313 replies to this topic

[1987_ParkLane]

Again another sterotypical person, not everyone under 25 is a 'BOY RACER' I hate this term. I agree that some people do over modify cars, and minis too, but saying that adding something such as an exhaust, turbo or whaterver is madness, I think thats wrong. Everyone likes to have their car look orignal or done up or cheesy or whatever but there is no need to say that their choices are stupid, its just how they want their cars.

I love my mini to bits, and to be honest, I would rather spend £200 a month on it rather than drugs and booze, I would rather have something to show for that £200.

And by the way my premuim is massive to start of with, with just a 900cc Fiat Cinquecento that is standard, so increasing it for stupid things would probably yake people off the road, and put them into drugs and booze because they don't have anything to spend their money on.

AND BREATHE

[ZED]

how did we get onto the education system? back in the day we didn't have computers with auto spell correction. We didn't have computer games, we had 3 channels on the tv and it all switched off before midnight.

I remember being bored ** as a kid, thank god for music

was it really better back then?

sorry its off topic but everyone can do what they want with their own car

[1984mini25]

Well I’ll throw a spanner in the works; I’m 23 and own two minis, a 25 witch I’ve owned for nearly 4 years and a Mayfair for just over a year.

The 25 has been kept and restored to as original and standard as possible, but the Mayfair well the only thing that’s left original is........... ermm.......... Nope can’t think of anything… as it’s now got a 2 piece steel removable/flip front, been converted to mk1 hinges and sliding windows, has group 2 arches with 12” wellers, lowered suspension, mk2 rear lights, mk1 boot lid, lots of retro chrome, a retro look dash, re-upholstered standard seats and door cards but in a retro style, and once built a 998/1275hybrid with a stupid centre exit exhaust.

Why, well I like the 25 being standard and for what it is, the Mayfair was pretty rotten and missing a few items (like an engine) when I got hold of it and I quite enjoy (most of the time) the restoration/working on minis and cars in general and like the fact I’m building my car to my tastes for me.

[Down&Out]

i'm just going to say my opinion here. all people under 25 who modify their cars (me being one of them) are not chavvy boy racers who drive like arses down a backstreet at 3 in the morning with n'dubz blaring out of their million inch sub.

i, myself, am a fan of all things retro. so i'm currently kitting my 80s mayfair out with some 60s/70s stuff. so does this mean i should pay a billion pounds just to fit this?, and yes i am slightly tuning the engine, but that doesnt mean im going to think im a rally driver and drive like a loon.

as for the comment about sound systems, its just a known fact. us "youth" like our music. its pretty much set in stone. so fitting a good sound system is not a crime. its not going to make your car go any faster, so i dont see why anyone should be charged for fitting one.

oh, and im 15 by the way.

Edited by Jonnuss, 20 February 2009 - 08:51 PM.

[1987_ParkLane]

i'm just going to say my opinion here. all people under 25 who modify their cars (me being one of them) are not chavvy boy racers who drive like arses down a backstreet at 3 in the morning with n'dubz blaring out of their million inch sub.

i, myself, am a fan of all things retro. so i'm currently kitting my 80s mayfair out with some 60s/70s stuff. so does this mean i should pay a billion pounds just to fit this?, and yes i am slightly tuning the engine, but that doesnt mean im going to think im a rally driver and drive like a loon.

as for the comment about sound systems, its just a known fact. us "youth" like our music. its pretty much set in stone. so fitting a good sound system is not a crime. its not going to make your car go any faster, so i dont see why anyone should be charged for fitting one.

oh, and im 15 by the way.

Some good words man, and from someone your age, and well done for keeping another mini in the scene .

[monkey]

Wow so much to write so little time!!! Iv got a few points to get across so i will just start typing.

Right, im 23, i currently own my second mini, which is sat rusting on my driveway. I intend to start a nut and bolt ground up re-build, probably modifying it along the way. If i dont do this, this mini may end up on a scrap heap, and another mini of the road.

there are a few reasons why i want to modify it, partly because i can, partly because i want to learn new skills, and so i can say "Look at what I have made!!"

I have midly modified previouse cars that i have owned. I have removed bits, put bits on, smoothed bits, cut bumpers from other cars up and made them fit my car. I would love to try and fit a rover V8 in the back of a mini, partly becuase i love the engineering side of things - problem solving.

If everything in life was the same, live wouold be very boring in my opinion.

You want to know why people mod cars, here are my reasons...

I can, its a hobby, keeps me busy and out of the other halfs way. Gives me some satisfaction, makes my car personal.

Im hoping that people can educate me here - what constitutes a dangerous modification? The only thing people seem to refer to is cut down springs, what other dangerous mods are there that people do?

[1987_ParkLane]

Wow so much to write so little time!!! Iv got a few points to get across so i will just start typing.

Right, im 23, i currently own my second mini, which is sat rusting on my driveway. I intend to start a nut and bolt ground up re-build, probably modifying it along the way. If i dont do this, this mini may end up on a scrap heap, and another mini of the road.

there are a few reasons why i want to modify it, partly because i can, partly because i want to learn new skills, and so i can say "Look at what I have made!!"

I have midly modified previouse cars that i have owned. I have removed bits, put bits on, smoothed bits, cut bumpers from other cars up and made them fit my car. I would love to try and fit a rover V8 in the back of a mini, partly becuase i love the engineering side of things - problem solving.

If everything in life was the same, live wouold be very boring in my opinion.

You want to know why people mod cars, here are my reasons...

I can, its a hobby, keeps me busy and out of the other halfs way. Gives me some satisfaction, makes my car personal.

Im hoping that people can educate me here - what constitutes a dangerous modification? The only thing people seem to refer to is cut down springs, what other dangerous mods are there that people do?

Some really good points there, just how I feel too.

[brad88]

woah this was on 5 pages when i came off here about 2 hours ago!! lol
some really good points being made but just a little one to mini-mad-craig i did actually come from corsasport to here after buying a mini and i did have a modified corsa! and didnt really know much about minis's (i knew a lot about there past etc and was always very much into them!) but that doesnt mean im going to go around 'bodging' my mini infact i think my corsa was one of the more different ones around and i did it very tastefully imo, heres a pic:-
(im not meaning to have a dig mate as i know how stereotypical a corsa is but they arent all bad)

[Minigirl]

i'm 27 ive had minis in my family since i was a little girl 3 of which were completly standard (a van, pickup and cooper) when i passed my driving test my first car was a mini an 87 city that was completely standard - the first thing i wanted to do was make it mine and customise it..bought it bucket seats, new exhaust, bonnet stripes, new wheels etc and i loved it more than i ever imagined you could love a car

my second mini - the one i own now is a le but has been taken away from standard not by me although i've added my own personal touches to it too

i do agree probably some of the nicest minis ive seen are the original ones like they left the factory. but then the mini is a fun car, it's a hobby more than anything and there's nothing wrong with making one unique to how you want it - something you can't do with most other cars on the road other than put in some furry dice and fluffy pink seat covers

i think the shows would be a bit boring after a while if every mini there was just as it was made. most of all minis were made to be enjoyed and people are never going to stop modifying them no matter how rare they are. it's just always nice to see another being kept on the road

Edited by Minigirl, 20 February 2009 - 09:22 PM.

[Mart8V]

Cooper, Janspeed, Speedwell, Downton, Vizard etc. Bloody boy racers. Will ruin this new Minor- looks like quite a good car, otherwise! Excellent transport for the district nurse.........

[WillMini]

didn't read the whole thing, but people should make a car their own, not everyone's going to like it, but if the owner of the car likes it than who cars. And look at all the ugly/ dangerous modifications that were available back in the day, its no different now. same soup different noodles. I see NOTHING wrong with engine conversions. making a car faster and more efficient isn't a problem in my books.

[mini_mad69]

Ok the original question was why do people modify Mini's. All be it put rather insulting and rudly.

Il use my car as an example:

Alloy wheels: Original alloys were un economical to repair and better/wider replacments were cheaper and gave better aesthetics.
Tyres: Better tyres, for increased braking, handling and last longer.
Seats: More comfy, look better, more support.
Engine: More power, and better overtaking safety.
Exhaust: Because I prefer the noise it makes and it was cheaper than an original replacment part.
Sound system: I like my music, my hobbies are my car and my music, so why not enjoy both at the same time. Also was safer to mount the New cd player in the centre of the dash than leaning over to reach the slide FM radio originally fitted.
Dash: I can now hold things in a glovebox, mount my CD player in a safer more accesible place, I can have extra dials to give me better infomation on my car's health.
Blue illuminated dials: Better aesthetics and more visible dials at night.
Custom interior lights: Give the car a quirky touch, also make the car feel warmer and cosier at night.
Harness': Ive seen seatbelt burns from friends in accidents, no thanks.
Alarm/ immobilisor: Better security from scum who want my car.
Smoothed in A panels too A pillar: Stop water collecting and rust.
Clock: To see the time.


And finally tomorrow(I mean saturday) im fitting my roll cage. It's alot about looks i'll admit, but also a bit of peace of mind if I was T-boned is nice. Also in the event of a roll over Im better off I think. I have bucket seats and harness' before anyone starts too have a go at me, or refers me to the road cars with cages thread.
Overall I like to modify my car, because it's my hobby, I realy do like to challenge my skills and come up with something innovative.
Stand out from the crowd, and I feel my car reflects me a little.

Oh and those remarks on the british education system were a bit childish and you were the one who said you wanted a good debate and your just having A "dig" as you said yourself you didn't want too in your original post Mr Disco.



Ben

[mike.]

Modifying cars is nothing about the younger races ruining things. If anything, you 'older' cars owners have started us doing it by modifying cars when you were young. We certainly didn't come up with the idea of engine tuning or fitting different wheels and arches did we? We've got that from seeing the outcomes of previous generations and wanting to do our our take on out cars.

The way i see it is: You can't blame one generation for doing something that your generation started! (i.e car modifying) Maybe if everybody in your generation just bought a standard car (or anything really for that matter), kept it standard for ever and everything was just generally boring and similar; then yeah, i'd say you could have a leg to stand on in this debate. But otherwise, just because you have for whatever reason stopped modifying cars and prefer them being standard or restored to standard spec nowadays doesn't mean you can have a go and say other people are spoiling all the standard ones.

I know i wouldn't have even considered a mini if i hadn't seen the range of different styles and customisations people do to them. If i'd of seen 100 minis in magazines or at shows, all standard, all the same and all boring i would have just bought something else.

If you want a standard mini - Make it standard. If somebody else wants to modify them as far as possible from standard spec - Let them. Its theirs to do what they want with.

Also the thing about making insurance premiums super high for any non standard cars - That is ridiculous. Not all mods make the cars worse or dangerous. Infact most are about making the car better!

[level7]

I'm 22, and personally I would rather restore then modify. If I was to modify I would probably use period modifications, or make the original more reliable so I was able to use it on a daily basis.
I don't personally understand the need for 10 speakers in a car, especially a small one like a mini, and it's impressive the first time someone puts in a motorbike engine or what have yu, but I'm bored of that now.
Maybe I'm a minority?

also isn't there already a high mark up for aftermarket modifications etc.?

I agree that it is impressive to see a motorbike engine in a mini. Note the "A" emphasis!! ! !

You must know the type though? Massive body kits on a mini lowered so much it is unable to go over even the smallest bump in the road, an exhast large enough to insert a small toddler in... get the idea??

Hi Dan what part of NZ are you in?? Im in the south island there are heaps of minis down hear, I know of 1 guy down south whom has over 20 vans, 12 pickups, 3 mokes, 15 riley elfs and a few wolseley hornets (all for sale), I know of anothe guy local to me whom has around 15 minis of different types including coopers, I pesonally have a mk1 2 vans and 3 riley elfs, there are at least 7 late model injected minis on the road around Christchurch. There are minis all over NZ just most of them are hidden, you have to dig around a bit because there are quite a few cars that still have low Ks hidden in sheds all over, I know of 2 1959 minis with low Ks and reasonably complete down here in the south island.

[Lukie-J]

Tried to reply about 5 pages ago but computer crashed!
Havn't had a chance to read the whole thread, so don't know if it's been said before.
If us "boy racers" modify our cars, it makes your original minis more rare.
Things that are rare, generally worth more money!
DiscoDan, in your original thread you mentioned putting a vtec in a mini isn't really what being a classic car enthusiast is all about,
but you can be a mini enthusiast without having to be a classic car enthusiast.
Some people love the shape but not the engine, vtec is a good compromise!
Some older minis are classic cars, but i wouldn't class my 1991 as a classic, so i don't see that i'm "ruining a classic" when i put on my revo's and wide arches!
A mini is more than just a car, many are an expression of the person behind the wheel.