they say I might not be able to take delivery until January due to being so deeply backordered.

[ 09-11-2005: Message edited by: WillyTrombone ]

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~A (this post brought to you by half-bowl,-inc.)

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Minis (the old ones) are great fun to drive - wheel at each corner. I've never driven the new ones though. Have fun!!!

I used to read about modified Minis, people did amazing thinqs with them such as the Twini Mini which has an engine in the front AND the back. When you add spacers, trim the wheel arches and put on stiffer shocks you could get some pretty big rims and wide rubber on. Such a small car with that much rubber ensured you stick to the road....more than they do already. I had a 1/2 conversion but because I needed a car to drive I had to get rid of it. I replaced the 998cc engine with a 1275cc, put on a sweet exhaust system (for performance, not noise) and upgraded the brakes using Metro Turbo vented disks and Mini Cooper calipers. The idea was that the thing would go so fast that the original brake drums would need to be replaced but in practice I never got that far. I wish I could do that again and finish it.

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nuj - I'll try

Max - Here, they just have the Cooper and the S, both powered by a 1.6L built in brazil as a joint venture between BMW and Daimler-Chrysler. The base model puts out 115 hp and the S model supercharges it to get about 165. The new minis are surprisingly large inside. They come with 16x6.5 inch rims, with 17- and 18x7 available, as well, but I'll go aftermarket for some 16x7.5's most likely. The wheelbase splits the difference between the Miata and Neon, and is the same as my current car (a 92 Plymouth AP body -- same as the Dodge Shadow), and according to the Mini company, these things will cofortably seat someone up to 6'8 or 6'9. It's just as comfortable for me as a Dodge Magnum. Of course, I couldn't fit any legged person behind me, but that's true in most cars.

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