General MINI Talk Shared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

New MINI observations, or is it just me?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 10-12-2018, 08:00 AM
coach74's Avatar
coach74
coach74 is offline
1st Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 35
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
New MINI observations, or is it just me?

Picked up my first mini this past Tuesday. (October 9). Its a 2012 Clubman all stock. Non-S. After only owned it for a few days I've made some observations. First, this thing sits LOW to the ground. I mean for real low. I was driving a 2011 BMW X5 and compared to that my mini could fit under it! Bumps in the road are amplified in this car. Those little speed dots on the highways are felt when I roll over them. Another observation is when leaving driveways like gas stations you have take it slow to avoid the scrape! And creep over speed bumps. I have been getting some odd looks at stop lights from people driving SUVs and lifted trucks. One guy pulled up next to me and laughed then floored it. His freakin exhaust blew right into my passenger window. *****. I do appreciate the good gas mileage! Living in California I didn't want to be selling my soul for gas money so this is a good change up. I also like the interior of my mini. Some people hate it but I like the curves and all the lights. The ambient lighting feature is cool. The double sun roof is nice too. I have yet to use Sport mode. I know, I know. I should but it drives fine to me without using it.
 
  #2  
Old 10-12-2018, 08:40 AM
MiniToBe's Avatar
MiniToBe
MiniToBe is offline
6th Gear
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Philadelphia PA
Posts: 4,330
Received 427 Likes on 393 Posts
pictures
 
  #3  
Old 10-12-2018, 09:05 AM
coach74's Avatar
coach74
coach74 is offline
1st Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 35
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
  #4  
Old 10-12-2018, 09:20 AM
MiniToBe's Avatar
MiniToBe
MiniToBe is offline
6th Gear
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Philadelphia PA
Posts: 4,330
Received 427 Likes on 393 Posts
mmmm...this is the normal height. I thought it sat lower than this. the suspension on these cars is a little sensitive. The S model is even more.
 
The following users liked this post:
coach74 (10-12-2018)
  #5  
Old 10-12-2018, 09:37 AM
coach74's Avatar
coach74
coach74 is offline
1st Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 35
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by MiniToBe
mmmm...this is the normal height. I thought it sat lower than this. the suspension on these cars is a little sensitive. The S model is even more.
Gotcha. I guess it is just a different perspective when you are in one. Guess it will take some getting used to on my part. Pulled up next to a Tacoma this morning. I was literally at his tire level! He had the huge 33" tires on a lift. Friggin truck could roll over me if he chose. The S model sits even lower?
 
  #6  
Old 10-12-2018, 09:39 AM
MiniToBe's Avatar
MiniToBe
MiniToBe is offline
6th Gear
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Philadelphia PA
Posts: 4,330
Received 427 Likes on 393 Posts
Originally Posted by coach74
The S model sits even lower?
I ment the suspension is even stiffer.
 
The following users liked this post:
coach74 (10-12-2018)
  #7  
Old 10-12-2018, 10:15 AM
Mineeee's Avatar
Mineeee
Mineeee is online now
3rd Gear
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 224
Received 43 Likes on 34 Posts
Its all relative, I sit next to a Clubman in my convertible and they seem tall to me....
 
The following users liked this post:
coach74 (10-12-2018)
  #8  
Old 10-12-2018, 10:23 AM
coach74's Avatar
coach74
coach74 is offline
1st Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 35
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Mineeee
Its all relative, I sit next to a Clubman in my convertible and they seem tall to me....
I coach high school football and my players joked they will pick my mini up and hide it somewhere.
 
  #9  
Old 11-01-2018, 07:33 PM
oldxr's Avatar
oldxr
oldxr is offline
Neutral
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have been a auto mechanic for 40 years .Just got a 2009 clubman s going again after putting a clutch in it .I bought it used cheap because the clutch was gone .The car has K&W coil overs and sits really low.I look at door handles on other cars while driving . But it handles like a go kart.
 
  #10  
Old 11-01-2018, 09:53 PM
Fly'n Brick's Avatar
Fly'n Brick
Fly'n Brick is offline
6th Gear
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: In the here and now, for now.
Posts: 4,896
Received 367 Likes on 311 Posts
Originally Posted by coach74
when leaving driveways like gas stations you have take it slow to avoid the scrape!
Go across those dips diagonally will mitigate dragging the bottom.
 
The following users liked this post:
coach74 (11-02-2018)
  #11  
Old 11-01-2018, 11:12 PM
MiniKar's Avatar
MiniKar
MiniKar is offline
5th Gear
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Nevada
Posts: 781
Received 33 Likes on 24 Posts
What you need to get for your rear window is an " actual size " sticker.

This should make you feel like the rest of us as a lot of Mini owners sport that on the rear windows.

I think I got mine from outmotoring.com
 
  #12  
Old 11-03-2018, 10:03 AM
Lefooey's Avatar
Lefooey
Lefooey is offline
1st Gear
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Washington State
Posts: 48
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Originally Posted by MiniKar
What you need to get for your rear window is an " actual size " sticker.

This should make you feel like the rest of us as a lot of Mini owners sport that on the rear windows.

I think I got mine from outmotoring.com
Actual Size sticker from OutMotoring
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
sal1k
F55/F56 :: Hatch Talk (2014+)
19
10-14-2014 06:02 PM
MeloR56
R56 :: Hatch Talk (2007+)
20
07-17-2008 07:10 PM
Paul
1st Gear
27
06-22-2005 03:33 PM
LombardStreet
R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006)
2
11-18-2004 07:46 PM
Rick-Anderson
R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006)
15
03-25-2004 04:28 AM



Quick Reply: New MINI observations, or is it just me?



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:53 AM.