Car lovers?

I like the Jag F-Type. A guy can dream.

if anyone wants to see a bunch of pics of the new VW Golf and GTI - check here.

As a 2007 GTI owner...those look classy. Hopefully the 2018 models look just as good when I'm back in the car buying market.

Any Mini Cooper drivers around?

I'm looking at this. It's a little older, but seems well equipped. Anyone had a Mini for this long? What kind of maintenance items should I watch out for?

Any pointers?

My brother in law has one from the first year they were made, he bought it new. He hasn't had any major mechanical problems, but lots of minor ones. Power windows/locks stop working, lights, wipers etc, seems to me like the electrical just may age quickly.

Finally upgraded my 2000 Solara to something with 4 doors.. you know, for the family. Here's my new baby! 2013 Audi A6
IMAGE(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2gVcvyL987o/UGpiodDA1jI/AAAAAAABesQ/uzKBufi2YxI/s640/001.JPG)

And the "it wants to growl at you" shot.. (Note, not my parking job, that's how they had it at the dealer.)
IMAGE(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oWuGnkUboTg/UGpipBkxH3I/AAAAAAABesY/kzZqYhlKYxM/s640/003.JPG)

Hoping the maintenance over time isn't going to be as high as everyone's warning me about, but still prepared for it!

Johnvanjim wrote:

Finally upgraded my 2000 Solara to something with 4 doors.. you know, for the family. Here's my new baby! 2013 Audi A6

Hoping the maintenance over time isn't going to be as high as everyone's warning me about, but still prepared for it!

Wow! That's awesome and a good color too. Isn't maintenance included? Audi Advantage?

Saying goodbye to the old Lexus today.

IMAGE(http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg593/scaled.php?server=593&filename=imagedqe.jpg&res=landing)

It was replaced early this year, but we kept it for me to use as a commuter car for a while. It has some troubles, but still has some life left in it for the people who bought it from us. The odometer rolled past 290,000 miles last week (It had just under 100K when we bought it). It pretty much cemented my faith in Toyota motors, the car that the Lexus replaced was a 96 Avalon that had 310,000 miles on it when we sold it - it's still on the road as well.

Lester_King wrote:

Any Mini Cooper drivers around?

I'm looking at this. It's a little older, but seems well equipped. Anyone had a Mini for this long? What kind of maintenance items should I watch out for?

Any pointers?

I think Paleocon and AnimeJ both have one. I have heard of electrical gremlins on the first couple of model years.

I've got a MINI; mine's an 06 though. I've had a few bug-a-boos with mine, but most seem like they're on the previous owner, probably not running the right fuel or not taking care of it. Beyond that, it's been a dream for the 10 months I've been driving it.

I'm curious, what sort of head/legroom do Minis have? They are pretty much my wife's dream car, but I fear I would feel like a circus clown folding myself into one. I do really dig the new all4 model, though. I don't know if Wife would let me drive it like this, though.

IMAGE(http://www.ausmotive.com/images2/MINI-All4-Racing-test-02.jpg)

fleabagmatt wrote:

I'm curious, what sort of head/legroom do Minis have? They are pretty much my wife's dream car, but I fear I would feel like a circus clown folding myself into one. I do really dig the new all4 model, though. I don't know if Wife would let me drive it like this, though.

They have surprisingly a decent amount. I sat in one and didn't feel cramped, and I'm 6'1".

When I bought my last car, I decided that I wanted a manual transmission. No idea why I wanted it, I just did. The only problem? I had no idea how to drive a stickshift!
Fortunately, my mother does know, and she lives a scant 89 miles south (We're in Texas... that's practically next door). She graciously drove up and helped me test drive the car, then taught me how to drive a manual. All in one day!
Now I'm the proud owner of a 2002 Honda Accord in this beautiful deep blue color.
And now, after having driven the car for 2+ years, I can definitively say that manual transmission was the right way to go! There are so many open country roads out here, and since I don't live in West Texas, they are chock full of bends, hills, valleys, and few police

For anyone who lives near Austin and wants a great driving road, take Ranch to Market Road 473 between HW 281 and Comfort. Massive, massive fun.

MannishBoy wrote:
fleabagmatt wrote:

I'm curious, what sort of head/legroom do Minis have? They are pretty much my wife's dream car, but I fear I would feel like a circus clown folding myself into one. I do really dig the new all4 model, though. I don't know if Wife would let me drive it like this, though.

They have surprisingly a decent amount. I sat in one and didn't feel cramped, and I'm 6'1".

Yea, this. I'm 6' on the nose and weigh in at 220lbs; I have plenty of room on all sides in my car.

fleabagmatt wrote:

I don't know if Wife would let me drive it like this, though.

IMAGE(http://www.ausmotive.com/images2/MINI-All4-Racing-test-02.jpg)

Interesting thing about the Dakar Minis is they are not even vaguely based on Mini hardware. They are re-bodied BMW X-5 Dakar SUVs. It is my understanding that for at least some of them, the individual cars competed as X-5s before having the body panels swapped to the Mini look, and going back to compete again as Minis.
IMAGE(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/7058490973_dfd0755608_z.jpg)

AnimeJ wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:
fleabagmatt wrote:

I'm curious, what sort of head/legroom do Minis have? They are pretty much my wife's dream car, but I fear I would feel like a circus clown folding myself into one. I do really dig the new all4 model, though. I don't know if Wife would let me drive it like this, though.

They have surprisingly a decent amount. I sat in one and didn't feel cramped, and I'm 6'1".

Yea, this. I'm 6' on the nose and weigh in at 220lbs; I have plenty of room on all sides in my car.

I'll have to try sitting in one some day. I'm a bit bigger than both of you, though, at 6'6" and heavy. When car shopping my number one criteria tends to be "Can I sit in it without my knees touching the dash."

ElectricPi wrote:
fleabagmatt wrote:

I don't know if Wife would let me drive it like this, though.

IMAGE(http://www.ausmotive.com/images2/MINI-All4-Racing-test-02.jpg)

Interesting thing about the Dakar Minis is they are not even vaguely based on Mini hardware. They are re-bodied BMW X-5 Dakar SUVs. It is my understanding that for at least some of them, the individual cars competed as X-5s before having the body panels swapped to the Mini look, and going back to compete again as Minis.
IMAGE(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/7058490973_dfd0755608_z.jpg)

I'm not sure that's a Dakar Mini, looks more like a WRC, but I'm open to correction.

Interesting nugget that though. I know Dakar vehicles aren't really related to the cars they claim to be, but the X5/Mini link is interesting.

ibdoomed wrote:
Johnvanjim wrote:

Finally upgraded my 2000 Solara to something with 4 doors.. you know, for the family. Here's my new baby! 2013 Audi A6

Hoping the maintenance over time isn't going to be as high as everyone's warning me about, but still prepared for it!

Wow! That's awesome and a good color too. Isn't maintenance included? Audi Advantage?

Thanks! The first oil change came included with the purchase, there was an option to pre-purchase all the regularly scheduled maintenance (at a discount), but I didn't go with that. Hindsight being what it is, I probably should have.

Johnvanjim wrote:
ibdoomed wrote:
Johnvanjim wrote:

Finally upgraded my 2000 Solara to something with 4 doors.. you know, for the family. Here's my new baby! 2013 Audi A6

Hoping the maintenance over time isn't going to be as high as everyone's warning me about, but still prepared for it!

Wow! That's awesome and a good color too. Isn't maintenance included? Audi Advantage?

Thanks! The first oil change came included with the purchase, there was an option to pre-purchase all the regularly scheduled maintenance (at a discount), but I didn't go with that. Hindsight being what it is, I probably should have.

I have had 6 audis, including some that were 'notoriously bad' for service (2001 s4), and have never had more than usual maintenance. I also do not typically baby these cars, they are usually modified (lower, louder, faster) without issue.

fleabagmatt - One of my best friends is taller than you, and he loved his Mini until he traded it in on a family car.

Mudderfudder77 here, actually. Not sure he reads this thread.

fleabagmatt wrote:
AnimeJ wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:
fleabagmatt wrote:

I'm curious, what sort of head/legroom do Minis have? They are pretty much my wife's dream car, but I fear I would feel like a circus clown folding myself into one. I do really dig the new all4 model, though. I don't know if Wife would let me drive it like this, though.

They have surprisingly a decent amount. I sat in one and didn't feel cramped, and I'm 6'1".

Yea, this. I'm 6' on the nose and weigh in at 220lbs; I have plenty of room on all sides in my car.

I'll have to try sitting in one some day. I'm a bit bigger than both of you, though, at 6'6" and heavy. When car shopping my number one criteria tends to be "Can I sit in it without my knees touching the dash."

I have the seat about halfway up and am fine, but going out and sitting in one is the way to go. If there's a Carmax nearby, see if they have one on the lot and go take it for a spin; easy way to test drive one and have it be low-threat. I did it and even told the salesperson that I wasn't looking to buy at that time, but wanted to check one out and they were cool with it.

MrDeVil909 wrote:
ElectricPi wrote:
fleabagmatt wrote:

I don't know if Wife would let me drive it like this, though.

IMAGE(http://www.ausmotive.com/images2/MINI-All4-Racing-test-02.jpg)

Interesting thing about the Dakar Minis is they are not even vaguely based on Mini hardware. They are re-bodied BMW X-5 Dakar SUVs. It is my understanding that for at least some of them, the individual cars competed as X-5s before having the body panels swapped to the Mini look, and going back to compete again as Minis.
IMAGE(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/7058490973_dfd0755608_z.jpg)

I'm not sure that's a Dakar Mini, looks more like a WRC, but I'm open to correction.

Interesting nugget that though. I know Dakar vehicles aren't really related to the cars they claim to be, but the X5/Mini link is interesting.

I would say that is definitely a Dakar Mini. The 3 giveaways for me are 1)the full width roof scoop with a smaller roof scoop in the middle. 2) The rear window scoop visible on the drivers side above the rear window, and 3) the filename "MINI-All4-Racing-test-02.jpg" All4 racing is their Dakar team.
You can see the first two features on the X5 I posted.

My understanding is that the Dakar MINI's are based on the Countryman, which has very little to do with the X5.

Switchbreak linked me this.

To be fair, I'm finding it harder and harder to tell the difference between a MINI and an X5/X3 anymore...

Mini's are still a LOT smaller.

As James May said about the Countryman: "It says 'MINI'... so it must be true."

Well, yea, it's got a much longer wheelbase than the MINI. But when you consider that the wheelbase on the mini is roughly equivalent to my inseam, that's not saying much.

I really like the Countryman and I am thinking about finally getting rid of my 7 Series to get one.