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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,530
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Lets Motor! (New Car)
Yup, I bought a Mini. 2004 Cooper (not an S) with a 5 speed and 65k. HK audio, xenon lights, otherwise pretty basic. Dealer service records, everything works. It's not up to my standards of detailing, so no pics yet.
 Not by any means fast, but it is a lot of fun to drive. Basically a big go-kart, it has excellent steering and a sweet shifter. Suprising amount of interior room as well. So, if anyone wants to buy a Mini in about a month, let me know.
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‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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07-22-2009, 05:49 AM
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Bandwidth AbUser
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SoCal
Posts: 29,522
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Pics or ban.
We keep thinking about a Mini for my wife (we're currently sharing one car). Since she's not shown any sense of urgency to buy one, I've had to restrain my automotive-ADD and not go car shopping. Matt, I think that level of self-restraint would kill you! 
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Jim R. |
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07-22-2009, 06:19 AM
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MAGA
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 10,776
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If it is not an "S", then you did not get a car, your wife did.
Congrats anyhow!
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German autos: '79 911 SC, '87 951, '03 330i, '08 Cayenne, '13 Cayenne 0% Liberal Men do not quit playing because they get old.... They get old because they quit playing. |
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07-22-2009, 06:21 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sandton, South Africa
Posts: 916
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We got my wife a 2004 like yours, and found it to be an absolute hoot. It is a solid little car, and you can't do anything but drive it like you stole it - it is that good. Have driven the "S" too, and can honestly say that to me the standard Cooper presents better value for money. Have fun!
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'70 911T (AKA Bottomless Pit) - Undergoing restoration '13 Audi A4 1.8T - Surprisingly fun means of getting to work |
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07-22-2009, 06:33 AM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,530
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It's like a Miata Tim.......everyone thinks you're gay, but it's too much fun for you to care. It really is a fun little car.
Jim, I know where you can find one in about a month.
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‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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07-22-2009, 06:47 AM
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Non Compos Mentis
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Off the grid- Almost
Posts: 10,598
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Since I already have a Miata, I'll pass on getting a MINI.
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07-22-2009, 07:00 AM
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Bandwidth AbUser
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SoCal
Posts: 29,522
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Quote:
 Oh yeah, pics or ban!
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Jim R. |
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07-22-2009, 07:08 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,199
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Matt - 3rd gear 4500-6000rpm on back roads is a sweet spot. Find a familiar backroad to try it. I have 75000 on my 2005 non-S, preventative maint and just did front pads. I have a chrono package which gave me tach and speedo side by side behind the steering wheel, and the center pod of the dash has water temp, oil temp, oil pressure and fuel gauge. Sticks like glue on snowy roads with Blizzaks as well - better then our Nissan 4x4 p/u until the front air dam starts plowing. Average economy is just over 34mpg... 40/60 secondary/highway.
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07-22-2009, 07:22 AM
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Feelin' Solexy
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: WA
Posts: 3,790
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Great little cars... my wife drives an '08 Turbo S, it is a hoot and I borrow it whenever I can.
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Grant In the stable: 1938 Buick Special model 41, 1963 Solex 2200, 1973 Vespa Primavera 125, 1974 Vespa Rally 200, 1986 VW Vanagon Syncro Westfalia, 1989 VW Doka Tristar, 2011 Pursuit 315 OS, 2022 Tesla Y Gone but not forgotten: 1973 VW Beetle, 1989 Porsche 944, 2008 R56 Mini Cooper S |
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07-22-2009, 07:30 AM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,530
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Dean, I plan to take it on a backroad run this weekend with the BMW club.
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‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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07-22-2009, 07:34 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 7,482
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Does Mrs. Puppy know you bat for both teams?
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07-22-2009, 07:51 AM
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,494
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My wife has a 2006. Only known defect is the gasket to the thermostat housing. Normally goes at 20K-30K miles so yours has probably been replaced. If you notice small puddles of anti-freeze under the car when parked that is what it is. Not an expensive fix at all.
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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07-22-2009, 07:56 AM
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Registered
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My wife drives a 2005 Cooper Convertible - great little cars.
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Ken 06 Cayman S - gone 85 911 Targa - gone back home to Germany 73.5 911T Targa - long gone... Founder ncPOG: nevada county Porsche Owners Group - disbanded post covid after 15 yrs |
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07-22-2009, 08:24 AM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,530
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Quote:
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‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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07-22-2009, 08:39 AM
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Registered
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We have an 08 MINI Cooper. Great handling, not much power, but then its fun to shift to keep the revs up. The only thing that surprised me with the car is how heavy it feels in comparison to my old Civic, which is a fair bit longer than the MINI. Girlfriend loves the car. Atleast she got black with offset white racing stripes, looks pretty good, not as feminine as some.
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2012 911 Black Edition Cabriolet 2008 Cayman S Grey on Black - flooded, written off 1977 930 Turbo Carrera Black on Red #411 1987 951 Black on Black - sold to make room for the 930 1972 911 2.7 - I regret selling her every single day.... |
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07-22-2009, 08:39 AM
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Registered
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 3,239
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07-22-2009, 11:04 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Maryland
Posts: 31,505
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Quote:
After this, please buy a early '80's FJ-40, get it sorted and I'll see you in Wichita, say, next June? Thanks in advance.
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1996 FJ80. |
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07-22-2009, 11:10 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Ridgefield CT
Posts: 1,290
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Congrats on the new (to you) car.
What do you think of the interior quality? I seem to remember the knobs and such were sort of chintzy plastic. Also, are some years more reliable than others? Thanks. PV
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'08 RX350 (Hers) '84 911 Carrera '83 911SC Cabrio '06 Miata |
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07-23-2009, 06:54 AM
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I liked the mini until I sat in one. I couldn't get over the cartoonish interior. The gauges are ridiculous and all of the little 70's amp style switches are just plain dumb in a car. I'd take one if it came with a better dash. Love the rest of the car, though.
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Josh 85 M491 Coupe - "Fat Bastard" |
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07-23-2009, 07:49 AM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,530
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Paul, if I could find an FJ-40 without rust I'd be happy to oblige.
With 65k mine looks nearly new inside. There's a few very slight scratches on the aluminum-look plastic, that's the only obvious wear. The passenger seat has a tear in the bottom, but that's not a wear issue. Except for CVT issues in the early cars they're supposed to be pretty reliable, comparable to or better than a used BMW. Anyone know an easy way to tell sport seats from non-sport? I need to order new OEM seat bottom fabric for the passenger seat.
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‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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07-23-2009, 10:58 AM
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1985 Porsche 911 Targa 3.2
2006 Cayman S
Fat Bastard
