I am trying to figure out what to get him for Christmas. Usually he will just tell me what he wants, but now this year, he has left me on my own to figure it out. He posts on here; I thought I might reach out to a more knowledgeable community in order to help me figure out what to get him. In the past I've gotten him things like a new oil catch can, shifter ****, etc., but all of which he has hand picked. If anyone has any ideas that would be helpful. Like so many people this year, I am working with a budget, so I can't do anything crazy expensive. Hopefully he won't see this, although I'm aware I'm not that sneaky, haha. His screen name is cali44redrocket, I believe that will show all the needed info about his car. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

Hmmm..... We would really need to know what he doesn't have. I was going to suggest a **** but you already have it.

 

yeha... what does he have so far?

 

Strut tower braces, a Garmin GPS or get his windows tinted...... hard to guess with out knowing what he has got.

 

Porter Cable 7424 random orbital buffer, about $125.
He can then get all of the supplies to go with it later.

 

MINI key ring and a gift certificate from one of our on-line venders all in one nice gift box...let him pick something out of his choice and colors if applicable...it's not as cheesy as before....

 

Here is a copy of his signature to see what he already has:
2003 Chili Red S: "The Lil' Red Rocket" - M7 STB, APD, Front Splitter, Black Ultimate Grille, 16% s/c pulley, OCC, Ram Scoop, Lowering Springs. ALTA TMIC V. 2.0, 2% crank pulley, NitroStick 2 Cam, TSW Engine Dampener, Fidanza flywheel, FX300, Nology HotWires, MSD Coil Pack, Bosh Platinum 4+ Colder Plugs, K&N Typhoon Intake System, Custom Cat Back Exhaust, Megan Header, Centric Drilled/Slotted Rotors, Kenwood Head unit, and 35% tint.

Looks like already many engine parts so how about something more for the suspension such as:
- Fixed Camber Plates $180
http://www.waymotorworks.com/ireland...e-r50-r53.html
- Rear Sway Bar $220
http://www.waymotorworks.com/h-sport...-bar-19mm.html

Some exterior ideas are:
- Brighter H7 bulbs if he does not have HID headlights, such as the Osram 65W Rallye bulbs (I use them on the street with no issues). $19 each. Can do low and high beams.
http://store.candlepower.com/h7bulbs.html
- Silver Turn Signal Bulbs for the front lights. Gets rid of the yellow/orange look to the parking/turn signal lights.

 

Go to Cooper Flags and get him a new roof/sunroof graphic. M7 has some really cool front grills that are made of metal. A sprint booster is a bit pricey, but he would like it.

 

If he doesn't have a Scan Gauge II definitely get him that! it's 160 bucks and I'm getting one too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It tells you lots of cool things going on in your car...

http://www.waymotorworks.com/scangauge-ii.html

get this too it's cheap and a great easy mod.

http://www.waymotorworks.com/invisil...peedo-kit.html

good luck

 

Check out "redlinegoods.com". They have genuine italian leather Shifter Boots and Brake Boots. Really cool!

 

Go to redlinegoods.com and get him an italian leather shifter boot/ brake boot. Really cool!

 

If he doesn't have them already, Powerflex bushings. They stabilize the engine, giving better shifts and smoother power transitions.

http://www.waymotorworks.com/powerfl...shing-set.html
http://www.waymotorworks.com/gear-bo...yurethane.html

Or, If you are going for value per money, Alta is having a 17% off sale, making thier rear Swaybars dirt cheap, and amazing quality. If you are unfamiliar with what these do, They improve handling, and make the car feel a lot more racecar-ish
http://www.altaperformance.com/produ...-Bar-Rear-19MM $136
http://www.altaperformance.com/produ...-Bar-Rear-22MM$153

Or a step up from that, 380cc or 440cc Fuel injectors. (about $400)

 

does he have a nice toolbox? i just bought one for myself.. husky 6drawer ball bearing model $236 at homedepot. good price, good quality and keeps my tools all nice and neat.. has casters so it rolls around and will look at getting a wood top for it as a workbench.

 

I agree with UFOMINI, go to redlinegoods.com for the Italian Leather shifter and e-brake boots. I would LOVE it if my wife got me these for Christmas.

 

find a place for some driving lessons . . . .

Is there a track near you? If so contact them for possible driving classes.

Is there a GOOD go-kart track? contact them . . .

A driver who KNOWS what they are doing will beat an uninformed driver every time, no matter how much horsepower the untrained driver has.

I hung out at an 'adult' go-kart track for a time. The drivers who knew what they were doing beat the others by 25% every time. Didn't matter how much practice an untrained driver had ... someone who knew what they were doing cleaned their clock. An untrained person who took a few hours of lessons improved their times by 20% or more.

A couple of hours of instruction would be a very welcome gift IMHO.

 

How about a donation in his name to a new MINI owner so he can get some cool stuff to mod out his new ride? I think I might know just the guy too.

No seriously the track idea is I think the best. Or you can buy him a ride in a Indycar.

 

Mrs Redrocket,
I guess you realize that everything that we have told you are things that we all really like and want. In reality, everything listed so far is something he would like. The trick is finding something in your price range that you both really like. Goodluck and thanks for making us all feel like kids at Christmas again!

 

How about this:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3166370

Or of the like

ufomini - +1

 

A wall mounted shop vac would help him keep his MINI carpets clean, and maybe yours as well, or some polishes and waxes..

 

How about a Vacuum Cleaner so that he can help you around the house?

 

I think these are an affordable nice touch for the interior.
http://www.customcutfloormats.com/main/europeanmats.htm

 

Make reservations and get a sitter so you both can take the Mini to MOTD, or whatever multi-day Mini event is near you. That's romantic (sort-of) as well as Mini-ish.

+1 on the driving school or track time. Most fun you can have with clothes on.

 

The scangauge has actually been one of the best gifts this year. It will give him alot of info on how his car is running and be very useful.

http://www.waymotorworks.com/scangauge-ii.html

Otherwise we do offer gift certificates that would let him get what he wants.

 

Here's something to consider:

What is the next planned project or maintenance activity for the car? Some parts on the MINI can be a pain to access, and you save a lot of time and effort (and money, if you are paying a shop to do the work) by taking advantage of having something already disassembled.

A good gift would be something that goes along with the type of work being done. For example, if the car is due for a brake job, a set of stainless steel brake lines would be a nice upgrade that could be performed at the same time. Major Service II? Time for a pulley. Suspension work? Camber plates & bushings, please. You get the idea.

One more thing: Do you have an attractive sister who is single? You don't find ladies who actually encourage a car hobby just anywhere.