Pix of the Mini....

edit: oh yeah, welcome!

 

I can relate. I rode moto X and desert for years. The rush of winning or just racing seems irreplaceable. Bottom line is the time you miss away from your wife and kids is also irreplaceable.

Get a RZR

PS Post those mini pics

 

Thanks for the feedback. That's valuable perspective, luckylarry.

I'll try to post pics tonight after work. Except for being lowered and running the optional two-piece by BBS R90 wheels on the street, it looks pretty stock on the outside. I pulled 205hp at the wheels which is considerably better than JCWs do out of the box so I'm pretty happy.

I had a BMW M Coupe prior to the MINI and a Miata track rat prior to that. As one, then another, kid came along, I've just had less and less time to get to the track and the cost just gets harder and harder to justify.

I'd be into racing the RZR but there are pretty limited venues for that here in the East and only two classes. Pretty much "stock" and "open". ($$$) I help a buddy race wrench his NASA car and I like their Performance Touring structure. Would be neat to see something like that for SXSs.

 

I feel your pain. When I got my "weekend" car with midget seats in the back (911 C4s cab) I tried to rationalize that it would be a "family" weekend beach/coastal cruiser. Truth be told, I actually ride solo 99% of the time. That being said, having received the wife's blessing to go forward with purchasing a SXS AND a 170, we'll now be able to have fun as a family. Hope this helps.
________
GisseleVogue

 

Here's my story... 20 years or so ago I had a buggy.. trail rode with some friends and occasionally took my girlfriend. Prior to that, I raced enduros and harescrambles and the got a 4 wheeler and did some hare scrambles... all good.. time went on, I married that girlfiend, bought a Harley, had 1 kid and 1 on the way and sold the Harley.. when my son was about 5 I bought him a little dirtbike, then me a cheap atv, bike got stolen, sold the atv and him and I got another buggy and joined a club... since then I am on my 3rd rv ($800 for the first.lol) ... we built another buggy TOGETHER from the ground up, rebuilt a couple odysseys TOGETHER... he's had a couple different atvs or go cart type buggies and eventially moved up to an older YFZ450 (he's 14 now) and I have a Predator 500..we ride alot TOGETHER...
I recently sold the buggy and bought a RZR because I "THOUGHT" that my wife and daughter (now 10) would like to do what me and my son have done.... they were usually left behind or at least at camp and took an occasional ride.... well, I was right... they LOVE going, I we (my son and I) love having them enjoy a sport that we have in common.. It is great.. we have been riding more weekends than I can count... we have had a blast.. the only problem is that I can't drive the RZR as much as i want.... lol
The BIG thing is, we do it TOGETHER... the kids are only little for a short time... I want them to be WANT to be with me.... do it... it will be worth it... what do you have to loose... welcome to the forum !

 

Love what you have to say bug-e-dude, my daughters are 9 and 7 and I am recently getting into this sxs in hopes that we can at least have one hobby in common. I am a firm believer in 'buying memories' and if this rzr keeps communication lines open between me and my kids I say success has been accomplished.

 

Oh yeah....

 

nieghbors had a mini parked outside their house,while going past it in my rzr i noticed it was just about the same size!!!!!!!LOL

where at in pa are ya from?there is tri-county atv trails out by indiana pa/95 a year membership.rzr's allowed.

 

Still have my track car (it only goes straight:ride
I will tell you my family loves the RZR's. When we get home from a trip we are planning the next. Great family time for sure.

 

wow so many ways to go on this one.....
1. ok it's your wife ...she has asked for a rzr....enought said on that one....lol

2. time spent haveing fun with your family.....well worth it you race alone they stay home......thats a no brainer

3. you will have a blast going out all over ya race cars are fun but you will have ton's of storys riding plus the added new friends youll have.

4.did i say your wife wants one?.....lol

5. now the down side.... you think it will not be pricy...lol once you start modding youll never quit!!!!

6. oh the best part......your wife asked for one!.....lol

7. happy wife = happy husband

 

i agree with jc8...... except for #7...that does not apply if the wife is a redhead!!!opcorn:

 

Couldn't have said it better. If your wife wants one there should be no hesitation. This machine will surprise you with its capabilites. They are a load of fun for the whole family. I can tell you my GF loves riding /driving and wants one for herself.

 

ditto.......what they all say
especially johnnycat8's response, it's all true!
Get them young ones out, but your going to have hard time when the wife wants to take all the credit being her idea later on.......but that will make her even happier!
Good luck!

 

Thanks for all the feedback. Like I said, neither my wife nor I grew up motorcycles or ATVs so doing this as a family thing would be new to us. I got my quad when we bought this house a few years ago and I needed something to plow the driveway, etc.

thewyseone, I'm in Freedom, closer to Cranberry Twp. at intersection of 76 and 79. I'm about 15 miles from Mines and Meadows (and Beaver Run). There are many more places to go ride these things within a couple of hours than there are road courses, that's for sure. I wish I could keep both but... I don't like to finance "toys" like this and, although the wife likes the idea, she doesn't think we should plunder the kids' college funds. To boot, a trailer dealer about a mile from where I work has the exact trailer I'd need, in stock.

As promised, pics of the MINI:

and the track wheels:

On MINIs, the first three best mods are the "trinity": intake, exhaust and smaller supercharger pulley. I also did colder plugs, 400cc injectors, bigger, adjustable rear sway, lowered on TSW linear springs. The front brakes are from the 08+ (R56) Cooper S and are the same as the R53 JCW brakes, just not pretty red. I had it tuned by RMW MINI Works. It's a custom dyno tune and pulled 204, hot, on about the sixth run with less than great cooling. I have Schroth Quick Fit harnesses in it for driver and passenger. The street wheels are OEM optional wheels: R90s. They're made by BBS for MINI and are two-peice. The track wheel are TD 1.2s. If you happen to know anybody that's interested... I'll probably put it up for sale this weekend on Autotrader.com, etc. I had ordered camber plates and adjustable rear lower control arms but cancelled when we started talking about the RZR.

Oh yeah, of course, my wife wants the d@mn pink RZR.

 

Oh yeah, of course, my wife wants the d@mn pink RZR.

:scared2:NOW YOU HAVE TO DRAW THE LINE SOMEWHERE!

 

nice ride,i always thought the mini as being overprice,well at least in my eyes but and fond of its looks.i use to own a 73 superbeetle,till the wireing went.

 

btw,i'm near johnstown,1 mile off of route 22,about an hour or two away.

 

Another problem with this is that you can afford to buy the RZR for the wife if you sell your Mini. If she ever decides to let you ride it, can you afford to buy 2 of them? Can you say bye-bye BF 650i?
I bought a new RZR 2 weeks ago and said "I'm not going to sell my 2007 King Quad 700 because I like it and I'll still ride it". By the way, does anyone want to buy a 2007 King Quad 700 in great shape.

 

Stumpduster, I am drawing the line. I'm thinking black or red.

Ted, yeah, the M Coupe was a blast. It was, unfortunately, totalled. :sad: 100% my own stupid-driving-too-fast-on-the-street fault. It was the day after a Ferrari Club event in which they were short instructors and I was asked to fill in. I think it went to my head. The next day, I replaced brakes I'd cooked and took it for a spin to bed them in. At least insurance covered it since it was on the street and they gave me more than I paid for it.

It was an S52 motor, like your E36. I'd love to have one again someday (the Z4 M Coupe doesn't do it for me) with the S54 motor. I had a buddy with an E36 M3. His first experience on the track was in it. It's a great car for beginners and the more experience alike. Predictable, forgiving, communicative with lots of potential. Last time out, I was a second, maybe two, off the pace of a fully prepped Spec E30. I was happy about that.

As far as the Ranger goes, we liked those as well and I agree, 100%, they accomodate additional seating much better. However.... In this part of the country, going Class II limits your options a bit. Since the RZR is Class I, it can go anywhere my BF is allowed. I'm not ruling it out but... we don't have the wide open spaces you do. My wife was thinking, at eight, get my daughter an ATV and then we can put the boy in the passenger seat.

The wife even said, get an RZR now and... In a few years (when she goes back to work) I can get another track toy and build a detached garage. We have the space.

flyrccg, we actually talked dumping the car AND the quad and getting his and hers RZRs but... I need something to plow the driveway. The RZR is plenty capable but I end up doing a bunch of "snow management" at the bottom of the driveway as it is. (As in finding places to push it) The smaller footprint and turning radius of the quad helps in that respect. But... who knows.

 

Ted, yeah, the M Coupe was a blast. It was, unfortunately, totalled. :sad: 100% my own stupid-driving-too-fast-on-the-street fault. It was the day after a Ferrari Club event in which they were short instructors and I was asked to fill in. I think it went to my head. The next day, I replaced brakes I'd cooked and took it for a spin to bed them in. At least insurance covered it since it was on the street and they gave me more than I paid for it.

so is that where your username came from L8Apex?late apex?

opcorn:

 

Yeah, I've used it since I helped a friend who is an instructor with the Porsche club lay out some instructional materials to use for their driver education events. I have it on several forums. Not 100% applicable here but I can remember it.

 

Well... update.

About two months after posting the car for sale with, what I thought was a very reasonable price, I'd had absolutely no action. No emails, no calls, no nothing. I was thinkin', I might be keeping the MINI and waiting until spring when I get my bonus to buy a used RZR on the cheap, which honestly, would probably be just as cool. But... I got two calls within the last week and have somebody coming to look at the car tonight.

On top of that (this might all work out nicely) my parents have a 96 Nissan 200SX SE-R. My sister bought it new then sold it to them as a runner when she bought a new car and they offered her squat on the trade-in. I told my folks for the last few years, when they're done with it, I want it to make into a full-blown race car for road racing in SCCA or NASA. It's a very popular and competitive car in it's class. They just mentioned over the weekend they think they're about done with it.

So... if the MINI sells, the plan is to get a new RZR. I actually think I'll let my wife do the pink thing. I have a 6.5x12 utility trailer but I'd need a larger one to haul my quad *and* the RZR. I was going to get a larger open trailer but since a race car is a possibility in the near future, I think I'll buck up and get an 8.5x20 enclosed car hauler. That way, if I end up getting an RZR as well at some point, I can fit them nose to tail.

 

Well... update.

About two months after posting the car for sale with, what I thought was a very reasonable price, I'd had absolutely no action. No emails, no calls, no nothing. I was thinkin', I might be keeping the MINI and waiting until spring when I get my bonus to buy a used RZR on the cheap, which honestly, would probably be just as cool. But... I got two calls within the last week and have somebody coming to look at the car tonight.

On top of that (this might all work out nicely) my parents have a 96 Nissan 200SX SE-R. My sister bought it new then sold it to them as a runner when she bought a new car and they offered her squat on the trade-in. I told my folks for the last few years, when they're done with it, I want it to make into a full-blown race car for road racing in SCCA or NASA. It's a very popular and competitive car in it's class. They just mentioned over the weekend they think they're about done with it.

So... if the MINI sells, the plan is to get a new RZR. I actually think I'll let my wife do the pink thing. I have a 6.5x12 utility trailer but I'd need a larger one to haul my quad *and* the RZR. I was going to get a larger open trailer but since a race car is a possibility in the near future, I think I'll buck up and get an 8.5x20 enclosed car hauler. That way, if I end up getting an RZR as well at some point, I can fit them nose to tail.

Pink for yours or is she getting her own. I'd hate to see you get your man card revoked.:rofl3:

 

It's really for her and my daughter so... Doesn't bother me. I'll be riding the quad, at least for now. If I end up getting one, I'll get black or something...

 

You would be surprised how well the RZR plows the snow. It's done
everything I've asked of it and them some. Best buy I've made in
my life.

 

DUDE!

dump the mini, and get 2 RZR's!!

Lemme help some...

I am about 20 from mines and meadows! contact me about when you want to go ride in one! Id be happy to take you around those trails in both a standard 09 RZR or my new 2010 S.

 

Bye the way, RZR's are great family adventures!!

And its true, they are a little addictive!

 

good luck on the sale. you will love your new rzr!

 

Well, after four months and several serious lookers and one low-ball offer, I finally have a reasonable verbal agreement on the MINI. Honestly, I was going to pull the Autotrader ad this weekend and just keep it. I thought maybe I'd pick up a previously (ab)used RZR in the spring. As luck would have it, got the offer on the car last night.

The wife and I visited one of the local dealers who was recommended by a couple of folks here and got a quote for $10,890 (before taxes of 6% and $102 doc fees) on a 2010 Gold LE. No more 09s left but... at least the pink one is gone. I don't necessary need to get the absolute bottom price, just something that's fair to me and the seemingly very honest and highly recommended dealer. Sound good to you guys?

At least I got the MINI out to Watkins Glen a few weeks ago. One last track day before she's gone...