The Mini is 50

What5647 · 08-26-2009, 01:27 PM

Yep, the first Mini rolled off the line 50 years ago today. Yay for what is probably the best compact car out there.

old mini cooper at autocross - you gotta see this - Car Videos on StreetFire

LaserRacer · 08-26-2009, 02:12 PM

Wow... Now there is a bit of history...The original awesome Le Mans machine.

**scared2mosh** · 08-26-2009, 06:27 PM

AND it's the only FWD vehicle that isn't burned like a witch by the majority of CGR members that regular the car forums...

I want one to drive around for fun... I also want a second one to mod like crazy and turn into a race car (more powerful engine that would be in the middle or rear rather than the front and convert it to AWD)...don't flame/hate me

mulletman · 08-26-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaserRacer

Wow... Now there is a bit of history...The original awesome rally machine.

Fixed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scared2mosh

AND it's the only FWD vehicle that isn't burned like a witch by the majority of CGR members that regular the car forums...

It's just that awesome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scared2mosh

I want one to drive around for fun... I also want a second one to mod like crazy and turn into a race car (more powerful engine that would be in the middle or rear rather than the front and convert it to AWD)...don't flame/hate me

It's all good except for the AWD idea.....

**scared2mosh** · 08-27-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Phantom Mullet

Fixed.

It's just that awesome.

It's all good except for the AWD idea.....

Well it wouldn't stay FWD that's for sure...

What5647 · 08-27-2009, 09:51 AM

On a Mini, fron wheel drive is allowable. Heck, for A/X sometimes FWD can be an advantage, depending on the course.

LaserRacer · 08-27-2009, 10:12 AM

I would imagine that a mini would kill in an extremely tight autocross...if it got too straight then it would be down on power. That said, it would be a blast to show up people in an old mini.

**scared2mosh** · 08-27-2009, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by What5647

On a Mini, fron wheel drive is allowable. Heck, for A/X sometimes FWD can be an advantage, depending on the course.

Howso?

What5647 · 08-27-2009, 06:18 PM

Did you watch the video?

FWD doesn't have to worry about keeping the rear in check like everyone else does. On a really tight course, this is a good thing. As long as the front has grip it's point and squirt.

IMO, where FWD fails is is power delivery. On a car with a strong engine, it makes more sense to divvy up grip by making the rears handle acceleration and the fronts worry about cornering. On a really tight course, you're not likely to get on the gas enough for this to be a problem. Last A/X I was at I never got out of first gear in my Sky. FTD was a stripped-down Civic that had one tire in the air at all times. Far to tight a course, IMO. The miata's, new MINIs and Civics ruled the cobras and the AWD rally cars. S2k, Kappas, and other "middle of the road" cars were left behind. (barring a few highly modified ones...)

**scared2mosh** · 08-27-2009, 10:34 PM

Thue. However, I would want it to be a good everyday fun car.... that can kill in both drag races and handling courses. Plus RWD is way more fun in the snow

mulletman · 08-27-2009, 10:58 PM

A mini wouldn't make big power. Ever. Unless you cut a hole in the back ,and stuff something mid-mounted in there. Then, it will get so hot and generate so much noise that you'll definitely not want to be in it every day. That, along with the fact that you'd need a full cage due to the hole you just cut in the unibody.... and it would be a VERY uncomfortable street car. Awesome track car, though.

**scared2mosh** · 08-27-2009, 11:00 PM

well that was kind of my plan, but you are right it wouldn't be a good daily driver.

mulletman · 08-27-2009, 11:32 PM

These guys make a kit for the exact setup you're talking about.... and they have a variety of engine choices.

Looks like fun to me.

http://www.zcars.org.uk/index.htm

LaserRacer · 08-28-2009, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scared2mosh

Thue. However, I would want it to be a good everyday fun car.... that can kill in both drag races and handling courses. Plus RWD is way more fun in the snow

You get one or the other... there are cars out there that are autocross machines, the Mini would be a great example... Then there are cars that are built for acceleration ( I dont mean 0-20 or 60 ft acceleration, Beacause again, the lightest car, or the one with really short gearing wins) I can't think of anything that really would be able to "kill" at both and still be a good daily...(unless you are dumb like me and actually think you could DD an Exige 240) You can have two of the three that you want... your best bet would be to look at what you can afford, then what you can/can't maintain, then what kind of driving you enjoy more.

RWD is fun in the snow until you actually have to get somewhere...then if you are driving a car that you really care about...and its one that can "kill" on the straights (meaning you likely have ultra-performance summer tires, because you cant afford to buy a second set of $1000+ tires for the winter) it can go from fun, to white knuckle "oh S*** I am not going to get enough to replace it when the insurance company cuts me a check" in about .1 seconds.

**scared2mosh** · 08-28-2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Phantom Mullet

These guys make a kit for the exact setup you're talking about.... and they have a variety of engine choices.

Looks like fun to me.

I would get something light and powerful... probably a turbo 4 banger or maybe a turbo V6...

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaserRacer

You get one or the other... You can have two of the three that you want... your best bet would be to look at what you can afford, then what you can/can't maintain, then what kind of driving you enjoy more.

Yeah I guess that's true...

Quote:

RWD is fun in the snow until you actually have to get somewhere...then if you are driving a car that you really care about...and its one that can "kill" on the straights (meaning you likely have ultra-performance summer tires, because you cant afford to buy a second set of $1000+ tires for the winter) it can go from fun, to white knuckle "oh S*** I am not going to get enough to replace it when the insurance company cuts me a check" in about .1 seconds.

Well I wouldn't drive it in the snow w/ ultra performance summer tires in the first place. If you want a quick everyday car (that would be good all year round) that can still accelerate really well the AWD really isn't that bad of an idea.