JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Hmm..........

I really really want to trade in my TL for Mini Cooper S... The only thing that I don't like about my TL is its automatic transmission... Other than that, TL has given me no problem whatsoever.

Has anyone bought Mini S before? How was it?

Moog-Type-S

Owned a MINI....loved it.

First gen cooper S were supercharged....current gen is turbocharged.

Great car....sooooo much fun to drive. Manual tranny was very nice.
Never had any problems with it. BMW service was tops.

CLpower

Mini's are bitchin' little cars

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

nice nice. since its turbocharged, i guess i can simply reflash the ECU and get more boost out of it eh? how bad is the torque steer? and how's the fuel mileage? I commute 80 miles everyday...

i built one online and it came out to be around $27.5K. Would I be able to get some good discount on it?

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

I've driven it once before, and I was so shocked by the agility and power of the little thing. Ever since that experience, I've always wanted to get one.... It's very afforable too.

nokiaman

I love Mini Coopers. My mom had an 04 and from what I recall, the only problem she ever had was that her battery was very weak, only lasted for 15 hours or so. The dealer replaced it under warranty. I love the Clubman.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

and I don't think it's that girly. I will definitely modify it a little in and out to make it look a bit more muscular anyway.

As for the stripes, do you guys remember those black 5-series with thin silver stripes from Transporter 1? That's the type of look that I want my Mini to have. Smoked out with thin single silver stripe.

03aspec

they are nice little cars, but i am way to big of a guy to ever buy one.. i think it would actually be a fun little car to have though.

mrmako

My brother drives a Cooper S, dark metallic blue with the black stripes. Rode with him and that thing is pretty cool zipping in and out of traffic. I think he said combined city/highway/lead foot was about 30 mpg.

nokiaman

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

that is not girly at all

SuperTrooper169

iTrader: (2)

Gotta go with the John Cooper Works for the full effect. I say go for it as long as you're ready to bounce around a little bit more than your TL's smooth ride.

Costco

I've driven my sister-in-law's Mini S Works many times and its great fun. Its the supercharged one, but regardless its very nimble. Be careful though, coming from a TL, the Works has a pretty harsh ride, I'm pretty sure all the bushings are replaced with polyurethane for better response and to stiffen it up.

Costco

I might add also, maybe its just crappy luck but the car has had a few issues. Window regulators went out 3x (car only has 2 windows!) and the supercharger needed to be replaced. The first time, something was still off so it needed another reflash or something. It is good now though

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

small, sporty, fun, affordable, fuel efficient are some of the values that i'm looking for for my next car.

TL's been a little too soft for me..

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

can someone post some tastefully modified mini pictures here for me please?

SuperTrooper169

iTrader: (2)

WHEEELMAN

iTrader: (14)

27K....seems a bit of a big price for a small car?

They look ok. Maybe if you did a flat black paint on it

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

IMO, 27K is a very attractive price tag for such a package.

EuRTSX

Do it!

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

진우, TL > Mini.

Just get a different car that has a manual tranny.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

^ hyung!

really!?

like which cars?

Passat774

I miss my Mini Cooper S

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

so what's your experience with it?

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

Any car with a manual! Hmmm...there's alot.

How about a '07 TL Type-S 6MT?

Costco

GTI? :ibeatbeforeyoutalkkid:



or an MX-5, S2000. I just love roadsters

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

If you want a stick, the MX-5 and S2K are definitely great choices.

Costco

yeah, cause getting an automatic on an MX-5 is thuper duper :ghey:

mrmako

Legacy GT specB 6MT FTMFW...

And you can mod the hell out of it.

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

+1. I totally agree.

Or, as I mentioned, how about an '07 TL Type-S 6MT?

charliemike

No offense, but do you get paid by Subaru for every time you suggest it?

mrmako

You know, that's a thought........

Really, I just love my car. Now, I have a lot of love for Audi, but it would be cost prohibitive to have one here in Japan.

I was really hoping Honda would get the TL right and sell it here, but they didn't and they won't. I digress.

I do like the Cooper S, and it is fun as hell. But the OP did offer up what other cars are fun with a stick. I know my Leg is fun, and with a 6Mt, it's really fun. I just didn't want to pay extra.

Personally, I'd love an Audi S4 or S5 6MT. That for me would be perfect. But living here, the Legacy is at the right price point.

v6cord2k5

iTrader: (1)

My girlfriend has a 2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible. I convinced her to get it and boy does she thank me for it. She went from an 06 k24 Accord to the MINI. It took her some getting used to but she LOVES it now. The ride is many times better than a TL IMO, but I'm a big fan of responsive suspensions. My next car WILL BE an 06 MCS, maybe JCW if I find a good deal.

I have driven the R56 (07 and later) and it's nice but a lot of the characteristics of the R53 are gone. If you want MPG's then definitely go with the R56, you'd be lucky to pull 30mpg out of an R53 on average. I drove one on an autocross track at MINI Takes The States (event held at the Rose Bowl by MINI) and the power is very very good, torque steer is not bad, handling is good, surprisingly good on the JCW Clubman.

Tuning for the R56 is on its way. There is some tuning being done by Alta but its pretty lame. Jan @ RMW (Revolution MINI Works, very big on the R53 side) is saying they are a couple of weeks away from having the tools to tune R56's. He is in Irvine so that is fairly local.

I am a member on northamericanmotoring.com, if you can deal with some of the bickering there are some good reads.

Here are some threads showing some appearance modifications:
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...-body-kit.html
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...ub-thread.html
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...-jcw-mini.html

Tuning:
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...ort=replycount
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...orking-on.html

You can also check out motoringunderground.com

crzygosu87

iTrader: (4)

i say go for the mini!

great gas mileage, good styling, awesome handling and it's actually quite spacious than one would expect from such a small car

is300eater

LOVE the Cooper S, wish I had one

1StGenCL

My ex had one and it was fun to drive with the manual. She was absolutely in love with the car and actually was rear ended in one really bad causing it to be totaled and bought another one.

Oh, her sister has one too

F23A4

But for less than $27k, one could get an Accord V6 coupe 6MT.

TommySalami

Or a mid-90s accord hatch

laotsx

get an old mini and k swap that bitch!! or better yet J swap it!!!!!