313 replies to this topic

[The_Mistro]

im 18, i got an spi, and i have modified it, BUT in my opinion it looks good! it still looks retro for a car of its age, it still looks like a mini, and i have the best of all the minis in it, i got an SPI's "reliability" compared to the carbs, i have got the more modern look with wide wheels and sportpack arches, i have got a retro look by just having a mini, i have a young mans car by having racing seats, i have a cooper look with the bonnet stripes, making it look sportier, i also have a chrome grill, making it look sharper, and fogs for a retro look, which in my opionion suits my personality! and isnt that what minis are all about?

i have added hi los, so i dont take my exhaust of when i go over speed bumps, what is wrong about that? i have also added a different exhaust, as i didnt like the look of the tiny little pee shooter which the previous owner had bolted a tip too!

which is another thing, at least we are modifying them properly, not just adding bolt ons, or universal back boxes, the parts added are tailor made for minis 90% of the time!

the phrase "no 2 minis are the same" comes to mind, as not even the factory minis were exactly the same were they!?

aslong as the modifications dont ruin it, then go for it? i have paid for it all myself, so let me do what i want to it!? i havent ruined it, i have just tuned it to my taste!

sorry if that doesnt make sense, it just spilled out of me lol

[M44K TS]

Another way of looking at it...

Why bother keeping the car original?

[RONNIE]

im 18 and have modified my mini, its acceleration is better, its handling is better, spped is better, looks better,at the end of the day the younger generation prefer to modify, its what we do!!! unlike the olders gen, hu like pure classic with no mods, swings and roundabouts

[The_Mistro]

AND one more thing - what would you rather, the mini die out with your generation!?? or keep a british icon on the road for years to come! as in a few years, when all the A series engines have reached their limit, and start to disintergrate, what you going to do then, put all the minis on the scrap heap or find another enginge to fit in it to keep it on the road? hmm? i think we know the answer...

[Disco Dan]

OKay, interesting. It appears my initial assumption was a little off in regards to the majority. Good news I think!

So it seems that most of us actually only modify our mini's to improve certain important aspects - braking, comfort and safety. Good news for drivers and other road users.

Very few seem to think a japanese neon kit and giant subwoofers causing localised earthquakes are 'cool' or fit in with their tastes.

My gosh, you should see some of the abominations that are the modified import cars here... truly shocking.

Keep your opinions coming though!! This is great stuff !

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Another way of looking at it...

Why bother keeping the car original?

It makes it worth more to certain enthusiasts. And Some people just prefer it that way. That lovely yellow posted on here the other day really brought a smile to my face, lovely standard mini. Its great to see standard cars about with period peices like the AA grill badge he had on it. seeing cars like that at shows, but also seeing modified minis is what makes the mini scene so special, there endless scope to what you can do to them and really make your own.

[MBarnes]

That seems to be the problem nowadays, most people with an opinion just focus on the minority who seem to be 'ruining' things. For example, many middle aged people may say that the youth are drug taking, knife carrying, sex crazed lunatics, (not sure where that came from) where as in reality most of us are law abiding citizens. These loony's are the people that get young people a bad name. Seems to be the same thing with making modifications to mini's.

It's good to have a debate though and people shouldnt get offended!

[ashton]

im 19 and my tess is lightly in the process of being 'modified'..but as far as im concerned, that just means things such as wheels, better brakes, and engine upgrades etc..i completely agree that over-the-top bodykits and exhausts as big as the channel tunnel are ridiculous but a nice sounding exhaust note from, for example, an RC40 suits the mini down to the ground! I personally like blending old and new..one example of this would be clear rear lights or angel eye headlights..which are subtle, and in the daylight, very difficult to tell apart from a standard headlight but at night they add a touch of the modern to the car and allow for H4 bulbs which are cheaper and easier to replace than a whole sealed beam unit As for motorbike/vauxhall engine conversions i have nothing but respect for those carrying out these conversions..resources and skills willing..i would too but i cant even weld

I had a saxo as my first car..with the wheelie bin taped underneath and half a dog bed tied to the front before i got my series 3 landrover, fiesta xr2i and mini

i think that most 17 year olds feel the urge to personalise and add their own identity to their cars as they symbolise freedom and independance, which for most will be their first taste of this. Unfortunately, they dont realise that fitting bodykits does not mean they are expressing their own identity..it is more a process of collusion so as to fit in with peers, and if they feel the need to rebel against authority by sitting in halfrauds carpark at 1am on a thursday night then i have no problem with that so long as they keep themselves to themselves I do think that 'modding' minis in a boy-racer fashion is not a good thing but on the other hand, if every single mini was as it came out of the factory then mini shows would be incredibly dull!

Anyone agree with me?

[yorkshirechris]

28 users!

Personally? I'm probably classed as "young" being 22, and there are people a lot older than me who chav-up their Mini's. I personally couldn't do it because my preference is the old school style with suitable, subtle modifications/modernisations.

Emphasis on my preference, a lot of people prefer neons, bucket seats and stereos which you cant hear yourself think over. Fair play to them, it's their car.

Insurance is sky high here as it is, especially with modifications. With 5 years driving experience, if I was to get a "normal" car such as a Corsa or a Saxo my years insurance would be a good months wages if not more. Raising the cost of insurance would just increase the number of people riding around uninsured. If anything insurance costs should be brought down, but perhaps a points-based road tax system based on need/usage? I dont know, just a random idea

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

lifes more fun when you can turn you hand to spanner work and see how a car can progress from an unsafe un moted shell to a show winning car with 120bhp nice interior flip front and worth 5k

i love how people light the match on the tnt and then leg it and dont actually give feedback to justify why they put such a tread to life

ps 24 readers

[onefastmoke]

your 35, i'm 30, i think when we get over 30 we should be known as old fart racers..pmsl

lol can I book my place now please. I turn 30 in september

[Danuneek]

I'm 22 and my mini has a stage 1, RC40, roll cage, harnesses and bucket seats. That sounds like a typical boy racer mod, BUT it was like that when I bought it and whats ironic is that I bought it off a man definitely in his 40's. To be fair these mods made the car more attractive to me when I bought it, however now Im a little wiser in the mini world I wish I had normal reclining seats, no roll cage, no harnesses and 10" wheels. If I ever buy another mini, these are on my wish list. But as far as modding a car, I would never change any type of collectible mini. That's partly why I bought a 93 Cooper, because there are plenty of them.

But one has to consider the fact that modding mini's is what makes them an attractive car to a lot of people and therefore effectively keeps them on the road.

Edited by Danuneek, 20 February 2009 - 05:57 PM.

[Danuneek]

your 35, i'm 30, i think when we get over 30 we should be known as old fart racers..pmsl

lol can I book my place now please. I turn 30 in september

Do u have any pics of your mini mate, it looks really nice from that pic and I was thinking of getting circles on my doors too.

Edited by Danuneek, 20 February 2009 - 06:00 PM.

[minisam1275]

Hey im 17 prime modifiying age you would say and yes i am but i also love to keep things original as possible but to improve on things i think need improving on for instance in my car i have installed a subwoofer but only because i love my music and i love to have the rumbling bass line but i have not gone ott with it and have set it up so it is a comfortable rumble not a thud to push your eyes out of their sockets.

i do intend to change the wheels and arches, the wheels because they are only 4.5 in wide and have a lack of traction so i will get wider one for better grip but im not going to put 13" wheels on its just not worth it. the arches im only changing because i need to put wider arches on with the new wheels so it is legal.

the reason people modify their cars is to make it individual to them and to improve on things in the car that they feel they want to be better.

and its not just young people who do this, we just do it differently put it this way if you found that your seat was uncomfortable or if you were tall then your knees were up by your ears would you change the seats to more comfortable ones or put in some extension brackets so that you would fit. or if you could not see anything at night because the standard bulbs on the mini were *rubbish* would you put spot-lams on you would it is just more practical and makes you feel better driving your car.

Sam

[mini_turbo_pete]

your 35, i'm 30, i think when we get over 30 we should be known as old fart racers..pmsl

lol can I book my place now please. I turn 30 in september

Do u have any pics of your mini mate, it looks really nice from that pic.

is that mine or onefastmoke??