Checking out -So long, and thanks for all the fish!

[BillTheCat]

It's been a while since I've posted. My '09 MS3 and I have had a great run, but it's almost time to part ways. Nothing wrong with the MS3, just my usual automotive wanderlust kicking in again.

Before I go, I want to thank everyone on this site- members, admins, mods- for 3 great years. I may not have posted much lately, but I have been visiting & reading. Other members here have helped me decide which mods to make or skip, and compare aftermarket products to make smart decisions. Plus, there are some extremely entertaining folks here that make the read very enjoyable.

Thanks also to everyone who helped make my MS3 t-shirt group buy a success back in '09. I hope some of those shirts are still holding up. Mine have survived the laundry & still look good.

For those who are curious, I am returning to the MINI fold. After growing larger & larger by introducing the Clubman, and then the Countryman, MINI has finally gotten back to being "mini," and is introducing the Coup- a 2-seater with more of a fastback look. And I kinda dig it. The roof tends to be a "love it or loathe it" feature, but it grew on me, and I'm digging it. Haven't told anyone in the MINI club that I've ordered this car. It's due to roll off the production line on Friday, and should be here in the first week or 2 of October. Dealer says MINI USA told him mine may actually be the first Coup in "Cooper S" trim to be delivered in the Southeastern US. Going to look somewhat like this, with different wheels:

I won't be parting out the MS3, as I didn't go nuts with mods. I'll be putting the stock wheels back on & using the 5Zigens on my '92 Supra, which recently underwent about as thorough of a cosmetic restoration as possible without pulling the engine to paint the engine bay. The Supra will continue to be my weekend toy, and the MINI Cooper S Coup will be my DD.

1 quick shot of the Supra, and a link to the full gallery if you're into that sort of thing..

Supra Rebirth

High miles on the MS3 (60k) so I'm not expecting to be able to sell it privately & cover what I owe, plus sales tax. Planning to trade, as the MINI dealer has already offered me a touch more than I owe. Factor in the "no sales tax" aspect of trading and I come out ahead.

If anyone locally here in the Tampa area is desperate for Forge BPV, Cobb SRI, or CPE Dashhawk mount, drop me a PM and I'm sure we can work something out.

Other than that, thanks again, and best of luck to all in the MS3 community. I've enjoyed my time with the car and here on this forum, and I'm grateful to the MS247 community for making it a positive experience.

 

[Moultese]

My shirt is still going strong. Thanks for setting all that up. Good luck in your Mini Adventure.

 

[meicalnissyen]

Brother thanks for the shirt, and GLWT Mini. I know you've felt that draw since the dragon tail pics.

hit me up if you see the car out and about, I still have the E-6 emblem on the B pillar

 

[StealthWyvern]

be sure to post pics of it when you get it.. I dig it but need to see mroe pics to be sure

 

[essejkcamraw]

Wow, Bill sad to see you go. it was good hanging out the one time we met, best of luck with the mini!

 

[BillTheCat]

be sure to post pics of it when you get it.. I dig it but need to see mroe pics to be sure

Will do. I actually ordered it sight unseen back in the first part of August. Got to see a demo model in person a few weeks later & knew I had made the right choice. Most folks who see one in person like it better than they did in photos, whether they loved or hated it to begin with.

What I like about the Coup is that it is built for handling. They started with the chassis from the convertible, which was already structurally more rigid than the standard hatchback. Then they built a tintop on it. And the divider between the seats & the trunk houses a set of crossmembers for extra bracing. Due to all of this, the Coup actually comes out 45 lbs. heavier than the current Hatchback, but early test drives say that there is definitely a more serious handling vibe on the track. (MINI won't come right out & say exactly what they may or may not have done to tweak the stock suspension)

There's a mechanical spoiler built into the trunk deck that I could do without, and I may indeed replace it with a lighter fixed spoiler. We'll see. Apparently, that spoiler wasn't in BMW/MINI's plans originally, but the test mule got squirrelly in the arse end on the Nrburgring & it was determined that the rear end was getting light at high speeds. MINI already has a fixed spoiler in development, but it will not be offered as a factory option. At least not yet. Looks like it might be a dealer installed "John Cooper Works" once it is released.

The Coup will use the same 1.6 litre engine lineup as the current MINIs, so my "S" will be the 184hp turbo, and should get somewhere in the range of 33-35mpg on the highway, and low 30's on my daily drive, which is 60-70% highway.

The same body style will be available as a ragtop next Spring/Summer, but I work overnights in downtown Tampa, and there's no way I'm parking a ragtop down there overnight. I figure the roof would get shredded within 3 months by a homeless guy looking for spare change.

I originally ordered the car in black- body & roof. Partially because that's the only color combo where the roof can match the body. Then I had to admit to myself that I'll never keep it clean enough to do it justice. So with the black or silver roof options, I took a look at British Racing Green and the "Lightning Blue" pictured above and went that way.

All this time with the MS3, I have continued to hang with the MINI crowd, and am still an Admin on one of the larger regional club sites. And I help organize & run the "MINIs on the Dragon" event each May as well. Unfortunately, my Coup delivery will probably be just a few days too late to make it to the next major regional MINI meet near Disney World, so I'll have to hold the surprise unveiling at a local Tampa gathering.

 

[Domino81]

That Mini is ugly as ****.

 

[Chris410]

Post pics when you get it. Similar to the MS3 it's a love/hate thing. Also...60K IMO is not very high miles for a car.

 

[BillTheCat]

My mother is ugly as ****.

Fixed. Thanks for making a positive contribution to the discussion.

 

[Domino81]

Give me something to be positive about. It's ugly. I love Mini's. But that thing is a joke.

 

[ericrapp]

Thanks for your participation over the last couple years, all ways a pleasure to read your posts and your subtle humor. Such as your much beloved Douglas Adams (rest his soul) Dolphin statement. I wish you well on your adventure with the new ride.
ugly or pretty, you Will get noticed. I would love to see a picture of the wing extended. ala Porsche 911 or Crossfire.
Best wishes Sir
"Mostly Harmless "
eric

 

[BillTheCat]

Thanks for your participation over the last couple years, all ways a pleasure to read your posts and your subtle humor. Such as your much beloved Douglas Adams (rest his soul) Dolphin statement. I wish you well on your adventure with the new ride.
ugly or pretty, you Will get noticed. I would love to see a picture of the wing extended. ala Porsche 911 or Crossfire.
Best wishes Sir
"Mostly Harmless "
eric

These rear spoiler shots are all over the web, taken during a press junket for the "John Cooper Works" version of the Coup:

 

[BillTheCat]

Give me something to be positive about. It's ugly. I love Mini's. But that thing is a joke.

You could have just kept moving without expending the energy needed to bash the car. There was really no point in doing that. I already stated in my post that the roof was a "love it or loathe it" design feature.

 

[ericrapp]

Thats an interesting combination, the roof spoiler and then the rear lip extended. Originally I thought the roof spoiler was going to rise up like the old Chapparels did!
Thanks for taking the time to post those. Car is kinda wild looking for sure. Happy Motoring!!

 

[meicalnissyen]

Thanks for your participation over the last couple years, all ways a pleasure to read your posts and your subtle humor. Such as your much beloved Douglas Adams (rest his soul) Dolphin statement. I wish you well on your adventure with the new ride.
ugly or pretty, you Will get noticed. I would love to see a picture of the wing extended. ala Porsche 911 or Crossfire.
Best wishes Sir
"Mostly Harmless "
eric

42

 

[ericrapp]

lol