49 replies to this topic

[diogoteix]

Lol i knew i'd get a challenge for that. And most probably get burned later. Just irks me that a lot of mini owners think a STOCK classic mini is a performance machine.

But seriously i really think, a 90s civic type r would beat a mini cooper s (stock vs stock)

Or if you prefer new and expensive, i doubt that a classic mini cooper s would outperform a bini jcw gp

Top of my head
Vw golf r32
Focus st / rs (st is rated at 32mpg)
Civic si / type r
Fiesta st


Not sure if still an econobox
Evo
Sti

OK my classic mini is not stock at all (1380, 7 port, injected) but it states "Cooper S" on the trunk

And I had a lot of fun against a stock Bini JCW 2 days ago (the guy seemed a bit annoyed...)!

The power/weight ratio for a JCW is 210HP for 1450kg for 210HP (6,9kg/HP) against 750KG for 115HP (6,5kg/HP) for my "classic mini"...

All right, I'm pretty sure he would beat me in a proper track race though!

[adam_93rio]

When you are talking about not understanding why people lower road cars. Making them slower round corners and having to drive carefully etc and having a general moan. You then talk about modern cars out performing them etc

Following up in what you put about being a 'mini doc' and only giving out safe advice and suggestions: it sounds to me like you're talking about street racing. Trying to make a car that is able to out perform other cars on the road.

The roads aren't there for racing, other cars aren't there for proving that your car can out perform, it's a road car. As you have stated so many times.

I've read through this exact same argument on this forum so many times.
You might not be able to understand why people like that, and fair play that you recognise they are entitled to have their car the way they want. But to put it bluntly (and honestly) it sounds like you never stop moaning.

My plans are to put the supercharged 1330 in my ratty old mini, remove the baffles from my bike tailpipe, lower it about 2" further and tuck the wheels so far I have limited lock. Then drive round as many mini shows as possible as if it were a 500 kilo steel F U to all the people that will be laughed at when they give so much of a ******* about how my car looks

Enjoy

Edited by adam_93rio, 17 December 2013 - 07:28 PM.

[Ro8bieg]

You legend about time someone said it lol

[adam_93rio]

You legend about time someone said it lol

Your welcome

[Fast Ivan]

edit

Edited by Rob Mac, 17 December 2013 - 08:13 PM.

[adam_93rio]

edit

Erm? Which censor is that?

[Cooperman]

Maybe I'm on the wrong forum then.

Would you prefer it if I went away?

[Fast Ivan]

Maybe I'm on the wrong forum then.
Would you prefer it if I went away?

I for one would rather you didn't go away

[Cooperman]

I think 'adam... ' would like it though.

He is p****d off because he posted what might have been taken as advice and didn't like it when told not to do it. If he wants to drive around in an unsafe car then that's his business, but it must not be advocated on here. 'Tiger' went into more detail as to the perils of advocating unsafe modifications and he is quite right.

 

However, if others do feel the same way, then I, and others like Clive (Tamworthbay), Dave (Kernow) and 'Tiger' are all wasting our time here on some owners who can't or don't want to see that we are required to only give safe advice. We cannot and must not just ignore unsafe engineering issues, even if an owner says he will only drive it very slowly.

 

Quite a few come on here asking for help with defining gearing for specific applications, asking for help with wiring, asking for suggestions about how to best improve an engine to make it better for general driving, or even those who want to use their cars in competition.

 

All us 'Mini Docs' do try our best to help. I sometimes wonder why we bother. 

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

This is well funny. Tell you what though, i'd prefer to drive about with out bump stops, rather than 3 nuts holding a wheel on.

[amr27]

My mini has 13/7'' wheels, lowered, bucket seats, just everything you can think of that "looks good"
This was the way I bought the car and after driving my grand fathers 1990 mini Mayfair which is completely standard in every way.
I'd have the standard one any day as far as handling and comfort it concerned.
But sure different things make different people tick!

[adam_93rio]

This is well funny. Tell you what though, i'd prefer to drive about with out bump stops, rather than 3 nuts holding a wheel on.

I'm glad someone agrees, the word hypocrite comes to mind.
The O/P asked of there were different dampers available. The normal answer, and the answer I'm sure anyone would be looking for is "yes" then perhaps provide a link to said dampers.
Instead the first words there were basically telling him his car isn't ideal.
Then goes on to say that the dampers should be set hard to stop the suspension bottoming out. Setting the suspension hard would cause the car to skit across the road when cornering, hitting bump and dips in the road etc. especially when it's wet or icy. Surely this advice to someone simply asking for information on shorter dampers is down right dangerous. Yet because it says mini docs under your username you must be completely correct, 'tiger' does have a valid point that it may come to a court case etc for bad information or advice given. But if I went out to my car and stiffened my suspension up (right before winter I might add) and then wrapped my car round a tree, it'd be the forum members or even the forum itself being taken to court.

A sinple quick and easy 'yes, shorter dampers are available' is all that was required. But because you know he's got a lowered car you just have to throw on your opinion as well.
I got my mini at 74,000 miles 5 years ago. It's not done over 105,000 miles and I've been progressively modifying it to be lower over this time period. NOT ONCE have I had a major problem as a result of lowering my car. Nothing more than breaking an exhaust clamp or getting stuck on a curb. People lower their cars because they like the look, times move on and car scenes change. If somebody goes outside and lowers their car then don't notice a difference when they drive it and adapt to that then they don't deserve to be driving. But you can't just assume that every lowered car is dangerous nor that it is driven in a dangerous way.

[Tamworthbay]

This is well funny. Tell you what though, i'd prefer to drive about with out bump stops, rather than 3 nuts holding a wheel on.

I'm glad someone agrees, the word hypocrite comes to mind.
The O/P asked of there were different dampers available. The normal answer, and the answer I'm sure anyone would be looking for is "yes" then perhaps provide a link to said dampers.
Instead the first words there were basically telling him his car isn't ideal.
Then goes on to say that the dampers should be set hard to stop the suspension bottoming out. Setting the suspension hard would cause the car to skit across the road when cornering, hitting bump and dips in the road etc. especially when it's wet or icy. Surely this advice to someone simply asking for information on shorter dampers is down right dangerous. Yet because it says mini docs under your username you must be completely correct, 'tiger' does have a valid point that it may come to a court case etc for bad information or advice given. But if I went out to my car and stiffened my suspension up (right before winter I might add) and then wrapped my car round a tree, it'd be the forum members or even the forum itself being taken to court.
A sinple quick and easy 'yes, shorter dampers are available' is all that was required. But because you know he's got a lowered car you just have to throw on your opinion as well.
I got my mini at 74,000 miles 5 years ago. It's not done over 105,000 miles and I've been progressively modifying it to be lower over this time period. NOT ONCE have I had a major problem as a result of lowering my car. Nothing more than breaking an exhaust clamp or getting stuck on a curb. People lower their cars because they like the look, times move on and car scenes change. If somebody goes outside and lowers their car then don't notice a difference when they drive it and adapt to that then they don't deserve to be driving. But you can't just assume that every lowered car is dangerous nor that it is driven in a dangerous way.

The point you seem to miss is that Cooperman's opinions are not based on 'I think it would make it skit across the road', they are based on years of Motorsport experience and 100s of thousands of road miles. The reason he mentions things he did is to show that no one is perfect. It is a simple case of explaining what is safe, whether you choose to do it or not is up to you but there is no reason to ******* someone off for it. And if you advise someone to do something potentially dangerous then you should think about how you will feel if that advice leads to an injury or, god forbid, death to themselves or an innocent bystander. And to do something potentially dangerous just to 'look good' is understandably beyond the comprehension of many on here, not just Cooperman.

[Cooperman]

I do sometimes wonder why we bother Clive.

We spend our time trying to help people with their classic cars and then, when we tell the truth we are accused of being hypocrites for doing so.

And this by individuals with little or no formal engineering qualifications, or so it would appear judging by what they consider safe engineering. Are they always this ignorant or are they making a special effort in this instance?

The way to lower a Mini is to re-position the front sub-frame to sit higher inside the body-shell. It's not that difficult and doing it this way preserves the suspension geometry and travel, the bump stops stay the same and it is safe.

To lower the car and remove the bump stops really is a 'modification too far' from a safe engineering standpoint and must not be advocated on here.

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

Are miglias lowered