KPV

The Mini Cooper S in "The Italian Job" movie sparked some interest. It seems like a cool little car. You apparently can even get it with a Tuner package that bumps the ECU, adds wheels, tires, headers, exhaust, etc. to extract about 200hp out of this little beast!! The base price is $19K. Optioned like I would want it, $32K.
Thoughts? Opinions? <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" />

<img src="http://members.rennlist.com/kpv/mini-1.jpg" alt=" - " />

mjc123

Had one when they first came out - red with white stripes, fog lights, all the bells and whistles. It's really a blast to drive - a go kart. Didn't have the upgraded power but that would be even better. Ran out of garage space and sold it to a friend.

For the price, it's an amazingly well built car.

KPV

mjc,
Exactly my thoughts! I am thinking of picking one up (along with a garage lift for the TT). I could park the mini under the TT. I fell in love with the exact colors as your previous one.

mjc123

Funny I looked into the lift for the same purpose but don't have enough height in the garage. Told the wife oh, well looks like we need a new house, but I lost that battle - and the mini.

mjc123

One other thought - if you buy one used from a dealer - know that the trade in values are unbelievably low, although private party re-sale prices are very strong. Strange but true. Therefore if you buy a low miles used one from a dealer, know that you should get a significant discount.

Seljan

I'd drive one of those in a minute..with 200hp,the thing has to be crazy fun to drive!

HBdirtbag

I've driven one and loved it.

But i'm partial to the old mini's. I'm currently looking for one to throw a DOHC vtec honda motor into.

ZAMIRZ

KPV, the Mini S is a cool little car and definately worth the price new. My friend has one and we've gone on a few canyon runs and I gotta tell ya, this thing can hang in the twisties. He doesn't have anything on me in the straights, but on the hairpins and tight switchbacks the car is very nimble. I have heard that a wheel/tire upgrade and a rear swaybar make the car an autocross KING.

soon2be, why a Honda VTEC? You can hotrod the factory 4-cyl motor quite nicely and keep the originality. I just don't understand why you would butcher/ruin a classic car like that by putting in a Honda motor. Besides, aren't you looking for a 993 turbo?

tme

Trend has had that car for quite a while so you should be able to get the price down. Looked at it and liked it. It will fit under or on top of the lift no problem. You can check out my lift if you want on the 21st as I live about 4 miles from Denny's.

DarioTexas

KPV,

I suggest you get a bone stock MINI ... rip out everything on the inside ... throw in a roll cage, GT3 seats, fire extinguisher, short shift kit, guages, the works ... then move on to the motor work; do some internals, headers, exhaust, turbo(s), rods, etc ... now add big wheels, huge brakes, beefed up suspension ... last I'd get all white for the track or all black with illegal tint for the road ... all this gives you one really f#cking cool road monster. If you get one for 18k I don't think upgrading the car the way YOU like it and having fun in the process, kinda like putting a remote control car together, wouldn't put you past 40K??? Just my two pennies?

<a href="http://new.minimania.com/NewMiniPerformanceParts.cfm" target="_blank">** Min Performance Parts Link **</a>

<img src="http://www.minimania.com/images/articles/SEMA02/images/P1000905.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://www.minimania.com/images/articles/SEMA02/images/P1000915.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://new.minimania.com/MC_Gallery/images/MVC-022X.jpg" alt=" - " />

DarioTexas

Just played with it for fun and this is what I came up with ... I will admit it could get out of hand, but everything I added would have probably cost me $50K to put on the turbo

<a href="http://new.minimania.com/SC_List.cfm?Added=NMA2110" target="_blank">Hope this link works??</a>

msindi

Dario - I think that cart is only stored locally in the cache on your PC and so the rest of us here can not view it unfortunately!!
BTW - where did you get your wheels?? I have the same ones but with 3" lip as HRE told me that 4" lip would rub when lowered and might need fender rolling (no thanks). Do you have a suspension/are you going to lower the car or not??

DarioTexas

msindi,

I ordered them from ByDesign, I have lowered the car using the ROW suspension (if you call .15 of an inch lowering?), I have no issues with rubbing or anything whatsoever. The only thing is that when I measure the lip it's 3-inches from the face of the wheel but the lip does go underneath the face another inch, so does this mean I got the right wheels. I ordered 4in lips, I paid for 4in lips, my invoice sais 4in lips ... if true then your lip should only be 2in from the face and another in behind the face, correct?
<img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/Dario996TT/Porsche_014.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

DarioTexas

Correction ....

Rears measure 3.5 inches from the face and go under face .5 inches

Fronts measure 1.5 inches from the face and go under .5 inches

msindi

Mine are 3" and 1"!!!
I thought both of our fronts should be the same!! (I never measured the front but will do so tomorrow - its raining here and I do not feel like getting the baby dirty...)