R50/53 So... who is planning to keep their 1st gen MINI literally forever?
#201
I just thought I would chime in here. I recently purchased a used '06 MCS. I traded in a '00 Ford Ranger that I drove until about 180K miles with very few troubles. I plan on keeping my MCS for as long as will be practical. I graduate law school in a little over a year, so don't know if I will keep it as a second car, or get a newer clubman. Will just have to see, but I LOVE my MINI!!!
#203
I really like my '06 MCs, I do want to keep it as long as any future repairs don't start creeping past the price of new car payments. I am bummed today, I drove it for the first time since a big snowstorm (Big for this region) and I have discovered that my two boys "helped" me by cleaning all the snow off the car. The used ice scrapers !!!
I'm not done discovering all the dents and scrapes .
Well, I guess it's time to start some heavy modding, the warranty expires very soon....
I'm not done discovering all the dents and scrapes .
Well, I guess it's time to start some heavy modding, the warranty expires very soon....
#204
Me. I'm not selling my MINI, ever. The car has been with my family since we picked her up at the dealer in Nov. 2002 (she's MINI #168 sold in the US), and she was my 21st birthday gift from my mother (hell of a gift!). I plan to teach my kids to drive in it one day (I'm 22 - no kids for a while)!
#205
I really like my '06 MCs, I do want to keep it as long as any future repairs don't start creeping past the price of new car payments. I am bummed today, I drove it for the first time since a big snowstorm (Big for this region) and I have discovered that my two boys "helped" me by cleaning all the snow off the car. The used ice scrapers !!!
I'm not done discovering all the dents and scrapes .
Well, I guess it's time to start some heavy modding, the warranty expires very soon....
I'm not done discovering all the dents and scrapes .
Well, I guess it's time to start some heavy modding, the warranty expires very soon....
#206
Originally Posted by Puma|MINI
#168 sold in the US)
Nik
Last edited by xsmini; 02-04-2010 at 07:45 PM.
#207
Me. I'm not selling my MINI, ever. The car has been with my family since we picked her up at the dealer in Nov. 2002 (she's MINI #168 sold in the US), and she was my 21st birthday gift from my mother (hell of a gift!). I plan to teach my kids to drive in it one day (I'm 22 - no kids for a while)!
That's what happens when you read too fast. I guess I read like I drive my MINI, fast!
#208
Possibly. It's been 7 years and I didn't really pay attention when they were telling her the details. We got a shirt too, but it's long since lost... Either way, it's a cool fact.
#209
I don't plan on ever selling my 06 MCS but I said that about my last car and well it's gone now... Life changes and plans don't always work out...
I started my career and my old Celica was showing it's age (13yr 160,000mi). I couldn't do repairs on it at my apartment as I planned.
Basically assuming I get married and have kids the mini will probably have to go at some point for something more practical (If that were today a BMW wagon)
At this point the plan is to keep it for ever but it's already proving quite expensive to maintain. New discs and brakes at 50000mi. My celica still had the original discs and second set of pads when I sold it.
I do still own my 72 beetle from highschool (2000)
I started my career and my old Celica was showing it's age (13yr 160,000mi). I couldn't do repairs on it at my apartment as I planned.
Basically assuming I get married and have kids the mini will probably have to go at some point for something more practical (If that were today a BMW wagon)
At this point the plan is to keep it for ever but it's already proving quite expensive to maintain. New discs and brakes at 50000mi. My celica still had the original discs and second set of pads when I sold it.
I do still own my 72 beetle from highschool (2000)
#211
#213
#214
If my S will be what my wife's base 04 Cooper is but more horsepower and more options, I'll never want to leave the Mini line.
I think it's easy to say you'll never want to sell a car when you love it, but bottom line is, sometimes a car gets to a point where the repairs are more than the car is worth. You'll rack up 600 dollar repairs over and over and over and after a while, it's more economical to get a new car.
Now, that's not going to happen for a LONG time (pray to God...) but one day I might have to let one or both go. Of course, they'll be succeeded by two more Minis .
I think it's easy to say you'll never want to sell a car when you love it, but bottom line is, sometimes a car gets to a point where the repairs are more than the car is worth. You'll rack up 600 dollar repairs over and over and over and after a while, it's more economical to get a new car.
Now, that's not going to happen for a LONG time (pray to God...) but one day I might have to let one or both go. Of course, they'll be succeeded by two more Minis .
#215
I always plan on keeping everything.............40 some cars and 16 bikes later, I'd say I failed
My problem is that about every 3 yrs I get the "itch" and start looking at cars/bikes.....then it begins aaaallllllll over again. I've had this Mini a year, I look at it and think, "there's a great car to hang on to......but it'll never happen
My problem is that about every 3 yrs I get the "itch" and start looking at cars/bikes.....then it begins aaaallllllll over again. I've had this Mini a year, I look at it and think, "there's a great car to hang on to......but it'll never happen
#216
I always plan on keeping everything.............40 some cars and 16 bikes later, I'd say I failed
My problem is that about every 3 yrs I get the "itch" and start looking at cars/bikes.....then it begins aaaallllllll over again. I've had this Mini a year, I look at it and think, "there's a great car to hang on to......but it'll never happen
My problem is that about every 3 yrs I get the "itch" and start looking at cars/bikes.....then it begins aaaallllllll over again. I've had this Mini a year, I look at it and think, "there's a great car to hang on to......but it'll never happen
Ive been eying the new 370z but the wife gave me the evil eye.
(sold my 71 240z for the Mini)
#218
I don't know, if I were you, I might just be putting sunglasses on her to hide that evil eye and sneaking out to the Nissan dealer Niceeeee car
#219
Hello all:
I started this thread well over a year ago. I still have my '05 R53 S hardtop and quickly coming up to 67K miles. The car is running like a champ and still looks fantastic. I am happy to report that I have no rattles or squeaks and the car feels solid like a bank vault. I have added a few mods in the suspension and engine that have made the car even more fun/pleasurable to drive. The car was born at Oxford on Feb 19th, 2005 and delivered a month later on March 20th. 5 years old already! This car is my everyday driver and I enjoy it to the fullest... Like your favorite pair of jeans!
We have one 3+ year old boy and another one coming in late April. I have no plans to sell this car. Actually, it is a fantastic family car. My son has grown up with the MINIs and even was brought home from the hospital in a MINI (Our now long gone '02 MC). I can tell he is a future motorer in the making!
So I don't post here in NAM much anymore, but I am still a MINI owner at heart.
Please keep posting your stories! I still believe we 1st gen MINI owners have been blessed with the best machines to ever come out of Oxford!
I started this thread well over a year ago. I still have my '05 R53 S hardtop and quickly coming up to 67K miles. The car is running like a champ and still looks fantastic. I am happy to report that I have no rattles or squeaks and the car feels solid like a bank vault. I have added a few mods in the suspension and engine that have made the car even more fun/pleasurable to drive. The car was born at Oxford on Feb 19th, 2005 and delivered a month later on March 20th. 5 years old already! This car is my everyday driver and I enjoy it to the fullest... Like your favorite pair of jeans!
We have one 3+ year old boy and another one coming in late April. I have no plans to sell this car. Actually, it is a fantastic family car. My son has grown up with the MINIs and even was brought home from the hospital in a MINI (Our now long gone '02 MC). I can tell he is a future motorer in the making!
So I don't post here in NAM much anymore, but I am still a MINI owner at heart.
Please keep posting your stories! I still believe we 1st gen MINI owners have been blessed with the best machines to ever come out of Oxford!
#220
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I bought this car at 65k miles about 1.5 years ago (85k now) and have had a lot of stuff go bad. Rear calipers went bad, driver window is failing, engine mounts are shot, control arm bushings are shot, slight rattling from supercharger (or hopefully belt tensioner), strut tower mushrooming, failed strut mount bearing, brake reservoir cracked. I'm concerned about the 120k life of the supercharger.
However, I LOVE my MINI. I am so happy to own and drive this car. It's entertainment everywhere I go. I can easily kill 6 hours just driving around endlessly on canyon and mountain roads. I get goosebumps making 90 degree right hand turns without touching the brakes and the car handles it like a champ. I've scared myself around some crazy turns and the car would've handled more. =]
The car was worth $17k low bluebook and I was able to to talk the guy down to $15k. I knew going in that I wanted to replace the suspension and make it run 'better than new'.
So as each part fails, I replace it with something better. I replace the rotors with Centric Premiums and put Axxis Ultimate Pads on them. I have two NTE Performance rear calipers ready to install. I am getting the engine mount replace with aftermarket polyurethane mount and getting powerflex bushings all around. Redoing the control arms with powerflex bushings. Have parts to replace ALL of the pulleys and belt in one shot; ALTA 15% s/c pulley, 5% lightened crank pulley, altanator pullet, OEM idler pulley and OEM belt tensioner pulley (with stop). Very soon I'm ordering some IE fixed camber plates to replace the shot strut mounts and the m7 strut tower brace which I'll use to straighten out the mushroomed towers. Next in line after that is paying my friend for a used ALTA Intake 2.0, IE Exhaust, and IE sway bar. I'm keeping my eyes open for a used supercharger to send off to get rebuilt, ported, and coated.
My MINI is going to rock so hard when it's done I get goosebumps just thinking about it!
As soon as the important stuff is done, I'm going to go AutoX at Qualcomm with the BMW club. Even further down the line when it's paid off I plan on getting a commuter sedan and turning this MINI into a little screaming demon of a race car. =]
However, I LOVE my MINI. I am so happy to own and drive this car. It's entertainment everywhere I go. I can easily kill 6 hours just driving around endlessly on canyon and mountain roads. I get goosebumps making 90 degree right hand turns without touching the brakes and the car handles it like a champ. I've scared myself around some crazy turns and the car would've handled more. =]
The car was worth $17k low bluebook and I was able to to talk the guy down to $15k. I knew going in that I wanted to replace the suspension and make it run 'better than new'.
So as each part fails, I replace it with something better. I replace the rotors with Centric Premiums and put Axxis Ultimate Pads on them. I have two NTE Performance rear calipers ready to install. I am getting the engine mount replace with aftermarket polyurethane mount and getting powerflex bushings all around. Redoing the control arms with powerflex bushings. Have parts to replace ALL of the pulleys and belt in one shot; ALTA 15% s/c pulley, 5% lightened crank pulley, altanator pullet, OEM idler pulley and OEM belt tensioner pulley (with stop). Very soon I'm ordering some IE fixed camber plates to replace the shot strut mounts and the m7 strut tower brace which I'll use to straighten out the mushroomed towers. Next in line after that is paying my friend for a used ALTA Intake 2.0, IE Exhaust, and IE sway bar. I'm keeping my eyes open for a used supercharger to send off to get rebuilt, ported, and coated.
My MINI is going to rock so hard when it's done I get goosebumps just thinking about it!
As soon as the important stuff is done, I'm going to go AutoX at Qualcomm with the BMW club. Even further down the line when it's paid off I plan on getting a commuter sedan and turning this MINI into a little screaming demon of a race car. =]
#224
I have owned several air-cooled VWs over the years:
I had a '68 Beetle, a '72 Super Beetle, a '73 Squareback, then after moving out to the wild wild west, another '68 Beetle, and a '73 Beetle.
I love my MINI, and will keep it for as long as I can, but I miss my old air-cooled VWs. Maybe I'll find another one eventually, since there's nothing like them for dirt roads, and I don't want to ding up the MINI....
C ya,
Dutch
#225
If you have the same shirt I do it looks like an odometer. My car was delivered in June 2002 and my number is 17. It was supposed to be the delivery number at the dealer. I think they had already delivered more than 17 when I got mine. It may well have been the 17th ordered car delivered.