The Start of a Mini Adventure...

[GinandGasoline]

So to cut a long story short, I found my work circumstances suddenly changed, my mileage to and from work doubled and i was quickly racking up miles on the S2000. After a cheeky advert on pistonheads, I got an offer that was too good to refuse on the S2000 so I sold it a few months earlier than i was going to, and yesterday I picked up this :

Comes with the following spec : Full John Cooper Works Body Kit, 18" John Cooper Alloy Wheels, Panoramic Glass Sunroof, Chilli Pack, Sound Pack, Chrome Pack, Visibility Pack, HiFi Speaker System, Heated Front Screen, Heated Washer Jets and Mirrors and 2009 Front Apron and Brake Air Intake plus a few other bits and pieces.

It won't be to everyone's taste, but it ticks the boxes for what I need from a car right now... and when I get bored of it I'll be getting the Stage 1 Works Engine upgrade sorted on it

 

[W17GLE]

I really like minis and would love to own one but i just can't justify the cost of one.

That one looks great i remember when my brother (works for mini) bought a GP home that was really cool.

 

[jayxx83]

MINT.. love the dual panoramic, and the jcw aero kit.

what else you got in plan. Lots are pushing 260 bhp with a remap and decat.

 

[Bubbles]

I loooooooove this car, i got to drive it the 150 odd miles home :approve: and im pinching the keys at every oppertunity!

Its great to be back in a car that gets some attention its great fun to drive too!

 

[GinandGasoline]

MINT.. love the dual panoramic, and the jcw aero kit.

what else you got in plan. Lots are pushing 260 bhp with a remap and decat.

not sure yet... just going to use it and wait a few months before tinkering i think... I need to ensure I keep this car longer than the last few!

first mod was removing this :

neighbours must have thought i was mad as i was out there with the hairdryer to peel it off!

 

[Djw John]

FFS another one?!

 

[Nafoff]

in the past 2 weeks mum has purchased a cooper S...

i test drove a few with her and loved how toit they turned in, so responsive, liked the supercharge wineeeeeeee too.

lovely cars

 

[GinandGasoline]

FFS another one?!

yeah... i have been getting a lot of grief as i've done more deals than Arthur Daley in the last few months... every new car is now met with the question 'How long you keeping this one for then?' by everyone i know now...

 

[Djw John]

Yeah gotta be expected. The DVLA will be sending you a letter about being a trader soon!

 

[Gstar2006]

Well Lou is still enjoying the R27 though I've not driven it in a while.

 

[GinandGasoline]

Well Lou is still enjoying the R27 though I've not driven it in a while.

ah... i miss that car... how is it? all going good still i hope!

 

[GinandGasoline]

Yeah gotta be expected. The DVLA will be sending you a letter about being a trader soon!

LOL.... time to stop buying and selling then for a bit!

 

[Beef-Mc]

Quite like the look of taht actually, it's an imressive colour.

 

[Gstar2006]

ah... i miss that car... how is it? all going good still i hope!

She's getting peeved with the kangaroo cold starts and there's a couple creaks but trying to get sorted on warranty. Renault told her they don't have a clue about the 197 remap fix for the jumpy cold starts though! Typical Renault service!

Her old 172 is costing me a bomb though at the minute. Think she upgraded at the right time! Told her I'll give her £4k for the R27 when she's had it a couple of years

 

[Englebert]

Nice.. the torque steer is pretty bad on them so not sure about ideas of extra power!

 

[DrR]

in the past 2 weeks mum has purchased a cooper S...

i test drove a few with her and loved how toit they turned in, so responsive, liked the supercharge wineeeeeeee too.

lovely cars

Good job that ones got a turbo then

I have to say i prefer the older shape, the new new MINI looks "fat"

 

[Revels]

I like it.

Nice car, Mouse

 

[seb]

like the wheels not a massive fan of the kit but good car

 

[kissmyrs]

I really like these.

Nice car!

 

[R20 CWH]

nice chief. not keen on the alloys and im sure the roof will affect the handling, but good to see its the non supercharged one

 

[Ali]

Nicer than the S2k.

 

[GinandGasoline]

Nice.. the torque steer is pretty bad on them so not sure about ideas of extra power!

haven't found it too bad today, been on a bit of a blat round some of my favourite roads... see how I get on before tinkering i guess!

 

[GinandGasoline]

cheers for the comments chaps... was expecting more negatives tbh!

 

[Bubbles]

I like it.

Nice car, Mouse

Mini Mouse, as one of our friends pointed out yesterday hehe - I think we made the right choice on the alloys too

englebert: we found (as did the guy we bought the car from) that the cooperS on 17s pulls to the left quite fiercely! both myself and Gareth noticed it when we test drove a BMW demonstrator, on the 18s it doesnt do it at all - though you do have to hold onto it, the little thing doesnt half pull you around when you hit some uneven road

 

[Ben.]

really like that, bet it wasnt cheap though!

 

[Pete.]

Prefer the white roof although with the panoramic sunroof probably better to be black. Looks well loaded but still not too sure on these.

 

[DazG]

Very nice! Looks like it has plenty of kit on it!

I'm using the parents 53 plate Mini Cooper and I can't help but like it, like a go kart in the corners. So much fun to drive.

 

[PM_Clio]

nice mini u have there!

 

[Nafoff]

Good job that ones got a turbo then

I have to say i prefer the older shape, the new new MINI looks "fat"

my mums is the older one so is superchargered...unlike this one (a later one) that is turbo'd......clever d*ck

 

[DrR]

so your comparing an older, pre facelift car with a completely different engine to this one?

 

[Christopher]

I really don't like the new ones, even if the drivetrain's improved... which it has.

 

[Tom]

I really don't like the new ones, even if the drivetrain's improved... which it has.

The new engine is massively more complex compared to the old lump and the R55/56/57's are way way better than the R50/52/53's (even if they dont look as good) and its great to drive! - Without runflats and silly big wheels.

But i'm a Mini purist having owned several real ones i cant stomach the binis.
Its a shame they went the 'lifestyle' route.

 

[Christopher]

Amen... toally agree with you. First car I ever drove was an old Clubman... never forgot about it.

I'm right in thinking the old engines were Chrysler-sourced?

 

[Turkish]

Bini's are horrid, I'll never be converted.

 

[Tom]

Yeah it was a joint venture, they used them in (Grimace) PT cruisers

 

[Christopher]

Cheers for that; just read that, shuddered and spilt my tea

Oh, watching Yes Man again now... she's still got it.

 

[Nafoff]

so your comparing an older, pre facelift car with a completely different engine to this one?

i never compared anything, i simply commented on how nice these cars are....check my posts...and keyboard warrior somewhere else

 

[jayxx83]

The new ones do feel a lot more refined to drive but I love the rawerness of the older one. Bit like the 182 / 197 debate. Either way these are fast and zip round the speedo with relative ease!

 

[Andy1.2]

Good choice with a cooper S and also a good colour choice but i would say that Got to love the popping from the exhaust on these!

 

[GinandGasoline]

So... 1,000 miles and 2 weeks later I gave the car a quick clean today and took a few more pictures, nothing different to the car, just a change of scenery!