After deciding that I wanted an '05 Jet Black MCS in late May, I called 13 dealers in the Western US to find one equipped as I wanted. Aka Demesa [at MINI of the Woodlands, TX] found exactly what I wanted as an unsold car enroute to another dealer. He then diverted it to Houston and sold it to me at sticker price in late June. While I was waiting for it to arrive, I contacted some of the Houston area Mini guys for their recommendation to the best tuner in the Houston area. Leon's Rocket Car and others said Joel Swanson [Bavarian Hyper Sports in Humble] was the best. So I contacted him to make a number of mods [engine, shifter, suspension & cosmetics] to the car before I returned to AZ. What a fun experience! These fellows knew what they were doing and handled me well.

The changes I have made to the car have not affected it in any negative manner that I can see. Everything has worked as represented and intended and I laud Alta, My Mini and Outmotoring for the quality of their parts. Clearly, Joel knew what he was doing on their installation as well.

When Joel was done with the car, I drove to Galveston as my return trip start point and then took all the backwater 2-lane roads through southern TX, the southwest corner of NM and then through the mountains of southeast and central AZ. After a cleanup in Scottsdale, I took "Squirt" out on I-10 and then over the Ortega highway from Palm Springs to Laguna Beach and back. This week, I will take the car to Los Angeles and then its back to AZ for a cleanup and then on to southeast UT and southwest CO their 2-lane backroad expereinces. What a great way to see the USA!!! This country still offers some old time road experiences, culture, people, places and stories when you can avoid the interstate highways. I have lived in the Western US for a long time and know many of the roads from prior travels in other fast cars.

The MINI is the best handling car I have owned and I've found its comfort, quietness and build quality to be better then either my modified C-5 Corvette or some of my friends' reknowned sportscars. What a hoot this MINI experience has been!!! I just had to share that with all of you...

 

Where in L.A. will you be hanging around?
Maybe some of us can hook up with you.

 

gjpundsack, I agree completely with your thoughts on driving around the country and the MINI. I recently posted my driving experience under the Road Trip section after completing a 5,100 miles in 11 days trip. I have more fun driving the MINI than my 04 Z06. It even gets more looks. The MINI also drives just as nice as my wife's 330i (as long as the roads are smooth). It's great that you're able to get out there and do all that motoring.

 

blacknblue, I will be taking my dughter to the King Tut exhibit at LAMOA. We will be staying in Century City Wed-Fri. Do you have a Friday or Saturday night GTG?

 

Where in Century City are you staying?

I can reccommend a decent pub in the area, it's called The Cellar. Not too easy to find though.

There is also a Houstons in the mall.

 

Hey, I'd be willing to hook up. Maybe we can start a thread in the SoCal forums to see if we can get some people together?

-juan