It happens @ every stoplight. But I may be a bit of an instigator.

 

Remember the guidelines I want this thread to stay open with useful info of how to stop it or deal with it, start, encourage or condone it.

It happens from many people with all walks of life; I've found age, gender, even what type of car most still seem to want to race.

 

checked out your gallery nice mini....also must say as a newer member of nam and have posted this thread i realize you guys are right those ricers arent worth my fuel to race ... and where the mini reall goes ahead are in the turns . boy do i live the turns

 

I know what your saying, I lead them to the canyon, an there I do my dirty work See Ya .

 

Coopers are not ment to be quarter mile cars. They are made for the corners and in the corners there are few vehicles that can keep up. It is also up to the driver. No matter how good your car is if you cannot drive it it is useless. I have always said that the driver is the most important factor. People spend tons of money on suspensions and engines, when all they needed to do is learn how to improve their driving skills. Then spend the money on the vehicle.

 

A-frickin-men!

when I see an idiot who's hung a humungous wing on the back of their car, I like to say in my best VW-german commercial voice 'It looks like it could flyyyyy". Ha!

 

Here we are again I think its time to write a MINI FAQ

Q. Is the MINI a Clown Car? Chick Car? Cute Car? Gay car? Why do the people in Hondas laugh at me?

A. YES. It looks kinda funny, Chicks love it, its most definitely cute and you will have to ask him/her about their personal preferences. Honda folks laugh because they are jeolous, get over it.

Tongue in cheek

 

In Chattanooga the ricers don't mess with the handful of MINI's running around. We all have Cooper S's and most are modded. I've yet to see a Cooper running around. Most people that try to get a MINI owner's attention are wanting to ask questions about it. The nearest dealer is about 125 miles away, so there aren't any "casual" MINI owners that I've found around town, we're all rabid MINI owners and fanatics. Also, more Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, or classic muscle car owners hit us up for info than Civic, Focus, Neon, Sentra, etc owners.

In towns far from a dealership, average people think it's an exotic that costs $50-60K.

I went to a car show in Rome, GA to lend moral support to a buddy who was showing his car.... I had an INSTANT crowd gather around my MINI and wanted to know every detail about it. Generally, my car is pretty clean for a daily driver, but on this day it was nasty. Even so, the other gearheads loved it!

Rawhyde

 

The funniest response yet. Be sure to give them a barf bag first.
BTW: I'm 45 (feel really old here) in a podunk town, never been challenged, but I drive like I have been.

 

True. I too am from Sydney and most people give that "stare" of awe with others just checking out bits and pieces of the car.

Where i live i'm sure mine would have to be the most distinguishable (jet black with aerokit) so i try not to cause too much grief on the road as much as possible :P

P.S I like it when i get tailgaters who suddenly have no choice BUT TO BRAKE when approaching tight corners at moderate speeds lol.

 

Well then, William, you have always been wrong. The most important factor is the fake carbon fiber. More = faster. 9 out of 10 Civic drivers surveyed agree.

Personally, I like to do a little homoerotic thing and kind of come on to the rice boys who taunt me. You know, kind of pucker up and fake a kiss, then rub my nipples and thrust out my tongue. Freaks them out every time. Often they completely forget about the light and then I get a huge jump on them at the green.

 

HaHaaa! 55 here and still getting thrills! You dont have to speed, just get to the speed limit faster. I travel on the interstate fairly often and its amazing how much acceleration there is in 4th at 4500rpm. Thats were you see the ricers disappear in your mirror. Luv it! Drive safe!

 

I get challenged now and again to street race, usually by Asian cars. I always pass on the opportunity. Life's to short to spend money on traffic tickets or attorneys.

When I first got my MINI (early April 2005) gas hadn't gone through the roof yet. I got some teasing from friends and family and lots of polite questions from folks on the street, in parking lots, etc. When gas started zooming up my friends suddenly became much less inclined to tease and more inclined to ask me to drive when we were going somewhere.

There's a very popular afternoon talk show here in Big D and the host takes occasional shots at MINIs (he take shots at everything actually). Calls MINIs "clown cars", etc. but it's all in good fun.

 

Put numbers on the side of your car. It scares the SH*T out of them. I used to get all that crap until I had my 37's put on in Vinyl. No one plays anymore

They think because I have 33ejb on the hood and 37's on my doors that I race the car.....

305whp works, but 37's on the doors scares people just as much

 

Hey I take offense to the maxima remark! I've had two of em. They don't compare in any way! Max has a 3.5L V6. Civics are no where near a maximas, and will blow the doors off a civic! Also give the MCS JCW a run for it's money. The new max can 0-60 in about 6 seconds with quarter mile times in the low 14's. The lowest time I found for a stock JCW was about 6.2 or 6.3 with quarter mile times in mid 14's. The fastest civic/rsx/prelude 0-60 is about 7.1. Of course I'm talking about all stock cars.

I wouldn't underestimate the nissan/infiniti v6. Powerful and potent motor for a v6.

Maxima is not a ricer car. Competes with the higher end sports sedans.

 

 

so the other day an Aerio Fastback pulled up next to me at a light...i didnt really want to race but he was reving his engine and staring me down...so i just ignored him and drove off normally when the light changed...he took off full throttle

but somehow...i still beat him

maybe cuz of his 10 second 0-60...hmm

 

That's my Vegas song!!!!

 

I'll second that! It usually puts them in their place.

I'll also second the observation made that it seems some drivers really don't want to be passed by a MINI!

This thread makes me pine for an S! But still, I'm very happy.

 

When some joker pulls up to you at a light with his fart can and supersonic tin box on wheels, you can chose to race him when the light turns green. But nothing is more powerful than rolling up the window in his face and going on with your day. It's more impressive to stay several levels above street-racing morons.

Happy motoring.

 

42... male... still get carded when I buy beer at the food store during my weekly shopping routines...
I'm often glanced at and probably challenged by the ricer driving kids with the big ugly (and all-too-noisey) fart cans stuck on the back end of their cars but I just usually smile and cruise along.
Sometimes, however... ;-)

 

I realized F350 size trucks don't care to get passed. Gotta play it careful with the BIG boys. Even when they lose... they get real big in my rear view mirror hunging my tailpipe afterwards. Does that make my mini a bully?

 

I am excited about this happening again. I get my Mini on Tues. I used to have a 98 VW GTI VR6 and people just didn't realise how fast it was. Until they were looking at my tail lights.

One day in particular this guy pulled up next to me in his 98 Mustang 5.0 and thought he could take me. At the next light he asked me what I had under the hood. The only mods on that were a performance chip and a K&N filter. I love driving 'sleeper cars'.

I usually didn't give in to these types of situations but this guy rubbed me the wrong way for some reason.

 

This thread is starting to sound like all the fantasy racers itching to get to a stop light. One word of caution. Stock MCS is maybe 7.0 0 - 60. JCW or the usual mods maybe 6.3?

There are many sub 6 seconds cars out there. One's you woudn't even think were. In fact, there are more and more sub 5 second cars. I am by no means and would never advocated racing on any public road but in your dreams, be careful who you pick on.

 

I guess what I mean by sleeper cars are cars most people wouldn't consider fast. When I had my GTi I had to listen to many people claim that VW never made a sports car just like I am sure I will hear about mini's. Just because doesn't have 8+ cylinders doesn't mean it's not sporty.

I actually doubt I race anyone once I get my mini. I just like the fact I know that could if I 'had' too.