I just picked up my fourth modern mini, a green 2015 Cooper S.. It is the fourth one without a sunroof and the first one that isn't red. It is a weird zero option car. No packages, no heated seats, no backup camera, no backup sensors, base headlights. I like it.




I have previously owned

• A 2007 Cooper S. No thread but the forum remembers my original mini questions. A fun car and still the best ergonomic fit for me. Unfortunately, it suffered every reliability problem of that era of Mini. I sold it when I started repairing things for the second time.
• I picked up a 2004 Cooper S JCW a few years later and set it up for STX autocross. What a great car. I had a kid, realized I was spending a car payment per month keeping it on the road, and sold it. That was a big mistake. This is the one that got away.
• I sold the r53 for a 2021 Clubman S JCW. I intended for it to be my do everything car. It was fine at daily driving but an understeering, under-cambered pig at autocross. I never fell in love with it and traded it in for a truck.

So far the new car has been great. We picked it up in Atlanta and drove it back to central Florida without any issues. I am a fan of the softer initial brake bite coming from the Clubman's grabby setup. There is a surprising amount of grip from the car even on no name tires. I still haven't triggered a blinking traction control light. Going from $125 of regular gas in my truck to $40 of premium per week more than makes up for the extra insurance costs.

I am not sure if this is going to be a hello or a build log. I want to change a couple of small things about the car. I picked up a cheap bluetooth to aux converter and have a shift **** on order. My only real complaint is it is too quiet. Maybe I will autocross it some day.

 

Congrats on the "new" ride! I had a 2017 S model that was pretty base too. Cold weather package and moonroof was all it had. 16" wheels, no xenon lights (just basic halogens), no backup camera, no Nav or HK. Kept it for 6 years! Longest I ever kept a car.

 

That looks like a Gollum! (There have been four, as in your situation).

Our paths seem to have been a bit similar.

So of course I admire your taste, and think you must be a fine fellow indeed! ;-)

Enjoy that thang...

Cheers,

Charlie

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...w-r53-stx.html but mostly https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-hard-way.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...kin-powah.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...kin-powah.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-corrupts.html

 

few years back I bought a 2015 MCS (stole it) It was built at the factory to sit on Mini Cooper's showroom floor in Miami & sell Mini Coopers. MFG date 7/14 optioned the right way, perf. parted, lowered, Hot-Tuned by Renn Haus of Sarasota, whoever built this car knew Minis. $50+K car with 40K mi. for $16.6 Dyno's @ 300 FLHP - WHEEL 248hp