YumYumDriver's Ruger - Cooper Flags MINI of the Month - November 2010

Discussion in 'Featured MINI' started by Nathan, Nov 1, 2010.

  1. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

    Mar 30, 2009
    25,144
    10,052
    113
    Writer
    Short North
    Ratings:
    +10,069 / 0 / -0
    [​IMG]

    1. Please tell us about your MINI when it was delivered. Option Packages along with the Year, Model and Color. [imgr]http://www.motoringalliance.com/gallery/data/628/medium/IMG_0215.JPG[/imgr]

    I picked up my Chili Red/Black Clubman S Automatic on December 18th 2009, I ordered the car with the premium, sport, and convenience packages, I named him Ruger after a friends Black German Shepherd. He was a police & arson/drug detection dog that was also trained in search and rescue as well as cadaver recovery, Ruger had worked on many well publicized cases. Like my car he took my breath away the first time I saw him, so awesome to see in action.


    2. Why did you choose a MINI?

    I am now on my 3rd MINI now, I got my first MINI when I had to get rid of my car with a manual transmission and go with an automatic because of health issues. I wanted a fast, good handling car that I could personalize so when MINI came out with the S in a paddle shift auto I had to have one. That was my first MINI, it was a heavily modified Chili Red/White 06 MCSa. I loved that car but I needed a little more room in the back when our puppy who grew too big for it. I traded the 06 on a new 09 Clubman S in February of 2009, unfortunately I had a lot of issues that couldn’t be resolved so Ruger was ordered as a replacement in 8 months later and I took delivery of Ruger on December 18th, 2009 just one week before Christmas. I Love the added room of a Clubman and it gives me plenty of room for my puppy who grew to be a very large Tibetan Mastiff while still retaining the MINI performance.


    3. Please tell us about the various phases your MINI has taken as your mods progressed. [imgr]http://www.motoringalliance.com/gallery/data/628/medium/IMG_0092.JPG[/imgr]

    I played around a lot photo chopping photos trying to figure the look I wanted ultimately went with a more aggressive look than with my previous MINIs, I started by blacking out some things but still retained a few of the chrome accents. I love the look of lowered cars but I still need to be able to carry my now very BIG dog and after a lot of discussion with vendors, I had the cars suspension work done at MINIs on the Dragon in 2010. I don’t have a lot of extra cash since most of it now goes to dog food so I have to find ways to complete my vision in small well thought out steps. For instance I can not afford new wheels right now, so I took my factory rims and changed the look using vinyl. With the Vinyl I can remove it without hurting the rims, and so far I have tried black and then gray carbon fiber and ended up going with the red that is on it now. I get my vinyl from a local sign shop; they made up the red color to match the chili red paint for me and it was very inexpensive.


    4. What has been your modification philosophy?

    I am old school guy that believes a car that is well thought out and executed can be appreciated by all ages and automotive tastes. I am a firm believer that a car should be driven and my MINI is driven about 80 to 100 miles daily commuting to work.


    5. What has been the most difficult mod completed to date?

    The Joey Mod was by far the worst.

    Why?

    This was more mental than physical, for some reason I was a nervous wreck doing this. After seeing a new MINI in the show room that had the factory ones, I had to try it even though I didn’t have a clue what was involved. I searched online to see how to get the lights cracked open. My car only had a few miles on it when and all I could think of was screwing up my new expensive xenon’s by melting them in an oven or with my heat gun. It turned out to be kind of simple to do once I got through my first one. [imgr]http://www.motoringalliance.com/gallery/data/628/medium/IMG_0071.JPG[/imgr]



    6. Where do you research and source your modifications; materials, parts, etc?

    There is no active MINI Club in this area and there are very few modded MINIs in rural Tennessee so I have to rely on the internet forums like Motoring Alliance to get information. It helps that I live so close to the Dragon in North Carolina. I have been to every MINIs on The Dragon since 06 and I think this is an awesome way to talk to other MINI owners and vendors and get ideas. I also have a wrenched and showed cars most of my adult life so I use some of that experience to help me.


    7. Have other Motoring Alliance members assisted you? If so, give them a shout out.

    Chad at Detroit Tuned has been so helpful to me with recommendations in and doing some of the work I can’t do anymore. I think he did a great job getting the cars suspension dialed in.

    8. How did Motoring Alliance help you as a resource in your modifications?

    I print out articles on maintenance, how to’s, pictures or ideas all the time and put in a binder then when I need to do something I refer to it when I need to tear into something.


    9. What are you planning next? What remains to be done? What are your goals? [imgr]http://www.motoringalliance.com/gallery/data/628/medium/IMG_0079.JPG[/imgr]

    I plan on adding a few red accents and a Chrome line kit to my interior but my next big change will be getting new rims & tires hopefully after the first of the year when the runflats wear out. After that I will start working on a few engine upgrades. My ultimate dream mod is a Borla exhaust system… I just love the sound the Borla’s make.

    10. Please list all current mods:
    Black Joey modded xenon's
    Blacked out grill surround
    Highlighted silver on front & rear grills (silver paint paste)
    30% tinted windows & sunroofs
    Tinted side running lamps
    Front & rear stealth turn signal bulbs
    Rubber chin spoiler (garage door seal)
    Alta short antenna
    de-badged rear emblems
    Custom made black vinyl stone guards
    Magellan 4700 GPS with Street Guys mounting system
    German Antique Rosenthal Bud Vase
    Sony MP3 player
    NM Lower Torque Arm Insert
    H&R Sport Springs
    H-Sport Adjustable Rear Control Arms
    H-Sport 25mm Competition Rear Sway Bar
    17" 5-Star Pace (vinyl wrapped
     
  2. ronnie948

    ronnie948 New Member

    Sep 9, 2009
    210
    36
    0
    Retired
    Daytona Beach, Florida
    Ratings:
    +36 / 0 / -0
    Congratulations

    Not only your car is great but so is your Dog. I'm sure he loves to go riding in that great looking Mini.:Thumbsup:

    I would guess the countryman will be next so he can stick his head out the back windows.
     
  3. Mr. Jim

    Mr. Jim Mudshark
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 22, 2010
    3,390
    1,213
    113
    North Carolina
    Ratings:
    +1,221 / 0 / -0
    Congrats! great MINI:Thumbsup:
     
  4. lotsie

    lotsie Club Coordinator

    May 5, 2009
    3,922
    401
    83
    stagehand/part time detailer
    Right here
    Ratings:
    +401 / 0 / -0
    Great looking Clubbie:Thumbsup:

    Mark
     
  5. MINImum

    MINImum New Member

    May 5, 2010
    8
    0
    0
    near Atlanta
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Congrats! Great looking MINI (and dog!).
     
  6. SMOG

    SMOG ZOOOOOMMMM
    Lifetime Supporter

    Nov 28, 2009
    164
    21
    0
    Retired, twice...
    Port Orchard, Washington
    Ratings:
    +21 / 0 / -0
    It all looks good! Congrats, and the Bud Vase is a nice touch:Thumbsup:

    S.
     
  7. TGS91

    TGS91 New Member

    May 8, 2009
    1,593
    18
    0
    Sales Dude
    St. Louis, MO
    Ratings:
    +18 / 0 / -0
    Congrats!
     
  8. odj

    odj New Member

    Oct 14, 2010
    1
    0
    0
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Digging the faux Momo IDEAs. Very nice touch :Thumbsup:
     
  9. ve3hzz

    ve3hzz New Member

    May 5, 2009
    10
    0
    0
    Oshawa, Ontario Canada
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Nice CR/BLK Clubbie

    Very nice car, I always did like the CR/Blk combo :D

    Sort of reminds me of some other car I've seen..hmmm:rolleyes:

    Nice job so far, keep modding...........:cornut:

    Scott
     
  10. Firebro17

    Firebro17 Dazed, but not Confused
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 18, 2010
    7,820
    3,327
    113
    Retired CAL FIRE Battalion Chief
    The Great Irrigated Desert of Central CA
    Ratings:
    +3,328 / 0 / -0
    Congratulations Dude!!! Gotta love that Chili Red!

    Here's to keep'n it all in the family... :beer
     
  11. Cubby

    Cubby Member

    Sep 18, 2010
    180
    1
    18
    Clovis, CA
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    Congratulations, you have a beautiful MINI:Thumbsup:
     
  12. pauliekeys

    pauliekeys MINI of the Month July 2009

    Jun 3, 2009
    27
    0
    1
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Love what you've done with Ruger, Well thought out and well executed! Congratulation's and welcome to the Mini of the month club!
     
  13. RllyDrvrIX

    RllyDrvrIX New Member

    Oct 22, 2010
    221
    11
    0
    Ratings:
    +11 / 0 / -0
    Congratulations!
     
  14. putterfarm

    putterfarm New Member

    May 18, 2009
    299
    8
    0
    Bum.
    Pittsfield, Pa.
    Ratings:
    +8 / 0 / -0
    :cool::Thumbsup:

    CONGRATULATIONS :beer

    I like the fact you have a Clubman AND a St. Bernard, you need the room :cornut:

    Mark
     
  15. Tron Chief

    Tron Chief "Need More Coffee"
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 18, 2010
    559
    60
    28
    Maintenance Supervisor Del Monte, retired 30 year
    Lemoore California
    Ratings:
    +60 / 0 / -0
  16. Kellen@Craven

    Kellen@Craven New Member
    Motoring Alliance Founding Sponsor

    May 4, 2009
    199
    36
    0
    Talking about Minis and stuff
    Portland, OR
    Ratings:
    +36 / 0 / -0
    Congratulations!
     
  17. Danno56

    Danno56 New Member

    Jun 8, 2010
    7
    0
    0
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Congrats!!!!
     
  18. MightyStripes

    MightyStripes New Member
    Motoring Alliance Sponsor

    Oct 29, 2009
    81
    0
    0
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Congratulations Very nice mini! We voted for you too! :ihih:
     
  19. YumYumDriver

    YumYumDriver MINI of the Month - November 2010

    May 4, 2009
    24
    3
    0
    Chattanooga, TN
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    Thank you everyone for the kind words.
    I feel so humbled to have won with such a great group of cars.
     
  20. Rixter

    Rixter Well-Known Member

    Jun 14, 2009
    1,230
    79
    48
    Technology Architect
    North of the 49th
    Ratings:
    +79 / 0 / -0
    Very nice. Can you elaborate on the rubberized chin spoiler. Ive seen such mods on various other car sites, yours is the first on the MINI. Nicely done :Thumbsup:
     

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