This question is for those who have sunk major money into increasing the performance of your MINI. If you've just done bling, thats fine but not what i'm asking.

If you do track days or serious autocrossing, no need to answer. For the people who just drive on the street ... normally Why?

1. Is it like a hobby and modding your car is a hobby?
2. If not a hobby, why not take all that money you have sunk into the car and just buy a faster car to begin with without the trouble of the upgrades?

Curious minds want to know!

 

It is in the nature of some humans to just want more. More louder, more faster, more gooder. I'm not sure what you're looking for answer-wise, but that's mine.

 

Chows4Us, if I'm reading your sig right, don't you have a very expensive JCW Performance kit on your MINI?

The MINI's heritage is built around enthusiasts that have taken their MINI Coopers and 'personlized' them to be their own - whether it be for performance or looks, winning the Monte Carlo or simply turning heads while motoring around town.

You can pay more for a faster car to begin with, but what fun is that? There are very few cars out there that have the 'personality' that the MINI so effortlessly exudes.

 

Yes, and that is part of the source of my question. I'm beginning to get sucked up into this modding thing like its an addiction, so my answer would be #1, kind of like a hobby.

Understand my motive now?

 

it is an addiction. I think of my car all the time, "should I do this or should I do that?". It keeps me busy, and I love it. I think it is all about trying to make it better, more sound, more hp, more and more, it is in human nature, always ask for more. Yes, you would say it is a hobby, because most of my spare time goes to my car, and like I said earlier, loving it.

 

It is definitely one school of thought within MINIdom. I think of it as the John Cooper school. He had to fidget (even if Sir Alec didn't approve)...it was in his blood. I don't do, need, or want performance mods on my Cooper...the car speaks to me just as is, but my buddies are way into it. One friend, who has sunk tons of money into his MCS, laments that he needs an airport runway to see what his car will really do. (...betcha he finds one. ) I think a hobby does describe it pretty well.

 

The question I have is why people go for the big PERFORMANCE mods and dont drive the car anywhere near its potential. In my opinion modding the car to the extreme doesnt make it safer, it makes it less forgiving for the average driver, for an experienced driver it gives you more of what you crave...

For me I mod my car for a bunch of reasons.

1. Because I like to personalize my vehicle
2. For the overall performance, weather on the track or on the street I like to have a little get up and go. Lets face it a stock S isnt too fast.
ITS A DISEASE ! AND I CANT HELP IT.
3. Because I can :-)

Do I take my car to the track? Yes as often as possible. Since I have had it I have been to the track 5 times, recieved the car 12/04. It currently has just over 4000 miles on it. I dont drive it much as an around town car, I like to drive it like I stole it

So far I have modded most of the car in one way or another, full suspension, brakes, engine mods and there are a couple more things coming

 

its my hobby... albeit on a student budget it doesnt help...

but its the research, the thrill everytime when i put something new on, the smile i get everytime is worth hours of labor i throw into working

 

i have to say its definitely an addiction. i had a '99 civic ex that i got all into and you really do get that urge to do the next big thing and have the satisfaction of those projects you do yourself!

cheers