New Toy - NOW WITH PICS

[Jeff]

Wow... you never really realize how much money you have until you stop racing (or slow it down a LOT)...

Pics forthcoming.  In the meanwhile, here's some verbosity on the topic.

Having settled out of court with Daimler Chrysler over the POS Jeep Liberty Diesel which kept ripping apart torque converters, we were in the market for a new ride.  This time (since I bought the last 3 vehicles), I had no choice in the vehicle and was told to just shutup and bring the checkbook.

A few weeks back we went shopping and drove MINIs.  Specifically the Cooper S.  At the time all they had were 06's.  Well, she pretty much fell in love and I was right behind her in it.  The thing was an absolute hoot to drive.

Fast forward 2 months and we pick up a completely loaded 07 Cooper S.  Red w/black roof & stripes (sorry, I'm a honda guy.  I tried to convince the wife to let me put honda wings across the sides but she won't go for it).

OH MY EFFEN GOD... 

That about sums it up...  With a smile from ear - to - ear.

From a completely keyless operation (just keep the fob in your pocket and press 'start') to the multi-color mood lighting, to the heated - punch leather seats, to a turbo that will break the tires loose in 2nd gear on dry pavement, this thing is unbelievable.

The words "umm honey, you just hit 100, you might want to slow down" came from my wife's mouth more than once. 

As mentioned, there are almost no options this thing is missing.  The only 2 things I wish it had but did not want to wait 6-8 weeks for would be the LSD which everyone here recommended, and the high-performance tires vice the run-flats.  The all-season run-flats break loose pretty easy, and lacking the LSD, the front can get squirrely, but the traction control and other 'predictive' measures of the vehicle help to control it quite well.  And if it all goes to shit, there's about a dozen airbags in it, so I feel pretty safe...

Really, thinking back, I believe it was a corvette ZR6 (I think that's the model) that was the last car I was in that hit 100 with such little effort.  But the MINI just begs to keep on going.  It is too cool.  FAR better than the S2000 I drove and liked last year.

The next time you see one on the road and laugh at it, remember..  You'll only laugh until you drive one...

[G-reg]

Nice!


Automatic or stick?

[Super Dave]

[Jeff]

Automatic or stick?

6spd manual of course...

Pics tonight :-)

[spyderchick]

Bitch. 





















Seriously, congrats on the car. We've been jonesin', but the budget says no, and we can't make up our mind anyhow.

[truckstop]

Congratulations! Great choice!

The next time you see one on the road and laugh at it, remember..  You'll only laugh until you drive one...

pfft. *I've* never laughed, but then I've been a huge fan of the old minis (and odd tiny cars) for years.
The only thing I'm not really thrilled with is the... plastic-y-ness of some of the switch gear. They've improved on it a little between a test drive when they first came out, and then got to drive a rented one in California last year, and the fun of driving it makes up for it's few shortcomings. Forget the convertible though - super noisy, not just road noise, my Miata is loud too, but just stuff rattling too much when the roof is in different positions.

The other small sports car on my list is the Lotus Elise. Didn't really get a chance to totally open it up, and it really just felt a lot like a faster, cooler, Miata, but man, that was a fun drive. Mini's are waaaay more practical though, and you don't end up with bruises trying to figure out how to get in and out of them repeatedly.

I'd have to go with the old Monte Carlo Rally winning paint scheme of red with a white roof (and bonnet stripes just 'cos), but the black-stripe version is pretty cool.

[Jeff]

Yeah, we didn't like the look of the convertable so we stayed with the hard-top..  And the Lotus is a cool car, but I don't think it can fit 4, and FULLY loaded, the mini is about half the price.

[truckstop]

Yeah, we didn't like the look of the convertable so we stayed with the hard-top..  And the Lotus is a cool car, but I don't think it can fit 4, and FULLY loaded, the mini is about half the price.

Yeah, the Mini is like a TARDIS, surprisingly roomy on the inside.  Heh, the Lotus fits two people, and one backpack. :P NOT a family car, or a winter car, not practical, at all... although they can be found slightly used for not too much more than a loaded Cooper S.

*sigh* I have new car envy...

[Super Dave]

Hey, Jeff....

I just took out my wheel chair lift out of the bus.

If you'd like to have it, I think you might be able to use it to get some extra garage space.  You could put the mini above your other car.   

[spyderchick]

Yeah, the Mini is like a TARDIS,

You said TARDIS...LOL

Man, you are either a geek or a nerd. Me? I'm a geek. 

Have you seen the new ones on Sci Fi channel? I though I would be disappointed, but they are really cool in that cheesy kind of way.

[Jeff]

Hey, Jeff....

I just took out my wheel chair lift out of the bus.

If you'd like to have it, I think you might be able to use it to get some extra garage space.  You could put the mini above your other car.   

Next to the 4dr wrangler (which is not super huge), the thing looks like a toy.

4'7" high x 5'6" wide x 12'1" long... 

The best part is being able to park ANYWHERE, and having so much more room in the garage. 

The downside is that you have to make sure you back ALL THE WAY out of a parking space before cranking the steering wheel.  The thing is so short that if you start backing and turn right away you'll clip the vehicle next to you.  LOL...

[EX#996]

You said TARDIS...LOL

Man, you are either a geek or a nerd. Me? I'm a geek. 

Have you seen the new ones on Sci Fi channel? I though I would be disappointed, but they are really cool in that cheesy kind of way.

I love Dr. Who.... 

[Court Jester]

  You'll only laugh until you drive one...

so when do i get to drive it???

[truckstop]

You said TARDIS...LOL

Man, you are either a geek or a nerd. Me? I'm a geek. 

Have you seen the new ones on Sci Fi channel? I though I would be disappointed, but they are really cool in that cheesy kind of way.

Ha! One of our App/Dev guys gave me a high five at lunch last week when I told him I'm having a penguin put on the back of my leathers.

Although I tend to identify more with "Dork" than "Geek" or "Nerd". I'm not really smart enough to be a nerd, and since I do officially carry Clown Insurance, I identify more with geeks.

We don't have cable, so the best I can do is old "Lost in Space" episodes Sunday afternoon on local channel 41 WMLW. (After two episodes of the old Batman)

errr... sorry for getting so off topic.

[SV88]

Jeff:  sounds like a hoot.  Just picked up a Mazda I6 - 5 sp. which is quite fun also.  Sounds like you need to do a track day in the thing...  My mother owned a mini wagon when we lived in Switzerland - late 60's early 70's.  I think that a convertible sports car would  be the only thing to wedge me away from motorycles.

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

I'm really interested in hearing more about the LSD.  I've done other things on LSD, but never felt very comfortable when I had to drive on it.  (at least not at 100mph, although with the trails, 40 seems like 200....)  What special features does the Mini have to compensate for the halucinations?
PS, when the turbo kicks in, does it seem almost like a supercharger?   I think that might be why they call it a Cooper S, not a Cooper T....

[Jeff]

Court Jester - www.internationalmini.com - Adam is your man.

SV88 - Yes, I'll be looking to see if I can get it on a track sometime this year (much to my wife's dismay)

K3 - LSD = Limited Slip Differential...  As for the supercharger/turbocharger, had you been talking about an 06, you'd be correct.  However, the 07 cooper S is a turbo.  I can send pics if you'd like...  Chump!

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

Limited Slip Differential?  Whoa....  We called that a Posi.  I used to light up my Posi.  But then, you could, like, light up a bowl, too....  A bowl is like, pot man.  But wait.....  If pot is a drug, and LSD is a drug, but LSD is also a Posi, and you can light up a Posi....
It's a paradox!  Oh man, I'm like toadaly freekin' out!  That supercharger is, like, melting into a turbo, dude!

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Limited Slip Differential?  Whoa....  We called that a Posi.  I used to light up my Posi.  But then, you could, like, light up a bowl, too....  A bowl is like, pot man.  But wait.....  If pot is a drug, and LSD is a drug, but LSD is also a Posi, and you can light up a Posi....
It's a paradox!  Oh man, I'm like toadaly freekin' out!  That supercharger is, like, melting into a turbo, dude!

Posi is a GM trademark muck like Sure-Grip is for Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler and Trak-Lock is for Ford. All do the same thing.


BTW can anyone else picture Jeff driving a Mini?

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

BTW can anyone else picture Jeff driving a Mini?

I can see him sinking his fangs into it....

[Jeff]

BTW can anyone else picture Jeff driving a Mini?

Just imagine me smiling about a foot wider than you've ever seen before...  That's pretty close to it.

[Jeff]

All pics can be found at: www.cbr600rr.com/gallery/07toys

Here's a few good ones:

[Court Jester]

looks pretty cool.
i still think you should let me drive it though

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Uh theres something wrong with that Jeep. Who grafted those 2 extra doors?

Isnt it funny how they make a (gasp) 4 dr wrangler and the new Commander is pretty much THE SAME SIZE? Soory Jeff. I do like the Mini (just picturing you hunched over driving it ), but when it comes to Wranglers, I hate what those damn Germans made it into. Should be a no frills vehicle. They were the last bastian of no frills, simple vehicles. Now you cant even find one with a manual hardly anymore.


BTW I should mention that when I did look at a new 06 2dr (original short version, not extended one) soft top 4.0L manual trans with hard doors the sticker was $31K. :wtf:I could had got one 5 yrs ago for $16K with the same equipment. Just cant beleive how crazy they got.

[Super Dave]

Jeff, you need to redo the pics...Maybe you don't understand your audience.  We're not mom and dad, so, we fully expect that you should be doing an e-brake turn or something.   

You have homework to do.

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Just noticed this, thats one BIG ASS SPEEDO.

[Super Dave]

Jeeps have been like that for years.

[Jeff]

Shit Dave...  I took a 15mph corner about 55 and not a whimper out of it.  It's just unreal. 

I look for corners to shoot.  The problem is with the most of them, it puts my wife staring at oncoming traffic as I slide through 3x faster than a person "should" go...  I can see new tires along with every oil change..  Maintenance for the first 3 years is free, but damn the bad luck that doesn't include rubber...

[catman]

Remember you'll need a Drivers License to get to the races..............

[Super Dave]

Bah, some racers have done worse...

LOL!

[Jeff]

Remember you'll need a Drivers License to get to the races..............

Wife has one & daughter turns 16 next month.  LOL...  I could be chauffered soon enough.

[Mrs Jeff]

SV88 - Yes, I'll be looking to see if I can get it on a track sometime this year (much to my wife's dismay)

I think he neglected to mention this is MY car.... Track? What track? How about....

NO!

[Mrs Jeff]

i still think you should let me drive it though

No. No. No.  Cannot dislodge key from my hand...oh wait, that's right all I need to do is be in the car with the key for it to start (keyless rocks!). I'm staying away from you!

[Jeff]

hehe... her avatar is really a picture of me after that "NO"...

[Super Dave]

Jeff, you really need to get her under control.

[Thorny]

yes Jeff, in order for her to understand you may have to beat her. Oh, wait I forgot she wears the pants........and Jeff wears panties!

[Jeff]

She let me race as long as I wanted
She lets me buy whatever I want
She puts (ahh well, I guess I shouldn't detail that one)
She feeds me and everyone within 100' at the track

AND, while she probably wouldn't be thrilled, I'm 100% confident that she'd let me track-day her car if I *REALLY* wanted to.  She's just cool like that.

So when she tells me to do a load of laundry and put clean panties on, I don't really have a problem with it...

[Super Dave]

But did she let you put money in my beanie?

[dylanfan53]

She feeds me and everyone within 100' at the track

Note to self...park within 100' of Jeff.

[Jeff]

Note to self...park within 100' of Jeff.

You'll move much slower on a full belly...  I think that was part of the wife's strategy for me to do well (slow everybody else down), or perhaps to keep me safe (slow ME down!)

[Mrs Jeff]

Now I gotta buy more food!  There were benefits to parking in the "swamp" at BHF.

[Jeff]

benefits besides the giant outdoor bathroom?