Dear Fellow EIM-ers!!

Hey!! I hope you guys didn't forget about me
My second year of college just rapped up and I finally have time to have some fun.

Now, my title to this post is misleading. My MINI is very much so alive, and I might have seen some of you around the NE side of Cedar Rapids.

Anywho, this post of mine is mostly just a concerning question for me.

Money is super tight for me: I'm currently in the process of building a computer and I have about $1k to my name, with more to come within the next month or so.

Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVVVVVVVVVVVVVE my MINI... but it is starting to bore me. Don't shoot me. I am thinking its because I have that boring CVT trans in my '03. I got 80k on the clock, and nothing has gone wrong *yet*.

I was wondering, to rekindle the fiery love that I had with my MINI when I first got it, would a tranny swap be... in the mix.

I know its possible, but I have concerns, seeing as though IOWA tends to not be where the parts for this are.

If anyone has done one, read about one, knows where to get parts, wants to help, pleeeeeeaseeeee let me know!!!

I have read through the post on NAM about it: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...trag-swap.html

Any help would be greaaaatly appreciated


Sincerely,
Jon

 

I thought about this back when I had my 03 CVT however with no shop in the area (closest TX) that has even looked at a CVT to 5sp swap I choose to just trade it when it happened, (my CVT hadnt failed but other problems ($6k worth) forced my hand into a 2011 MINI S)
If you plan on keeping the best things you can do are avoid the Engine performance route and go suspension (Swaybar Springs Control Arms) and some fun sound fixes (CAI and Exhaust). I got a ton of compliments on my 2003 and the Miltek exhaust in it...

Tires and wheels are always good as well for looks (let me know I still have a set of ASA AR1's in black)

 

As a side note if you need any computer advise let me know (hobby/career)

 

Oh and I am willing to help (though I am not a gear head)

 

Haha, you are just full of everything useful.

Truth is, I really want a stick. (key-word being I, my girlfriend HATES sticks.... )

And being that money is tight, I figured instead of trading up (still the smartest choice), that i would just spend a few $ks and get the stick "transplanted".

Trading up, would cost me a pretty penny, and that hurts me. I could do a loan, sure. I could get my parents involved, sure.

I am just torn. I found a '99 Miata, nice car. I could straight trade for it. But at the same time, I just cant part with MINI.

MINIs are amazing, and I don't want to deal with a soft-top just yet.

Anywho, lets see if we can find some good deals on an S, of find some way around my frustration.

 

Sounds good, let me know if you want a good weekend drive some time (I have found the roads around the res to be great) This weekend may be a bit crowded with campers but still fun.

 

My wife is still angry by the 6 speed purchase but hey I couldnt go automatic slushbox again

 

Haha, well, I guess that is her loss then. Sticks are fun, and I don't care what people say.

I might have to take you up on that offer sometime. Might not be for another month because I have 6 weeks of summer class that started on monday, but I will most likely want to see what a stick coop is like.

Does the S feel a lot better, and more responsive than the justa?

 

Yeah it has a ton more power but handling wise the R50 with a few mods felt more connected than the R56 with only sport suspension. But I guess I expected as much

 

Gahh. It sounds so attractive!!!
If I trade in my MINI, I'll most likely get anywhere between 6500 and 7500 for it, with an extra $2k down max. So, I got about a $10k max budget.

Man, this is tough. Insurance is only like $5 a month extra for me, so no brainer on that. Just tryin to find the right car now.

 

Check this out... http://www.sprintboostersales.com/sp....cfm?make=MINI

 

I really think that a change in tranny's would, imho, cost more than trading for a similar year mini with the manual. Hourly rates add up quickly and the parts to make the change will not be cheap. It'll amaze you how many pieces/parts it'll take to make the change--peddle, brackets, linkage, clutch plate, flywheel, shifter, transmission, cross member, etc, etc!

 

Any of you got a mean mini that your modding? I sure do and I'd like to meet a few ppl in the area that are as well...let me know if any of you wanna meet up!