Dear Mini and John Cooper and Mini of Peabody and Turner Motorsport,

I think a word of thanks might be overdue, given that I've now reveled in your products and services for almost eight years and over 160,000 miles.

My JCW is called "Gollum" which refers to the good/evil character that began as Smeagol and wound up in Mordor. I sought an economical, affordable race car - and I knew going in that the true test would be autocross. I also knew I'm not rich, so the same car would have to work as a daily driver.

As a daily driver, the car has worn a trough in the back roads around northeastern coastal Massachusetts. It has gone to Washington DC, to the Finger Lakes region of New York, across the Kankamagus, and out to Lincoln Nebraska. Through all four seasons and on bumpy roads it has shuttled me and family members on every conceivable errand. My son learned to drive stick in it, and I took my mum on a hell ride once so she could compare it to the 308 GTB that I also took her out in back in the day. Over all these travails it has been dead nuts reliable. That's the Smeagol side.

As a race car, my '04 Works car started out with me as I got the rust off my driving having not competed for 20 years. Our second season we were banished to A Street Prepared as the SCCA rulebook took the "trunk kit" Works parts a bit too seriously. When the car was admitted to STX the race tires were replaced by street rubber and suddenly real competition ensued. Now in his seventh season in the New England Region Gollum has three regional class championships and a National Tour trophy to his credit, and runs neck and neck with the 2011 STX competitors. That's the Gollum side.

The combination of these two personalities is bliss. I have a car that can pull more than 35 mpg all day and yet corner at 1.1 g on street tires. I can putt around country roads with a bit of blues on the speakers, or come smoking off the line for a final run with tenths of a second at stake. Rather than a compromise car that does each role capably, I have an inspired machine that does both roles extremely well.

So when 126k rolled around and the leak down testing indicated that the fun might be nearing it's end I did the only thing I could after having looked at the 2009 marketplace - I refreshed the drive train and continued onwards without a second thought.

So specifically - thanks to Mini for designing and building Gollum and bringing this whole concept to market. It's a winner, and no-one has leapfrogged it since the inception. I reckon the only threat to the ongoing sales growth is quality.

Thanks to John Cooper for the extra horsepower. The engineering has stood the tests of time and competition, and the power is worth the price.

Thanks to Mini of Peabody for good business practice and quality service. Gary's team has been a pleasure from soup to nuts - from the installation of the Works components via major surgery, to the routine replacement of brake components.

Thanks to Turner Motorsport, who's excellence in the realm of tuner BMW sedans - both on and off the racetrack - has spilled over into the Mini realm. Marco and his wise predecessor have defined and executed the recipe that makes Gollum a worthy STX car. From the original installation and setup of the suspension and diff to the complete rebuild that started Gollum's second lifetime, your business practices and services have been outstanding.

I just returned from my semi-habitual run over to Gloucester harbor, putting up the coast road but returning via a quick blast through Blackburn circle, and the adjoining bends that make a dead smooth and irresistable challenge to quick and precise driving. The sun was rising as usual, and the windows were down, and I realized that driving this Mini had become deeply ingrained in my habits, and had given me a whole lot of joy over a long period of time.

So I figgered I should say thanks.

Kind regards,

Charlie

 

One of my curiosities when I started this thread was the extent to which happy comments draw views/comments as opposed to unhappy ones.

After a day's soak, I note that this thread has drawn 68 views and no comments.

The unhappy thread "Nonsensicle nature" has drawn 526 views and 27 comments in approximately the same time frame.

Not sure what conclusion to draw from this - it could be that I just picked a boring title, or perhaps my post does not seem to invite response.

It would be hasty to infer that we as a population are more drawn to misery than to bliss...

But for those that wander in to this forum and are shocked at the volume of complaints we sometimes say "unhappy folks post more" and it was that among other things that prompted me to offer up my Polyanna account.

Cheers, and happy 4th y'all.

Charlie

 

Charlie, Sounds like lots of Smiles per Miles..
HooRaa..

 

We need more threads like this!

 

Excellent post.

44K miles of pure enjoyment on ours.

Hope you don't mind me posting in the 1st gen section.

 

Bliss is good.

I get more high quality thinking done at low RPM on pretty roads than almost anywhere else.

Next race in two weeks - hope my back heals before then...

But trouble free is boring, right? At least it makes poor drama....

Cheers,

Charlie

 

You know I read every word of your initial post and can't help but say to you what a tribute to a car that has given you so much pleasure both on and off the track.I too love my '07 MCS and the little pleasures it brings to me on a daily drive.Mine has been a real "charmer",and if the day comes that I start having problems after warranty,I'll get it fixed and continue my "pretty road drives"as you have....

 

I find your post downright inspiring. I'm but 8700 miles down the same path.

 

And in CA, where there are MANY pretty roads! May the force be with you...

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Such a good read. You described the feeling so well !!

 

Oh, I don't think so.

Your first post was so positive that many were at a loss to equal what you so eloquently posted. I have no doubt that most MINI owners are thoroughly pleased with their cars. Those few who have experienced problems use this venue to vent, as they should when they don't find relief through their dealer.

I am one of the fortunate ones. More than once I have said, "It's amazing what a car can do to inspire and old guy." I have hope that we will continue to enjoy our cars.

 

I love it! You know, I always hear scary things about CVT transmissions, but so far everything is good and I love my Mini! 46K miles and so happy!

Motor on!

 

346 views and 86 responses on the "nonsensicle" thread

Of course the shows that Jerry and Steve and others do exploring private miseries do well also.

191 views and 11 responses here.

24% of viewers commented on "nonsensicle"
5.7% of viewers commented here.

Five times the response rate when provocation occurs.

Ah well - enough already. What have I got around here that I can drink or grill on a beautiful 4th?

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Just another old guy who was, as was 'grgramps', so thoroughly impressed with your heartfelt thanks that I have been,
both yesterday and today, unable to give a proper response.

Thank you for speaking out...Have a happy Fourth Charlie!!

 

You could thank him for the extra horsepower of the original Mini Cooper of 1961, and even the bolt-on kits and conversions he sold in the early 90s for the Rover Mini. But John Cooper died several years before the new MINI was launched. Your thanks for the original JCW stuff should probably be directed at Ricardo Engineering and BMW.

 

Charlie I am so glad to read that some one is thoroughly enjoying there MINI. I just got mine a week ago and have only 580 miles on it and they have been good ones. I agree, when mine needs some fixing, it will get it and I will motor. Happy 4th of July to you and everyone that reads this.

 

Charlie, cheers to you and your MINI!! I am at 83,000 on my 05S and I am also a member of the "blissful" bunch. Much like you, when the drivetrain has seen its better days, I too will re-up and cotinue on my "blissful" way!

Cheers,
Dexter

 

I wouldn't read to much into the psychology aspects of negative posts. I think the majority of the people on this forum, myself included, use this forum to either help them suss out a problem with their existing car, or to help them determine if buying an MC is right for them. While everyone's experience will differ, the truth is that they are not the most reliable or well built cars (see Consumer Reports), but they are FUN. That's why I'm selling my '06 R50 and have ordered a 2012 Cabriolet. You're never going to convince the masses that this car does not necessarily need to be as reliable as a (yawn) Honda Civic. That's why the "ignore" button is there.

 

I'm just commenting so I can be part of the statistic...

 

LOL - welcome to the "silent majority"...

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Charlie,

Great Post. My 2006 MCS has 121,000 of blissful driving on him. I have never enjoyed a car as much as I do my "Flash". My goal is to "Motor On" as well. I do not want a new MINI. Flash is perfectly capable of keeping up with the new generations! I only hope that I am!!!!!


Mark

 

amen to that!

 

Charlie,

My 06 R50 has 45K "Happy Miles", and I, like you, love motorin' big-time! This is by far the most fun car to drive that I have ever owned. Thanks for your testimonial, and a big hoorah to all the NAMers out there!

 

only 7000 mile of troublefree motoring but I love mine more every time I get in the thing. A well built, rattle free great great motorcar

PS


Oops sorry just noticed this is Gen 1. Welll, I still love my Gen 2 Mini

 

Gen shmen - happy is happy...