A couple days ago I told DBman that we had not picked a name for our new MINI yet - because we didn't know if it was going to be a boy or a girl. Well, today the "nurse" at 1-866-ASK-MINI hotline told me we would be having a girl. So, we are going to name her "Twiggy" - now, if I can just get some artwork like Betty Boop's (but with a caricature of Twiggy at the left side)!

 

DB63 - do you keep track of the NFR MINI's? How many members are there in the club? Do you have a breakdown of NFR MINI's with black, white, or NFR roofs?

 

I think we have a new keener on the block....Ray for NFR President!

Yes, I track all the NFRs that log into this site. I can report based on locations, roof options, stripe options, transmission types, package assortment, and option lists. On a high level:

TOTAL REGISTERED NFRs = 43
NFR with BLACK ROOF = 29
NFR with WHITE ROOF = 8
NFR with SILVER ROOF = 1
NFR with NFR ROOF = 2
NFR with NO ROOF = 3
NFR with Black Bonnet Stripes = 18
NFR with White Bonnet Stripes = 5
NFR with Sport Bonnet Stripes = 1
NFR with No Bonnet Stripes = 20
NFR Automatic = 17
NFR Manual = 22
2007 Coop = 20
2008 Coop = 14
2009 Coop = 9
2008 Clubman = 1
2009 Clubman = 3
2008 MINI D = 1
27 USA States
2 Canadian provinces
1 European country (yes, Betty Boop - that's you!)

There are also some unknown entries as some people never reported back on certain configurations. Also, I could chase down the Clubbies in other threads, but that means a lot of work - I'd rather register the cars & members who decide to come visit us in NFR Support Group! COOL!

 

D you are the man! Very interesting stats there. We are a select few among the many. We are unique!

 

What did I do for entertainment last night? I went through all 142 pages of this thread to collect all the pictures of all the registered cars! I'm going to improve the database - maybe make it more specific?

What a nerd!

 

That will be so cool though! Now if you can just get pictures of the owners to put in there. Face with the name idea.

 

I think that would qualify me as an official stalker?

I'd like that, but very few people would send their pics to someone they never met....wait...it happens on line every day? hmmmm.....

 

Ha!!! I am not looking to become President of the NFR group (and, even though I can see Oregon from my porch, I am not interested in running for VP either ). So Dennis, you can sleep easy knowing your job is secure.

Thanks for pulling all that data together Dennis. Wow! I wonder why so few people appreciate Nightfire Red? I think it might because they have never seen one in person. I hope MINI never uses that color on the Cooper S or Works models - kinda nice having it to ourselves.

Dennis - does your database include whether or not the NFR club member cars have sunroofs or not? Mine doesn't and my MA told me that most (90%) of the cars his dealership sells have a sunroof. Maybe mine is the only one on your list?

 

I forgot to say that Twiggy is in the body shop as of this morning. Oh how I wish I could be there to watch her come together! I just hope they don't run out of NFR paint before she gets to the paint booth.

 

25 out of 43 cars have sunroofses.....a little more than half. I'm personally mixed on the sunroof...sometimes it's nice...sometimes it's not. I like it most in winter when we don't get much sun...not so much on a hot, sunny day when we get too much! It would be better if there were some kind of solid screen rather than the mosquito netting. I would guess, with you being on the west coast, that it might be nice there to have a sunroof because of the amount of cloudy days you have??? In places like Arizona and Texas, it might not be such a popular option?

 

That is exactly why I decided against the sunroof. After my test drives in MINIs with sunroofs, I realized the sun was in my eyes more that I wanted.

 

My new mirror caps from MINI United 09 in England.

 

It's too late now, but what is the deal about the "retro" gas cap? I did not know there was such an option, but I see several people have it (well, at least DBman has a retro gas cap on Bubbles!). Is that an after market item, or is it an option that was available during previous production years?

Also - is the standard gas cap locking? If not, can the gas cap cover only be opened from inside the car? Can the retro gas cap be locked?

 

Nice. It took me a minute to realize they were 50th anniversary caps. Too bad they didn't use nightfire red - maybe you can repaint them?

 

The Coop comes with a solid NFR cover that does indeed lock with the door lock system. When you unlock the door, you unlock the gas cap. The Retro Gas Cap is the silver one that comes with the Coop S - You can still order the retro cap and add it on instead of the solid NFR cap. I think it adds just a little bit of the Coop S look without the turbo/dual exhaust/hood scoop/etc. FYI - the Retro cap locks exactly like the original part - I still have the original gas cap sitting in my basement. There is a picture of the retro cap on the car in my gallery if you want a closer look.

 

I have the sunroof because I love it in the winter months around here. But you are right about the summer in Arizona. It was a killer. I felt like the air conditioner just couldn't keep the car cool enough with the sun beating down through there. I purchased screens (read from another NAM thread) that fit perfect in the two window bays and block the sun. The mesh then slides closed over them. They were the best investment for $54. Unlike other options like limo tinting, I can easily remove them when I want. I highly recommend them. I'll post the thread link if I can find it again.

 

I likey!!!

 

Sounds good. So, I can order a retro gas cap and remove the stock filler cap and cover and just install it? Does the retro cap lock too?

I looked at the photo you took of yours - I must have one.

 

Yes, you can order one - it's a little fiddley to get on - but the "ring" around the cap comes with the retro cap and needs to be painted separately to match the car. I would recommend a really good paint shop that can match the metallic paint closely. I've seen a couple where the paint doesn't match at all...it looks like the gas cap has a black eye!

I think in the USA, the retro cap fixture is about $120?

Yes...the retro cap locks too!

 

I'd definitely snap up a pair of those covers...let me know where to get them! That's a decent price .....

 

That's why there are MINI hats!

 

Here is a thread for the vendor's group buy advertisement back in June.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...group-buy.html

 

While my Twiggy won't have a sunroof, I checked out the above site and the pictures look great - except for the huge white advertising logo on each shade. Also, the group price offer ended on June 30th.

But, there is good news - a limited edition black ZippeeShade with no logo is now available - I saw nothing about a group price, nor do I know the regular price. But, go to this link to learn how to order one:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post2849074

 

Twiggy entered final assembly on August 27th. The Porgy will arrive at the Southampton dock at 6:30 am on August 28th, and is scheduled to depart for the west coast at 6:00 pm the same day. So, if Twiggy wants to catch that boat, she will have to apply her mascara faster than usual.

 

Hang on tight Ray...the pain near the end is absolutely excrutiating!