R50/53 THE APRIL CLUB
is there something wrong with me? I very nearly started hyperventilating when I walked out of the grocery store to find a shopping cart almost touching my poor Mini... 
Bad yuppy shoppers!
I was bored and playing around with my car this afternoon.. on the scale of Mr Lincoln penny-head, my front tire treads couldn't even reach the last hair on the top of his head. The rears came partway over the top of his head. Eek! Not legal for tracking...
I'm torn about what to do. I should call the place that I got them from (not Tirerack, sadly.. I'll DEFINITELY be ordering from them in the future) and see what their take on the situation is. Heh.
sleep well April Clubbers....
Bad yuppy shoppers!
I was bored and playing around with my car this afternoon.. on the scale of Mr Lincoln penny-head, my front tire treads couldn't even reach the last hair on the top of his head. The rears came partway over the top of his head. Eek! Not legal for tracking...
I'm torn about what to do. I should call the place that I got them from (not Tirerack, sadly.. I'll DEFINITELY be ordering from them in the future) and see what their take on the situation is. Heh.
sleep well April Clubbers....
Aggressive Rachel, and BAD, BAD shopping cart!
Katiedidmini: 3600 miles
Red: 2000 only in the dry
Ryephile: 7800, from the grave
Rfath: 5000 and bald tires
Asodestrom: 4300 miles
Andy, that prices sounds good to me; whether you want the tint is entirely up to you.
Good luck and Cheers,
Ryan
Katiedidmini: 3600 miles
Red: 2000 only in the dry
Ryephile: 7800, from the grave
Rfath: 5000 and bald tires
Asodestrom: 4300 miles
Andy, that prices sounds good to me; whether you want the tint is entirely up to you.
Good luck and Cheers,
Ryan
>>Aggressive Rachel, and BAD, BAD shopping cart!
>>
you'd think that I was peeling out everywhere... honestly, I don't think I've EVER spun the tires on this car. The Probe... ahh.. yeah. It had a might bit more torque down low.
Now, exit and entrance ramps.... *sigh* You can't just leave them alone. You CAN'T!
>>
you'd think that I was peeling out everywhere... honestly, I don't think I've EVER spun the tires on this car. The Probe... ahh.. yeah. It had a might bit more torque down low.
Now, exit and entrance ramps.... *sigh* You can't just leave them alone. You CAN'T!
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
Whew!!!! Home at last, and this time I get to stay for more than 24 hours!
So sorry about the long absence, I did peek in a few times, but never had a moment to type up a proper post. Since mid-June its been Dallas, Philly, Vermont, Houston, Dallas (again), Roswell NM, and Perkins OK...and the worst part is I only had Burnie for one of the Dallas trips and the Oklahoma run.
First and foremost I have to say that I'm major bummed about the loss of Mr. Motor...Ryephile I'm sooooo glad that you're ok and I hope that everything works out well.
The mighty Mr. Motor will indeed be missed, his mods and adventures were wonderful to share...
>>>>moment of silence<<<<
My dad's 70th b-day was a lot of fun with many brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews in attendance...
Sounds like y'all have been busy too and I'm happy that the April club just keeps on kickin'...great job y'all.
I got a flyer today for a MINI meet in Fredericksburg, TX over Labor Day weekend. It should be fun out in the TX Hill country. There are 5 dealers helping to sponsor (San Antonio, Dallas-2, Houston, and Louisiana...should draw quite a crowd. PM if you would like details.
As for the current "polls"
Ryephile's color - well, I'm perhaps a bit biased....how about red AND black
pepper white looks awesome too, especially if you could get the tartan red cloth interior...(does anyone else out there occasionally wish they had gotten the "aero kit??"
Miles - I'm at 3999 and will roll over 4K manana. A little low perhaps, but I couldn't motor at all for 4 of the last 6 weeks--thank god that's behind me!!!
Well enough for now, I'm sure your eyes are all buggin' out from all this babble...
Back at last....
chef
So sorry about the long absence, I did peek in a few times, but never had a moment to type up a proper post. Since mid-June its been Dallas, Philly, Vermont, Houston, Dallas (again), Roswell NM, and Perkins OK...and the worst part is I only had Burnie for one of the Dallas trips and the Oklahoma run.
First and foremost I have to say that I'm major bummed about the loss of Mr. Motor...Ryephile I'm sooooo glad that you're ok and I hope that everything works out well.
The mighty Mr. Motor will indeed be missed, his mods and adventures were wonderful to share...
>>>>moment of silence<<<<
My dad's 70th b-day was a lot of fun with many brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews in attendance...
Sounds like y'all have been busy too and I'm happy that the April club just keeps on kickin'...great job y'all.
I got a flyer today for a MINI meet in Fredericksburg, TX over Labor Day weekend. It should be fun out in the TX Hill country. There are 5 dealers helping to sponsor (San Antonio, Dallas-2, Houston, and Louisiana...should draw quite a crowd. PM if you would like details.
As for the current "polls"
Ryephile's color - well, I'm perhaps a bit biased....how about red AND black
pepper white looks awesome too, especially if you could get the tartan red cloth interior...(does anyone else out there occasionally wish they had gotten the "aero kit??"Miles - I'm at 3999 and will roll over 4K manana. A little low perhaps, but I couldn't motor at all for 4 of the last 6 weeks--thank god that's behind me!!!
Well enough for now, I'm sure your eyes are all buggin' out from all this babble...
Back at last....
chef
whew, Chef, you always get me tired reading your high-energy posts! 
If anyone's interested, I added an update to my Roadster thread.
Cheers,
Ryan
Katiedidmini: 3600 miles
Red: 2000 only in the dry
Ryephile: 7800, from the grave
Rfath: 5000 and bald tires
Asodestrom: 4300 miles
Jerrygee: 4400 miles
Chefrichie: 3999 and no more cheesesteaks!
If anyone's interested, I added an update to my Roadster thread.
Cheers,
Ryan
Katiedidmini: 3600 miles
Red: 2000 only in the dry
Ryephile: 7800, from the grave
Rfath: 5000 and bald tires
Asodestrom: 4300 miles
Jerrygee: 4400 miles
Chefrichie: 3999 and no more cheesesteaks!
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: New York
OK my milage is now up to 4,000 or so but unfortunately I am going MINI-less for a whole week now! I 've been building a desk up at mother's studio(the place is a power tool mecca) in New Hampshire over the past month and yesterday we finally had it finished. Try as we might the darn thing just would NOT fit in Poly, so I had to switch cars with my mom. Now I've got her land cruiser for the next 7 days and the thing is so wierd to drive, it feels like a freakin cruise ship. It's all huge a wobbly and for some reason, very difficult to keep in your lane.
BTW, I have a queation for you all:
It's known that the OBC is off a little on its MPG calculation right? Anybody know how far off exactly? After all these summer roadtrips, my mini is finally reading 27mpg(before when I was mostly in the city it only read 24), but these numbers still seem lower than they should be to me.
BTW, I have a queation for you all:
It's known that the OBC is off a little on its MPG calculation right? Anybody know how far off exactly? After all these summer roadtrips, my mini is finally reading 27mpg(before when I was mostly in the city it only read 24), but these numbers still seem lower than they should be to me.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,806
Likes: 0
From: Santa Rosa, CA
Great to hear from you Chef. I know what you mean about the Phily Cheesesteaks. Out in CA we like em with some fresh avocado, sonoma jack cheese, ortega chili's and some fresh grilled onions.
Katie, My OBC reads about 2 mpg below what my mileage actually is. I also found that an intake upgrade gets me about 1 mpg better than stock.
Andy
Katie, My OBC reads about 2 mpg below what my mileage actually is. I also found that an intake upgrade gets me about 1 mpg better than stock.
Andy
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,444
Likes: 0
Great hearing from the Chef! Congrats on all those awards.
My OBC seems to be a bit optimistic, registering about 10-15% better mileage than I can determine from the fill and count method.
I can't take the peer pressure anymore. Parking the company car and taking the MINI to a meeting Tuesday. Will make my salespeople park their cars on either side. What, me worry?
Regards,
Red
My OBC seems to be a bit optimistic, registering about 10-15% better mileage than I can determine from the fill and count method.
I can't take the peer pressure anymore. Parking the company car and taking the MINI to a meeting Tuesday. Will make my salespeople park their cars on either side. What, me worry?
Regards,
Red
Big News I ordered my new MINI!! 
Motor City MINI was awesome to work with, again. Since I'm a repeat customer (no doubt the quickest turnaround in recent memory) they moved my order to the front of the line! SA-WEEEET! I have now started taking over The October Club.
Cheers, and Motor-On,
Ryan
Motor City MINI was awesome to work with, again. Since I'm a repeat customer (no doubt the quickest turnaround in recent memory) they moved my order to the front of the line!
SA-WEEEET! I have now started taking over The October Club. Cheers, and Motor-On,
Ryan
Thanks guys for the compliments :smile:
--->Chef: The only changes from Mr.Motor to this one are the color and wheels, and it's an '04, so it'll have the digital MPH readout in the tach, and the power outlet in back. I didn't change anything else, I loved my DSC, Xenons and Fogs, MFSW, H/K, and Cold weather pack, so I got them again. :smile:
No Works kit: this is quite an easy decision. Mr.Motor had about 205HP at the crank for $1,300. I'd say that QUITE a better value than 200HP for $5,800 for the Works.
Cheers,
Ryan
--->Chef: The only changes from Mr.Motor to this one are the color and wheels, and it's an '04, so it'll have the digital MPH readout in the tach, and the power outlet in back. I didn't change anything else, I loved my DSC, Xenons and Fogs, MFSW, H/K, and Cold weather pack, so I got them again. :smile:
No Works kit: this is quite an easy decision. Mr.Motor had about 205HP at the crank for $1,300. I'd say that QUITE a better value than 200HP for $5,800 for the Works.
Cheers,
Ryan
cool ryan! That's way sexy! There's a cooper with the same-ish config that parks near where I work and it's SO sharp! You're also suuuuuper-qualified to keep it swirl-free and clean and looking absolutely top!
I'm working on getting a whalen **** for my car next.. since I've still got a while yet for the pulley and intake install here in Boston (woohoo!).
I'm working on getting a whalen **** for my car next.. since I've still got a while yet for the pulley and intake install here in Boston (woohoo!).
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
Mr. VMA sez:
>>
>>No Works kit: this is quite an easy decision. Mr.Motor had about 205HP at the crank for $1,300. I'd say that QUITE a better value than 200HP for $5,800 for the Works.
>>
Not that it will happen anytime soon....as the cash flow is a little snug right now (I thought W. was supposed to be the education president....where's my raise???)...what are you including in your $1300--I'm guessing pulley, intake and ECU upgrade, anything I'm missing?
cheffie
>>
>>No Works kit: this is quite an easy decision. Mr.Motor had about 205HP at the crank for $1,300. I'd say that QUITE a better value than 200HP for $5,800 for the Works.
>>
Not that it will happen anytime soon....as the cash flow is a little snug right now (I thought W. was supposed to be the education president....where's my raise???)...what are you including in your $1300--I'm guessing pulley, intake and ECU upgrade, anything I'm missing?
cheffie
You got it Chefie; ALTA intake and pulley, and EVOtech software, and suddenly the MCS is a Monster
The pulley is the biggest HP/$, with the intake 2nd, and the ECU third, and then a header. Cat-back exhaust and a throttle body would be next, but the gains per dollar on those are not as dramatic.
Pulley: $22/HP
Intake: $23-$34/HP (Pilo to Madness)
ECU: $55/HP
Header: 'bout a c-note per horse
Good Advice on MCO: priceless
Whew, I'm spent!
The pulley is the biggest HP/$, with the intake 2nd, and the ECU third, and then a header. Cat-back exhaust and a throttle body would be next, but the gains per dollar on those are not as dramatic.
Pulley: $22/HP
Intake: $23-$34/HP (Pilo to Madness)
ECU: $55/HP
Header: 'bout a c-note per horse
Good Advice on MCO: priceless
Whew, I'm spent!
The entire exhaust system can be broken down into three sections:
1. the header; this goes from the engine to the catalytic converter
2. the catalytic converter (aka Cat), this changes the chemical makeup of the exhaust. It uses heat as a fuel to make the exhaust gasses less toxic. Yay!
3. the "cat-back" is the section of exhaust from the catalyic converter to the back of the car. This section contains all the noise modifying and quieting apparatti (resonators and mufflers).
Most aftermarket headers include the cat, so really you generally only have to look at the header and the cat-back. The headers are expensive (as in at least $750 to $1300), whereas cat-back's are $550 to $800. However, the most gains can be had with the header, and the header won't make the car much (if any) louder.
I hope this helps!
Dr. VMA :smile:
1. the header; this goes from the engine to the catalytic converter
2. the catalytic converter (aka Cat), this changes the chemical makeup of the exhaust. It uses heat as a fuel to make the exhaust gasses less toxic. Yay!
3. the "cat-back" is the section of exhaust from the catalyic converter to the back of the car. This section contains all the noise modifying and quieting apparatti (resonators and mufflers).
Most aftermarket headers include the cat, so really you generally only have to look at the header and the cat-back. The headers are expensive (as in at least $750 to $1300), whereas cat-back's are $550 to $800. However, the most gains can be had with the header, and the header won't make the car much (if any) louder.
I hope this helps!
Dr. VMA :smile: