Hey Ryan, sorry to see you move on from the MINI, but the Elise is an awesome car. In fact, it was my very close 2nd choice when I bought my MINI.

I always consider it an accomplishment when I pass an Elise/Exige on the track. Nice selection.

 

Good luck my friend! Yes turning 30 does alter ones perspective on things. I'm nearing 40, and a lot happier that I've been able to make life altering changes to my life. Congrats on the Elise...love those cars! My other car is an AW11 aka first gen MR2.

 

LOL, I'm glad I was able to help out! I know there are times that I'm wrong [or get over-heated ] but hopefully in the end it all results in everyone still having a pleasant time and their cars performing better.


The street rod indeed got finished! It debuted last year at the Detroit Autorama, where we took home 3 trophies and ended up being featured in a local newspaper! Here are two pictures I have already hosted online:





The Roadster is an interpretation of a '32 Ford highboy roadster. It uses a fiberglass body that's been sliced-n-diced for just the right stance, and boxed and reinforced frame rails that have been c-notched and massaged. The Kugel SLA front suspension is polished stainless, and the Ford 9" LSD uses a 4-bar with panhard bar mounted inside the trunk! It has sway-bars front and rear, and actually handles and steers amazing for a street rod. The engine is a blueprinted SBC that dyno'd at 405HP and 390LbFt at the crank before being bolted to the 700R4 tranny. The license plate was custom molded out of polycarbonate and painted from the back [like an R/C car]. The letters are backed with an OEL panel that is connected to the lights, so the letters glow at night, so the plate is technical legal. The colors are BMW Imola Red and BMW Silver Gray Metallic. Yes, the wheels are SSR Comps in 16" front and 18" rear. A modern twist on an old 'rod.

 

Nice ride. How about a engine compartment pic.
Very neat.

 

Oooooooooooo.... very cool roadster!

 

Dang Rye sorry to see ya go you were def. a huge asset to the MINI community, some of your threads are the 1st I read even before I owned a MINI. Sure you will be an asset to the Lotus Talk forums maybe I'll see ya there.

 

I can understand your reasons for change. Thanks for all your input and support of the MINI community all these years. My first MINI was an 04 Cooper and your info was always so helpful. I met you for the first time at last year's spring Dragon and can't wait to get down there this spring. Maybe some day you'll bring the Lotus to the Dragon and let it rip. Good luck and happy motoring forever. Cheers.

 

Sorry to hear you're selling the MINI. The Lotus Elise is one hell of a car though.

One of the guys in our club sold his 05 JCW to get into an Elise. Even though he had a lot of fun and loved driving it (including HPDEs), it was not at all practical as a daily driver and he eventually sold the Lotus and got back into a Cooper S.

Good luck!