MinXXX:
Like yourself, I have been through the 60's muscle era (65 Mustang Fastback w/ K-code motor, 68 Z-28,) and through the sports car phase( 79 MGB,60 MGA, and 72 Ferrari Dino which I still own) You will be thinking what have I been missing my whole life once you own one of these little gems...IMHO get a 06 MCS and put a few mods on it and be prepared for the "Honey I would be glad to go to the Drug store for your Tampons" These things are just that addicting. Oh I'm supposed to be talking you out of one...Sorry.....

 

Good luck talking yourself out of the MINI....as you can tell none of us successfully acomplished such a daunting task.

:-)

 

The whole concept is preposterous.

Zip

 

Nope. I could never talk you out of it. Because I LOVE MY CAR. BUT! I'm glad you're already sold, because I will never try to "convince" someone they should get a MINI. Only people who LOVE MINIs should get a MINI. Enthusiasts. If it's "just a car" they should get a crossover SUV or a Honda. ;-) If you are in love with the car, nothing else will do.

 

Get a 2007 convertible! New car with existing mods and yet all the bugs already worked out

Otherwise, I'd also suggest the 2006 MCS or MCS with JCW in lieu of first year R56.

 

I'll take a shot - don't buy it unless you know that you have a good dealer service dept inside a distance you are willing to travel. I'm not saying you will have problems, but if the luck of the draw gives you one that does need help just consider how far you are willing to go for that...

 

Well, it was "well modded" but currently he is doing a full race prep on it. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t=team+onasled

 

OK, I can relate to this having also owned a Corolla and 5 Litre Mustang

First, the new car is just that ... way too new so ALL the comparisons to the first gen car are pretty meaningless. Its longer, the interior is totally different, the engine is different, the brakes are different, etc. So any comparisons ... including all the bad things dont mean much of anything. There simply is not enough data yet to make a judgement.

If you want to do research based on history, do a search for all the problems of the existing cars but its not going mean much of anything because its a new engine ... new everything.

Read the online reviews of people who have driven the car ... seems more refined, softer, lots of differences from the old car.

You can take the chance and buy a first year car but everyone knows early adopters get all the first year bugs just as the 02/03 cars had lots of issues. Your choice.

In general, what everyone has said is true. Ball to drive, runs on rails, etc. but thats the OLD car. If your building a Pantera, you got to realize your talking two very different leagues here. I assume its a Cleveland 351, mid-engined, under 2900 pounds, tons of torque, 170mph car.

Best of Luck

 

Gad-dang, my car is old?!

Zip

 

Well, I'm a car guy, too - and am on my 2nd MINI (my 1st was an '02 MCS) - so, no, there's no way you're going to get talked out of it. More than any other car I've ever owned or even drive, these little cars are BIG STUPI FUN!! I must agree, though - I'd buy an '06 MCS before an '07 in a heartbeat. Think of the '06 model year as the pinnacle in R53 development; MINI is starting over with the R56 and in reality has nowhere to go but up. Sit Back And Enjoy The Ride!

 

I love my Cooper!!!(hyper blue MCS 06) I honestly can't imagine having any other boring car. Get this car, you won't regret it. You will think up excuses to go places. Also, you too will get the 'far away' look in your eye when washing it!

 

Yeah, sorry to say but its true Old technology.

Ain't progress a beatch

 

Sorry MiniXXX, once you've been bitten there is no going back. There isn't any help anywhere but here on NAM where everyone understands and can relate to your addiction. There is no cure other than just buying an MCS.
Then the mods....Geesh! Then you're totally beyond help except once again here on NAM where you find advice on just about anything you want or need to know.
After that comes things like making plans for The Dragon in May, or perhaps any number of MINI events that take place in your neck of the woods. Again, those can all be found here on NAM to satisfy your addiction.
Welcome and good luck!

 

I go almost 100 miles for this. It takes much of the day (duh). Usually get a boring rental car for major service, but last time they upgraded to a Mustang. Tried it on a favorite curvy road... did okay but still felt BIG. It was still a relief to get back into my MINI.

Swell... I still can't talk you out of it.

 

The best reason I know to NOT buy a MINI:

You get really cold washing it when it's 39 degrees outside.

 

Anything above freezing is warm enough to wash my MINI.

Zip

 

Talk you out of it? Why?

dean.

 

Okay, I'll be devils advocate here....

I've been driving a '99 Miata for the last 6 years. Our Mini Cooper S is faster, more practical, has more head room and leg room, and I don't really miss the convertable top much. But....

Going from RWD to FWD does kind of suck for me. In the Miata, I enjoyed taking a 90 degree corner a little fast once in a while (when there was no traffic around, dry road, etc...). With the RWD Miata I could throw it in the corner, hit the gas and the rear end would setup out a bit.....FUN! But with the FWD Mini, the only way to get the car sideways is very dangerous. (or you can pull the emergency brake....but that's really hard on the tires and emergency brake system)

So my point is, the Mini isn't quite as fun to drive as the Miata, but in other aspects it's a better car.

 

Talk you out of your new found sanity? NEVER! Get an S. Change the pulley to a 15%, get a better CAI, change the sway bar and push with some thrust on that gas pedal fella.....sweet dreamin is a reality.

 

I'll give it go!

Sorry- you can't afford it. Well, actually, if you could afford a Magnum, etc. you can afford it. However, the money really starts to leave your wallet after you've had it awhile and you think, "can this go as fast as the Magnum did in a straight line?"

The only thing worse than the MINI bug, is the mod-bug. Especially with 100s of vendors with 1,000s of great products and a community of 30k MINIacs with a wealth of experience, personal accounts and resources to guide you.

Your SO will hate it. Well, actually he/she'll love it so much, you might end up with two.

It won't carry 6-ft long two-by-fours, sheets of drywall, or all 3 of your 200lb+ buddies who always expect you to drive. Oh wait- those are good things!

You mom always told you not to talk to strangers. The MINI is a stranger magnet! They'll ask you the same five questions all the time and if you're that type, a year later it really starts to irk you. This is directly related to:

You don't like to work for free. After a couple months you are automatically inducted into MINI's free-labor-sales-force. People will ask you about the MINI and you're so exicted about it you do all the MA's work for them. (Am I right guys?)

You don't like crowds. But one day you'll go to AMVIV or The Dragon and you're officially a "people person".

But whatever you do MiniXXX, do NOT click this link! Or this one.

 

1st I want to thank you folks for doing your best to talk me out of buying the MINI... (P.S. you all suck at talking people out of buying a Mini) I have put the Magnum up for sale and awaiting an offer. I am, however trying to decide what Mini to get... 06 MCS, 06 MCS JCW, 07 MCS, whatever... I don' really like the interiors of the 1st Gens, but like that mods are available anywhere. However, I like the fact of the higher torque in the 2nd GENS, and we all know MODS are going to be flowing like wine in a matter of time. Plus I have owned a turbo Beetle and loved and know how to mess with turbos. (Never owned a supercharged vehicle). If anyone knows about gliches in the system on new cars it is me.... 2000 Beetle 1.8T -- ended up switching everything over to Audi TT parts, including brakes, blow off valve, intake, computer... ect. I know any hard core Mini fan is going to tell me 06 or older, but can anyone tell me true ben's other than MODS, and 1st year gliches... Or if there is a year better than the rest due to some thing they did or didn't do... I.E. 1994 Saturn SC2, fastest of the bunch due to better computer peramiters, Header instead of exhaust manifold, and Saturn more concerned with perfomance rather than anything else. Thanks again for your help...

 

+1

 

minixxx i only have 3 words for u if u live in IL : bill jacobs mini! in naperville IL, the worst mini dealer in the whole wide world. they give u crap the second u hand them the check.

 

DO NOT buy a MINI. Too many people already are. They are small. People will ask dumb questions like, "Can you drive it in the rain?" People will tell you it is cute. Total strangers will wave at you, like you are long lost brothers. Vendors will try to sell you cool stuff. You will be overcome with a desire to take rides for no reason. You will suddenly want personalized plates and your first 85 choices will already be taken. You will smile in public and people will think you are nuts. There is more, but I am too preoccuppied with my MINI's production status to think clearly right now.

 

Oh yea? (note location)