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General MINI TalkShared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
lol . . . reading your statement makes we feel like a Cayman S is definitely a car you should own way after you turn 30...
What makes you say that?
I work hard, responsible and enjoy going to the track. Would not be the fastest vehicle I have owned, but I like the styling and I have wanted one for a long time.
When I was in my 30's I drove past a car wash and saw a brand new 1988 Jaguar XJS convertible and actually had a physical sensation of lust for that car. Shortly thereafter I visited a Jag dealer and got a brochure. I cut out a picture of the XJS from the brochure, put it on my desk, and made a list of goals. A few years later, when I checked off the last goal, I went out and bought my XJS convertible which sits in my garage to this day.
Having owned/leased a series of really fine, fast, and fun cars since then, I fully understand it all. I also understand what it's like to sit stuck in traffic, watching the temp gauge rise on my V-12, knowing it could cruise all day at over 120MPH and knowing that the best I'll ever do now is about 50 down Pacific Coast Highway with the top down, worrying that my dermatologist is gonna give me a ration for sun over-exposure.
There is a season for everything. And this is coming from an aging yuppie who learned to drive a stick shift on his daddy's Porsche.
So for those who haven't owned a car as beautiful and magnificent as whippa's Cayman S (and it is a stunning car, no matter how you slice it), I suggest you make your list of goals, achieve them, get your dream car and, while you're waiting for that day, appreciate just what magical cars these MINIs are. Certainly an entertaining way to pass the time while waiting for your dream car, and even more entertaining after you've done the dream car thing a time or two.
When I was younger, I knew everything. Now, while not as smart as I thought I was, I am learning that with age comes wisdom.
Enjoying this thread, I totally get it. Recently sold my 996 C4S, then bought a truck and drove that for a while. Now downsizing and am finding out the Mini is 80% of the fun and 20% of the cost, lol.
I fully understand this as I was in a very similar boat. 3 months out of college my twin brother and I were shopping for a car as we couldn't get away with sharing one car anymore. We were both working as full time mechanical engineers so we had some money saved away. We were looking for 80s 90s or early 00s vintage BMWs with a stick shift. The first local one we found was a 2002 e39 M5, we looked at each other and decided that heck, we can afford that.
We drove it for 3 years, put 45k miles on it. Autocrossed it and took it on many great road trips. Absolutely a phenomenal car, 400 hp, 6 speed manual, RWD beast. Then, we purchased a 1999 e36 328is as a project car. Driving that car gave us an entirely different perspective on how much fun it is to drive a less powerful exceptionally good handling car. This experience changed us so much that we became bored of the M5s power as it was a super easy and rather boring car to drive at street speeds. We just sold that beautiful car and replaced it with a heavily modified R56 MCS.
However, if you want an experience that makes the Mini feel dull, our 62 Austin Healey Sprite defines excitement with 4 wheels. 56 hp, just sitting inches from the ground. I floor it from almost every intersection, and it is so small and light on it's feet that the world just feels like a giant go-kart track. The exhaust note is intoxicating from the same A-series engine that powered the original Mini 1000s
Enjoying this thread, I totally get it. Recently sold my 996 C4S, then bought a truck and drove that for a while. Now downsizing and am finding out the Mini is 80% of the fun and 20% of the cost, lol.
I've owned:
3 each 911's
2 each 944's one a Turbo
19988 M3
Mercedes 190 Cosworth
5 VW's, Scirocco, GTI's, Beetles
And a host of many Overlanding Trucks
2 Land Rovers
3 Land Cruiser
Toyota 4 Runner
Toyota Tundra
Over all the Mini is a lot of fun, cost wise easily affordable, and so easy to work on and maintain. I'm going to be driving my R53 well into retirement
Well relating to the story,my 1st car at the age of 16 was a 1971 brand new out of showroom TR6, at that time I was in school in England I can never forget the feel of driving that car kept it for 2 years and then drove my friends 1968 mini cooper S with dual gas tank it was nothing but a shell he used to track the car every weekend after school,so there it went the TR6 for a mini and tracking on weekend and school and DD during the week, since then I had many cooper s and enjoyed them, since moving to united states 32 years a go I have had many cars 2 M5's cobra replica 2016 435i zhp one of the 100 that was sent to states S2000 2 997S Mercedes Benz and few more,about 6mo a go got the bug for the mini and on a wimp bought a 2009 cooper s with 43000 miles one owner yes since I have spent a lot of cash to be honest $7000+ to get the car not to give me problems every thing you could think of went wrong with the car, from brake job to full engine rebuilt but the joy of the car took away the pain of the problems,understanding the porsche and PDK I have to say each have the place of there own,at the age of 21 I drove for the factory in Europe till age 24 in gtp porsche and my racing days came to holt when my car got demolished in my last race in Italy with 27 brocken spots in my body and 6mo in body cast and 11 surgical procedures to keep me from loosing my legs and arms and still to this day most parts of me are rods and bolts,lol airports are not my thing...
My mini is my DD and my new car sits in the garage.
Enjoy the mini.
Would be fun to take it back to Rota for some fun driving!!
Oh yes it would be !! I would tell you of the time I topped a hill in my 67 doing about 70 on a 11/2 lane and the LaGuardia was checking papers at an impromptu road block..couldn't stop so slid by sideways as they brought up their Uzis machine guns ...just made the turn.and avoided that road for a while.
Well relating to the story,my 1st car at the age of 16 was a 1971 brand new out of showroom TR6, at that time I was in school in England I can never forget the feel of driving that car kept it for 2 years and then drove my friends 1968 mini cooper S with dual gas tank it was nothing but a shell he used to track the car every weekend after school,so there it went the TR6 for a mini and tracking on weekend and school and DD during the week, since then I had many cooper s and enjoyed them, since moving to united states 32 years a go I have had many cars 2 M5's cobra replica 2016 435i zhp one of the 100 that was sent to states S2000 2 997S Mercedes Benz and few more,about 6mo a go got the bug for the mini and on a wimp bought a 2009 cooper s with 43000 miles one owner yes since I have spent a lot of cash to be honest $7000+ to get the car not to give me problems every thing you could think of went wrong with the car, from brake job to full engine rebuilt but the joy of the car took away the pain of the problems,understanding the porsche and PDK I have to say each have the place of there own,at the age of 21 I drove for the factory in Europe till age 24 in gtp porsche and my racing days came to holt when my car got demolished in my last race in Italy with 27 brocken spots in my body and 6mo in body cast and 11 surgical procedures to keep me from loosing my legs and arms and still to this day most parts of me are rods and bolts,lol airports are not my thing...
My mini is my DD and my new car sits in the garage.
Enjoy the mini.
That 911 still makes my heart skip,,,,,,most beautiful car in the world !
I am reluctantly chiming in. My story is a bit different. I recently acquired a Porsche. Because of it, I renewed my affections and love for my 05 MCS. It has been a reality check how great the R53 MCS is right from the factory. 12 years later I would still spend time admiring the beautiful lines and timeless design inside and out. The MINI is infinitely more agile in the city traffic, and I can go anywhere with it. Not so much with the Porsche.
Last edited by pnwR53S; 04-27-2017 at 11:59 AM.
Reason: add photo
Don't believe I've heard that before... saving it for future use, :p
It's the truth. My Ducati desmoquattro has undeniable holy-$#!% power but the old 2-valve 750 I had before it was nearly 100 lbs lighter and effortlessly chuckable into corners.
I learned enough from motorcycles that I don't really yearn for a 500+hp car. Small and agile is where it's at for me. Although I do admit that the Tesla Model S's insane acceleration from a top made me giggle like a maniac.
I still have my E39 M5 and will keep it for a long time to come. Great fun, fast and a phenomenal road car. However, it's a 4,000 lb beast that does not like driving in traffic.
02-09-2017, 05:13 PM
