OK, trust me, I'm not trying to flame anyone, I'm not putting anyone down for doing what you want to do.

As quick as my MCS is, as fast as the top end is, I can't imagine what I would do with more power. It is already too tempting to smoke every "ricer" at every red light and to blow down the freeways 125!

Do you performance modders all race your cars? Do you just enjoy taking the car apart and putting it back together? Or is it about bragging with friends at your favorite watering hole? (Nothing wrong with that)

Why do you do performance mods?

God speed.

 

>>
>>Why do you do performance mods?
>>
>>
Because you can never have too much power.

Now repeat after me: More power is better, more power is better... chant this mantra until it's your first waking thought.

X2

 

Because it's not just "ricers" you want to smoke off the line...
now repeat after ME: More power is better...more power is better

Lou

 

Well I know of a few others in Atlanta like my self that are getting ready for AutoX.
Randy and others AutoX plus use the car as a daily driver. My plan is once all
the Mods are set I can make small adustments to the suspension to make it more
Daily Drive, appealing, and change back for Race Day. I do sometimes get a bit
over....when driving around town, but keeping it for the Track for the most part.

I have other MCS friends that have zero mods, they like it that way, we still have fun, and I think alot of it is about personal pref. its about playing, just like driving around turns if fun, working on, doing the mods, is fun for me. I enjoyed working on my 911, easy car to play with, I am learning about the MCS and its just as fun, I think their will be a point where I may stop, but their is so much that you can do to these and make them "Your Own" thats what I like seeing, all the different things
everyone has done and is doing, keeps me out of the Bar's at night.

Just My .02
Kent
"The Ball Matters"

_________________
DMonk "The Ball Matters"


TailLight Tint & FrontLight Tint (RSpeed)

 

It's funny that this thread got started because I was thinking the exact same thing last night. If all of these mods were for AutoX, then people would be in what, the street prepared class with a bunch of crazy fast cars? It's fun on the track, but the car is already pretty fast right out of the box for a good road track. I'm not sure that I'm fully comprehending as well, Beagle.

 

Simple...the more power I have, the easier it is to drive. While the stock Mini may be capable of getting to 60 in a little over 7 seconds at WOT, a 220hp modified version can get to the same time while short shifting at a leasurely pace. Easier to blow off others without looking like your going to war over it (screaming engines, smoking tire, etc)

_________________

 

I think there are, at least, four categories of "modders" (one time or another I've slipped into thinking about almost every one of these :smile:

Mark

 

I added an intake and exhaust because they added a bit of power, and because I hoped to wring out a few extra mpgs of fuel economy. They also make the car sound better, which makes my overall driving experience more enjoyable, and they helped me to learn more about how my car works and is put together. And the Borla tip looks a lot better than the beer can.

Then again, I doubt that modding a Cooper from 115hp to 125hp is what you're asking about here!
_________________

 

 

I started modding my MINI's appearance:
EB speedo trim, new interior trim, velvet lined door pockets.
Exterior mods were next: white flames.
Now starting handling mods without increasing power:
rear sway bar, will also do new rims and tires.
Then I will move on to performance mods.
Not so much because I need more power - I don't!
I do think some of these mods will enhance the driveability of the car, and will increase the fun factor. Tinkering comes in too.
It's just afun car to do that to...

Darwin Speed....

 

I enjoy repaving the local roads with Falken Azenis RS rubber.

 

its a good question and i am glad that no one has taken the question the wrong way. i haven't done any performance mods yet but plan to. i just want the extra power there if i need it. when i first got my S i would never had thought that i might one day want more power but after a while i got used to the speed and craved more. its an addiction after having a ride in my friends more powerful motors (scoobys and evos and M3s). waving goodbye out of the back window to ricers is also quite satisfying.
any ross, great answer.

 

I'm glad I've made some mods to my car, it drives better and it's more fuel efficient.
It's also more fun.
Let's see, what to do next?
:smile:

 

Take a look at the sig line I have - there are just some of us who can never have enough.

It is a great question, but one that if you need to ask, illustrates the point of not needing to get involved with it yourself. Modding the car isn't for everyone.

There are just certain folks who have to because it is there - climbing the mountain metaphor if you will.

The other reason that I'd like to add to Mark's excellent point above is for individuality. The MINI is steeped in tradition, and most of it is the car is always tweaked. The owner individualizes the car with their own tastes.

Enjoy your car - bottom line! Whatever that means to you.

Let's Motor!

Randy

 

I want more power for two reasons:

1) I've never been a car tweaker and this car just seems to beg for it!
2) Sounds like a lot of fun!

--Radman

 

I had to make two adjustments in driving my stock MCS after 32 years of rear wheel drive BMW’s. One was the front wheel drive and the other is its somewhat anemic engine performance in stock form. Too much power in a stock MCS? I don’t think so. 1.6 liters and 161 hp is good output for the displacement, but it gets a major portion of its additional power from forced air induction, not good performance engineering. It is far from a road burner in stock form but can be modified to be one. Good performance for the size of the engine related to the size and weight of the car yes, but no way too much power in stock form.

 

>>OK, trust me, I'm not trying to flame anyone, I'm not putting anyone down for doing what you want to do.

No chance of that happening from me! This is an excellent question and one that:
All potential MCS owners should be asking (when deciding between MC and MCS)
All current MC and MCS owners should be asking BEFORE they do any performance modification.
Is answered differently for each person based on their driving style, use of the car, and needs to be satisfied in motoring.

>>As quick as my MCS is, as fast as the top end is, I can't imagine what I would do with more power. It is already too tempting to smoke every "ricer" at every red light and to blow down the freeways 125!

Just out of the box bone stock both the MC and MCS are quick up to about 45 mph. You have to be a little careful about loading them down with heavy weight options like the biggest wheels and sunroof and CD changer and all but in general they do FINE and most people should enjoy their cars for a bit at least in stock form.

The other thing is even in stock form these cars have a large performance envelope that most new drivers are clearly unable to exploit until they spend more time driving the car or learn how to drive better by going to driving school.
I'd been driving for 27 years and thought I was OK but one trip to driving school showed me I have lots to learn. I read three books on performance driving before I even went to the school and I re read them after I study what people are doing at the monthly autocross events. After 7400 miles in my MCS I am getting more used to how to drive but as I do my mods the car feels and handles a little different- the performance envelop has changed so I have to relearn the limits and go slow to be safe. So back to driving school- get some instruction.

While it "seems" tempting to challenge a ricer it is also unsafe for you and others around you. Pass up this temptation and go to the track. Driving at speeds in excess of 80 on the roads in Hawaii would be very unsafe. We simply do not have any straightaways on the highway of more than about 3 to 4 miles tops plus there is traffic that drives at the posted speed limit of 55. Numberous fatal accidents occur and many are on zones where the speed limit is 35mph.

>>Do you performance modders all race your cars? Do you just enjoy taking the car apart and putting it back together? Or is it about bragging with friends at your favorite watering hole? (Nothing wrong with that)

No- maybe half will race maybe less than that. Most do like to tinker and some people do all their own work-good for them- that's fun. Bragging rights- well that does happen. Most people I know are low key about it. Kinda hard to hide a louder exhaust.

>>Why do you do performance mods?
Plain and simple.
For:
1) The fun of it.
2) Because that is why I bought the car- the MINI is a highly customized car- do anything you want from appearance to audio to perfomance mods- people go crazy with all the options- also part of the fun in being unique. Sorta the same as buying a house- now you can leave it alone or remodel it to suit you style or needs- as much or as little as you like.
3) Because my MINI is my hobby (besides being transportation)- my passion, my precious. Enough said.
4) Because I am trying to find balance in designing and driving a MINI that has ample power with suspension and wheel/tires that can handle that power. A powerful yet neutral steering car that plants itself and goes when you want it to go. So no need for the abruptness of wide open throttle. When you gently squeeze the throttle you get a response that is hefty yet controlled and the car tracks exactly where you point it with no disagreement. No squealing, no or little loss of traction.etc. Of course this has to take into account your own driving style.

If you do performance mods right and you add your extra power in an RPM range that you use. Then you can drive your MINI everyday and use that power on demand. It is responsive power at your fingertips and adds a bit of safety in the case where you need that power unexpectedly to avoid danger or to merge with traffic (short on ramp).

Most of the time clearly you do not need but a fraction of this added power. However in a track session or autocross then more power gives you more options and an enlarged performance envelope- you can choose to do more and drive faster. More power means you can choose to enjoy driving with speed at ease (it's power on tap or more responsive).

 

Warning:

modding is highly additictive!
Modding is therefore highly expensive!
Modding is a blast!!!!

Gotta have fun!
The only danger is: if you spend too much time modding, you can't spend that time motoring!!!

 

Hey, here is one very prectical reason for increasing power:

BETTER GAS MILEAGE!

Yup, belive it or not, before my JCW upgrade I was getting 27mpg, now I average 28 to 29 regularly. Plus I get all the other great reasons that don't make any sense at all!

I get to go a whole lot faster and save on my gas bill, can't beat that even with a Porsche!

 

This is an easy question. I'm a car guy. I can't remember that last time
I had a "stock" car. I enjoy it. It's fun. It's a billion dollar industry. So
I'm not alone.

I like getting from 0 to 60 faster than anyone else. Why do people like roller costers? It feels good. This is like my own little roller coaster.

 

I think it is simply human nature for many to want to work on something, to have a goal, and to put forth the time, engery and resources to make it happen. I would venture to guess that many of us have done the same with other rides, our homes, and other things as well...

But why is it a goal, or a pursuit by so many? Quite a few folks do this b/c there is value placed on peformance in our society. Fast cars are generally speaking much more expensive than slow cars. B/c of that, many will crave speed for that alone, right or wrong...

As for me, I live in an canyon where the driving is simply made for a MINI. I can honestly say that with the near 50 or so hp added to my MCS, and the 150 lbs lost, I can hang with virtually any stock production car out there on these roads. If the 2 straight-aways were any longer though, I'd change my tune I like to have fun and compete, and not have limits on who I play with. That drives me to want my MCS to be at 10:1 weight/hp ratio. I can hang very well with the M3's and AMG's I've enountered as of late. One Porsche 911 guy, after doging him for over a mile, put on his flashers and waved for us to pull-over and stop. We did, and he was amazed at how I was able to keep-up with him. That, to me, is priceless!!!

Randy's mountain analogy rings true for me! I actually travel the world every couple years seeking peaks to climb. Pushing my limits is definitely one the driving forces behind this desire. Some people just have more passion than others to explore life's many experiences. I've got a list that keeps me mighty busy

Whatever ticks your clock...

 

This is like my own little roller coaster.
>>
>>



EXACTLY.

 

Hey everyone, I like to mod my car because I love feeling the changes it makes to the engine and understanding how, why and where the differences are, in every way. I have done engine speed mods so far and listening to the way the engine reacts in different scenarios, how smooth the transmission behaves when you know that fluid is extremely hot, the way the car holds it's line even when you burn up your tires when pulling out some turns on a cool evening, and so on are what make me enjoy things even further. The mods are what make you feel things around you in a much more dynamic setup. When you can feel things on a higher level, it's a whole new world and it's extremely enjoyable. I personally don't go to autocrosses or tracks but I do love hitting up the Santa Monica transverse ranges in Southern California just blast through it in one terrific day when things are just right. I look forward to more power, but livening up the wheels, tires, suspension and brakes are what's next and I can't believe this is only the beginning. :smile:

 

What else are you going to do with your money?

Booze????

Women?????

Your kid's college tuition????????

 

because deep dish rims and 3" drops just look the dogs danglies...and more power just makes it easier to hang with modified 1.8t's and FI VR's