OT: Joined the Mini club today

[Keith A]

Our family (really my daughter) joined the Mini Cooper club today...although my name is on the title too :D

[Louis]

Cute. But will a 60 ST bike fit with only the front wheel removed? :p

(It's actually a serious question.)

[Keith A]

No idea...but then again, this wasn't a top priority for my daughter :rolleyes: I do know there are a number of Mini owners on the forum who could answer this question.

[Pete Serotta]

but taking both wheels off - It did go in.


keith - that is a cute car and they have pretty good safety ratings....Best of luck with it,


PETE

[Ken Robb]

Cute. But will a 60 ST bike fit with only the front wheel removed? :p

(It's actually a serious question.)

really tight--it's easier to just take both wheels off.

[avalonracing]

Cute, I dig it, but according to my friends, look into an extended warranty.

[MattTuck]

but taking both wheels off - It did go in.



That's what SHE said. ba da bump!


Sorry, couldn't resist.

[David Kirk]

Enjoy.

I own a 2004 Cooper S and it's the best car I've owned. Fun, fast, quiet, comfortable............

I love it.

Dave

[Louis]

I own a 2004 Cooper S and it's the best car I've owned. Fun, fast, quiet, comfortable............

I love it.

Hitch or rack for the bike?

[David Kirk]

Hitch or rack for the bike?

I don't think I could get a bike in it - but I don't know as I never tried. I almost never put a bike in a car but ride from my house.

On the very rare occasion (once, twice a year) that I need to put a bike into a car I use our old station wagon.

Dave

[witcombusa]

The Mini's are FUN cars. Our '03 Cooper S just got traded in on a '11 Cooper S. They are not for everyone however. There are some problem areas if long term ownership is the plan.

But they reward you everytime you take them out to play on nice country roads :D

Sorry, never even tried to put a bike in one.

[Bruce K]

We love our '02 S.

It is our "summer car" and has just over 42000 miles on it.

No issues so far (knock on wood).

BK

[AngryScientist]

congrats. great little car. we had an '04 non-S and it was one of our favorite cars to date, tight handling, adequate power and fun-to-drive factor. i'm sure she'll really enjoy it.

[SEABREEZE]

Congradulations to your daughter, as everyone remembers there first car.

Keith my good man, what were you thinking, cosigning, you just signed your life away.

Angry you mentioned your wife is expecting soon, look what you have to look forward to.

Everyone have a great Sunday and enjoy your family.

[xjoex]

Cool car! You have a lucky daughter.

I have an 08 as well.
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h85/boulderjoe/mini/IMG_2445.jpg

-Joe

[Ken Robb]

what racks do you have? My 2007 S would use the same.

[Bruce K]

Mini makes a rack system that reuqires the installation of threaded inserts in the roof.

I believe Yakima (and maybe Thule) now make roof mounted racks.

There is also a pretty nice hitch-like installation (Mini does not call it a trailer hitch) that allows the use of a hitch mount rack.

BK

[dd74]

What's the advantage of a hitch over a roof rack? I can see it being an advantage to a person who isn't very tall. Otherwise, I'd fear with a hitch the bike getting damaged during parking or traffic - on my part or someone else's.

[firerescuefin]

Garage issues....if your so inclined to scrape your bike off. On that car, I would run a roof rack....personally.

[Keith A]

Thanks everyone! I'm looking forward to driving this a little, even though it isn't mine :D

xjoex -- Great looking Mini...I really like the color.

Two tire /wheel questions:
o The current wheels are 15" with a 65 series tire which aren't so great, has anyone used a wider and lower profile tire on any of the stock 15" wheels?
o Does Mini make a stock 16" wheel?

[witcombusa]

Thanks everyone! I'm looking forward to driving this a little, even though it isn't mine :D

xjoex -- Great looking Mini...I really like the color.

Two tire /wheel questions:
o The current wheels are 15" with a 65 series tire which aren't so great, has anyone used a wider and lower profile tire on any of the stock 15" wheels?
o Does Mini make a stock 16" wheel?

The stock tire size is 175/65-15. You might be able to go to a 195/60-15 on your current rims (depending on their width). If you want to go to a lower profile tire, you have to get a bigger rim. A 195/55-16 would be a good place to start. 205/45-17 would be as far as you'd want to take it. Remember that as you lower the aspect ratio of the tire the ride will get harsher, so depending on the road conditions in your area you might want to only go "plus 1". The thing is you want to retain the tire's original diameter.

Yes, Mini has 15, 16, 17 rims available, as does the aftermarket.

[Ken Robb]

stock wheels on the "S" model are 16" with 17" optional. I swapped the stock 195/60-16 run-flats with 205/55-16 Bridgestone 760 regular tubeless tires. They stick better and ride better too. The "S" model has no place for a spare so there's some risk involved but I guess that's what Roadside Assistance and/or AAA is for. I think the standard MINI has a spare, right?

Run-flat tires have improved but the ride and handling are still a little behind good regular tires.

[Keith A]

Thanks for the input on the tires & rims. I'm pretty familiar with the various tire options in general, but just not with what people have found to work good on the Mini's or what stock wheel sizes have been offered. The current rims look pretty narrow and I don't know how wide they are. I guess I need to get to know Mini's a little better.

BTW, don't know about the spare tire...I'm almost certain there isn't one in the boot, could be underneath the car, but I haven't checked yet.

[Keith A]

Found the specs for her wheels:
Rim Width: 5.5
Offset: 45mm
Bolt Pattern: 4x100

[AngryScientist]

Keith -

if you check out tirerack, stock size is listed as 175-65-15, with optional 15" tire size as 195-60-15.

when we had our mini, i immediately switched to the optional 15" size, way more choices out there, and a lot better feel. if you want to stick with the 15" wheels, which ultimately i would recommend (cheaper, lighter and better road absorption) i'd make the move to the 195's.

good luck with the car, lucky daughter you have there!

[AngryScientist]

could be underneath the car, but I haven't checked yet.

we had an 04, and it was underneath the car, you had to lower it down from inside the boot.

[Keith A]

Yep, spare tire under the rear of the car. I think the 195-60-15 would be a better tire to run on this car without sacrificing ride quality. I'll have to keep my eye out on CL for some 16" rims, I think 17's would be too much.

BTW, so what is under the car on an "S" that keeps it from having a spare tire?

[rice rocket]

Feels faster/Is faster if you throw out 50 lbs of weight. ;)

[AngryScientist]

BTW, so what is under the car on an "S" that keeps it from having a spare tire?

the center exit dual exhaust

[Ken Robb]

Yep, spare tire under the rear of the car. I think the 195-60-15 would be a better tire to run on this car without sacrificing ride quality. I'll have to keep my eye out on CL for some 16" rims, I think 17's would be too much.

BTW, so what is under the car on an "S" that keeps it from having a spare tire?

It has a 13+ gallon tank instead of 10+ gallons. The dual exhaust may also be a reason.

FWIW mini Mini S turbo has averaged 32 MPG from new and that includes a couple of track days and autocrosses.

[cole91]

I like to think of my self as an honorary MINI club member. I drive a 2002 Ford Focus SVT and it has the same Getrag 6 speed manual transmission that the S series has. Similar in size too! I always wanted a MINI but I settled for an SVT. I think the S series may be next in line though. P.S. Roof racks FTW! Just put a cone in your spot everytime you leave with a bike and you'll have no problems.

[dd74]

Isn't there a year of the supercharged Mini Cooper that some say should be avoided? Something about engine trouble, though I can't remember what that trouble was.

[rice rocket]

The pins in the Torsen front differential weren't made to spec (or maybe the housing was overdrilled, I forget). Long story short, the pins fall out, and the transmission grenades itself.

Cole, the SVT is a better car. ;)

[dd74]

Thx. RR, I couldn't remember what the issue was; that sounds familiar

Cole: SVT is a great car. I'd hold onto that. Maybe a JCW Mini S might be a replacement, but not a run of the mill Mini S.