Thanks. :smile:

 

It's not here yet. But its getting close, it's at the dealer. I will pick it up next Friday.

Cheers,

JD

 

the back gets dirty after only 15 miles of driving, the lumbar support kills your back but promotes good posture, for what it is it's about 400 lbs. too heavy. Soccer mom's in SUVs don't see you and not only that, but even if they do barely miss you they think it's your fault because they are such worthless people.

later,

amir :smile:

 

The fact it doesn’t have 250HP. Other than that I have no wants or wishes from one fine performance machine.

 

Is the lumbar really that bad?

Don't you just hate soccer moms. It hurts thinking about them.

 

The lumbar support is kinda stiff which made it easier for me to skip the leather option.

 

I have no complaints what so ever about the lumbar support, i don't even notice it.

However, what i do hate is all the little buzzes and rattles which seem to always be coming from a different place. One day is is the right front speaker, then its the cubby in the passenger door, then it's somewhere near the glove box or cup holders. Every once in a while when the planets are properly alligned it is so peaceful and quiet and that's when I am completely happy.

 

I don't like the rear spoiler (prefer the aero spoiler which fits flush to the roof) and the crappy black plastic wheel arches (all MINIs) which are a pain to keep clean. Otherwise the car is AWESOME! I plan to remedy the problems with a new spoiler and painted arches in the near future.

 

Speaking of power... how come Honda can get 160hp (111 ft-lb tq) out of a 1.6 liter engine... (from a high-volume mass produced car - Civic Si).

But BMW (or is it Chrysler, i not really clear on that), can only get 115hp (110 ft-lb tq) from the same displacement?? It takes a supercharger to get to 163hp ??

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but i dont like the lack of power from such a "big" motor.

 

I'm sorry...but what exactly is the point of this thread?

 

Dreamin,

Because they wind the motor out to 7-8000 rpm which results in a narrow powerband and unimpressive torque down low. By dropping hte compression and adding a roots-type blower the MCS 1.6 liter is much more versatile in day-to-day use than the 1.6 liter naturally aspirated Honda engine.

 

My #1 complaint.

Lights do not turn off when key is removed from the ignition.

All the other euro/*** cars I have owned do this simple thing.

#2 complaint. The Harmon Kardon upgrade stereo sucks for the money. I thought is sounded good test driving with the radio. Once I put in my own CD's giving me a reference point. Disapointed. More disapointed is that there are no specifications about what the hell it actually is. I was too enamored in the everything else about the car that I liked, that I made a bad decision on the stereo.

Everything else is awsome, need more "get out of jail free" passes.

 

seat backs get scratched/scuffed real easily.
stubby turn signal hard to use, accidentally flash hi-beams
no intermittent variable wipers
no headlight auto on/off function
shifter throw too long
hate run-flat tires
no center console to place CD's

 

The fact that it's TOO GOOD to drive in this F#$@@#n weather (7 degrees and a sea of salt on the roads) The good side is that it's getting more muscular as the days goes by...couple of hp at a time Hell, 250 hp's possible with this much time on hand

_________________

 

NOTHING! I wish I had two of them so my wife would always want to drive mine.

 

Low down torque is quite bad
Rides like it has no suspension, bad for nasty roads
Drinks like a camel when driven hard
Run flat (no spare) sucks
That steering noise
Air con = 90% power loss...

 

>>Low down torque is quite bad
>>Rides like it has no suspension, bad for nasty roads
>>Drinks like a camel when driven hard
>>Run flat (no spare) sucks
>>That steering noise
>>Air con = 90% power loss...


Sounds like you don't care for it. First, you need to fall in love with your Mini or it won't work. I like the fact that there's so much to "enhance". Suspension is better with H-sport and so is the handling. Avoid nasty roads...your Mini will appreciate that. Got a cell phone, don't need spare. Android noises are good. Air con loss and low end torque...go to a pully party. Problem solved. Love your sig though

_________________

 

I do agree with your positive thinking... thats after i was honest to myself and admitted that shes not perfect...

would love to get a pulley though... :smile:

 

My MCS:
-It's 800lbs too heavy.
-The dimensions are too great. It should be about 3/4 of its current size.
-Dirt clings to the back as I drive away from the touchless.
-It's underpowered. Even the plain MC should put out >=200hp at the wheels.
-It's not moisture-proof to the extent that it should be.
-The interior plastic is cheap and fragile.
-It should be AWD with some front/rear adjustability so it could be biased either to the front or the rear.
-The wheel wells should be deeper and the suspension more inboard to handle wider wheels.

 

 

I love all that is wrong with my MCS.
Throw the logic out.
I would love it less if it was perfect.
Fun things are always flawed things.
Flawed and fun.
Like me.

God speed.

 

The following are not things "I don't like", rather as we say "opportunities for improvement". A rather politically correct phrase if I every heard one.

OFIs:
- Lacking an integrated compass
- Lacking an armrest/console storage as standard equipment. The RSpeed armrest was my first mod and its size makes it basically impossible to adjust either seat-backs for angle. The MINI Fini addresses this issue, but at $260?
- The back seat sunroof section is useless. It adds no value as who sits back there for any given period of time to enjoy the vertical view?
- Driver accessible storage space while driving, i.e for CDs... Corrected with the addition of the Euro parcel shelf mod.

That's it. Not much as I enjoy every motoring minute I have in the MINI.
SMKKVK

 

hmmm...
My biggest complaint is the the overall build quality of my 2002 MCS.

1. Cheap materials in the interior. The plastic parts chip and scratch much too easily on the seat backs, inner door handles, dash...etc. I find my self constantly re-tightening things or snapping pieces back into place....as well. There are "buzzes" and "rattles" that appear and disappear....... due to changes in weather conditions...

2. The poor quality of the exterior paint is also an issue. I 've never found the need for a clear bra on any other car I've owned...why is it neccessary on a MINI.?
There are a slew of micro chips all over the front end. The exterior plastic "pieces" are also problematic.....

3. Initally.....underpowered
It's perfect now since I added... the pulley, air intake , exhaust and ECU remap....=~$2000.


I luv the car...:smile:
We all have our reasons for enjoying this little rocket .We all justify or rationalize our particular stance...it our own way...which is a good thing :smile:
I've stated this before...
It's a 20k car... that I added $5k worth of dealer options/extras.
then I added another $5k worth of aftermarket options.....
It's still a $20 k car ..though :smile:

IMHO....like any hobby.....you need not justify ..the costs :smile:

 

Extremely fond of driving experience however some faults are

1. Averaging a trip to the dealer for every month of ownership, since May 2003, I
know some people have it worse, for only one real problem - faulty brakes. About ten trips with a hour drive to arrive there is unexcusable!

2. Dealership that doesn't stick to your appointment time, work on the car when you receive it, not an hour later everytime, intolerable, otherwise what is the point of an appointment time!

3. HVAC is insufficient and noisy for how much is does.

4. Intrusive ASC+T, but is can be a nice electronic nanny to save you at times.

5. Loud steering pump, makes the car sound broken to people.

I still really like my car a lot, however these issues put a bummer on the joy. When driving the car all these things disappear and you just enjoy it like it was meant to be. Still would do everything the same if I could do it all over again. Don't think I will buy another BMW product in the future though.

 

The little problems pale in the light of how this car handles.....I wouldn't even trade it for my buddy's Z4. It's the most responsive and most fun car I have ever driven.

I've never gotten into aftermarket stuff before this and it has been an enjoyable
learning process for me.

Without the lumbar support I couldn't have purchased this car.......and I like the
leather seats even though they need lots of attention.

Brake dust is the most frustrating.....I'll get EBC green stuff's when I need new brakes and that should improve the situation.

To really enjoy this car you have to be someone who can get past the little things
and focus on the big picture......so much fun at such a reasonable cost......and easy
to make it even better if you choose to do so.