The minimum octane recommended for the 2005 supercharged & non-supercharged MINI is 91 octane (look in an owner's manual). I do not know what the turbo recommendations are. Can you point me to all the places where the manufacturers said using regular octane was A-OK in a supercharged engine? All the articles I have ever read have said that the supercharged engine is one of the few that actually does require the higher octane gas.

 

you totaly require it as soon as you do a pulley swap... so get on it son.

 

Mini Service Advisor advises using regular grade eevery other tank-full, because the premium is not being sold much because of price ($4.40 here in eastern Iowa) and stations do not replenish as often. Their fleet is using regular grade.

 

#5....I didn't know the remote worked the top until now. How does it work?? I have been finding 'little' perks that came with Zipi that the dealer never told me about. I just happen to find them by chance. Gee, what other fun things am I going to find out!!

#6...I paid full sticker too, however when I mentioned going 2 hours away to another dealer, he threw in and installed the bike rack. A nice $500 gift.

 

Haha. Well that would be happening today (the driving part, not the desertion part), but the heat index is going to be about 107 degrees so its not looking good. I had the top down yesterday in that kind of heat but my friend was complaining about the heat so I figure that she wont want to take a drive... Maybe another time.

 

A few years ago, we did a hair-on bag of similar style, but slightly larger. The material would never work as luggage. Checkerboard trim or accents are probably doable. I'd have to see how many people would actually want that so we can determine what would be standard and what would be custom. I can't see ever selling more than 100 of these (we do about 10,000 units a year as a whole), so basically everything would be custom to a degree. It'll be easier to change stuff around and customize, though it may cost a bit more.

I'll start a new thread soon where we can discuss the details and get something that's just right. I'd actually really love to see how much interest there would be for something like this. I was initially only planning on making one for me and a few extras, but if enough people are interested, we can do it right as part of our normal production and bring the cost down significantly as a result.


Kale Handbags. Site is going through a massive site update, so it is not current (we only do about 3% of our business through our website because we are also on Amazon/Endless, Piperlime (Fall '08), Bluefly, and Shopbop). We are rolling out a less expensive eco-friendly line called Trace debuting Fall '08.

We are in 5 stores in North Carolina - what's the shop? If she's interested, PM me with info and I can send current line sheets.

Sorry - back to the discussion.

--------

#5: I didn't know the remote worked for the top either. But I can't really see a situation where that would be really useful. The way I see it, I'd either be standing outside waiting for it to open or sitting inside waiting for it to open. Either way, I'm waiting for it to open.

#6: We have 7 Minis in the family and I'm the only one who paid under sticker. I saved a little money because I bought a car off the lot that had been sitting a whole 3 weeks! I was also flexible with color choice and options. The only drag is that it didn't have LSD, but I had Danny at MiniCorsa install a Quaife later, so I'm happy as a clam and still under sticker with the LSD (other mods, um, no). Oh, and I just last week got a ticket for no front plate. I just ordered that "no holes" holder from Go Mini Go (thanks NAM).

#8: I found that if I just latch the rear belts, I'm all good. I also just got Brownflyer's windscreen, which seems to reduce all the flapping going on back there. Awesome windscreen, by the way.

#9: My wife put 89 in a couple of times. No problem, but I always fill premium. I wanted to put in some 110 at the track the other day but thought better of it!

 

I know I"m not a cabrio, but I have a friend that is (and I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express once....)

Anyway...back seat-seat-belt issue: strap in an extra large stuffed animal or mannequin (sp?)...I like the manne-whatever idea since it makes you look like you're having a real party.

 

three weeks? I couldn't talk 'em down from the posted price on my Mini -- bought off the showroom floor April 26. I adore my new Mini (MINI?) and wouldn't trade, but I'd really like to know what he'd been up to since **OCT 2007**!!

Anybody know where you can find out what's been up with a car that was with the dealer for so long?

Cheers,
Liz in Woodbridge, Virginia

 

Are you sure it was at the same dealer for that long? It might've been moved around to different dealers and might've been used as a demo. You got it at a MINI dealer, or another (used) dealer?

 

TT, I'm surprised you didn't show everyone your MINI purse, that looks a lot like this one I got for my other half and made a small modifcation on....


And to the OP, if you're still having that seatbelt flapping problem, do what I did to resolve it... buckle the male end into the female end. No more flapping around of that male end. Wait... did that sound funny ?

 

That looks great! What a lucky other half!

 

Post a link here to the thread when you get it started. My wife and I both have cabrios and would love custom-fitted luggage.

 

Don't know, but I know my salesman (MA?) was getting high-fives from all his co-workers for selling it. Mini of Sterling (Virginia) sold it to me as new, with 188 miles on the odometer. I don't mind, I fell in love as soon as I saw *my* Mini's stats online (no picture--MiniUsa.com showed him as the closest match to the one I'd built), but I'd like to know his history. I found the DCMM group and they're having a meet & greet this month at Mini of Sterling that I'm going to try to make. If Ahmed's there, I'll see if he can give me any history.

MM,
Liz

 

Yeah, goes nicely with the PW MINI I bought for her. But she puts up with a lot from me, on the other hand... like watching baseball nearly every night of the week from April through September.

It's all about give and take. I give her stuff so she does not take away my remote control.

 

Will do.

 

+1

 

What I do with my seatbelts is, I pull them all the way out, then I buckle them and then tension them back in really tight, so when I go topless they don't flick back and forth in the wind

 

I don't think there's an emoticon to display what you've described

 

Yes there is... >

 

+1 (Especially if we could get it in orange. )

 

LOLOLOLOLOL !!!!!!!! OMG I never even thought of that, but now that you mention it

 

I'm sorry, I can't stop laughing You made my day

Lois

 

From various sources I have learned a few things.

Sometimes the dealer owner gets a car [or motorcycle at those dealerships] that stays on the lot. The car is his and it's more a display piece, as part of his car collection, so to speak.

Often times the car is a perk given as a reward to high volume dealers. Other times, given as a promo.

Those vehicles typically sit on a lot, hidden from view of the public, or maybe behind ropes so people can't get to it.

It seems that kind of car, there are too few miles for it to be a demo. Sounds like the owner/dealer drove it a few times to keep things charged and lubricated.

When I was looking for my MINI last month and this month, I saw a 2007 MINI with 6 miles on it, for sale at a dealer. There was no explanation for that and they wanted about $27,000 for it, price as new.

Maybe MINI dealers got an "owner's car." When sales are hot a manufacturer is very generous [and nice] to dealer owners.

A few times in the past I have heard of cars that the dealer owner said to simply keep one for display and to not sell it until the owner says to sell it. On those when it's given the green light to sell there is a premium price asked because to everyone on the lot it's a unique car, e.g., two years old, no miles.

Lastly, I have over the years heard of buyers who get a car [or bike] park it in the garage, never drive it, then maybe in few years decide to sell it rather than trying to "collect" it.

And it's not that rare for someone to have bought a car as a second vehicle and to never have used it.

One time I bought a motorcycle that was three years old, but had 650 miles on it. The guy had 5 other bikes. The wife said he had to sell some of his bikes so they could finance expansion of the garage [his sandbox.] So I snapped up that bike that was new even though it was three years old.

BY THE WAY: If you want to PM me the VIN I can run a CarFax on it. I get 30 days for the price I paid and I have a few days left. At least that will show who owned it and when.

 

+3

 

LOL they made my day too! It's too hot here today in Denver to go topless, unless i'm REALLY topless and they DO flick in the wind