on another forum thread I am looking for some GP owners to bring their cars out to the track so you can see what it does. You bought it cause it's the badest factory mini ever made, so your either a collector, or really enjoy a stripped out mini with numbers on the roof, go figure.

Well that got me thinking, why do you mod your car?
HP mods can really only be for two things, going faster and going faster.
Exhaust sounds much nicer so that would be for basic enjoyment, better stereo the same thing. CF parts are for looks, which I believe many of us Mini owners enjoy adding that personal style to our rides.

The thing that kills me is the person that mods the hell out of the car and never does anything with it, not like a dyno ever really brought a smile to your face, it cool to get a number so you can see what works and doesn't but are you going to run to a dyno every weekend, nope. So what about the people that totally reshaped their cars power, braking, suspension and do nothing with it? Pointless!

Since street racing is illegal (and grounds for taking your car now) and anyone caught doing it should be hung up naked by their ankles and taken to prison (that way). You can track your car in safe conditions with medical personnel standing by (my choice, as well as others on here) on a speedway or drag race, haven't seen too much of that going on (but incase anyone wants to, import nationals are this weekend at Moroso, WPB)

You get your tails (so had a better word in mind there) in gear and sign up for some damn track time!

Why would you mod your car if your not going to put it to good use?

Great question! Head over to the performance (drivetrain) mods board and see the answer for many: internet superstardom. If one posts a great dyno number from mods, then he/she gets many posts of approval and appreciation, is looked up to in the community, and is asked for advice on how to achieve such amazing numbers. I'm a pretty secure person, but that would definitely boost my ego! So there it is, ego. It's the same reason I feel accomplishment after passing "faster" cars at HPDE, which is a completely non-competitive arena: ego.

That said, I love your challenge!

mb

I don't care about looks.

HPDE sessions and work at the track (T&S).

I know you are a fan of track time (I've seen your posts) and yes passing (getting the point by) from much faster and more expensive cars is quite EGO boosting, but is everyone that is not on a track, be it HPDE, AutoX, drag racing just racing light to light out on the street? and if so, stop now before you loose your car or your life, and if your not racing on the street or track why the hell did you mod your car in the first place?

And for everyone hooked on big dyno numbers come down to Florida in May-Sept to get a real number, something that is accurate. Doing a dyno in 40 degree weather in the middle of winter doesn't really equate to much out on the road at temp.

One modifies their MINI because they can.

+1

I respect people who take their car to the track, but it does not make them better, or worse, than someone who mods their car and does not track it.

I have not done much to my car but I do it for me. I don't really care if someone else thinks what I have done is pointless if I don't take it to the track.

I hope I am not offending anyone, just my $.02.

Word.

Going to the track is far more about seeing what the driver can do than the car. Randy Webb has driven my (almost stock) car on the track (me as passenger) and blew by many highly modified cars.

One does not need to modify their car to drive irresponsibly. They may just drive irresponsibly a little faster.

You don't have to be on a track to enjoy good handling and more power out of turns. It sounds like competition floats your boat. For some it's just them and the road, and that's ok, too.

What kind of track do you run that SRT-10 on? Surely a pickup truck with a Viper motor is pointless on the street. Right?

My MINI fell in the forest and said "Oh Bloody Hell, there goes my knee again, it's never been the same since the war" - and I heard it and took pity and therefore I mod.

nm

If you like doing it ... great hobby!

IMHO, its all about being happy with what you got.

because I can

Q: Why do you mod your car?
A: To make it work better and/or to personalize it.

I mod, because I like to mod.

It is a hobby of mine; something I enjoy doing. I like the months of meticulous researching and reading forums like these, figuring out what my next mod will be, while I save up money for that mod. I enjoy working on my car, and I get a sense of accomplishment after I've done a mod successfully. I then take pride in my car, not only when I show it in a car show, but when I'm just scooting around town or to work and back. Every time I drive it, I enjoy it.

I really enjoy the sound that my ALTA intake makes as I rev the engine past 5,000 RPM's. Combine that melody with the harmony from my Milltek cat-back exhaust, and I've got a symphony of audio goodness that makes me smile from ear to ear. Put the windows down, open up the sunroof, and go through the gears. No stereo required!

I enjoy the act of driving, (a.k.a. Motoring). Accelerating briskly makes me feel good. Since I modded my MINI, I can now accelerate even more briskly, with better sound.

THAT, is why I mod.

(Not that I feel it matters, but I do autocross my car occasionally, and I've had my car on a track too, but these events were not my motivation to mod, by any means).

Hope that gives you another perspective on the subject.

Why do I mod my car?

Because I can.

3 reasons for mods: looks, performance, and utility. I put the aero grill on my CR/W JCW MCS for the looks. Ditto the after market white wheels and tires, though they're also for performance. The most expensive bits are for performance alone: all the JCW stuff. Simple things like the glovebox organizer or armrest are for utility. It all adds up to extra enjoyment of an already incredible machine.

To enhance the MOTORING experience...

and because I can.

because i can.

In the immortal words of 17th century French philosopher Renes Descarte:

"Cogito, ergo sum" (Latin: "I mod, therefore I am")

I usually mod my vehicles for 1) looks, 2} sound, and 3) performance upgrade, which is usually a by-product of number 2.

I drive a Cooper, so speed was obviously not my first criterion when buying a MINI. A look at my car's 'upgrades' (below) kind of explain how 1, 2, and 3 sort of work together.

In additon to the 'soon' list should be added an 'S' wing (for looks), and an Alta 0% pulley for a bit more response.

Zip

I have modded my MCS just because I can.

Years ago I used to be into driving around RC cars with buddies. We didn't race or anything , we just dropped butt-loads of money into our little tenth-scale beasties. Adding aluminum this, and carbon fiber that was fun in and of itself. Finding that one part, that none of your buddies has heard about yet, putting it on in secret, then surprising them with it, and having them go "bithcen". That was way fun. I feel my MCS is an extension of that. The only differences I see in modding my MCS instead of my RC car is the size & cost of the parts. Oh, and the g/f doesn't let me work on the MCS in the kitchen ... hehehehehe ...

the drag strip - and if it was the RC model with a stick shift it would also go the HPDE, I have many of my brotheren with them doing that around the country, but with an auto it's not really possible.

these are all good answers, and yes I prefer to mod to handle better, stop faster, accelerate faster in track conditions, however I realize that my track driving is a limited time behind the wheel and most driving is done on the street under normal conditions, so my motivation is to go faster on the track.

Agree with many comments above, the drive is the difference, be it a stock car or modded one. My question had one purpose to start a dialog and it has accomplished that. I do think that everyone should get out to some sort of DE, it truly helps you understand what your car is capable of, and when you make improvements to it, what they do to help or hurt your car (some do not always work better), but if you have improved the car great, if you have choosen to stay stock great. These are great cars with good specs from the factory, I just like to see more out on the track with people learning how to drive them and push limits so we are all better drivers in the end.

That is one of the greatest things about any SRT vehicle, you get a skip barber SRT day at the track of your choice, to enjoy the entire line up and learn to drive (they provide the cars, so you don't abuse your own) it's truly a great learning experience.

Hell, even if you don't own an SRT you can pay and get in and beat on their cars all afternoon long.

Because I want to improve the capabilities of my car, then I try to improve my own ability of driving the car in a safe environment (tracK), which then helps me be a safer driver on the street. .. I hate seen horrible drivers that are going on the phone, leaning back on their seats and eating while driving cars that they have made more powerfull for the sake of it... I think most people assume they know how to drive because they can step on the gas...without even understanding driving dynamics and/or knowing the limits of their vehicles.. Which puts you, and me and everybody else in danger when on the street... just my $.02cents

They make a Ram SRT-10 with an automatic now? I thought they all had 6 speed manuals. Is there an auto that holds up with that motor?