Buying a Mini-

DeadSkunk wrote: rob_lewis, the hub diameter on the MINI is the same as a Honda, 56 mm.

56.1mm, to be exact. Which made me sad since an E30 is 57.1mm

rob_lewis wrote: And, if you've got a decent set of rims on your Honda, keep them!! The bolt pattern is the same for the MINI although you'll probably have to get a new centering ring for them. (Assuming they are aftermarket). I loved my '03 and will probably kick myself for years to come that I sold it. -Rob

Good Info!! Thanks!

One of the many things I love about my civic is I bought a set of 14" 96-00 Civic HX wheels a few years back for 80 bucks that weigh 11.75 lbs each and they just fit over the 99-00 civic Si brakes I put on the car. I replaced them when they were stolen for $120. Not bad, and I am pretty sure they are not the EXACT same wheels. Of course, nearly the entire tire industry has abandoned me and anyone else with 14" wheels. Thankfully Dunlop put out 14" star specs recently and I like them. I am probably going to keep the civic and make it some sort of project car. It will be welded to the garage and loaded with flame throwers and dynamite or something to keep the rats at bay.

Ian F wrote: Well... the R53 vs. R56 debate is one that could go on and on and on... The reality is they are pretty much different cars... drive both with an open mind and decide for yourself which one is best. Don't go into with pre-concieved notions about which engine is better or has more torque off the line. I 'know' the R53 very well, but were I spending my own money right now, I'd look long and hard at a R56... Broken door-pulls are a small problem and usually attributed to user error. You'll often find it's the passenger door that's broken most often. Many MINI's are programmed so that the first pull unlocks the door and the second pull opens it. The owner knows this and doesn't think twice... and uneducated passenger on the other hand, pulls it once... and the door doesn't open... so he pulls it harder... with predictable results... The body controller can be reprogrammed to unlock the doors upon engine shut down in which case the door will open on the first pull. Anotehr thing about the MINI is in addition to the broad-based sites and forums, there are also a ton of regional club-based forums. NAM is filled with gernal bickering and B.S., but buried in there is a lot of great information about the car and working on it. MotoringFile can be the same way... you'd swear the majority of posters there absolutely hate the car... Another forum is the UK-based MINI2.com although many of the regulars there went to Motoring Alliance. NAM used to be called 'MINI Cooper Online' but got a cease-order from MINI a number of years ago. 'Motoring' is a MINI catch phrase for driving a MINI, hence the name 'North American Motoring' as well as 'MotoringFile' I have a weird relationship with the MINI. I've spent a huge amount of time around them and working on them, but since it's my g/f's car, very little time behind the wheel of one. And when I do drive one, I'm often left feeling disappointed since the car feels so 'different' than the '03 Mk IV TDI that I drive every day (and IMHO is hands-down a better 'appliance car' than a MINI). My VW has also been far more reliable than the '03 MINI as well... which can mean more to some than others... While I was definitely more competitive in the R52 'vert in auto-x, I was more comfortable in the VW. Of course, the 200K miles difference in seat-time familiarity played a part. I've mentioned this before, but if looking for an R53, buy the newest one you can as they made a number of changes and improvements through the production cycle.

We have a Volvo 855 high pressure turbo for the long trips. It is very comfy and makes lots of tourques. What I want out of the MINI Hatch is a fun car that is easy on gas so I can justify roaring around alone enjoying the numerous fly fishing/camping opportunities in Oregon and Washington that involve stupendously brilliant, well maintained, and empty secondary roads. I have a hankering to joint the northwest hillclimb association http://www.nhahillclimb.org/ and start utilizing Portland International Raceway which is (delightfully audible from mi casa too every weekend this time of year) but I have as yet been able to honestly say to myself that I can afford to stuff a car. The MINI may make the civic into that stuffable car. It really easy to make a fast and furious 96-00 civic. So the MINI will be a street car. But I digress.

I have 15K to spend, which finds me lots of late R53s with relatively low miles- Not many R56s around that price point. Which of course helps me to decide that I love the supercharged MINIs.

I wanted a MINI but they don't make one with manual windows/locks/non sunroof so I went with a Yaris. Also Yaris=2311 lbs.

I've driven a MINI S, and I have not driven a Yaris, so my perspective may be a little off, but I'm having a WHOLE LOT of trouble believing that the driving experience is anywhere near similar.

You are comparing a strippoed underpowered econocar with a beautifully detailed and responsive performer which costs twice as much. A few pounds will not improve the comparison.

92dxman wrote: I wanted a MINI but they don't make one with manual windows/locks/non sunroof so I went with a Yaris. Also Yaris=2311 lbs.

The civic is manual everything except brakes (Vacuum assist). I have and love that driving experience and am not getting rid of it. The 1996 base dx hatch comes in at 2250-2300 so it is lighter than the Yaris (apparenty) and I have done all kinds of crap to it- bigger brakes, stainless lines, koni yellows , st sways, eibach pro line springs, ex/si oem hybrid exhaust, yada yada yada. I want air conditioning, a quicker power assisted rack, cruise controll, less NVH, more tourqes, less theft.. not that anyone is stealing Yarises, which I really like, as well the Echo before them. I think the MINI is a reasonable car for an 6'4" getting old enthusiast to want to drive everyday.

Shaun wrote: What I want out of the MINI Hatch is a fun car that is easy on gas so I can justify roaring around alone enjoying the numerous fly fishing/camping opportunities in Oregon and Washington that involve stupendously brilliant, well maintained, and empty secondary roads. I have a hankering to joint the northwest hillclimb association http://www.nhahillclimb.org/ and start utilizing Portland International Raceway which is (delightfully audible from mi casa too every weekend this time of year) but I have as yet been able to honestly say to myself that I can afford to stuff a car. The MINI may make the civic into that stuffable car. It really easy to make a fast and furious 96-00 civic. So the MINI will be a street car. But I digress. I have 15K to spend, which finds me lots of late R53s with relatively low miles- Not many R56s around that price point. Which of course helps me to decide that I love the supercharged MINIs.

Hmm... Well, I don't know if it matters to you, but the R53 can be a thirsty little car. Low 30's is typical and mid-upper 20's common if the car is driven aggressively (sometimes less). My g/f gets around 30 in her car. We get about 34 out of our '07 Cooper 'vert. Conversely, mid-30's out of a R56 MCS is common and upper-30's to low 40's with a R56 Cooper.

The poor mileage is what keeps me out of an R53 right now... since my commute is 100+ miles a day and my TDI has a lifetime average of 46 mpg. That said, if something were to happen to my TDI, I'd strongly consider a MINI... especially the '05 R50 set up for HS that was posted on SCCAforums today... Coincidentally, he's asking $15K (price includes 2 sets of r-comps on SSR's plus other extras).

Ian F wrote:

Shaun wrote: What I want out of the MINI Hatch is a fun car that is easy on gas so I can justify roaring around alone enjoying the numerous fly fishing/camping opportunities in Oregon and Washington that involve stupendously brilliant, well maintained, and empty secondary roads. I have a hankering to joint the northwest hillclimb association http://www.nhahillclimb.org/ and start utilizing Portland International Raceway which is (delightfully audible from mi casa too every weekend this time of year) but I have as yet been able to honestly say to myself that I can afford to stuff a car. The MINI may make the civic into that stuffable car. It really easy to make a fast and furious 96-00 civic. So the MINI will be a street car. But I digress. I have 15K to spend, which finds me lots of late R53s with relatively low miles- Not many R56s around that price point. Which of course helps me to decide that I love the supercharged MINIs.

Hmm... Well, I don't know if it matters to you, but the R53 can be a thirsty little car. Low 30's is typical and mid-upper 20's common if the car is driven aggressively (sometimes less). My g/f gets around 30 in her car. We get about 34 out of our '07 Cooper 'vert. Conversely, mid-30's out of a R56 MCS is common and upper-30's to low 40's with a R56 Cooper. The poor mileage is what keeps me out of an R53 right now... since my commute is 100+ miles a day and my TDI has a lifetime average of 46 mpg. That said, if something were to happen to my TDI, I'd strongly consider a MINI... especially the '05 R50 set up for HS that was posted on SCCAforums today... Coincidentally, he's asking $15K (price includes 2 sets of r-comps on SSR's plus other extras).

I can live with 30 ish- My wife and I would like to but a diesel VW passat wagon if we ever get the allroad here and around for a couple yeats so we can buy a pre depreciated one. (pulling a drift boat out of rivers on unimproved ramps).

I have ridden in a friends 2006-7 ish Passat TDI that is bone stock and I like it allot, great road trip car. He can drive from LA to SF, then drive around for a week before he needs to fill up to make the drive back. I drove golf TDI and I didn't fit but I liked it allot. I passengered in an R53 and I fit pretty darned well and liked it a hell of alott.