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07-21-2003, 12:19 AM
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#1 of 44 
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2000
Local Time: 10:10 AM
Local Date: 09-07-2008
Posts: 1,077
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Mini Cooper
I was thinking about purchasing a Mini Cooper car. I was just curious if anyone could fill me in with their experiences or thoughts about this car. I would be getting just the regular model. I've been looking at the features they are offering and I'm very interested in the 8 speaker system they. Anyways, any info or thoughts would help.
Thank you very much.
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07-21-2003, 07:11 AM
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#2 of 44
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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Local Date: 09-07-2008
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I saw one in parking lot a week ago. What a neat looking wee car!
I just can't believe how much it costs, and I'm also afraid its very low slung profile would be bad for my head and knees tho.
The Beetle looks like it would be a better bet for me, if I ever go crazy again  |
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07-21-2003, 07:32 AM
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#3 of 44
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Join Date: Nov 1998
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I just can't believe how much it costs, and I'm also afraid its very low slung profile would be bad for my head and knees tho.
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I just bought a Chili Red / White Cooper last week and I love it. I am 6'7" and the car has more interior room than my old Buick Riviera I replaced. Got a lot of laughs from friends and family when told then I am getting it, but the last laugh was on them when they actually saw it and sat in it.
The car has ridiculous interior space, granted it becomes a 3 seater with me driving
The car handles like it is on rails and drives live a bandit. Fit and finish is amazing for a $19K car.
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I would be getting just the regular model. I've been looking at the features they are offering and I'm very interested in the 8 speaker system they.
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The stereo system pretty much is the only thing that is not that great on the car, but then again this is not why I bought it. My suggestion is to stick with the standard stereo and then just get aftermarket electronics.
Check out www.mini2.com and www.minicooperonline.com .. two great sites for Mini Owners.
Go and test drive one, it is definetelly the best car for the money. I went from obliveon to rock star status in NYC in 10 days 
Here it is with my old Riv:
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07-21-2003, 08:35 AM
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#4 of 44
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Local Time: 07:10 AM
Local Date: 09-07-2008
Posts: 1,880
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I especially like the return of real two-tone colour schemes.
Red and white, That's a beauty, congrats!
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07-21-2003, 08:52 AM
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#5 of 44
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Local Time: 05:10 AM
Local Date: 09-07-2008
Posts: 921
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I have been interested in one for a while. Definitely go to mini2 and minicooperonline. Also if you go to the MINI website www.miniusa.com and can ge over the borderline obsession with flash they have you can get quite a bit of info there.
Revenge is like serving cold cuts-
Tony Soprano
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07-21-2003, 09:19 AM
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#6 of 44
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Member
Join Date: May 1999
Local Time: 06:10 AM
Local Date: 09-07-2008
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Nice car Aurel, but can you handle the WEE little antenna after that HUGE antenna on the RIv ??
Brent |
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07-21-2003, 10:34 AM
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#7 of 44
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Join Date: Mar 2002
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Local Date: 09-07-2008
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I own a 03 S. with the HK upgrade.
Regarding that system here is a review which is invaluable for tweaking the SS as the author points out) the owners manual is slim to nill on the details.
http://www.angelfire.com/in2/guitar/minihkreview.html
As a owner and a recent convert to sound systems, weight my opinion, but I disagree with the author that this is a system for ‘audiophiles’. If you ‘tweak’ car systems like some their in-home and demand the absolute BEST response possible from the install in your vehicle, I would recommend (IMO) the after market route. IF you want a step up from the standard install, and would rather put your money and (headache tweaking) time into your home system; it’s a satisfying upgrade.
The bass is anemic if you’re a ‘thumper’. (I’m not). And it’s very HARD to get any kind of decent full-range effect from the rear seats. Of course the interior has less cabin than some so this is not as large a drawback as it could be. If you ride alone it’s much easier to tweak this system for the front seats satisfactorily. For me I’m still learning to tweak (in the home) and did not want the risks of meshing together a new seamless aftermarket. In addition I don’t trust the installation depts. of many aftermarket locations. ….too easy to end up with wiring glitches that gremlin you elsewhere in the vehicle.
Since I would not install myself and husband is otherwise occupied, it would not be a self-install, (which I’d feel better about).
Be aware if you order the system with a vague idea you might upgrade your head unit alone, you’ll run into some hitches. The amp in the HK upgrade (also carrying the DSP modes) has to be triggered by the headunit. I’ve seen (somewhere) a workaround for keeping a pin connection, which will cont. to trigger the HK amp if you replace the head unit, but can not remember the details.
As regards the DRIVE of the ‘wee’ car:
I read once: “heightened my desire to resolve my little traffic problems in ways other than slowing down”
…which is an accurate description of one (drawback?) while driving a mini. They practically beg you to scream around any available corner with a grin on your face at high rpm. The #1 strength of a mini; agility and stick.
I’ve raced mine at an SCCA schooling class, and its built-in advantage with the stiffer “sports susp” pkg. Short WB over the likes of a stock Miatia, or the cobra (guy had trouble with his turning ratio and powerband and tended to go THROUGH the cones) was greatly apparent. I easily best the untrained due to the built in head-start the mini provides. I’d need more HP once reaching the upper escalations of equally matched seasoned drivers.
We are considering the John Cooper “Works” upgrade (about 4500) but if I cont. to race in the future this would knock me into a mod class I’d rather not enter with the mini.
Drawbacks: CUPHOLDERS. (forget it ..you don’t have a usable except for reaching back and using the one between the fronts intended for back passenger usage. The front has two slots (one starts with a removable ashtray insert) that are hilariously unusable. Must have been all male engineers who laid out that very nifty row of switches about 5 inches above the base of the CH’s. You can get a 12oz traditional can into it, but are in danger (if its full) when you pretzel tilt to seat it. (Big gulps live between your thighs).
Bog/Lag in first gear (I own the 6-sp tranny). ITs TERRIBLE, takes a lot of gas on the throttle to get it rolling in 1st tending to make that a less than ideally smooth startup, since 2nd on down do not require it at all.
It is so aggravating a default (while putting on my seatbelt) I flip traction control to the off position (resets every time you kill the engine) as TSC appears to greatly depress the throttle response in 1st.
45 series tires (my first) really feel the bumps in the road, not a plush ride.
6.2 males fit easily but your going to scrunch the rear seat into not available. We have ridden 4 in the thing and for 40 min drives (3 male) and they haven’t complained too bitterly but they all rather be the driver.
The Mini is a weird mix of niceties (luxuries) with stiffness and a killer dose of “blast to drive”
I heard someone call it a ‘chic car’ which I find completely inaccurate if the men around me are anything to go by. (the men go nuts for it). While the women do say ‘cute’ men ranging from 18 on up end a test drive by stating, “I’ve got to get one of these”. And I’ve been stopped by countless males on the street who want to know what it is, who makes it, and where can you buy it.
Hope any above is helpful?!
 You've been dreaming. Dreaming of Sea Captain who haunted this house.
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07-21-2003, 10:57 AM
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#8 of 44
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Join Date: Feb 2002
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Local Date: 09-07-2008
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Apparently they're the toughest cars ever made, since they still keep running despite the beating they take in high-speed chases a la "The Bourne Identity." |
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07-21-2003, 11:08 AM
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#9 of 44
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Mark
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Join Date: Jan 2003
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Local Date: 09-07-2008
Posts: 11,598
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Quote:
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Apparently they're the toughest cars ever made, since they still keep running despite the beating they take
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or like Mr. Beans car
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The stereo system pretty much is the only thing that is not that great on the car
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Speaking as a BMW owner (which I believe is the parent company of the Mini): Their stereos suck. They use great speakers (i.e. HK), but the radios are pretty crappy.
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The car handles like it is on rails and drives live a bandit. Fit and finish is amazing for a $19K car.
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If I couldn't have afforded a BMW, I would have definitely looked into a Mini. The Mini is to the Beamer as the VW is to a Porshe. 
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07-21-2003, 11:09 AM
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#10 of 44
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Join Date: Mar 2002
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a la "The Bourne Identity
I drive like the girl in "The Italian Job".
You've been dreaming. Dreaming of Sea Captain who haunted this house.
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