MINI Cooper - READ ONLY

2671 messages, Last post on Mar 31, 2009 at 1:03 PM

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#2618 of 2671 Re: One thing that struck me.... [blueguydotcom] by sabrinae Aug 27, 2008 (10:20 am)
Replying to: blueguydotcom (Aug 27, 2008 10:11 am) How do you deal with the lack of a spare. Any experiences out there? I can't imagine not being able to slap on the spare and taking the flat to be fixed. What do you do? Replies to this message: blueguydotcom (Aug 27, 2008 10:39 am) ltq (Oct 30, 2008 8:18 am)
#2619 of 2671 Re: One thing that struck me.... [sabrinae] by blueguydotcom Aug 27, 2008 (10:39 am)
Replying to: sabrinae (Aug 27, 2008 10:20 am) I removed my RFTs. Drive without a spare. I did the same with my 06 BMW. I've got roadside assistance through Amex, so if all goes wrong I call Amex to get me towed.
#2620 of 2671 Re: One thing that struck me.... [blueguydotcom] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Aug 27, 2008 (10:57 am)
Replying to: blueguydotcom (Aug 27, 2008 10:11 am) RFTs with sport suspension is BRUTAL on a Mini unless you are on a smooth flat track. Bumpy country roads or highway strips will drive you nuts. Replies to this message: plekto (Aug 27, 2008 4:11 pm) Mr_Shiftright (Aug 27, 2008 5:28 pm) bodble2 (Aug 27, 2008 7:12 pm)
#2621 of 2671 Re: Help [Mr_Shiftright] by sabrinae Aug 27, 2008 (12:33 pm)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Aug 27, 2008 8:35 am) I have decided against Turbocharged anything so the Volvo is out. It's the mini or a honda or a versa and I don't want the honda or a mini no matter how sensible they are.
#2622 of 2671 Re: One thing that struck me.... [Mr_Shiftright] by plekto Aug 27, 2008 (4:11 pm)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Aug 27, 2008 10:57 am) I second this. In fact, get a set of the original 15 inch rims if you can and stick high profile tires on it. The car isn't powerful enough or heavy enough to need more than good modern 13s, let alone even 15 inchers. 17 run flats is just silly. Really. Makes an amazing difference in comfort and ride as well as increases MPG on the highway. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Aug 27, 2008 5:28 pm) bodble2 (Aug 27, 2008 7:12 pm)
#2623 of 2671 Re: One thing that struck me.... [plekto] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Aug 27, 2008 (5:28 pm)
Replying to: plekto (Aug 27, 2008 4:11 pm) And will help your braking and maybe even spare those broken shock bolts and motor mounts that come up in early MINIs.
#2624 of 2671 Re: One thing that struck me.... [plekto] by bodble2 Aug 27, 2008 (7:12 pm)
Replying to: plekto (Aug 27, 2008 4:11 pm) A large part of the Mini's appeal is looks, or style. 15 inches wouldn't look right, let alone 13"!. Even the Fit is going to 16", VW's have had 17" for years. I agree they need to replace or refine the RFTs, or retune the suspension to suit the tires, but the large wheels have to stay.
#2625 of 2671 Re: Help [sabrinae] by coupah Aug 28, 2008 (9:29 am)
Replying to: sabrinae (Aug 27, 2008 4:55 am) Sorry to say you've been given poor user info regarding paddle shifting. The post labeling them "a gimmick" is from someone who is clueless. This technology has been developed from open-wheel racing. And is currently the fasted way to shift a transmission. In hundreds of milliseconds... I am NOT implying that the MINI shifter is racing equipment, rather, it is proven technology... Here is my take... I drove, just last week, an 06' S with paddles. At low speed and low RPM's-yes it could shift a bit faster. But above 4,000 RPM and shifting near redline, this vehicle ROCKED! I had all I could do to keep it on the road! All my attention was devoted to where I was going and having both hands on the steering wheel allowed me to drive it hard. I have an '06 6-speed and i can't come close to driving it like I did w/ the paddles. All I can say is that the naysayers are ill-informed, have NEVER driven the paddles and I may very well order an '08 with paddles. Catch me if you can! Replies to this message: blueguydotcom (Aug 28, 2008 10:27 am)
#2626 of 2671 Re: Help [coupah] by blueguydotcom Aug 28, 2008 (10:27 am)
Replying to: coupah (Aug 28, 2008 9:29 am) Sorry to say you've been given poor user info regarding paddle shifting. The post labeling them "a gimmick" is from someone who is clueless. This technology has been developed from open-wheel racing. And is currently the fasted way to shift a transmission. In hundreds of milliseconds... I am NOT implying that the MINI... Or someone who has driven the Cooper (R56) and Cooper S (R56) with the silly 6 speed automatic (an automatic with a torque converter - power sapping, slow to respond). It's a cheeseball system designed for average drivers to suffer from the delusion that they have some kind of automatic with manual abilities. The 6 speed automatic in the Cooper adds weight, cost to the car, complexity, maintenance issues and removes the driver from really controlling the engine. There's a reason BMW's sloppy 6 speed automatic is not on the M cars and there's also a reason all of today's performance cars are shifting to computer operated twin clutches; BMW's upcoming variation on the dual clutch automated tranny concept, the Evo's new twin-clutch, Nissan's twin-clutch in the GT-R, Audi/VW's DSG, Bugatti's DSG, Ferrari F1, Porsche's take on the DSG - yes Porsche's finally ditching their horrible Tiptronic. I drove, just last week, an 06' S with paddles. At low speed and low RPM's-yes it could shift a bit faster. But above 4,000 RPM and shifting near redline, this vehicle ROCKED! I had all I could do to keep it on the road! All my attention was devoted to where I was going and having both hands on the steering wheel allowed me to drive it hard. I have an '06 6-speed and i can't come close to driving it like I did w/ the paddles. All I can say is that the naysayers are ill-informed, have NEVER driven the paddles and I may very well order an '08 with paddles. Catch me if you can! That's adorable and very misinformed. We have a DSG - a real manual with computer controlled clutches - in one of our cars. Even that system, which can shift faster than a human, still suffers from adding weight, complexity and extra maintenance. If you like it and believe it somehow is superior to an automatic, go for it. But don't roll up and pass on this marketing garbage about race-developed transmissions. It's a straight up automatic tranny - just like the kind found in every manumatic for the last 10 years.
#2627 of 2671 WTF is: 'That's adorable and very misinformed' ? by coupah Aug 28, 2008 (11:41 am)
Huh? All I know is I drove one and I liked it. I doubt you have... I think you might know too much for your own good... Replies to this message: sabrinae (Aug 28, 2008 11:58 am) blueguydotcom (Aug 28, 2008 12:26 pm) bodble2 (Aug 28, 2008 12:35 pm) sabrinae (Aug 28, 2008 1:25 pm) ltq (Oct 30, 2008 8:48 am) and 10 more... blueguydotcom (Aug 28, 2008 12:28 pm) ltq (Oct 30, 2008 8:33 am)