Twen,


Those are the best times, when old dreams come true! The last few days will go by really quick and its going to be hard getting used to no longer being Miniless...



Bruiser,


It is funny how the marketing tendency in most fields today is to push people up market to bigger and better and faster and more feature laden everything.
This brought me to buy a GT Mustang instead of a V6 which arguably is lighter and especially has a better front/rear weight distribution. Bigger isn't always better, although maybe in the case of the Cooper S or JCW it is.


In an English Mini Magazine Test Drive I enjoyed them saying: "Mini enthusiasts, don't forget that in a Mini, LESS IS MORE !" They found that the Cooper S they test drove was less pure than a base model they had driven before because it was loaded with options. At the same time they found the Abarth 500 Essense, with its variable valve turbo, more of a hard core sports car with a purer interior design thanks to it having few 'in your eyes' doo-dads messing up the aesthetics.


Abarth has just started offering a package grouping the H&R springs designed for the Hamann Abarth 500 along with self adjusting Koni shocks and beefy Brembo brakes. At 160 bhp/ton it sets a record for an entry price city commuter and goes opposite to the Mini convertible I test drove last week which seemed heavier than my hatch, ragtops usually being built with a less rigid chassis and more forgiving suspension.


Abarth's homepage


Abarth 500 configurator


I haven't done any mountain runs in the Cooper yet but might soon if the mountain passes in the Alps are open. That depends on snowfall, due to the high altitude they close them at some point time each season. If so, there won't be a load of hefty Americans aboard, most Europeans being a good bit smaller and lighter which helps our Justas justa barely make it up the hill.


What I do notice is that even on a flat road you've got to take it up high in the revs to get it moving quickly for an evasive maneuver, and though that's pretty much what the engine was designed to be like it can require you to anticipate more and be less effective at the drop of a hat. Since it needs to be 'manhandled' I hope the Justa engine is over-designed, being roughly the same as the one in the turbo models, because I don't plan on babying it. Though I heard once that the innards (pistons and rods) were different on the higher output powerplants?


Another thing is the size of the scenery and landscape where you're driving. In tightly woven European country roads it isn't that essential to have loads of torque, although it is nice. The tight knit quarters with heavily packed traffic make it easier to weave lane to lane and integrate the flow with a Mini. But let's say in the Colorado mountains you'd need a lot more torque because of the very long stretches of uphill roads with far fewer bends where you could practically spend the day going up hill with little need to slow down until you reach your destination.


In Alpine roads we have tightly knit hairpin turns which are between a hundred feet and a thousand feet apart. Country roads in other regions often have a similar rhythmic frequency of turns. This means that when you drive up or down those roads you're wanting to have a blast taking them at the best angle and with carved precision, and usually will have plenty of momentum built up to enter into the next turn. But I can see why you'd want a higher output ride your purposes, and with some luck Mini USA will market the new 2.0 liter diesel which is eager for some heavy duty mountain climbing.


CB

 

I want to join the club! It turns out that the horizon blue stays looking pretty sharp through this snow (and now mud/salt) in the northeast. The picture is pre-snow - i think this color looks extra good with dark wheels.

 

I'd like to join the HzB club as well. Picked up my 2011 MCS on December 15.

I agree Horizon Blue does look nice even with salt and snow on it. It snowed here in the day after I picked it up.

 

Lookin' good, datadink.

 

Alexander and Datalink, those are some pretty cool looking Cooper S Horizons!

This goes to show that our color work in all lighting, night, day, snow or shine.

CB

 

Can you please add me to the list? New owner here! Pictures to come

 

Me too!

Alexander! want to trade wheels? I love those on HZB. I am thinking of either some black Konig Feathers, maybe something by Tenzo or those. Gotta show off these huge JCW brakes! I only counted 3 JCW's on this thread, no JCW Aero Kits but the std aero kits look really good with this color. There is one that is also blacked out which caught my eye. I have some plans to do the same and also add black wheels. I'll post after I get it all done. Thanks for hosting the list Salt 'n Pepa and Mr. Belvedere!

 

Picked up my Cooper S yesterday

 

Very nice, congratulations!! Have fun!

 

Hi all, I'm looking for opinions here. Long story short, my beloved '06 MCS, El Kabong, was totaled last week and I am unexpectedly buying a new MINI. I am down to 2 colors, HzB or the new BRG. When I first looked at MINIs in '05, BRG was my first choice until I saw it in person. This time around, I like the BRG so may go there, but not sure yet.
Anyway, on the HzB I am down to a few choices and would like opinions. I want to do the Black Jack on the sunroof this time and will do stripes. I discovered the silver stripes last night and like those since I missed out on the silver roof on my last order by a few weeks (I loved the space blue with silver roof and stripes), but also I like traditional black stripes. I am a girl, so was thinking the silver might make it a bit less masculine but still cool and racey looking? (I do like to do driving schools time and money permitting).
Sorry for the long intro, but would love opinions on my choices. All 3 have black jack roof and mirrors, black wheels and headlamps. Click to enlarge for a better view

First Hzb, HzB roof, silver stripes
[IMG][/IMG}

Second, HzB, black roof, silver stripes
[IMG][/IMG]

Third, HzB, black roof, black stripes
[IMG][/IMG]

 

Project, Lookin good Stripless is nice.

Bocron, It is up to personal preference. But I am kind of partial to the black roof and black stripes.

The glossy black wheels look nice too (which is my next mod), but the grill and beltline are begging to be blacked out at that point. In this thread at least one guy has done all of that (minus the sunroof graphics). Check and see if that fits your taste.

I love BRG with black wheels.

Off subject: Hey do they have driving schools at Road Atlanta?

 

Thanks for the opinion. Looks like I have to make a decision pretty quick, got the call today that El Kabong is officially totaled (still having a hard time not believing I'll be getting him back ever ). And I only get a rental for 30 days so gotta move. I've ruled out BRG and now am decided on HzB. I'm planning on blacking out as much as possible, but that will have to wait for time and funds I guess.
I've done a few driving schools at Road Atlanta, with the BMW club as well as the Porsche club and Audi club IIRC. Total blast, hoping to go with the new MINI maybe this summer.
Annette

 

I am an ex Motorcycle racer. I raced at Road Atlanta back in 1989 and had a blast. I never even saw the track before I got there. That was an eye opening experience coming down the back straight the first time! Seems like that track would be a lot of fun in a Mini. Maybe some day. Sorry to hear about El Kabong. I wish you the best of luck with your next Mini.

 

Yep, I gained more and more respect for turn 12 as I progressed. Still makes my heart skip a beat when I'm coming under the bridge.

I love your MINIs. 2 JCWs! The graphics on your Clubbie are inspired, and what a great idea for the graphic on the boot. My husband just bought a Countryman and he wanted to do a roof graphic but we discovered that the CM is just tall enough that it won't be seen by most people.
I'll hopefully be posting soon with pics of my new MINI, he is in production right now!
Annette

 

Sorry for your loss. I agree with the height of the CM. I have the Blackjack sunroof graphic and only catch it a little. Still not sorry I ordered it. Also looks cool from inside.

Bill

 

He's still doing a roof graphic, but a bit differently. Aesthetic Creations is doing a graphic along the sides of the roof by the rails. So, best of both worlds for the vertically challenged (me).
Annette

 

Hey can I join the HzB club? Thanks!

 

I wonder if Salt n Peppa or Belvedere is still out there? I would like to join too but I haven't seen a post from either of them since they had the little one (which is perfectly understandable). Annette, can't wait to see the second coming of El Kabong!

 

So he's officially here. I will start modding him pretty soon, I'll start with some blacking out this weekend I hope.



Annette

 

It's so shiny...congrats on finally getting it looks great

 

Anyone know of a good place to buy some touch-up paint? Last week some idiot opened the door of his circa 1980's Ford Battlewagon into the rear quarter panel of my car leaving a small ding and chipping the paint. I talked to him but never apologized, nothing. Complete idiot. I got the ding fixed today (props to DentMasters) but still need to fix the paint chip.

 

Annette, from your fellow 1st Gen PW/B fanatic, Peerage caretaker, and now '11 MCS hardtop convert...

...congratulations. He's a beaut!

 

Thanks from your fellow 1st Gen PW/B fanatic, Peerage caretaker and now '11 MCS owner.
I had clearbra and tint done today, driving lights next week!(I got the ones you have, I just like the clean look of them, so thanks for the input!).
Annette

 

Nice, nice, great looking MINI!

 

Lookin' Good Annette! I never saw blackjack mirror covers on an HzB. That looks great! Hope you don't mind if I copy you! Love those Joey headlights too.