MINIs are like crack cocaine... Once you're hooked, it's over... Doesn't matter if it leaves you stranded, won't start, is stuck in 'limp home' mode or just enjoying a nice drive with the windows down, jams up and ripping up some twisties, you will never look at these 'little cars' the same way again...

It's like a love hate relationship with a really, really hot girl that performs very well... Then there are the times when you wake up next to her and consider gnawing off your arm just to get away...

 

Sadly it's not looking good for me getting a MINI test drove all versions the JWC was nice but not worth the extra $ considering I'd have to buy winter tires too, so I decided on an S 6 speed. now comes the fun part the dealer is being a **** over the fact that when got my car (brand new mind you) it came of the truck with a defect in the paint which they fixed. But this ****** says because they painted the whole side of the car it looks like it's been in an accident (even though I have paper work to prove it wasn't) so unless this guy stops low balling me guess there's no MINI in my future.

 

Are you saying they won't pay what you want for your trade? Sell it outright - no dealer will give you sqwat for a trade. Meanwhile factory order your MINI, giving you 8 weeks to sell your trade and deal cash. Or just buy a 2010 MINI off the lot now at 1.9% current offer with zero down.

That's what we did with the PT Cruiser GT HO we replaced with the MINI. With the 1.9% financing and free premium pack current offers - went ahead with 1.9% financing and paid off the RV trailer loan that was 6% instead....

 

They are $5000 under what Edmunds and KBB list the trade-in value at

 

You really should sell it out right. I don't think you really can rely on kbb or edmunds for an accurate trade in value. Every time I've bought a new car I thought I'd do a trade in only to be insulted by there idea of a "fair" price. Like the previous poster said do an order and use this time to sell your car.

 

Is this a Mini dealer?

Go to Carmax. They will know the car has been repainted. They are very good at knowing all kinds of things about cars, but they will give you a dollar amount in cash of what they will pay you for your car. If they give you what you want, sell your car. If not, list it on craigslist. Sell it outright.

Then, when you have the cash, go to the dealer. Offer them $2K under what they are selling their car for. Tell them it is a cash offer, take it or leave it. When they say that is $2K off what it books for, remind them that you were in there earlier and they were giving you $5K less than what your car was worth, so $2K is a steal for them.

Jerkoffs....I hate salespeople. Well, not my wife, but that is a different story.

 

When we ordered the MINI, inquired what they would pay for the PT in trade. Said they pay what they can whole-sale it for.... Which is way under KBB trade-in values I am sure. MINI dealers really should have a used car lot for the non-MINI trade-ins. They could offer better trade-in offers - make more selling the trade - and bring traffic to the MINI show room.

They have such a corner on the market with MINI's, why bother with used American iron I guess.

 

Most Mini dealers aren't just independent dealers. The one in Madison, Wisconsin is owned by Zimbrick. They own about 10 other dealerships in Madison.

Shop around and see what you can get for cash for your car. Good luck!

 

I am officially a MINI owner!

 

Woo Hoo!! Let me be the very first to congratulate you!! SO what is she/he? Tell us man, we need details! I've been following your story here, and I'm so happy your purchase came through. Hooray!

 

It's a Blue and black Clubman S manual
I went to Carmax yesterday got a estimate $5000 higher than what the first dealer offered, took it to a different dealer they matched it. they had the car in the colors I wanted plus it had the good stereo too!

 

Sounds beautiful, I hope it's Laser Blue, that's the fairest colour in all the land! Congrats again.

 

Thats awesome!! Congrats man. I hope you have a hefty bank account because there is modding to be done!

 

Congrats! You had to work for it too...glad it all worked out and that you enjoy it for a long long time....

 

Yeah I'm no stranger to mods my GTO put 451hp to the tires and the stereo is so loud I cant hear the exhaust which is extremely loud. This is going to be a DD so I'm goin to try and take it easy on the mods. That being said whats the best first mod?

 

That depends on what direction you want to go in, and where your interests lie. Do you want to go drivetrain? Suspension? Something more cosmetic/appearance?

If you can afford it, one of the most common first changes (can't really call it a 'mod') is to get rid of the run-flat tires and have a better set of tires installed. In the minds of many, the handling and feel of a MINI is greatly improved with this one change - in order for them to do what they're intended to do, the sidewalls of the RF is much stiffer than a normal tire, so they don't have the flex and give of a normal tire. Obviously it depends on your feelings and situation, since you either need to acquire a spare and figure out where to put it or you ride with no spare.

 

Mine is a daily driver too and that was my first thought...I'm going to try and take it easy on the mods. Sadly, that's pretty much impossible.

I agree with JT, getting rid of the RF's would be a great first mod. If you're looking for a bit more power and don't want to shell out the premium by going the JCW route, I highly suggest getting a custom ECU tune. There are a few reputable tuners that you can search for on this forum. I'm driving down to Southern California tomorrow and am getting it tuned by Jan at RMW. After reading a ton of posts and asking a few users here, it really seems like the best bang for your buck. Congrats on the new Clubbie!

 

I've already ordered a few appearance parts, does anybody make a black chrome MINI replacement emblem for the front?

 

Lyle @ Vinyl Styles does vinyl wrapped emblems (and pretty much anything else he can get his hands on). Here's one of his threads.

 

+1 to Jan at RMW for your tune. Here's how good it can be with a stock 2nd-gen S: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...16-post41.html. DDM Works makes a fantastic true cold air intake: http://www.ddmworks.com/mini/cooper_...ngine/ris.html. Make sure to get a turbo shield to keep the bonnet scoop from warping. You can go with http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/G2.../InvDetail.cfm or http://www.customcarscentral.com/nme...7--09-up-.html. Another bang-for-the-buck mod is a rear sway bar upgrade. Get a 19mm if you want some increase stiffness in turns, 22mm if you want to do some AutoX, or 25mm if you like riding on two wheels all day long.

 

Does a CAI work well with a turbo? I was under the impression that since most of the boost comes from the exhaust, a CAI on a turbo is a waste. I don't know everything about everything and I am just checking out what I thought was the truth. I'd love to hear some more information on this.

Of course, half the people you talk to, say it does nothing to a supercharged car either.....

Thanks!

 

I threw a K&N cone clamp-on filter, extended it to sit in the center/back of the bay, rerouted the cold air tube to run under the filter, and am talking to a mechanical engineer at my school about making a heat resistant air guide to run from the scoop to the filter. Even without the air guide, my butt is telling me good things have happened. Plus the sound is

 

Right all I want is to hear the turbo better, but I know that wont be enough so here's a couple questions;Is the stock exhaust a big choke point I mean if I did CAI an inter cooler and a down tube would that be a waste with out doing the exhaust too? And are there any good tuners in the Chicago area?

 

Intercooler is a big purchase! Personally, I would start with an intake and exhaust. With the intake set-up I have, the turbo sound is RIDICULOUS. WOT gets the car literally SCREAMING, and the diverter sounds more like a BOV.

Your exhaust set-up is entirely up to you. I don't think it would be a "waste" but a full turbo-back is definitely ideal if you change the DP. Putting 2.5 or 3 inch into a 2.25 inch pipe is not as efficient as putting it into 2.5.

I'm going to be going the way of a good balance of show and go (and very low) so going super fast isn't my thing, but I love having good power there when I want it. So drastic changes to things the computer is sensitive about isn't really up my alley. There are plenty of people who HAVE changed their DP, so I'm sure someone will give you a hand.


If you have any questions about an exhaust set up on a clubman, just PM me, there are great ways to avoid paying an arm and a leg.

 

Do you have any pics of your CAI I have an extra CAI from my GTO in the basement maybe I ca fab somthing up?