tweedbean

Holy thread resurrection but this was a mate of mine in the MINI. He has now sold it on and now runs a 250BHP + Cooper S. This encounter is the reason he is trying to talk me out of a 350Z as he keeps saying how slow it must be to not be able to keep up with his stock 218bhp MINI GP.

Suppose you dont mind a MINI tagging along, would like to come and see what 350Z's can do as I wont be buying one for a few months.

Hi all im from the Midlands, currently drive a tune Cooper S but looking to buy a 350Z. Anyone around here like tunnel runs? I run a midlands based MINI club with a few friends, and we ofter do tunnels runs in Birmingham.

Thanks for the welcome everyone. Normally when I post my MINI on a non MINI forum I get a load of stick.

Running costs of a zed will be more. Mpg wise your looking at about 20->30mpg as a daily drive. I do about 90miles a day which is a mixture of city and motorways and average about 25mpg.

 

Another factor will be the insurance, make sure you get a quote before you buy!!

Insurance is a concern im 26 with 6years ncb so going to get some quotes

MPG sounds alright, better than what I get in the MINI. The supercharged MINI is poor as stock, so mine just drinks the fuel. 250 miles from £75 worth of fuel.

Whats road tax like on them?

A few mates have used this place for their MINI's and all of them recommend him:

http://www.torqueflow.co.uk/Contact%20Us.html

Is the rear window glass or plastic?

Hi all, im new around here. I currently drive the following MINI which im sure will be a marmite car to many of you, but im looking at changing to a 350Z convertible. Trying to work out what running costs are like and how thirsty 350Z are although im used to low MPG on my MINI. I work for Barclays, but I also co-own a company called Orranje Performance that make lightweight body panels and performance parts for new MINI's.

I currently drive a 2004 facelift MINI Cooper S. I was bitten by the modding bug after a year of ownership and I haven't stopped since.

The car has gone from this just over 12 months ago:

0781_3 by tweedbean, on Flickr

0eaf_3 by tweedbean, on Flickr

To this, although its now lower on Meister R coilovers but not had chance to take any pictures:

P1010475 by tweedbean, on Flickr

P1010360 by tweedbean, on Flickr

P1000999 by tweedbean, on Flickr

DSC_9372 by MichaelandJenna, on Flickr

Current Spec:

- 2004 Facelift R53 MINI Cooper S

Engine:

- MINI GP Intercooler

- M7 CAI

- Milltek Catback Exhaust

- Janspeed Manifold with decat pipe

- KMT 17% Pulley

- Newman Cam

- 450cc Injectors

- GTT Oil Catch Can

- P-Torque Custom Remap

Performance:

- 240 bhp/201.5 whp

- 215 lb/ft Torque

- ¼ mile at Santa Pod: 60 ft @ 2.24 secs - 14.37 secs @ 97.5mph before carbon clutch and LSD

Gearbox:

- Six speed manual

- KMT Carbon Clutch

- Retro fitted MINI LSD

Suspension:

- OMP upper strut brace in orange

- OMP lower strut brace in orange

- Cabrio braces in orange

- MINI Sports suspension with Eibach Pro Performance lowering springs

Brakes:

- Front Custom R56 4 pot Brembos in orange

- Front Drilled and grooved front discs

- R56 Cooper S Brake lines

- Rear Cooper S brakes in orange

- MOTUL RBF600 Racing Brake Fluid

Wheels and tyres:

- Road Use: Custom 17†Black BBS RZ's 17x7 et37

- Road Tyres: Toyo Proxes T1 R's 205 45 17

- Track Wheels: Custom Orange Multi-spoke Fox 3 wheels

- Track tyres R888's 205 45 17

Interior:

- Orranje Performance GP Style Seat Delete Panels in orange

- Sparco Milano's Full Leather Seat

- Orange Driftworks Harnesses for track use

- Orange Interior LED's

- Orange, silver and black dashboard stripe

- Black Alcantara Roof liner with stain black fixture and fittings

- RKDE Black Alcantara downtubes with silver and orange stitch

- RKDE Black Alcantara gear stick gaiter with silver and orange stitch

- RKDE Black Alcantara handbrake gaiter with silver and orange stitch

- De-chromed interior with black gauge/cupholder rings

- JCW Carbon fibre gearknob

- JCW Carbon fibre handbrake grip

- Front Speakers - Focal 165V 6.5" Components + tweeters.

- Rear Speakers - Focal 690CA 6x9's

- 10" Kenwood subwoofer

- Auto Acoustics Stealth Box

- Kenwood amp for subwoofer

- Pioneer AVH-P5000DVD motorised DVD screen with Bluetooth and iPod integration

- 30gb ipod video + 30gb iphone 3GS connected to the DVD player

- Scanguage 2

Exterior:

- Orranje Performance Rear Bumper GP Style Inserts -Black

- Orranje Performance GP Style Spoiler

- Orranje Performance Brake Ducts

- Orranje Performance GP Style Rear bumper trim

- Front Aero Bumper

- Aero Sideskirts

- Black bonnet scoop

- Joey modded headlights - black with orange projector rings

- Colour Coded Aero Grills

- Colour Coded Headlight Rings

- Orange Wing Mirror Caps

- Black door handles

- De-locked drivers door handle

- Black Petrol Cap

- Black side vents with orange side repeaters and custom orange S logos

- Road Legal Pressed Metal Number Plates from Dubmeister

- Black Shelby Stripes with orange and silver highlights

- Silver GP scoop vinyl

- De-badged rear end

- Rear Wiper Deletes

- Entire exterior de-chromed including gloss black belt line and rear lights