"tigermachine" has a new (Garage-Partner) 2011 Mini Cooper S

[tigerhonaker]

Originally Posted by Josquin des Prez

Nice.

I had a 2009 MINI John Cooper Works for 3 years, until I traded it in for my Subaru STi. MINIs are fun cars, and handle great.

FYI: In the MINI community, when you say "Mini" you are referring to the classic (old) Mini from the 60s on. When you want to refer to the modern MINI from 2000 on it' "MINI" (all caps). Be sure to check out NAM (NorthAmericanMotoring), the MINI/Mini forums.

Dean ... That is interesting and I did not know the Mini to the Newer MINI deal.

But I do now

I am a (Supporting Member) over on NAM (North American Motoring).

I have been thinking/pondering MINI Coopers since back in 2007.
Just never did make the move on one,
I have a few buddies that actually are the Managers of Mini of Nashville.
Going to see one of them probably tomorrow to see about extending the Maintenance-Service Contract to 6-100k miles.
I just don't want to even think about it not being covered for service.
An I am not one of those do it yourself fellows.
I just want to see the icon come up on the display and take it in and move on.

I know one thing for sure this is one fun machine for sure.
Much more so than I remembered from driving the MCS manual tranny one back in 07.
This auto tranny when the sport btn. is pushed is so sweet the way it responds and holds in the gears to shift.
Even adjust the steering response.

I think this will be with the wife and I for many yrs. to come.

Oh and the STI is Killer
I know exactly what it is.

[bzr]

Hey Terry, hows Cathy going now she has a few miles up after her op & tell her it's about time she got that car.

[Josquin des Prez]

Originally Posted by tigerhonaker

Dean ... That is interesting and I did not know the Mini to the Newer MINI deal.

But I do now

I am a (Supporting Member) over on NAM (North American Motoring).

I have been thinking/pondering MINI Coopers since back in 2007.
Just never did make the move on one,
I have a few buddies that actually are the Managers of Mini of Nashville.
Going to see one of them probably tomorrow to see about extending the Maintenance-Service Contract to 6-100k miles.
I just don't want to even think about it not being covered for service.
An I am not one of those do it yourself fellows.
I just want to see the icon come up on the display and take it in and move on.

I know one thing for sure this is one fun machine for sure.
Much more so than I remembered from driving the MCS manual tranny one back in 07.
This auto tranny when the sport btn. is pushed is so sweet the way it responds and holds in the gears to shift.
Even adjust the steering response.

I think this will be with the wife and I for many yrs. to come.

Oh and the STI is Killer
I know exactly what it is.

My MINI JCW was a manual (they only come that way). I've never been an Auto tranny guy. I like to row the gears myself. But I'm glad you are enjoying yours. I think the older CVT autos on the 1st gen models weren't so good and had issues.

The STI is a very different vehicle from the JCW. It's performance is more like the M3 I had before the MINI.

[tigerhonaker]

Originally Posted by bzr

Hey Terry, hows Cathy going now she has a few miles up after her op & tell her it's about time she got that car.

Kev ... She has completely recovered from the right hip surgery.

No issues at all and the MCS is for her B-Day she just had.
She has wanted a MINI for years now and I finally thought if that is what she wants then so be it.
She sure has put up with me with the Bullitt Mustang.
Cathy would be the 1st to agree with you on it's time for "Her".

Originally Posted by Josquin des Prez

My MINI JCW was a manual (they only come that way). I've never been an Auto tranny guy. I like to row the gears myself. But I'm glad you are enjoying yours. I think the older CVT autos on the 1st gen models weren't so good and had issues.

The STI is a very different vehicle from the JCW. It's performance is more like the M3 I had before the MINI.

Dale ... I was a manual sort of guy for many-many years but recently the traffic is just a Major Pain.
So the auto is the way for us these days but I know what you say in regards to the manuals.
I am still of the opinion the manual is the more fun tranny of choice.

Your right the 1st generation auto in the mini were not very good at all.
These new 6-speed MINI Transmissions are cool for sure and they do work.

I did have an M-3 and three of the M-5s.
They were fun machines but honestly the m-3 was more really like a Sports Car to me.
The last M-5 I had was just more of a luxury sports sedan.
Not a bad thing but not me.

Man I tried more than a few times to get the STI but the numbers just never did come together.
But I sure did want one and still like them.

[Josquin des Prez]

Originally Posted by tigerhonaker

Dale ... I was a manual sort of guy for many-many years but recently the traffic is just a Major Pain.
So the auto is the way for us these days...

...Man I tried more than a few times to get the STI but the numbers just never did come together.
But I sure did want one and still like them.

A manual doesn't really bother me when in traffic. I always put the gearbox in neutral and let the clutch out anyway when I come to a stop.

I did OK on buying my STi. I bought a MY '11 in December of that year so the dealer was anxious to get it out the door before the end of the month. I traded my MINI instead of selling it, so I didn't get what I could have, but it was an unplanned purchase. I bought my wife one of two '11 STIs left in the city. After she got hers I enjoyed driving it, so I went out and bought the other one (two different dealers).

I do not miss the torque steer of the MINI JCW. That was one aspect of it I never liked. I will probably not get a FWD again, and with the STi I am completely sold on AWD and will probably stay with that from now on.

[chessman]

Terry, I cannot recall the last time I saw a tech hand torque lug nuts. Outstanding!

[Josquin des Prez]

Originally Posted by chessman

Terry, I cannot recall the last time I saw a tech hand torque lug nuts. Outstanding!

Gawd...I hate that every time I have my car serviced, the first thing I have to do is loosen all the way overt-tighened lugs and re-torque.

[chessman]

Originally Posted by Josquin des Prez

Gawd...I hate that every time I have my car serviced, the first thing I have to do is loosen all the way overt-tighened lugs and re-torque.

Many seem to use the "rattle the air gun a half turn before it breaks method."

[2fastdriving]

I have the same tires on my Acura TSX, they are awesome! Somehow they even work well in the rainy Northwest.

[Josquin des Prez]

One of the things I hated about the MINI (and BMWs) is they put the lug stud on the bolt and not the rotor. Makes changing wheels more of a PITA. I converted my MINI by adding studs on the rotors so I could use regular lug bolts (conversion kit was about $100 IIRC).