So, I have about 30mins where my computer is useless while I run a VBA macro in Excel. SO, I'm just gonna write a random rambling post so it looks like I'm working hard in my office to anyone walking by... :biggrin5: I have been mulling over (really not that serious so don't take anything posted here as some sort of crazed rant) my vehicle situation which is inexorably tied to my life situation. I want a "new" car. Not nessicarily BRAND new, though that is an option. The thing is I am getting married to a hot 5'10" blonde with a fantastic job, a 2008 Subaru WRX manual that she races, AND she loves to cook. How the hell I ever hooked her is beyond me. But I digress... She just got an AWESOME job in Austin, TX and I will be relocating out there in April after the wedding. We have a home we are renting for a year then the plan is to save and look for a house to purchase. I will find work out there because I see so damned many job openings for a person like me. So we will be married, have a good net income together (not bragging just a fact because we don't have kids... yet). Back to my original point: I want a new car. I also want to keep the MINI. Right now I am dealing with a second flywheel that is going out on the MINI. THe solution is an expensive replacement. That means spending money. Which I can't do because we are supposed to be saving for a house. Then I think, why spend the $$$? The MINI is the most fun car I have owned but the maintenance is annoyingly high. I knew that going in but I chose to ignore it and now it's biting me in the keester. So, I've been looking at "replacement" cars and have narrowed it down to three realistic replacements. I would love to go out and get a black/red 2012 Laguna Seca Boss 302 Mustang but it's not realistic. So, I'm looking at (in reverse order of preference): 3) 2006-2009 VW GTI 2-door: I've had one before and loved it. It was less trouble than the MINI and aftermarket stuff is a bit more available. Maintenance is only slightly cheaper. 2) 2007-2010 Honda Civic Si: Never had one. Driven a few at autox'es. I HATE admitting that I like it (there is some part of my 'Murican Muscle roots that makes it hard to admit liking a Honda). The design and interior is cool. It also has a helical LSD (serious plus for autox and track days). No it doesn't handle as well as the MINI but it fills that decent DD/Toy niche that the MINI fills so well. Plus there is awesome aftermarket support and the maintenance is on the cheaper side. (It's a Honda) 1) 2008-2009 Mustang Bullitt: Okay, you hate Ford/Mustang/'Murican just stop reading here and go ahead and leave your snyde responses below. I expect that here. If not, here are my reasons: I had the same chassis before and it was a b*tch to autox but it was a fun trackday car. The Bullitt had basically the Ford Racing power pack and handling pack pre-installed and an adaptive spark ignition that will let me run 87 to 93 octane and will up the torque-band to match the fuel. Maintenance is cheap. Since it already has stuff done to it there is little I would want to mod and even if I did that would be cheap because there is aftermarket stuff everywhere. It's also a V8 which I miss immensley. Starting the car in the morning and hearing that unmistakable rumble is such a joy. Realistically I'm not going to get a new car anytime soon. My fiancee (soon to be wife) would effin' kill me. So I'm back to square one. I love the MINI and to keep my interest in it I would like to start modding it (nothing crazy, after market exhaust for sound, new lightweight wheels and sticky rubber for autox/trackdays, etc...) Again that's spending money. Cars are my passion. I don't want to drive the MINI wishing I could do more to it. Bleh. That's about it. If you read through the complete ramblings, I'm sorry. :crazy: :lol: To sum up: I'm restless with my MINI. I want to fix/upgrade it or get another car. None of these options are open to me because of marriage and saving for a house. So, there ya go. The macro still has a few minutes left but I'm done. Feel free to comment on anything here. Make alternative car recommendations. Offer up solutions to my dillema or just let me know that I am crazy. :ihih:
Congrats on the impending marrige, now to the more important issue,:biggrin5: Seeing how your bride to be sounds like a serious car nut, WRX and all, I am sure she would understand dropping some $$$ on your MINI.
Well.... First off, congratulations on the soon to be marriage part. Secondly.... She cooks, she races and lastly, she can shift a manual. Buddy, you got it made. Save for the house, keep the MINI.... And get it repaired. Two income, no kids..... No problems......
:cornut: Your logic is impeccable but wouldn't fixing the MINI be cheaper than buying the Bullit Mustang? Other wise I don't know what to tell you except: Hey! If you've got the perfect Woman, 'splain it on her and see what she thinks. Think the entire situation through first such that she'll think that what you really want is the thing to do. You know: a few stumbling blocks here and a few greased slides there........................... GOOD LUCK, Jason
Started to leave some sage advice on transitioning from batchelorhood to marriedhood but decided to scrap that after the 14th paragraph. Ya gotta slam up against your own brick walls or there's no adventure to be had. MINI folk are all about the adventure. Hopes yours is as much fun as ours has been.
First off thanks for the congrats. She really is an amazing woman. I've been with her for for 4 years now. She really is the one for me. We work well together. Things aren't always perfect but we are both driven to work through those things to make the realtionship work. Just to back up my statements Here she is: Out and about looking beautiful like ususal. Her and I at an SCCA autocross while I tech'ed. I'm not sure if any logic was involved up there. It was mostly jibber-jabber. LOL! She and I will talk about it this weekend. I have a vehicular wanderlust that drives me nuts. I can't stay still with one car as is. I need to mod the car or swap to a new vehicle. I'm getting better at controlling it but It's hard having to grow up and save to buy a house versus a new car. I just despise the fact it's gonna cost me $1,700 in parts alone to fix a crummy part from MINI. In a short two years with the car it has been 57k miles of smiles. I feel that I have had more fun with this car than any other I have owned. I'm feeling that aforementioned wanderlust for another car. It feels like it's time to experience a new car.
:cornut: She is Lovely Jason addendum: The 'switching cars condition' is called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Look it up. If you know what it is then 'The Lovely Lady' can help you with it. If it will make you feel any better, most of us modders on this here site have and enjoy it.
Realistically I'm not going to get a new car anytime soon. My fiancee (soon to be wife) would effin' kill me. "whipped" already! :biggrin5: 2nd flywheel going out? where's it going? Seriously, why are you replacing the flywheel? Did you mean the clutch? No matter what the cheapest car you can own is the one already in your driveway. If you just want a new car, that's another story altogether. But, in essence, aren't you getting a new car along with the wife? The Subaru?
Yup. I think you can see why. :ihih: Yes, Flywheel. The R56 has a dual mass flywheel. The last time it went out with excessive play between the masses. This one is starting to do the same thing. Problem is that I either replace it with the same faulty unit or spend $1700 for the OS Giken unit that has a single-mass flywheel and I'm done with it. The issue is that if you replace the flywheel you either NEED to swap out the clutch/pressure plate/throwout bearing in the case of the OS Giken unit or you really should in the case of the MINI one. DMF Failures Thread That is truth there. I did say that I wanted, not needed, a new'ish car. It's not a rational thing. It's an emotional one. What will happen most likely is that I will keep the MINI. I will have to convince her that I need to spend the money to fix the flywheel. She won't be happy about it but I have to get to work somehow. No, while we drive each others cars her Subaru is hers to do with as she sees fit and she has stated in no uncertain terms that she wants to be the one working on it. (Seriously, I have found such a winner... ). It is HER car. It's also not what I'm looking for anyway. "New" isn't the only qualifier. I'm looking for new and inspiring to me.
Completely off-topic, but it has to be said........... My beard used to look like that too........until the white started multiplying!
Lol, yeah. I'm already balding. I know the grey/white will come eventually for now I'm still Redbeard.
I wore a full beard for more than 20 years, it was all dark like my hair, except for my moustache, which came in mostly dark red! Of course, now it all comes in white, and because I'm retired I thought 'd grow my beard back in (I used to work in a food mfr plant, beards are frowned upon there, and you have to wear a beard net all the time, which is a total PITA) cause I hate shaving with the white hot passion of a thousand suns, but my bride suggested that it wasn't my "best look", so in deference to her I shave.......every damn day.......
August 3rd of 1970, I started letting my beard grow. Still have it, my bride of 40 years has never seen me without it which puts to mind the fun I could have for a minute or two if I shaved it off. Reason for this post in the least subject specific thread I could find: I googled for an item to help orgainize things in the kitchen this afternoon. Just a few minutes ago I loaded M/A just to see what is going on and in the left Advertisement column was the very thing I had found. Never ordered it thought because it wouldn't fit in the cupboard but, HOW DID IT KNOW???
How did it know... Cookies...that's how. The site you went to dropped a cookie into your hard drive. You went to another site, M/A in this case, where in the time to download the page the cookie was read, analyzed and it was determined that you should look at that item again. Possibly jog your mind into clicking on the ad and buying the product. You will find that ad on many sites now for the next few days. You can make it stop, there are many ways. You will need to seek them out. Please understand that the advertising helps pay for the site. If I spelled out how to block then I might as well pull out the gun I don't own and shoot a foot. That would make it hard to drive the MINI being it is a manual. Supporting members don't see those ads. Unregistered guests see more of them. So...just how long is that beard now...Is it ZZ Top worthy?
Holy revived thread Batman!!!! My wife threatened to pull out my toe-nails if I shaved off my beard. She really likes it. Once again, confirmation she is the right woman for me. Interesting info Nathan. Since it's reopened I'll follow-up: I got a new exhaust for the MINI (posted elsewhere I think; check my Garage). I still miss having a V8. Right now I am still looking for work so it has helped keep my automotive wanderlust in check. We are renting a house now and are looking to buy around this time next year. I'm working to get a decent position, soon hopefully. If so I should be able to pick-up another vehicle for fun and merryment next year some time.
No worries about the ad popping up. The fact that it did I just found remarkable. I'm a little familiar with cookies but didn't know they were that focused on the task. Wish she would let me grow it ZZ Topish if just for a little while. Would love to brush it up over my face, slap on a pair of shades and stick a cigarette in my mouth. I think that just looks funny as he!!.
I can't help with the car decision (or the pending wife, despite 15 happy years of experience), but if you need any help with that VBA macro, I've got more than my share of experience writing VBA!