39 replies to this topic

[rusty30]

These threads always turn out the same way unfortunately. I think by now we all know that minis don't handle as well on 13s. So what? If we were talking supercars then it might be more pressing. I love the look of minis on 10s and 12s and having owned them in the past I know I should be doing the same again. BUT, I am restoring my mini 30 just now and not too much is original. It has an MG engine, MGZR seats, a daft big exhaust and I will be doing other things to the interior. When it comes to the wheels I will be refitting my 13x7 twogate wheels. Bumpy? Of course. Bump steer? Of course. Premature wearing suspension components? Of course. Bloody cracking looking? Hell yeah!!

[nicklouse]

I love these threads.

My sprint/hill car has 13s and when I build a road car it will have 10s

And having used all sizes I know what is what. And what I like.

[Shooter63]

I think this could almost be an age/performance thing here, when I ran my mk1 back in the 70s/80s running a mini on the road you were up against rs2000 type cars, to keep up or beat them you needed every trick in the book, as much power as possible and the best handling you could muster. This meant 10s were a must ( no decent 12s then), and to me ( being old) minis will always look best on 10s
But I you prefer 12 or 13s fair enough, I've noticed that a lot of the young guys dump their cars in the weeds and stretch the tyres on mega wide rims again not my thing but each to their own.

Shooter

[carthorse]

Don't worry it's not just mini forums that generate threads like this - I'm a member of a couple of Lotus forums and S1 Elise owners VS S2 Elise owners over who has the best car must come up at least once a month when some innocent perspective purchaser asks which is the one to go for.
Go on any cycling forum and ask which is better out of carbon fibre, steel or aluminium for making frames and watch it all kick off, even better make a sweeping statement about full suspension mountain bikes being only fit for wusses with bad backs and off that bit of the internet goes into a frenzy of self destruction and name calling!
Chillax - it's only a car after all ......

[nicklouse]

Don't worry it's not just mini forums that generate threads like this - I'm a member of a couple of Lotus forums and S1 Elise owners VS S2 Elise owners over who has the best car must come up at least once a month when some innocent perspective purchaser asks which is the one to go for.
Go on any cycling forum and ask which is better out of carbon fibre, steel or aluminium for making frames and watch it all kick off, even better make a sweeping statement about full suspension mountain bikes being only fit for wusses with bad backs and off that bit of the internet goes into a frenzy of self destruction and name calling!
Chillax - it's only a car after all ......

Shimano/Campy/SRAM

[Chris1992]

As the thread has been reopened, I will take the time to apologise for getting a bit serious in some of my replies. My intention was never to criticize the knowledge put forward by members such as Cooperman. They do an excellent job of helping to build a detailed and informative database here for all mini owners.

 

The part of the original post that got to me was where the OP explained that he tried to tell his friend to fit different wheels, but he 'was having none of it'. In my opinion ,that suggested that there was some attempt at dictating someone else's build, which I don't agree with. By all means share an opinion on something, but if your opinion doesn't match that of the owner then you shouldn't try to change theirs. (speaking hypothetically).

 

People have constantly told me that the way I am building my Mini is 'wrong' because certain parts are not period correct, or because certain parts may not be performance orientated, so it aggravates me when I see that happening to others. There is no right or wrong way to build a car... I dunno, maybe I'm looking into it too much. 

 

The question I ask is this: why is putting form over function so frowned upon? I personally see nothing wrong with it, but I have experienced first hand many times in the past that others do. 

 

Again, apologies for any aggravation caused by my earlier comments, although I stand by the points I made... I also don't appreciate being called an 'idiot'.

Edited by Chris1992, 07 August 2016 - 10:21 PM.

[Chris1992]

*double post* 

 

Edited by Chris1992, 07 August 2016 - 10:20 PM.

[tiger99]

I am very much on the side of optimum handling, which ideally means 10" and not too wide, and definitely steel to avoid the limited fatigue life and high cost of alloys. I would just about go to 12" to suueeze in better brakes, but never any wider than necessary. Wet grip matters in the UK!

But I would not mind at all if someone took up Cooperman's suggestion and painted a moustache on the Mona Lisa, or painted their Mini in some extreme colour scheme.

[tiger99]

Oh, and as for putting form over function, it gets to the point where people, notably slammers, are disregarding safety completely in their quest for some non Mini-like look, and that is bad because eventually the authorities will catch on and we will end up like the Germans, with modifications verboten.

[venkman]

Don't worry it's not just mini forums that generate threads like this - I'm a member of a couple of Lotus forums and S1 Elise owners VS S2 Elise owners over who has the best car must come up at least once a month when some innocent perspective purchaser asks which is the one to go for.
Go on any cycling forum and ask which is better out of carbon fibre, steel or aluminium for making frames and watch it all kick off, even better make a sweeping statement about full suspension mountain bikes being only fit for wusses with bad backs and off that bit of the internet goes into a frenzy of self destruction and name calling!

Chillax - it's only a car after all ......

Shimano/Campy/SRAM

Totally irrelevant to the thread, but I'm on a cycling forum and oh my god do the bite!!!! LMAO