After 14 fantastic months of Cooper S ownership, I have decided to move on to a compact truck again. If I had an empty garage I would have kept it, but I simply could not park this baby BMW on the street at night and sleep well. This was my first "sports car" and I will truly miss the incredible handling the Mini Cooper has to offer. I have driven compact trucks (Toyota and Nissans) for over 20 years and miss the convenience and "do it all" attitude these vehicles have to offer.

I would recommend a Mini Cooper to anyone that asks. It has been 100% trouble and rattle free as a daily driver. I had the common "stumble" when taking off from a dead stop, but the CAI and MagnaFlow exhaust cured that. I was very impressed with the fit and finish for an English built car. I will NOT miss the outrageous service costs ($135 for an oil change!) from my local BMW/Mini service department. I use synthetic oil at 5,000 mile drain intervals and this is not covered under the "free" maintenance plan.

It amazed me how well BMW had made everything work on the clean sheet of paper design when it arrived here in April of 2002. The seating position, gearbox, engine, and outstanding brakes work so well together. Any other manufacturer would probably have blown this one, but not the great designers and engineers at BMW. Kudos!!!

I will never forget the excitement of placing my order with Amy over the phone at Mini of Jacksonville FL (No dealer mark-up) and following the progress on the MINIUSA website. Like many who ordered and waited 6 months like I did, I became absolutely obsessed with this thing called an automobile. My wife thought I had gone crazy! The one-way flight to FL and driving it home 2500 miles with my 72 year old retired father is a trip neither one of us will ever forget. We got a chance to see this great country of ours from coast to coast, and meet some great people along the way. Did you know the midwest is practically empty and has some extremely friendly people?

I have many great aftermarket Mini Cooper items up for sale in the NAM marketplace:

-Whalen 6-speed shift **** (SOLD in 2 hours!)
-OEM Mini floormat set (SOLD in 5 hours!)
-NEXTEC quality car cover (SOLD in 7 hours!)
-Set of lugnuts (GONE!)
-Armrest (SOLD in 3 hours!)
-Cooper Flags graphics (SOLD in 2 hours!)


I will probably continue to visit the NAM site now and then just to stay in the loop. Happy Motoring everyone!!!

 

Happy Motoring with your new vehicle. Stop in once in a while... Hope your MINI goes to a good home.:smile:

Chow!

Donna

 

A graceful bow to you back, good luck with the new vehicle.
:smile:

 

speltzer,
Aloha and best of luck with your future endeavours. Too bad you could not have just chopped off the rear end top of the MINI and placed a little pick up bed back there. There is a MINI in my area that did just that but it was a custom job done for Redbull. It has a big Redbull can mounted on the pick up area. No back seat or hatch anymore. It's like a two seat pickup.

Maybe someday when they make a MINI pickup with businesses in mind you can think of MINI again. I don't think it will take long before MINI will do more models that might suit you so keep in touch.

You're always welcome to drop in and say hello. Personally I think I would have MINI withdrawal if I could not drive my MINI anymore.

 

Speltzer:

Please don't become a stranger Your input and comments have been very valuable during your time around here. Please check back from time to time and let us know how things are going.

I hear ya, sometimes you got to do what you got to do. MINI should be releasing a station wagon R56 Clubman in a couple of years, so hopefully that will appeal to your practical side. Until then enjoy the new truck.

If you don't mind me asking, how much did you get for your '04 MCS on the trade-in? Did you cancel your '05 MCS order?

To be honest, I am kinda surprised by your sudden decision to leave MINI altogether.

 

My wife knows I'm crazy.

You and your father were VERY lucky to do this Wish I could have done it with my father.

The reason people in the midwest are extremely friendly is that it is practically empty and they are glad to see anyone

Earl

 

Check your PM for the details...and thanks everyone for all of your kind comments. My Mini Cooper was the only vehicle I ever owned that I became truly obsessed with!!!

Here is a pic of my replacement vehicle. 2004 Nissan Crew Cab. I feel "at home" again!!!

 

I traded in a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck for my MINI. It would be nice to have a truck 2 or 3 times a year to haul stuff, but I wouldn't give up having my MINI to drive everyday. I hope your new truck works out for you, but you won't think about the pleasure of driving it like you did the MINI. And no one will wave at you. But best wishes to you with your new vehicle. :smile:

James

 

I got rid of a GMC 1/2 ton that I used in my business and got my MCS I don't miss it at all, I rent a pickup five or six time a year and that is a lot cheaper than owning one.

Earl

 

I got rid of my Mazda B4000 to get my MCS. Although I love the MINI, I do miss the truck sometimes. Plus I hear what you are saying about worrying where it's parked! I typically park one lot over from where I'm going so that I can get an end spot!

 

At the end of the day, what we have is a collection of memories about every car we have owned. Looks like those of your MCS are predominately happy ones. This is about the best one could hope for. Hope you have similar luck with your next truck.

Ciao,

MGC

 

Have fun in your new truck . Im about to give up my MCS after I find out what the damage is after my accident. Im looking into buying a 05 Pontiac GTO. Need more power .

 

I am soooooo glad my wife is the truck owner so I can have my MINI
Good luck and have fun.

 

Now THAT'S a ride! I have driven a 6-speed and WOW!!! They are discounting the 2004's that are left. I have seen them advertised for 22K!

 

Let see Accident...Need more power? Anyone need to say anything else

Earl

 

I know what your thinking but the accident wasnt my fault. There is a thread i started about it in Mini Talk.

 

I have both a MINI and Yukon. The Yukon is for work but I drive the MINI most of the time when the Yukon is absolutely not required. I own the MINI and lease the Yukon. The Yukon lease is up in the spring and I have no idea what to replace it with. Maybe another MINI

 

Farewell, speltzer! Good luck with the truck and hopefully, you'll get a MINI truck in the future!

I also have an old Isuzu Trooper for hauling my art stuff. BTW, Wanda is parked in the driveway daily, and no problemo!


Clover

 

Thanks Clover. When I purchase my 4 car garage (bedrooms? who cares!) dream home in the future, I will take a look at another Mini Cooper for sure.

 

awww, sorry to see you sell your MINI, speltzer - we'll miss having a Pepper White in these parts. Wow your is truck is a great shade of YELLOW! :smile:

no matter what you drive; Motor-on!
Cheers,
Ryan

 

4-car garage....I SO hear ya! I could use one, too!

Clover

 

Speltzer-

Hey brother! Sorry to hear you had to give up the MINI but I hear ya! I have a '98 Toyota Tacoma as back-up. I was about this close to selling it when I got the Coop in July '04, I can pack a c**p load of gear in the MINI but sometimes for the big nasty loads the Toyota wins out!

Good luck and happy motoring!

Aloha!

JCW04

 

yeah, i think if a mini mini p/u comes out in the future, i would seriously consider it. before i got my mini in '03, i was considering getting a nissan frontier crew cab p/u to replace my hardbody king cab p/u. luckily once i rode in my brother's mini, i decided to have the best of both worlds, a mini truck and a mini car. a little expensive on the insurance, but i get to drive my mini daily for work, and my p/u for surfing or for when i don't wanna worry about parking.

otherwise, should my p/u fall apart, i'd probably get the same p/u as you.

 

Godspeed Speltzer!

 

Speltzer,

How much did you end up getting for the S? Or did you trade it in?