi, I just got my MINI last Thursday. I think this is my first post outside of the Production week 11 thread. We had an auto show in Baltimore in early February and thats where I fell in love with the MINI. They had all the models there and I looked them all over, went on to MINIUSA and looked around and compared and I ended up getting a Hyper Blue/White Cooper and chose the no cost option of cloth seats instead of leatherette. Thats it! You can't get much more basic than that and I'm absolutely thrilled with my MINI. If thats what you want I'd proceed immediately. The quicker you place the order the sooner you'll have your MINI. Thats my pennies worth!!!

 

And we (some of us) are the vocal Craptastics!

 

Thats the one thing that really amuzes me. Folks that love CrApTaStIc. Thats great, really great.

 

I am just the same, have always bought used cars, and even more of a change, have really only ever had trucks and SUVs. Actually, I have a 2 horse trailer that I won't be pulling anywhere for a while (7500 lbs empty :-)). I am not a "car" person, really have always just cared that it start when I turn the key and have a radio. Just choosing from all the options was enough of an ordeal for me, I definitely don't need to get into the mods. But my free advice, hurry up and order! I screwed around for about 2 weeks because I was debating over options and ended up delaying getting one by almost a month. Now that I am still waiting for my new obsession to arrive, I wish I'd just picked something and been done with it-I could be driving it now!

 

The only aftermarket mods I made to my first MINI, a sweet '02 Pure Silver Cooper, was a glovebox organizer and a little storage cubby under the toggles!

Something happened to me when I bought my Wicked Wanda, an all-Jet Black 2003 MCS. She demands annual makeovers and I indulge her. But I think keeping a MINI bone-stock is terrific! The 06s have so many goodies available, like LSD (Limited Slip Differential), that you really needn't mod at all.

Also, I need to weigh in that the MINIs have been very reliable. The engines are very tough and I've had zero mechanical issues.

Go ahead and treat yourself to a brand-new MINI and enjoy the heck out of it! You'll be so happy that it is yours. I still look out the window at mine and am just tickled to own her!