Here is the really FUNNY thing about all the widgets that come out for MINIs ...

If you wanted a really fast car, then buy one. Look at an Elise. Beautiful car ... fast ...

Now look at an Exige. Basically the same car but added widgets that actually work. If you read the road tests, the big wing in the rear and other pieces Lotus put on Actually suck that baby down to the ground. Same corner in an elise ... into the bushes. Same corner in an exige ... woot ... right through it (or so they say). So obviously the right parts do work.

I think the factory might know best

 

And maybe that's why all of my "mods" have been purely cosmetic. That and fear that I might screw up my warranty. I go fast enough. Just ask my wife as she tries to pull her face away from the passenger window when I make the last turn into the driveway.

 

OK, since i brought back these things back from Japan, I will say few words here.

I have had these wings under my car for 6 months or so. I knew about this company and this product long before that because I used to read some article on magazines like Option and CarBoy (JDM tuning mags). Tested by pro drivers on tracks before and after etc. They were raving about it. When they came out for our MINI, I thought I would give it a try. I was somewhat skeptical and yes $20700 for two pieces of metal sounded very expensive to me too.

Here is my impression. and if you think my opinion is bias because I am trying to sell these things, I understand your point but i will come back to this later.

It feels like there is a extra weight in the back of your car without the actual weight is the best way to describe the effect. Car just "squats bit more at the rear end. For example, I have h-soprt sways front (soft) and rear (tightest) and though the corners at 70-plus, where my tail end used to slide a little, it doesn't anymore. Another example is on a freeway, the car feels really down to the ground and high speed lane change will definitely let you know the wings are there.

Here is the deal. even though it does say I am a vendor, I am NOT. I paid for temporary status to let you guys know I had some JDM parts. I thought since I go back to Japan so often because of my job, it would be cool to share some aftermarket parts only available in Japan with you guys. That's all. I have no relation to this company and I brought them back because I thought they are cool. Just my opinion. If you want to try them, I still have them. I am selling them for $180 now and that's what you would pay in Japan. At this point I am just recovering my investment.

If you think they don't work, that's fine too. You never tried them so you really don't know anyway so I don't care. I like how my car handles now and opinion of some of the pro drivers is more valuable to me. For those of you who bought them, please post your impression here. I am really curious and I promised I will send the impression back to the guy who design and make them in Japan. Try to set the wings in the middle position first and try the widest position for some canyon runs!

I am Japanese living in the States have been observing the aftermarket parts seine for the MINI developing on both side of the pond. There are some great tuners and companies in the States but there are so many parts you don't know about for our MINIs. Expensive but great quality stuff. Have you seen the headers they make? Do you know about the full-on engine tuning including big bore kit? Did you know that OS giken makes clutch,flywheel and LSD for the MINIS? How about all the body kits? You might not like all of them but is there a single US made aftermarket bodykits out there? I wish I can bring them all but I can only bring back stuff that will fit in may case and my fund is limited. I will try to continue finding more cool stuff and bring them back here for you. If what I am doing is use to you just let me know. I will keep you posted on what I am bringing back next

 

Mr. Econ,
I don't think these wings are for you. After you are done with all the chrome add ons for your car, Get some non run flat tires if you are feeling brave.

 

What??!?! A medium-sized house and lot with a two-car garage?!? Beef-burgers?!? Why would anybody want those things? Small, expensive places, that's where I want to be where I have to pay hundred to thousands of dollars for a parking spot.

Hey prfunk, I got a question. Do the wings seem to slow your car down a bit? It might be impreceptible, but in the latest comparison of the Exige vs. the Cayman S in Car and Driver, the acceleration times suffer compared to the Elise. The editors venture forth the guess that it might be the added downforce which does make sense, big wings give more high speed stability but cause acceleration to suffer. I also think it's just the choice of engine that makes the car hard to launch. Any percievable effect on acceleration?

 

There is actually a kind of warning on the Japanese manual that if you have them on the widest setting, top end speed might suffer. I have not experienced this since I always drive under the speed limit

I have settled in the middle position for now since this seems to give me the best combination of high speed stability and down force while cornering really hard. I am not concerned about how much the car is squatting down while I am on the way to a supermarket

 

It is natural for people to be skepitcal of unknown products, but it never ceases to amaze me at how sensitive people who are trying to sell these things can be and how they often seek to attack or ridicule those who question them. But that's okay since it says a lot about those vendors.

 

Speak for yourself.

 

MR ECON- you're STILL running runflats?! shame on you!
u don't deserver the title "MR." you youngling innocent
naive brat, you. who the f- cares about northern
Nevada anyway.


all this talk about some little flaps you can't even see.
i have cardboard stuck under the car sometimes....it
apparently does the same job. jk

 

They think of everything.

 

Pfunk, Keep up the good work on hooking us up with some cool stuff. I for one appreciate it.

saving up cash now.

 

Now why would you want to be so abusive toward me?
Did I somehow offend you? I thought you were better than that.

 

notice the amount of emoticon? i think ken-chan is kidding

 

So he can say abusive things and get away with it by putting some smiley faces at the end of the sentence. Okay, I'll accept that...from him.

 

I do too. he had the blinking smiles!

 

hahaha, Yes! but you have to be a master black belt first.

 

Rude is Rude. Smiley's don't change that.

 

yep, if you said it, it would be considered rude.

 

Ok.
"Under floor spoilers" installed. My wallet insists that they work, ha ha ha...

Seriously, according to my test drives on Vancouver Int'l Raceway (I-205 to the rest of you) the mini does seem to feel... heavier. It's the same change in suspension feel as when you drive with another person in the car as opposed to just yourself. The acceleration is not hurt according to my perception. It feels as nimble in the corners/curves... just... a little heavier. Up to 70 it progressively feels sturdier. At 70+, it feels a little more solid. Does it feel like a formula 1 racer? No. Does it feel more stable? A little, yes.

I am being as unbiased and objective as possible. But I am not perfect.

dan

 

Do you have it on the aggressive setting or milder settings?

 

I tried middle--mild--and aggressive. Not a big change between the two. The effect is increased a little with aggressive.
They are easy to install. Took me 30 minutes with an 8" adjustable wrench and some floor ramps.

dan

 

Glad to hear your impression Dan. When you get a chance take your baby up in the local canyons. Your imaginary fat friend will move to the back seat

I have two more sets and I am going back to Japan next week again. I wasn't going to get anymore of these since many people were skeptical (and understandably so). However, I do have the contact in place still so if there is enough interest I can pick few more up while I am back there.

 

i am kinda interested, just have no money right now..
i want to ask if they are stainless steel or mild steel.... we get a lot of snow up here.. also, did you lower your car? does that thing drag up on just about every pot hole?

 

I think they are stainless steel. I am not sure but I will check. My car is lowered and no they won't drag on anything. they are fairly small parts.

 

My car is stock height MCS--non "works". We have plenty of pot holes and speed bumps and I haven't rubbed on anything in my test drives. There is a cross bar that hangs down in the middle of the MCS already, the wings are not much lower than that--if at all. They extend further out to the sides. Don't know what kinda' steel though.

dan

I drove past a WA State Patrol motorcycle cop. He was stopped when I past him at 75-ish. He took off as I passed him and BLEW by me 2 seconds later. Mental note...