What's so good about Mini's?
If you have to ask, then you will never understand it! I don't really know what it is- just love the car. I actually think it radiates from me, because nearly everyone that I talk to daily has either looked at MINIs or purchased a MINI since I have gotten one. They see how much I love the car, and I'd assume that they wanted to see what the big deal is.
Some people just might not see it- a lot of people *hate* my car. A lot of friends hate on it daily. But then again, a lot of people love it.
On this forum you will see a ton of enthusiasts that are crazy about their cars, so this is kind of the extreme end of the line. A lot of people (unfortunately) buy the cars because they get good gas mileage- and I am starting to see this more and more. I have the MINI Dealership 2 minutes away from my house, and you can tell the ones that buy it for the mpg vs the ones that buy it for the spg (smiles per gallon) by the ones that wave, or smile as you pass, and it's a shame that so many people have these cars and don't feel a sense that it is something more than a car- it is a community that you are becoming a part of once you buy the car.
I'm sure it'll grow on you. I honestly look at my car every single time I open the garage door to go get something, and I always seat myself at restaurants so that I can see my car from the window- even after a year of ownership! It's crazy sounding to someone who doesn't have a love for the car- but for those who do- it's completely sane!
I *highly* recommend going to a local MINI club, and meet some of the people, join in on conversations- this will help you get a feel for the kind of community you belong in just for having the car! There are some great people!
Some people just might not see it- a lot of people *hate* my car. A lot of friends hate on it daily. But then again, a lot of people love it.
On this forum you will see a ton of enthusiasts that are crazy about their cars, so this is kind of the extreme end of the line. A lot of people (unfortunately) buy the cars because they get good gas mileage- and I am starting to see this more and more. I have the MINI Dealership 2 minutes away from my house, and you can tell the ones that buy it for the mpg vs the ones that buy it for the spg (smiles per gallon) by the ones that wave, or smile as you pass, and it's a shame that so many people have these cars and don't feel a sense that it is something more than a car- it is a community that you are becoming a part of once you buy the car.
I'm sure it'll grow on you. I honestly look at my car every single time I open the garage door to go get something, and I always seat myself at restaurants so that I can see my car from the window- even after a year of ownership! It's crazy sounding to someone who doesn't have a love for the car- but for those who do- it's completely sane!
I *highly* recommend going to a local MINI club, and meet some of the people, join in on conversations- this will help you get a feel for the kind of community you belong in just for having the car! There are some great people!
I have tested this personally with a friend on a private drag strip- I'm sure you remember my forum post. It was a strait line race with the prior generation GTO (350 hp?) and I beat the GTO 2/3 times. Unless you have tested it out... don't assume! 
Something don't sound right to me. I have a 2012 JCW Coupe that is pretty quick and I also have a 2005 GTO that is fast. I can tell you that I would be looking at my JCW in the rearview mirror. While 208 HP is pretty good in a small light car it still cannot compete with 400. The exception would be on twisties or a road course. But even then in the straights the JCW would be in the rear view mirror. So I can only assume that this big bad El Camino was not that bad just maybe big.
Top end speed is much different than quickness. While my JCW is limited to 149 MPH, (I think that is the spec) my GTO is limited at less than that however if chipped it will exceed that. 100 MPH top speed in third gear with a 6 speed tells me that easily.
The GTO is very quick stop light to stop light. In the curves it cannot keep up with the Mini's. I've tried it and it does not work. But once again I see them in the rear view mirror once the road straightens up.
I don't recommend racing on any street. Nothing good can come of it.
Top end speed is much different than quickness. While my JCW is limited to 149 MPH, (I think that is the spec) my GTO is limited at less than that however if chipped it will exceed that. 100 MPH top speed in third gear with a 6 speed tells me that easily.
The GTO is very quick stop light to stop light. In the curves it cannot keep up with the Mini's. I've tried it and it does not work. But once again I see them in the rear view mirror once the road straightens up.
I don't recommend racing on any street. Nothing good can come of it.
4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 350
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From: Greater Boston, Mass.
What's with all the negative vibes from these people? Why would they hate such a beautiful machine?I *highly* recommend going to a local MINI club, and meet some of the people, join in on conversations- this will help you get a feel for the kind of community you belong in just for having the car! There are some great people!
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 330
Likes: 1
From: Central MA
My wife and I will probably do this at some point, but, honestly I had a negative experience with the meet-ups from the BMW motorcycle clubs in my area. They were *very* insular. No one would talk to me. Even on the couple camping trips I went on, I was very isolated. Hope MINI meet-ups are a little warmer.
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 316
Likes: 1
From: Mobile, AL
My wife and I will probably do this at some point, but, honestly I had a negative experience with the meet-ups from the BMW motorcycle clubs in my area. They were *very* insular. No one would talk to me. Even on the couple camping trips I went on, I was very isolated. Hope MINI meet-ups are a little warmer.
5th Gear
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, New Jersey
What's with all the negative vibes from these people? Why would they hate such a beautiful machine?My wife and I will probably do this at some point, but, honestly I had a negative experience with the meet-ups from the BMW motorcycle clubs in my area. They were *very* insular. No one would talk to me. Even on the couple camping trips I went on, I was very isolated. Hope MINI meet-ups are a little warmer.
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
I wanted to say thanks to everyone for your insights. I'm glad to see that so many people are passionate about their minis. I've never been on a car forum before. Are there forums like this for every car out there, like KIA's and Nissan Sentras also?
I must say that over the past week, I have found myself sitting at my desk, looking for reasons to drive somewhere. The car is growing on me. I'm still in the break-in period (380 out of 1200 miles), so I'm not pushing it at all... but I'm really looking forward to when I can open it up a bit.
I've liked the car from the beginning, obviously, that's why I bought it. And for the price, though it's expensive, it's probably the best vehicle in that price range.
After looking over some other forums, I think I should probably personalize my car a bit to make it more 'me,' if for nothing else... at least as a bonding experience between us (me and the car that is)
I've never done any 'mods' to my car before, but after watching some youtube videos of suped-up cooper's, I might look into a throaty exhaust system. Any recommendations? "cat-back" (whatever that means) seems to sound good (not too teenage Fast-and-Furious-wannabe, yet still sporty). Thoughts? Should I just go to a different forum?
Thanks again for instilling some mini-passion in me!
I must say that over the past week, I have found myself sitting at my desk, looking for reasons to drive somewhere. The car is growing on me. I'm still in the break-in period (380 out of 1200 miles), so I'm not pushing it at all... but I'm really looking forward to when I can open it up a bit.
I've liked the car from the beginning, obviously, that's why I bought it. And for the price, though it's expensive, it's probably the best vehicle in that price range.
After looking over some other forums, I think I should probably personalize my car a bit to make it more 'me,' if for nothing else... at least as a bonding experience between us (me and the car that is)
I've never done any 'mods' to my car before, but after watching some youtube videos of suped-up cooper's, I might look into a throaty exhaust system. Any recommendations? "cat-back" (whatever that means) seems to sound good (not too teenage Fast-and-Furious-wannabe, yet still sporty). Thoughts? Should I just go to a different forum?
Thanks again for instilling some mini-passion in me!
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: DFW
I wanted to say thanks to everyone for your insights. I'm glad to see that so many people are passionate about their minis. I've never been on a car forum before. Are there forums like this for every car out there, like KIA's and Nissan Sentras also?
I must say that over the past week, I have found myself sitting at my desk, looking for reasons to drive somewhere. The car is growing on me. I'm still in the break-in period (380 out of 1200 miles), so I'm not pushing it at all... but I'm really looking forward to when I can open it up a bit.
I've liked the car from the beginning, obviously, that's why I bought it. And for the price, though it's expensive, it's probably the best vehicle in that price range.
After looking over some other forums, I think I should probably personalize my car a bit to make it more 'me,' if for nothing else... at least as a bonding experience between us (me and the car that is)
I've never done any 'mods' to my car before, but after watching some youtube videos of suped-up cooper's, I might look into a throaty exhaust system. Any recommendations? "cat-back" (whatever that means) seems to sound good (not too teenage Fast-and-Furious-wannabe, yet still sporty). Thoughts? Should I just go to a different forum?
Thanks again for instilling some mini-passion in me!
I must say that over the past week, I have found myself sitting at my desk, looking for reasons to drive somewhere. The car is growing on me. I'm still in the break-in period (380 out of 1200 miles), so I'm not pushing it at all... but I'm really looking forward to when I can open it up a bit.
I've liked the car from the beginning, obviously, that's why I bought it. And for the price, though it's expensive, it's probably the best vehicle in that price range.
After looking over some other forums, I think I should probably personalize my car a bit to make it more 'me,' if for nothing else... at least as a bonding experience between us (me and the car that is)
I've never done any 'mods' to my car before, but after watching some youtube videos of suped-up cooper's, I might look into a throaty exhaust system. Any recommendations? "cat-back" (whatever that means) seems to sound good (not too teenage Fast-and-Furious-wannabe, yet still sporty). Thoughts? Should I just go to a different forum?
Thanks again for instilling some mini-passion in me!
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Haha Bigprfed22, I meant no offense. Your car looks awesome. You obviously have experience. Do you have any recommendations on a reasonably-priced exhaust system?
None taken at all i was simply narrowing down what part of fast and furious you were referring to, I myself am not a fan of most of the aftermarket "non oem look" mods. Best bang for buck exhaust would be an invidia q300. Almost no drone, clean sound and well made. I have taken one of those and mated it to a factory JCW muffler for what i have now. No drone and great sound. I had the borla system first but that was too deep and droney. Youtube search r56 mini exhaust and you will find tons of samples on whats out there. I surfed those sound clips for a long time before making my decision. Exhaust sound wise im satisfied with my hybrid creation
I surfed those sound clips for a long time before making my decision. Exhaust sound wise im satisfied with my hybrid creation bwahhhhhh bwahhhhhh bwahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh bwaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh.I dont like those much either. I actually think the mini market stays away from that as not too many fartcans are around to be seen.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax, VA
do some research about what your buying before you buy it
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,064
Likes: 15
From: Silly-con Valley
The exhaust is generally thought of as either one single system, or as a series of parts. The part that bolts to the motor itself where the exhaust comes out of the motor is called the "header". The pipes in the header generally merge together at a "collector". Downstream of that (further from the head) is the catalytic converter, which helps break down toxic emissions into less-toxic emissions. I don't remember the name of the pipe that goes the length of the car, but right near the back of the car is the muffler, which dampens out some of the sound that the motor makes.
A "cat-back" system usually replaces all of the stock parts downstream of the catalytic converter. An "axle-back" system will replace the muffler and often some of the pipe under the car; basically everything in back of the rear axle.
Eliminating the catalytic converter is actually a Federal crime, though one you are vanishingly unlikely to be caught or punished for. (The Feds have far bigger fish to fry.) Many states and many localities have annual or biannual emissions inspections, almost all of which will fail you if you are missing the cat. Some areas don't check and don't care, but some do.
The only issues I've heard of apart from the cat are if you remove the oxygen sensors (electrical things that are screwed into two places in the exhaust), or if you put on a muffler that the local cops think makes too much noise.
I hope this helps.
A "cat-back" system usually replaces all of the stock parts downstream of the catalytic converter. An "axle-back" system will replace the muffler and often some of the pipe under the car; basically everything in back of the rear axle.
Eliminating the catalytic converter is actually a Federal crime, though one you are vanishingly unlikely to be caught or punished for. (The Feds have far bigger fish to fry.) Many states and many localities have annual or biannual emissions inspections, almost all of which will fail you if you are missing the cat. Some areas don't check and don't care, but some do.
The only issues I've heard of apart from the cat are if you remove the oxygen sensors (electrical things that are screwed into two places in the exhaust), or if you put on a muffler that the local cops think makes too much noise.
I hope this helps.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax, VA
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax, VA
