640,000 mile MINI
#27
01-26-2007, 08:58 AM
Cool testament!
Now...on the dark side, I expect some skeptic
will start adding this up and dividing by that, times the coefficient of cynicism and will try to cast doubt on on the old guy's story. Don't laugh.....I've seen it done. I believe his story. I follow "lead blockers" around dusk, all the time.
Now...on the dark side, I expect some skeptic
will start adding this up and dividing by that, times the coefficient of cynicism and will try to cast doubt on on the old guy's story. Don't laugh.....I've seen it done. I believe his story. I follow "lead blockers" around dusk, all the time.Yeah, I am sure Chows will be all over this one in no time.....
#28
01-26-2007, 09:00 AM
he was a pretty cool old guy. told me he was in the VW club "way back" and that got him liking small european cars.
Very sharp fellow. One other customer asked him how he felt about driving a car with that many miles, and he replied something along the lines of 'well, I'm afraid if I let it cool down it might not start again!'
I hope they put a write up and the pictures on the web somewhere, either MINIUSA or International Autos.
Very sharp fellow. One other customer asked him how he felt about driving a car with that many miles, and he replied something along the lines of 'well, I'm afraid if I let it cool down it might not start again!'
I hope they put a write up and the pictures on the web somewhere, either MINIUSA or International Autos.
Next time make sure to have a camera handy
#30
01-26-2007, 05:19 PM
#31
01-27-2007, 07:29 AM
#32
01-27-2007, 07:35 AM
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#34
01-28-2007, 04:30 AM
I expect to reach 100,000 miles sometime around the Dragon, and 200,000 will take a bit longer. But only one paid repair? I am on my third set of front pads and rotors. I have a hard time imagining getting to 200,000 without paying for that job at least once. Then there's the fan, the radiator, the battery...
#36
01-31-2011, 06:54 PM
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I stopped by my dealership this afternoon (International MINI) to have the convenience opening feature programmed into my new car.
While I was there, they backed a silk green/white Cooper into the showroom, and started snapping photos of it.
I thought it was a used car being purchased (it looked like it was brand new, but I knew the color was discontinued long ago) and asked the gentleman if he was buying it. He replied "No, it is just in for a 200,000 mile checkup!"
He bought the car new in 2002, and it turned 200,000 miles this week. He said he had paid for one repair: Rear brakes at 186,000 miles.
After 5 years of Wisconsin winters, and 200,000 miles, the car looked as good as new, except for the paint was coming off of the front license plate. The guys at the dealership were filling in the license plate numbers with a paint marker.
The owner is a 'retired' gentleman, and he says he gets bored, takes off driving until dark, and then follows a semi home so that they take out the deer for him.
I told him my car had 300 miles on it, he told me I have a lot of fun coming up.
I agree!
While I was there, they backed a silk green/white Cooper into the showroom, and started snapping photos of it.
I thought it was a used car being purchased (it looked like it was brand new, but I knew the color was discontinued long ago) and asked the gentleman if he was buying it. He replied "No, it is just in for a 200,000 mile checkup!"
He bought the car new in 2002, and it turned 200,000 miles this week. He said he had paid for one repair: Rear brakes at 186,000 miles.
After 5 years of Wisconsin winters, and 200,000 miles, the car looked as good as new, except for the paint was coming off of the front license plate. The guys at the dealership were filling in the license plate numbers with a paint marker.
The owner is a 'retired' gentleman, and he says he gets bored, takes off driving until dark, and then follows a semi home so that they take out the deer for him.
I told him my car had 300 miles on it, he told me I have a lot of fun coming up.
I agree!
#37
01-31-2011, 07:38 PM
#38
01-31-2011, 08:27 PM
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#40
01-31-2011, 10:39 PM
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It is probably freezing its butt off in Wisconsin where it lives with his owner, Harold. I was racing around the famous Silverstone Circuit in the UK for MINI United in 2008 with Harold as my passenger. We got to pick any MINI we wanted to do this in so we picked a Clubman D with right hand steering. He had the time of his life....well, at least a pretty good time. He still lurks here and other sites, including the MINI USA Owners Lounge. I don't know his exact mileage now but he is well over 400,000 miles now. As a side note, he was telling me about his brother, James Stanfield who was a famous National Geographic photographer. Also, another neato thing is that Harold is way into his 80's and still motors more than most of us youngins'.
#41
02-01-2011, 06:18 AM
#42
02-21-2011, 11:15 AM
2nd Gear
Hey! - That's My Car You're Talking About
I'm still here - and the sticker in my back window now says,
"2002 MINI - 418,000 miles"
Everything's still working as it was designed to work, but
at the last Inspection, International Autos recommended
replacing both Thrust Arm Bushings in the Front Suspension.
After 8 1/2 years, driving lots of miles thru winter snow and salt
and summer potholes, I can't be disappointed that rubber bushings
dry out, get hard, and crack. We replaced Rear Sway Bar Links
because of their rubber bushings about a year ago - but,
other than that, the entire steering and suspension systems are
original - and unbelieveably - as taut, precise and quiet as the
new Loaners I've rarely needed.
Can't sign off without verifying that "Mr ftttuhzbmcs" did give me
a RIDE (and a Man) to remember on the Silverstone Track in 2010.
He's changed his signature since then - so he has either bought a
different colored MINI - or he's heard from that helicopter that was
following his every antic and tire track on the roadway below!
"2002 MINI - 418,000 miles"
Everything's still working as it was designed to work, but
at the last Inspection, International Autos recommended
replacing both Thrust Arm Bushings in the Front Suspension.
After 8 1/2 years, driving lots of miles thru winter snow and salt
and summer potholes, I can't be disappointed that rubber bushings
dry out, get hard, and crack. We replaced Rear Sway Bar Links
because of their rubber bushings about a year ago - but,
other than that, the entire steering and suspension systems are
original - and unbelieveably - as taut, precise and quiet as the
new Loaners I've rarely needed.
Can't sign off without verifying that "Mr ftttuhzbmcs" did give me
a RIDE (and a Man) to remember on the Silverstone Track in 2010.
He's changed his signature since then - so he has either bought a
different colored MINI - or he's heard from that helicopter that was
following his every antic and tire track on the roadway below!
#44
02-21-2011, 07:05 PM
2nd Gear
Me Tinker?? - Not On THIS Car!
Well, - almost completely.
In 2002, when MINIs were new and rare in America, my son bristled
when people called out from the sidelines. "Is that Japanese?"
He instantly added 2 Union Jack decals below those vents
in the front fenders. They're still there - and they're still original.
Other than those, everything else on the car is official MINI stock -
and installed by International MINI, my local Milwaukee Dealer.
(Oooops - I forgot the Snow Tires - They came from Finland -
and, if I could spell the name, I'd recommend them highly).
I really didn't start out committed to keeping everything that 'pure',
but, when my first repair was rear brake pads and rotors at 186,000
miles, I figured, "Those people at BMW have done a lot of things right! -
Let's see what happens if this great car is maintained as they recommend".
It's been amazing! I've enjoyed every mile - with a confidence in a car
I'd never experienced before. And all the folks at the Dealership are as proud
of that MINI as I am. They know they're not likely to sell me a new one; -
but, they all enjoy telling people about my 'old one'.
In 2002, when MINIs were new and rare in America, my son bristled
when people called out from the sidelines. "Is that Japanese?"
He instantly added 2 Union Jack decals below those vents
in the front fenders. They're still there - and they're still original.
Other than those, everything else on the car is official MINI stock -
and installed by International MINI, my local Milwaukee Dealer.
(Oooops - I forgot the Snow Tires - They came from Finland -
and, if I could spell the name, I'd recommend them highly).
I really didn't start out committed to keeping everything that 'pure',
but, when my first repair was rear brake pads and rotors at 186,000
miles, I figured, "Those people at BMW have done a lot of things right! -
Let's see what happens if this great car is maintained as they recommend".
It's been amazing! I've enjoyed every mile - with a confidence in a car
I'd never experienced before. And all the folks at the Dealership are as proud
of that MINI as I am. They know they're not likely to sell me a new one; -
but, they all enjoy telling people about my 'old one'.
#45
02-22-2011, 05:16 AM
Yeah, honestly, as cool as his story is, it's somewhat disconcerting that people seem surprised that a mini made 200k+. Hopefully the surprise is actually more at how soon he made 200k, not that he did. Coming from the Miata community, I'm used to the mindset that any Miata that doesn't do at least 200k without any major work was a lemon..
#46
02-22-2011, 05:43 AM
Being a Justa MINI helped it get there. Now if a super or turbo charged MINI could make it to 400,000 miles on factory oil change interval's as quoted from the thread below at 340,000 miles... that would be something.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ini-do-it.html
#47
02-22-2011, 05:44 AM
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200,000 miles is awesome... BUT It's not like it's unheard of. Cars should run well into their 3's and most mercedes and BMW's tend to get there. Some have more problems than others but really we should be buying cars that will last right? 200 just doesn't seem like it's unreasonable. Shoot I'm already at 117,000 and the car still feels like new!
OH, and I have a 2002 silk green as well! So this is definitely an uplifting story to read
OH, and I have a 2002 silk green as well!
So this is definitely an uplifting story to read
