mdsbrain.com MINI Blog

Well, where do I start?

My Dad came home Monday evening with a new 2007 Lexus ES350 and told me he got a very good deal on his trade and the new car. So I got intrigued, I went to carmax and got a qoute on the MINI. They low-balled me and I was shocked. I literally laughed in the guy’s face when he told me what they offered for my car. The next day I went over to the Lexus dealer and they offered me more money for my car and several thousand off a brand new 2007 LEXUS IS 250AWD. Also the car is saving me $110/month in payments and the insurance is also less. 2 big pluses!

So you might ask What tha #@$%? Well the MINI hasn’t been as comfortable and reliable lately and has just started to cost me more and more money to keep it running. I mean its not like it was quitting on me weekly but it was acting like it had a lot more then the 22,600 miles it had. I wasn’t very happy and kept spending $ to make it run the way I wanted and keep it looking right. And I am not talking about the mods. I am talking about not scrapping the bumper, the new hole and the need for new tires so often. So after 22,600 miles and almost 18 months of ownership the MINI is now an orphan.

The last pics of the MINI:

The new roof graphic and winter wheels.

Yup…I’m MINI-less.

But let me tell you a bit about the new Lexus. Right now I know you’re laughing and want to say, “Mark you’re an idiot!” The MINI isn’t just a MINI; there is a community behind it. You’re DAMN RIGHT!! And the community is what I loved about the MINI so much. The people who take their time to help you understand and learn about your MINI and have a good time. I will not leave them since I got a new car. Heck, I’m going to a MINI event this Saturday

The Lexus has the 2.5L V6 with all-time All Wheel drive and a pretty stiff suspension. No where as tight as the MINI with it’s short wheelbase. But it handles very nicely, especially with your foot down and the four wheels grip the road. But beyond that it’s a Lexus with the usual Lexus luxuries like Nav, Bluetooth, backup cam, Paddle shifters for the 6-speed auto, leather and a trunk.

So, feel free to give me hell. And for those who are wondering, I plan to not mod the Lexus. But who knows…

Well I found a Convertible introduction kit and what drew my attention to it was the illusive 8 ball. The Magical Motoring Ball which I have been seeking out but has always been just beyond my grasp because I will not pay $100 for one.

Well now I have mine:

And the rest of the kit:

Bag, trading cards, mints, encyclopedia of open motoring, MINI pin, MINI keychain, Magical Motoring Ball, and MINI parking stencil.

http://www.107.peugeot.co.uk/peugeot.swf

Cool little game from Peugeot.

Yup, I have a medallion on the way!

Go get a magazine with the MINI ads and use your decoder to get yours too!!

Magazines with the ad to decode:

Men’s Health - got mine in this one.
New Yorker
Sports Illustrated
Blender
Business
Maxim - except this one it seems
Swindle
MC2

Thanks to a deal from a local DCMM club member Paul!, I have a great set of lightly used (had 2500 miles on them but look new) 16″ Mille wheels with Continental ExtremeWinter tires 195/55 R16.

I’ve put about 200 miles on these since they went on and the ride is totally different from the 17s. Its almost like going from runflats to non-runflats. This wheel and tire combo is 9lb lighter per corner and I can feel it. Car turns faster and accelerates moderatly faster. Braking also seems slightly improved. So till the warm weather returns my R99s and BFGoodrich KDW2s are in storage.

Bringing the wheels home:

Installed, the car’s appearance is dramatically different to me (anyone notice mods I forgot to blog? lol):

Also check that rear tire gap, it seems a tad smaller.

Also my car got a boboo on the way home the other day.

Its a hole about the size of a quater in my aero side skirt.

Better view: