At what point do you lose the connection with what makes a mini a mini? Is it a mini because it has the body shell and the name? The original Mini became famous because it was the little engine that could, not the body shell hiding a rocket.
If its only the body you can easily get body kit to go over some powertrain that fits your needs.

Personally I like the old R5 Turbo and this Clio remind me of it. Of course the Le CAr image taints it a bit.

Paul

 

I came within inches of having a R5 Turbo A Le Car carried me through colledge days

 

There have been a lot of good suggestions made, but it's hard to really suggest something for YOU without knowing what's important to you and what kind of budget you have in mind.

Answers to the following questions will make it easier to tailor recommendations to your needs/wants.

Is warranty important?
Is resale value important?
Do you plan to spend all your $ at once or in phases?
Are you interested in peak HP or low-end punch?
What's more important, zero to whatever top speed or handling on the curvy roads?
Do you race at all?

 

El,

you should hire a professional photagrapher to take a picture of the glowing pipes and turbo. There is passion hidden in that photo, find it!

 

Not sure why but many people think the twincharge has no bottom end.... only peak HP



IT HAS BOTH!

 

It's a lot better having a "body shell hiding a rocket", than a MPV style MINI with four doors and lots of space for super-market bags. What will you people say if the marketing boys introduce a SUV version of MINI, how close would that be to the original idea?
Clio V6 is difficult to sell and drive, but it's a shame that Renault can have it and BMW won't have something like it. We NEED a factory faster MINI, it's so clear that they need to build one. Current numbers of JCW owners just prove that.
Thanks

 

I agree totally. MPV , I think a split off thread would be in order, on what makes a Mini a Mini. I wont hijack this thread.

The other mod, not really a auto mod but a drive one: One track day or a trip to the dragon

Paul

 

My unworthy opinion, but posted nonetheless.

Econocheapomod-o's:
Operation HAI
downgrade yer 17"s to 16"s, or even steelies, for that loser-cool-racer appeal.
Some people swear by the M7-device.
One ball your MCS. He'll only be mad for a day.
remove your shift ****, it'll feel like it's been shortened!

the "I can afford a base cooper S" mods:
Pulley
MTH chiptune (GIAC comes in close 2nd for price and quality/brand)
replace your bald runflats with non-runflats that don't suck (runflats suck.)
whalen, or alta short shift
rear swaybar (I got H-sport. wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee)
if you have an 04 or lower, steal your neighbors's 05 exhaust (mcs only i think), and oneball it for popping glory.
DRIVING SCHOOL: mr. miyagi would pwn you in a race, fool(s)!

The "I bought a 30k+ MCS, and it is my 8th car" mods:
Retrofit the 05 MCS's close gear ratio 6speed.
JCW
Twincharge
BOTH
Hire a driver to make you look good.
Just buy an 05, cheap bastid!

Or...
you can throw on a couple power mods, throw on some lightweight wheels with sticky tires, just rip the crap out of your interior (remove backseat, sunroof, blah blah blah), go to driving school, and watch initial D. for inspiration.

BTW: for those with the escort 8500 (at least the X50 anyways): you can make your escort a voltmeter by messing with your settings. But you probably knew that.

 

Oh! Important mod that most Californians don't think about- 91 Octane! This has probably been discussed elsewhere, but almost all drivers in CA drive on 87 octane. This steals tons of power from your car, and it's an easy mistake to make.

If you switch over to 91, reset your ECU that night - it'll feel like a whole new car. Mine did.

 

First mods
Tires
JCW (whole deal)
Sway bars
Girl (should not be an upgrade)

 

MTH Cartune <$100
one Ball Exhaust <$100
Hot Air Intake ~$50
Ajust SC Bypass valve - Free
SC Pully/ Denso Plugs < $500

Suspension.
Get rid of the run-flats (They don't last that long, so you'll have to anyway)
Rear-Sway Bar
Camber Plates
Sport Springs.......
Better wheels (if you have extra money).

Matt

 

I second that!

 

Funny
I'm workin on it.

 

No I do not race. I want something that won't void my warrantee and/or my dealer won't care about. Resale value is not an issue I plan to keep this car until the day I die! (hopefully they'll still have roads then) I am for sure getting the JCW because it doesn't void my warranty. Then from there go in phases. I'm really interested in gaining performance from the 0-100mph range nothing really over that matters. I also want a MINI... A car that tackles the turn beautifully!!

Thanks I hope these questions are useful!!
Mikey AkA ChiliCooperS

Edit: I just read through some posts and what are sticky tires? Also I plan to buy KEI Racing Force 10 rims in seventeen inch version.

 

To those who voted for radar detectors, I counter that track days eliminate the need for them. I drive like a great-grandma after a track day. I'm too tired to speed.

Best mod at any price to any vehicle.

 

I've heard that one balled exhaust sound just like...well...a one ball Like the other one's been kick in Is this true?

 

the last speeding ticket I got was going 85 in PA right after I headed for home after a fun filled day at Pocono

 

Uhm, mine was at 118mph. I didn't know I was being chased thru three counties while driving the Taconic Pkwy. Three marked cars and one unmarked car later...well lets just leave it to your imagination.

 

Couldn't afford going to the track every day and I doubt that would make drive slower, just be more bored with the speed limit.

Paul

 

I like my Escort.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by KevinR
There have been a lot of good suggestions made, but it's hard to really suggest something for YOU without knowing what's important to you and what kind of budget you have in mind.

Answers to the following questions will make it easier to tailor recommendations to your needs/wants.

Is warranty important?
Is resale value important?
Do you plan to spend all your $ at once or in phases?
Are you interested in peak HP or low-end punch?
What's more important, zero to whatever top speed or handling on the curvy roads?
Do you race at all?


No I do not race. I want something that won't void my warrantee and/or my dealer won't care about. Resale value is not an issue I plan to keep this car until the day I die! (hopefully they'll still have roads then) I am for sure getting the JCW because it doesn't void my warranty. Then from there go in phases. I'm really interested in gaining performance from the 0-100mph range nothing really over that matters. I also want a MINI... A car that tackles the turn beautifully!!

Thanks I hope these questions are useful!!
Mikey AkA ChiliCooperS

Edit: I just read through some posts and what are sticky tires? Also I plan to buy KEI Racing Force 10 rims in seventeen inch version.

 

If you want to keep your warranty and you're dead set on the JCW kit, I'm not exactly sure what your question is. It doesn't make financial sense to buy the JCW kit AND modify it.

Given what you've posted, I would recommend that you get the JCW kit installed, add a larger rear swaybar and ditch the run-flats for some better tires. This steers clear of all warranty issues (with the very rare possibility of rear swaybar related problems) and addresses the understeer in stock Coopers. You won't be the fastest, but you'll end up with a nice driving car.

 

Mod does not only mean power...

Top of the mod list are
1) GBmini's auto up modul..man do I love that thing,
2) TWA armrest...I couldn't drive without it

etc...


L

 

As noted above, the non-run flats and rear bar really do transform the car. I do have an 05 JCW kit. Some here know that this is a company car and the kit was part of the the agreement for warranty purposes. If I were buying this car myself, I would opt to go after market. The JCW kit is exspensive truth be known. It does come with a warranty, and it is an EPA certified kit - very costly. If these elements appeal to you then buy the kit. However, I would not by the kit with my own money and then modify it. The JCW head in particular is not very impressive especially when you factor in the cost. I think Randy will tell you that you can max the hp out to about 250-255 for about the same cost as a JCW kit with all after market components. More than 250 hp requires a different appraoch, El's mini for example. Spend the six grand on after market and gain an extra 40-45 hp for the same cost...sans a BMW warranty and EPA certification. Resale is possibly another consideration; a JCW car will undoubtably hold its value over most after market set ups.

 

I would love to see a dyno of a supercharged mini (stock s/c) that makes 250whp SAE....