I've gone to the Dark Side

[John Rogers]

I traded our old parts chaser for something newer!

[Joe Bob]

Does it have Lucas Electrics?

[david914]

If it does have Lucas electrics, he'll definitely be on the dark side!

Just kidding John! Actually, my wife and I have been drooling over the new Minis ever since they came out. Congrats!!!

[AaronM]

Originally posted by david914
If it does have Lucas electrics, he'll definitely be on the dark side!

Just kidding John! Actually, my wife and I have been drooling over the new Minis ever since they came out. Congrats!!!

It's BMW owned. Probably the same BOSCH problems that we have in our cars. :P

Aaron

[bernbomb914]

I sure like your Garage and driveway very nice items. I read on one of your posts that you go to TJ to get your upolustry done. can you recommend a shop and what do they charge.

Bernie

[Jake Raby]

My X Girlfriend had a normal Mini, not and S...it was a cool car, handled almost as good as a 914, great car!

[John Rogers]

Thanks guys, the car seems to be all Bosch electronics but does use Castrol for oil and you can tell the smell. The engine compt is the most crowded I have ever seen! It has a ton of room and our daughter can drive it and she is 6-1 or so. For a shop in TJ I have used "Garage Los Panchos" for probably 15 years and they do good work. If you want to email or call me I'll try to find the number. They did the interior and paint job on the race car.

[GregS]

The dark side?

That tail dragger in the garage makes an excellent parts hauler for that real red car in the driveway

[Andyrew]

One of the new mini's was picking up a kid at my school, I wished I had my dads 951 so I could pull up next to it and say "I love your car, its so cute" lol

[bernbomb914]

John cant get your email address thru this fourm. mine is bernie@iinet.com. please help me with the info Thanks

Bernie

[HMeeder]

John, John, John...

Now look what you've gone and done.

I'm jealous. Bring it by the "Q" on the 24th. I guarantee we're going to want to see it (wanna run it in "X"? or will that create a domestic issue?)

[Kenny Powell]

Hey John, nice choice........I've been reading about those for some time now! I'd like to drop by and check it out sometime...I might be next?

[David McLaughlin]

Don't know why or how I missed this thread 'till now, but...
I just test drove an S yesterday. Seems like a nice car. Had good power. Nice handling. I'm not sure if the car "does it for me". I'll look at a few tail draggers and water pumpers in the same price range, them make a descission.

[tryan]

they are are selling a performance kit for the mini and the s as a order item or dealer add on. new heads, cam ect. any mini owner should look into it. automobile had a print up on it. supposed to be about 3k for 200+ hp.

[David McLaughlin]

I asked about the WORKS KIT. It is only a dealer add on. The cost is $4500 plus installation. MINI of Peabody (MA) said they have had a dozen kits on order and have yet to see one. They also said that they will install the first kit on their "DRAG CAR" to get a feel for time involved. The guesstimate I got was $5500 installed; that's a lot of cash for 40hp.

Here's my shopping list:
2003 MINI Cooper S.
'94-95 968 Coupe/ Cab tiptronic
91-94 964 Man/tip targa C4 or C2, low mileage
'95-96 993 man/tip coupe medium to high mileage
'99 996 tip/man coupe high mileage
Mercedes... seen a little hatch that looks cool, don't know the model yet.

Any thoughs? Don't mean to hijack this thread, so how would the mini hold up to this compitition? Street/ daily driver only, no track!

[Andyrew]

Dave, Im looking at your list, and personally I would chose one of the p-cars, and looking at the prices of the cars on there, a REALLy nice 968 cab would be cool. But why not a 944 turbo s, maybe even cab? with 270hp+ potential (depending on 's' or not) with JUST A CHIP, (compliments to guru racing) they are screaming fast.. And make for an incredible street car for the money. Oh theres a guy that is currently making a kit with 350hp to the wheels, with bolt ons..
Ok, sorry, I just like these cars
Dave, I wouldnt mind having any of those cars in my garage.
John, really I do like the mini's, my little joke was on the "mini" part..

[JmuRiz]

I hear the John Cooper Works performance kit "feels" like more than a 40hp boost. I'd have to drive both to see...anyone want to offer theirs up for a test run? I thought that the Works kit has springs etc also included in that 4500 price. Might want to check it out...BTW it's all warrentied as well, niiice.

Nathan

[3D914]

John,

Nice choice. If you're going to own a 914 for the handling, you might as well own a Mini Cooper as well. Two of the best handling cars I can think of!

Enjoy!

[HMeeder]

There's a pretty complete write up on the John Cooper Works kit for the Cooper S in this month's Car and Driver. Basically no down side but the cost. About 200 horses and 177 lb-ft of torque. Cost for the kit including install at $5000+. You make the call. They penciled it out to $135 per pony. I'm pretty sure any of us here on this board has/would/will spend at least that much per extra horse for our p-cars. eh?

[John Rogers]

The cost is all relative, but remember as was noted above, it's covered by BMW! It is not as radical as several kits alreay out on the market but I imagine it would last a lot longer? So far it's been a hoot to drive and watch people stare at it and ask questions about what it is, etc. The parking meter maid in Chula Vista wanted to race me this past Fri afternoon with her scooter!!!