[nhodge]

Speaking of being a protective parent....

...I left my MINI in the hands of Sydney Qantas Valet Parking... nervously.. this week...

... remembering 8 weeks after I received my last new car (VTiR Civic) - it was left at Qantas Valet Parking, left outside, and hailed on. Yes, the Lower North Shore was missed, but my new car had golf-ball like dimples for months! The only bright side to this day was that (a) my windscreen was OK so inside wasn't wet and (b) my car didn't look as bad as the BMWs, Jags and Mercs I walked past.

Anyway, thankfully, upon my return this morning it was proudly waiting for me on one piece, quite close to the entrance, and the CD of 1980s music turned up loud. Must have made someone's day.

[kuper]

Hey Nick,

You used to own a Civic VtiR? Me too! Did you have the hatch or the coupe? I had the 2000 coupe model... the last of the series. As a matter of fact, I've just sold it two days ago. Sometimes I still miss it, especially the VTEC kicking in after 5500...

Oh well, gotta move on...

Andy.

[nhodge]

Quote:

Originally posted by kuper
Hey Nick,

You used to own a Civic VtiR? Me too! Did you have the hatch or the coupe? I had the 2000 coupe model... the last of the series. As a matter of fact, I've just sold it two days ago. Sometimes I still miss it, especially the VTEC kicking in after 5500...

Yes, I owned a 1998 Hatch, last of the series. Traded it in for the Cooper S. I (and the whole family) shed a tear when we let her go... sort of like putting down a favourite pet.

The Cooper S is a worthy replacement.

V-tec Cooper-S??


Nick

[Boo]

Quote:

Originally posted by LisaR

Boo - when I'm game to take my mini out on the track I'll let you know, but I expect I'll be a bit of protective parent for a while with it, but even if I come out to watch the first time, it would be fun, all those mini's in the same place, how cool will that look!!

Cheers,
Lisa

I know how you feel, i felt the same way..right up to the point where i had completed my first lap..
After that, no probs.. Wakefield park has heaps of runoff area so the likelihood of hitting something is small as long as you do use your brakes
The BMW Club guys were really cool and the guys who jump in and instruct you really do keep you on line till you say you are confident enough to go it alone..

DSC really helped also in allowing me to get up to a good confidence level right from the start.. if i went too hot into a corner the DSC cut in and helped me out..
There wasn't any moment where i thought "that was close"...

The perfect introduction really as this is also my first performance car
And i learnt heaps about driving in just one day on the track...

[LisaR]

Hi,
That's very encouraging. I am sure once I get my hot little hands on my mini I'll want to go for it.

I'm very glad I bought the DSC - when we had our old Leyland mini years ago, I remember at least twice it went for a spin (in the wet). Not that I'm comparing the old mini to the new one, but between performance car and maybe my own silly mistakes, I'm sure glad to have that safety feature.

I got my mini dose last night!! When I pulled into the carpark of the shopping centre, there was a bright blue Cooper S - I ogled it for a while and then had to move on. I did notice that it had QLD plates so someone had fun driving to Sydney!!!

Back to the daily grind!
Cheers
Lisa

[Boo]

Well i know what it is like waiting for the mini, i waited 9 months and now i am OS for 23 days i am counting down the days till i slip behind the wheels once again and take a spin around some corners...
I can only imagine what it will be like when i go OS for 9 months in July i think i will be dropping in to some dealerships on the way around the world
In particular John Cooper Garages

[LisaR]

Hi,
I don't know where you are travelling but when Adrian and I were planning our Western Europe holiday (still haven't gone but hopefully this year) we spoke with BMW in Munich about factory tours (we own a 330ci) and driving courses.

If you have enjoyed the track days in the mini you should find out about the BMW courses they have if you are getting near Munich. I don't know what mini offer worldwide, but I do know that spending a day out on the track in a 3 series Beemer would be sensational

I hope your mini doesn't get lonely while you are away, does someone take it out occassionally for you, doesn't want to spend too much time "cooped" (sorry about the pun) up.

Enjoy being OS - hope you are having a great time.

Cheers,
Lisa

[Boo]

Going to give it to my father to take care of....
He lives out of Sydney so it should be pretty safe
It is the only downside of going overseas for a huge holiday when you get to worrying about your car whilst overseas on holiday you know your obsessed

[Harry Morant]

Hi Lisa, the waiting goes pretty quickly if you spend a lot of your idle time here on the forum. By the time it arrives you'll know everything there is to know.