Hello From A New Member
#1
03-26-2007 | 05:28 PM
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From: Jacksonville, Fl.
Hello From A New Member
I'm buying a 2004 MINI Cooper S from my niece this week. The car is Indie Blue and loaded with all of the extras available in 2004 sans the navigation system.
My wife and I went to her house last Sunday to see her new grandson and while there my wife asked to sit in the MINI and our niece informed us that she was going to sell it and told us to take it for a spin.
Now I wasn't in the market for a vehicle but wanted to test drive it anyway.
A little history is needed at this point. My Dad had two Austin Healey Sprites when I was a kid, a 1959 Bugeye and a 1965 Sprite. He sold both cars before I got my driver's license even though I drove both cars before I was licensed. In fact the Bugeye was the first car that I drove with a standard transmission. I remember it vividly because it was July 20, 1969 the day Apollo 11 landed on the moon. My Dad and I went for a ride while waiting for the moon landing and he let me drive the Sprite. I was 13 at the time.
When I was in high school I worked in an MG dealership and got to drive all of the classic British sports cars. MG TD's, MGA's, Jaguar XKE's, Austin Healey 3000's, and Austin Mini Cooper S's. I always have wanted a Mini Cooper S but have never pursued owning one.
Fast forward to last Sunday. I took her MINI for a spin and realized that I had to own this car before I got to the stop sign at the end of her street.
On the street going out of her neighborhood there is a couple of serpentine curves which I couldn't wait to get to. As we passed the last house on the street I downshifted and floored the MINI and banged through the gears heading for the curves. My wife was a little concerned as I accelerated for the curves and downshifted and accelerated again as I pushed the MINI through the small serpentine thrill ride. The MINI behaved as I expected it to and realized that I haven't enjoyed driving a car that much in a long time.
Now I realize that the little joy ride wasn't anything that will go down in the SCCA hall of fame and that the MINI Cooper S isn't a Viper but, I want this car.
I think that my wife and I can have a lot of fun with this car and the enthusiast community surrounding it.
My wife and I went to her house last Sunday to see her new grandson and while there my wife asked to sit in the MINI and our niece informed us that she was going to sell it and told us to take it for a spin.
Now I wasn't in the market for a vehicle but wanted to test drive it anyway.
A little history is needed at this point. My Dad had two Austin Healey Sprites when I was a kid, a 1959 Bugeye and a 1965 Sprite. He sold both cars before I got my driver's license even though I drove both cars before I was licensed. In fact the Bugeye was the first car that I drove with a standard transmission. I remember it vividly because it was July 20, 1969 the day Apollo 11 landed on the moon. My Dad and I went for a ride while waiting for the moon landing and he let me drive the Sprite. I was 13 at the time.
When I was in high school I worked in an MG dealership and got to drive all of the classic British sports cars. MG TD's, MGA's, Jaguar XKE's, Austin Healey 3000's, and Austin Mini Cooper S's. I always have wanted a Mini Cooper S but have never pursued owning one.
Fast forward to last Sunday. I took her MINI for a spin and realized that I had to own this car before I got to the stop sign at the end of her street.
On the street going out of her neighborhood there is a couple of serpentine curves which I couldn't wait to get to. As we passed the last house on the street I downshifted and floored the MINI and banged through the gears heading for the curves. My wife was a little concerned as I accelerated for the curves and downshifted and accelerated again as I pushed the MINI through the small serpentine thrill ride. The MINI behaved as I expected it to and realized that I haven't enjoyed driving a car that much in a long time.
Now I realize that the little joy ride wasn't anything that will go down in the SCCA hall of fame and that the MINI Cooper S isn't a Viper but, I want this car.
I think that my wife and I can have a lot of fun with this car and the enthusiast community surrounding it.
#2
03-26-2007 | 05:38 PM
Looks and reads like a sweet MINI. Of course, they all are !
#7
03-26-2007 | 06:23 PM
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From: Jacksonville, Fl.
I'm in Jacksonville, Fl.
The Sunshine MINIS are here and there seems to be a pretty active group here in Jax.
My niece who I'm buying the car from moved here from Atlanta and she was active in the Atlanta MINIS. If there are any Atlanta MINI members here her name in the club is Curlymom 2 and the car is/was named Dory. I'm planning on un-Doryizing the car by eventually doing some performance mods to it, i.e. intake, exhaust, etc.
The MCS isn't going to be my daily driver but a fun car for my wife and I to enjoy.
Like I said in my initial post, my Dad sold the Sprites before I got my driver's licence so I never got to enjoy those cars like my older brother did. I wish I owned the '59 Bugeye today. I still have the Sprite boot emblem from the car and my brother has the shifter **** as trophies.
I'm stoked to get the car. I may take possesion as early as tomorrow.
The Sunshine MINIS are here and there seems to be a pretty active group here in Jax.
My niece who I'm buying the car from moved here from Atlanta and she was active in the Atlanta MINIS. If there are any Atlanta MINI members here her name in the club is Curlymom 2 and the car is/was named Dory. I'm planning on un-Doryizing the car by eventually doing some performance mods to it, i.e. intake, exhaust, etc.
The MCS isn't going to be my daily driver but a fun car for my wife and I to enjoy.
Like I said in my initial post, my Dad sold the Sprites before I got my driver's licence so I never got to enjoy those cars like my older brother did. I wish I owned the '59 Bugeye today. I still have the Sprite boot emblem from the car and my brother has the shifter **** as trophies.
I'm stoked to get the car. I may take possesion as early as tomorrow.
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#9
03-26-2007 | 06:55 PM
7th Gear Gal
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 36,087
Likes: 3
From: Weeblegabber West (aka WLA)
Sunshine MINIs is a fun website! I go to the Panhandle several times a year and am somewhat active with the Panhandle MINIs crew there. 
You say it's not going to be your daily driver NOW.....we'll see about that!
I have a number of good pals in the ATL MINIs group! Nice folks! Please post pix of your MINI ASAP. Should be fun to have before and after pix!
#10
03-27-2007 | 03:43 AM
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From: Jacksonville, Fl.
