313 replies to this topic

[miniallsort]

in all fairness here, why not let people modify or restore to their hearts content, the main point is that the cars are still on the road. thats why the mini is so well loved it appeals to young & old, rich & poor. if people start to make a divide between restored and modified the entire marque won't last. people have mdified the mini from day one, changing wheels and engines etc.
each to their own I say

what he said ^^^^^^^^^

[Disco Dan]

I don't really see what you have to gain by starting this topic apart from quite a few arguments. Some might be offended with the suggestion that they have 'ruined' or 'mutilated' their cars.

That is the intention - to insult people who have modified their cars, I want them to tell me why. I want to understand. I have a much better picture now, but will keep reading!!!

Your intention is to insult people? Is this because they are faster than you? Their Mini's look nicer than yours? Their Mini gets more attention than yours?

We shouldn't have to explain ourselves to anybody, especially not somebody that has no interest in listening to peoples reasons. Starting a topic to simply insult people is very petty and childish.

Very opinionated MTM !

If you do not wish to explain then you are not obligated to post are you?

As I said in my original post, I simply wanted to learn more about why the majority of young people feel they have to modify their cars...

Heck my own mini has modifications!

Please keep your extreme negative comments to yourself for the sake of a clean thread!

Learning, sharing and understanding are the key points - not insults!

[chappy]

as said, its all down to personal taste.

i have a bog standard 998cc 92' City, i have plans, but they're not happening untill i have everything safe. take this monday just gone, i was on a country lane and my lights went out. why? because the switch decided to just die on me. did i know it was going to happen? no... i have no mods on my car at the moment, yet my car was still a danger to other people on that road at that point.

uprated brakes are a mod... but they're not a danger, if anything it'd make it safer.

speakers in a car they're not a danger... except for the ears of the person listening.


why the big exhausts and body kits?

some people like the look, some people like the noise, some people like the attention.


I think the answer to the question of why... is simply because they can.

as said, its not just the 'young'uns'

there's a mag in the UK (i dont know if you have it there) called 'max power'

in the mag, they modify skylines and imprezas down to corsas and micras. they go on cruises and happily burn 40quids worth of rubber in morrisons car park. why? well... partly because they can, partly theres women in few or very small clothes that think its cool. but some of the guys in there are 40+ (not that thats old)

its down to taste, money, and i guess a culture.

i'd like to mod my mini, put a 1340 in it... but i wouldn't have that with standard brakes, i'd make it safe.


but lets face it.. the mini has 50 year old technology, its never going to be safe compared to the renault megan's and such like, with 15 airbags and rounded bumper technology to give a pedestrian 30% more chance of surviving being knocked down. simple as.

Edited by chappy, 20 February 2009 - 03:21 PM.

[Mini_the_Minx]

But did you not just say your intention was to insult people?

[mini_turbo_pete]

Well i've been modifying minis since i got my first one at the age of 14, i'm 30 now. I see nothing wrong with modifying a mini or any other car, some of the mods people do are good whilst others are *melon* but thats my opinion on them.

I like to modify my cars to stand out, i like to make my cars different from other peoples, at the end of the day would you go out and buy all the same clothes as all your mates so you all go out wearing the same? no you wouldn't because you like to be individual.

I spent a few years working for a company restoring porsches, we specialised in 356 restoration, they are a lot rarer and a hell of a lot more expensive than a mini but people still want them modified because they want some individuality.

The majority of modifications to minis and other cars can be reversed and put back to standard.

My Mini is turbo'd it's fast, it's low, it's loud, it's got custom paintwork, it reflects me i like to stand out in a crowd, some people like it whilst other probably hate it but if the car wasn't like that it wouldn't suit me.

[Disco Dan]

Well I'm 20 my Mini is on steels the engine standard I have no stereo and my interior is original the only none original additions are some grill buttons I added. It does have special arches (fitted by the last owner) but these will be going very soon.
But if it was still my daily drive I probably would of added some modifications to make it a bit easier to live with as much as I love the car it leaves a fair bit to be desired comfort wise on a long journey.

Some modifications I look at and they aren't to my taste but it's not my Mini it doesn't affect me so I don't mind others I do think look great. Each to their own. At the end of the day Minis are a hobby as much as they are a car for a lot of people so there is going to be a lot of modified ones about. I'm sure if strict laws came in governing what you can and can't do it would be terrible for the Mini a big chunk of people who own and drive them modify their cars. I could just see people losing interest?

You added grill buttons???? Quick, assemble the angry mob and someone light the fire!!!! Think of the children ! ! !

(only kidding)

[brad88]

like i said previously,i dont think dan is wanting to say that 'all modifications are stupid and all cars should be original' i think the point he is making or wanting cleared up is 'why do people make stupid modifications to there car that can danger others and most of the time serve no purpose!' brad

[CharlieBrown]

An interesting topic and one I hope people are able to have a sensible discussion about (and not turn it into an argument).

Personally I am building a mini that wont be very standard, the reason for this is to make the car I love more modern, with the aim of improving it to be a comfortable, economic, fast mini.

Oh and because the shell was made for me its not like I’m ruining a classic

But then I’m not exactly a young ‘un anymore.

[Disco Dan]

But did you not just say your intention was to insult people?

How else was I going to get your raw opinion?

[cooperdan]

ONE SIMPLE REASON.....

To make them unique..like you hear at shows or in mags every mini is different!!

I think the young generation have great imagination as to what they do with there mini's i respect that always trying to think of something to make there mini that much special and personnal to them

Good for them i say

In a sense there keeping the Ledgend alive...!!!

[rimmer1993]

i can see why both sides do it (modifications and restoring to standard) If i had the money id have at least 2 1 to my own standard and a classic such as a mk1 cooper s but i dont. I cant see the reson for unsafe mods (cut springs) but surely if its there property and they want to wats the harm its there health afterall. And it would be unfair to raise the insurance when im 17 my insurance will be high enough as it is to drive the car i want to and it will have minor reversable body mods (my dads a car sprayer so very easily reversable) so how will i deserve a higher insurance premium?

[Disco Dan]

Well this is a very interesting thread, thank you for all your very valid opinions! It is 4:30am here, I am actually at work doing the night shift at a youth drug and alcohol rehab centre... I better go check to make sure they are all still in bed asleep.

I look forward to reading the rest of the posts after I have had a sleep!!

Keep it clean folks Remember, it's only the internet

[M44K TS]

One last thing, Practical Performance Car magazine ran an article about chopping down springs, they ran a concise test and the outcome was that they can be done safely and work very well.

Performance Car magazine - now they would be a tad bias dont you think? I would have to strongly disagree and side with the many government laws and strict warrent of fitness (MOT) standards on that one. I have seen many a car 'bounce' along the road after driving over the smallest bump several hundrend meters prior!! Cut springs have been proven dangerous and a magazine written by 'youfs' is hardly proof ???

Well that's where you're wrong. PPC mag is at the opposite end of the motoring magazines to the usual ' written by youfs' magazine as you put it. Infact, if you hadn't been jumping to conclusions, then you might have had a look about and seen what the mag is about.

PPC are regarded as one of the best no-nonsense serious car enthusiast mags that's available.

http://www.ppcmag.co.uk/

These are the guys that have a Rolls Royce track car, countless retro staff cars, and the frankly legendary 27 liter tank engines Rover SD1.
They even have a slogan that reads something along the lines of "No Speakers No Bodykits No *******".

Frankly the guys thatwrote the article about the cut down springs know what they are talking about, i dare say they understand spring rates etc etc so know what they are talking about.

[tuktuk]

i love my mini shorty lol

[Nicole88]

Very interesting topic
I dont know why people would take offences over a opinion of a person they dont know
After all everyone has their own tastes.
I dislike such things as body kits and bore exhausts and putting silly engines in.

I am 20 and own a Mini Designer and would love nothing more than for it to be fully original but I know that will never happen as I will always want a good sound system and alarm system. But so what if It doesnt have its original grey bumpers, I am still keeping a mini, never mind a limited edition, on the road.

Edited by Nicole88, 20 February 2009 - 03:40 PM.