Helloooooo everyybodyy. First post! woo-woo! It’s been a long (but VERY productive) day, so I'm hoping I'm posting this in the correct place. I'm extremely tired but I think I'm in the right place.

I've been lurking around NAM for some time now and have been craving a MINI since I was sixteen. I used to stare at them wondering what was so special until I got close to one. After I got to drive my friends, I was hooked!

Anywho, on to ze story!

I've been looking at cars lately seeing as I'm graduating this year from HS, but never did I think I had a chance at a MINI. Earlier this week, my parental unit randomly walks into my room and starts playing twenty questions about what car I'd LIKE to have and why. I never thought she'd say to me "If you really want one THAT bad, we can go later this week and see if we can get your mini" I was FLABBERGASTED, but so happy

I've been busy with work and school so I wasn't able to do much research but one thing I did find out (thanks to you guys ) was that I had some very nice dealerships around me! (So Cal) We decided to go to South Bay MINI and I can honestly say that I was blown away COMPLETELY by the service there. For a while there I forgot I was trying to get a car. Unfortunately, thanks to my sense of direction , we didn't get there until late afternoon so I won't find out until tomorrow whether or not I'll be able to call myself a MINI owner but I've got my fingers crossed!

Oh BOY do I have them crossed!

Honestly though, Tyler and Amanda were incredible.

Kudos to Tyler...he had to sit in the car while I test drove it..a manual...after a little (long) absence of driving a MT. It helped a lot knowing that someone calm and collected was in the car

Amanda was just as amazing. Explaining the Ins and Outs and everything. I guess I write to much but I've still got the smile on my face

Whether or not I get a MINI tomorrow...I'll defiantly be seeing more of South Bay MINI in the future!

I'll stop now.

 

I think the real ADVENTURE starts when you take ownership! Good luck!

 

Thanks! Although it would be very unfortunate to not be able to get a MINI tommorow...I guess I don't mind waiting.

The best things in life are worth waiting for, right?

 

I waited four years. And I've been an adult (really just an honorary title) for much longer than that. Good luck!

 

Cool story! How long have you been driving?

 

Since I was about 15. I started out on my dads car which happened to be a manual tranny, but after I got my license I wasn't able to use his car much.

Surprisingly, I did a lot better then I originally thought with the mini. I was really nervous about the test drive but i started out well and slowly got used to it. That quickly changed when we got to an incredibly busy intersection. I lost my cool a bit and couldn't focus so...I stalled a couple of times. I actually couldn't drive the last leg of the trip because of the jitters. After a little practice though I think I'll have it down

Surprisingly though I only got honked at once. People are apparently a lot more patient over there.

 

Just don't do anything stupid while driving and maybe you'll survive until next year. Good luck.

 

Whoa! That came out a little harsh. Easy on the kid.

 

I (another honourary adult) waited 5 years for my MCS... WELL worth the wait !

 

Since your parents have been so cool be sure to give them plenty of hugs and don't forget to take out the garbage.

 

Do you know what the biggest killer of teenage kids is? Sometimes, you have to be a little harsh so they realize how dangerous and how quickly things can take a turn for the worse if they're not paying attention or doing something stupid. Call me an old softie

 

Wowza - great story. Welcome to the MINI world. We're glad to have you on board. And you are one lucky guy with great parents



Donna

 

I'm pulling for ya.... What kind were you looking at a MC or MCS?

 

Thanks for all the support guys


I've always tried to be careful, mostly because I want to survive the coming years in one piece.

Though I think it'd be hard for the first couple days, I don't plan on going above 70 (if even that.) Especially on the way home.

A MCS. The one I found had everything I wanted (except a sunroof which I could live without) and had DSC and the Limited Slip.

Those were two of the major things I was looking for as far as options.

 

That's great...I got the MCS w/sport and LSD...... the LSD is awesome....but hang on to that wheel, it can be jerky when turning and you have your foot to the floor...

 

I second that on the jerky turn when accelerating rapidly.

I hope everything works out and welcome to the MINI community. Post some pics when you get your MCS!!!

 

Yea biggest problem with the MCS is it is so easy to go fast without even realizing it. I came from a fullsize truck. First week I had the mini I went to pass somebody going 55 and without thinking I downshifted and gunned it like I would have had to in the truck just to get up to 65 needless to say in no time I was going 25 over the speed limit without even intending to. Luckily there was a cop right there to remind me I was going too fast. Anyway that ended up being way more then I intended to type. Regardless good luck with not speeding, lol, you've really got to watch it.

 

Thanks!

I still can't wipe the grin off my face. I got my MINI and BOY do I love it!

I can't wait for the break in period to be over

I've been out since I came back to town so I haven't gotten a chance to yet, but I'll post some tommorow for sure!


I came from a light truck with an auto...boy i thought the test drive was a surge...getting out onto open free way was...WOW.

I found myself at 70+ rather quickly...it was hard but I kept myself in check

Thankfully I did pretty well in stop and go traffic...I didn't stall once!

Need more practice shifting though. I take to long to rev up...especially on hills...

 

I think you should suggest that your parents send you to driving school. That way you can test the limits of the car (because you are destined to test the limits of the car) without much risk.


I took my old MGB (track ready) to the limits on public roads and nearly got myself killed. I'm sure I'd be dead now if someone had been coming the other way. It was, however, a valuable lesson in the physics of cars. It's one I can still *feel* today when I'm driving (18 years later). My point is, you are at a great age to learn to drive well, you just need the proper environment to explore. Public roads are not the best option, for sure.

Don't be careful, just don't be stupid. :-)

 

Sorry I took so long to upload a picture, so far I only have two that I took with my iPhone.


It's so easy to miles on this baby its crazy

There are a couple things I'm worried about though...

I've tried searching but to be honest...I have no idea how to describe it to even begin searching..

Basically, I've been spending most of the night after work driving around, putting miles (so far have close to 300 ), and more importantly trying to get the hang of shifting again.

Tonight I went to this HUGE empty parking lot so I had enough room to practice. My stop and go is improving, but I still buckle here and there from N -> 1st and from 1st -> 2nd...

Nothing TOO major like..the car jumps up and down like a rabbit that sat on a tack or something...just a slight buckle or jump.

I know its not good for anything in the car...but just how bad IS it? I've also been reading up on the manual during my breaks at work and it states that after 300 miles the clutch and brakes should be mostly worn in..

..well heres the part I can't describe. Whenever I'm in 2nd or 3rd I hear a slight...whine? Thats the best way I can describe it.

In total, I've only stalled the car a total of 3-4s times and that was the same day I got my MINI when I was knee deep in LA traffic where I lost my head. I've accidently skipped from 2nd to 5th like...twice. (Same day) My RPMs were pretty high because I didn't feel any sort of buckle or jump...

The highest my RPMs have EVER gotten was around 5000 (for a slight second when I downshifted wrong)

I don't want to get on anyones nerves so i'm just going to end on one final note...is it normal (I.E. not damaging or not SO damaging) for DSC to kick in after a shift?

I've never had (or known I had) DSC in any car I've even driven before..so I'm not exactly sure..

Well, Hope I haven't stepped on any toes..really did try searching...I just you know...suck at finding anything.

Thats why I put a bell on my little puppy

 

I want to go as soon as possible trust me

and I will as sooonn as i can, but I still have a few things to take care of before i can start saving for it (Alarm...payments)

I'm just going to drive it around and enjoy it! In fact, I've been having all this fun and practice with the sport button off...I completely forgot about it