MINI2

littlebt · Oct 20th, 2003, 07:08 PM

this might be a stupid question but can i get a right hand drive cooper s here in the states i have a right hand drive mgb right now and would love a right hand drive mini.

red03miniS · Oct 20th, 2003, 07:14 PM

sure you can get them, but it will be hard to pass all the DOT regulations. i import RHD crx/s14s/soarer/da/dc and a few other cars, so i know most of the rules. i would recommend against it.

but then again if you have so much money you dont know what to do with, send me a PM

littlebt · Oct 20th, 2003, 07:24 PM

its not ever a matter of having to much money its just that i figure im spending $25,000 i might as well make it what i want. with the mgb it wasnt a problem its a 74 ( made the same month i was born ) and i was about the 10th owner. where would i start looking on my local laws on getting one in as a right hand drive and making it pass the dot?

red03miniS · Oct 20th, 2003, 08:33 PM

well with 25K, you can certainly not get the RHD new mini cooper S. secondly on cars 25 years or older (your MGB) the govt has almost no rules, so its super easy for those cars. thirdly, search on google for DOT and NHSTA rules for your state. if you live in cali or on the west coast i can give you the dirt.

lastly, motorex sells skyline gt-r's for 90K in the usa, when they buy the cars for 30K in japan, there is a reason

i am in school and not enough time to time currently

littlebt · Oct 20th, 2003, 09:40 PM

thanks for the info im stuck in the midwest for the next few years i will look into dot regs and see whats going to be involved with getting a right hand drive i would love to have one but its not worth a lot more to me then a left hand model

Minimum · Oct 20th, 2003, 11:52 PM

I'm curious why you want right hand drive, unless maybe you're a rural mail carrier.

Grings · Oct 21st, 2003, 10:28 AM

Strange how laws vary worldwide. No problem with driving a LHD over in the UK. You might pay a little more for insurance and it would be harder to sell, but about 20% of the 911's I see here are LHD.

Sorry can't help though - just an observation

ice · Oct 21st, 2003, 02:33 PM

My second car was a RHD 1966 Lotus Elan SE. It too a while to get used to shifting with my left hand and I got pretty good at flipping quarters over the roof to pay tolls (before I realized it was easier to just drive under the gates) but the tough thing was passing. Having to go way out into oncoming traffic to see if a car is coming was crazy.

wmd · Oct 21st, 2003, 06:20 PM

..or rather did own one. Don Racine of MiniMania imported a RHD MINI in Aug 2001 as an aftermarket development car, before they started making LHD export models. Go to http://new.minimania.com and send him an e-mail or phone him. I know that it couldn't be licensed for the street and he had to export it out of the country after one year. But I'm sure he could enlighten you on the process or at least guide you on who to contact.

Also take a look at the NHTSA site for their rules on exemptions for Show/Display cars:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/showdisplay/
Interesting to note that the last 50 2000 Rover MiniS are elgible for importation under this loophole, a fact that I didn't know about.

chiph · Oct 22nd, 2003, 02:04 AM

I think it's because other than some of the Carribean islands, the Americas are LHD. So there's no reason for the US DOT to accomodate a RHD car.

Chip H.

stryder · Oct 22nd, 2003, 02:18 AM

Its not a stupid question, and its been asked before, but its just not realistic.

1. The US is one of the cheaper places to buy MINIs if you convert the costs into $
2. You won't be able to drive it, just own it as chiph has shown
3. Its a ton of work for what would probably be more of a gimmick then anything actually useful. Its not like you can't get the car in the US, you'd have spent lots of time and energy on something that's at best very cool and unique. Is it worth it for you? It may be, but doesn't seem even on the radar for most people.

swamos · Oct 22nd, 2003, 03:30 AM

Maybe you could get a RHD Australian model with the BIG tacho in the middle

littlebt · Oct 22nd, 2003, 03:16 PM

well i guess that answers that i did some more looking and found that it will cost more and be more hassel then its worth. i got one lead on a clasic rhd mini that i might try to pick up im just not sure how i would fit in the car. that is always a concern for me im 6' 6" and 300 pounds so i have to worry about being able to fit and drive the car i buy. thanks for all the input again i will post when i get my lhd new mini and if i get the clasic rhd ill let you guys see it

Oct 20th, 2003, 07:08 PM	#1
littlebt MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2003 Local Time: 12:36 AM Posts: 4 Offline	Right hand drive in the us this might be a stupid question but can i get a right hand drive cooper s here in the states i have a right hand drive mgb right now and would love a right hand drive mini.

Oct 20th, 2003, 07:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
red03miniS MINI2 Master Join Date: May 2003 Location: ca Local Time: 12:36 AM Posts: 825 Offline	sure you can get them, but it will be hard to pass all the DOT regulations. i import RHD crx/s14s/soarer/da/dc and a few other cars, so i know most of the rules. i would recommend against it. but then again if you have so much money you dont know what to do with, send me a PM 2003 CR MCS and 2007 CR MCS (on order)

Oct 20th, 2003, 08:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
red03miniS MINI2 Master Join Date: May 2003 Location: ca Local Time: 12:36 AM Posts: 825 Offline	well with 25K, you can certainly not get the RHD new mini cooper S. secondly on cars 25 years or older (your MGB) the govt has almost no rules, so its super easy for those cars. thirdly, search on google for DOT and NHSTA rules for your state. if you live in cali or on the west coast i can give you the dirt. lastly, motorex sells skyline gt-r's for 90K in the usa, when they buy the cars for 30K in japan, there is a reason i am in school and not enough time to time currently 2003 CR MCS and 2007 CR MCS (on order)

Oct 21st, 2003, 02:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
ice MINI2 Master Join Date: May 2003 Location: Connecticut Local Time: 12:36 AM Posts: 929 Offline	My second car was a RHD 1966 Lotus Elan SE. It too a while to get used to shifting with my left hand and I got pretty good at flipping quarters over the roof to pay tolls (before I realized it was easier to just drive under the gates) but the tough thing was passing. Having to go way out into oncoming traffic to see if a car is coming was crazy. Click Here For Coolness 2003 LY/B JCW-S

Oct 21st, 2003, 06:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
wmd MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CO Local Time: 06:36 PM Posts: 192 Offline	Ask the man who owns one ..or rather did own one. Don Racine of MiniMania imported a RHD MINI in Aug 2001 as an aftermarket development car, before they started making LHD export models. Go to http://new.minimania.com and send him an e-mail or phone him. I know that it couldn't be licensed for the street and he had to export it out of the country after one year. But I'm sure he could enlighten you on the process or at least guide you on who to contact. Also take a look at the NHTSA site for their rules on exemptions for Show/Display cars: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/showdisplay/ Interesting to note that the last 50 2000 Rover MiniS are elgible for importation under this loophole, a fact that I didn't know about.

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Oct 20th, 2003, 07:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
littlebt MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2003 Local Time: 12:36 AM Posts: 4 Offline	its not ever a matter of having to much money its just that i figure im spending $25,000 i might as well make it what i want. with the mgb it wasnt a problem its a 74 ( made the same month i was born ) and i was about the 10th owner. where would i start looking on my local laws on getting one in as a right hand drive and making it pass the dot?

Oct 20th, 2003, 09:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
littlebt MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2003 Local Time: 12:36 AM Posts: 4 Offline	thanks for the info im stuck in the midwest for the next few years i will look into dot regs and see whats going to be involved with getting a right hand drive i would love to have one but its not worth a lot more to me then a left hand model

Oct 20th, 2003, 11:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
Minimum MINI2 Something or Other Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Oregon Local Time: 05:36 PM Posts: 307 Offline	I'm curious why you want right hand drive, unless maybe you're a rural mail carrier.

Oct 21st, 2003, 10:28 AM	#7 (permalink)
Grings MINI2 Master Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hampshire Local Time: 01:36 AM Posts: 1,194 Offline	Strange how laws vary worldwide. No problem with driving a LHD over in the UK. You might pay a little more for insurance and it would be harder to sell, but about 20% of the 911's I see here are LHD. Sorry can't help though - just an observation

Oct 22nd, 2003, 02:04 AM	#10 (permalink)
chiph Spectator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Raleigh, NC Local Time: 08:36 PM Posts: 1,563 Offline	I think it's because other than some of the Carribean islands, the Americas are LHD. So there's no reason for the US DOT to accomodate a RHD car. Chip H. ex-MINI Cooper S owner and all around good-guy

Oct 22nd, 2003, 02:18 AM	#11 (permalink)
stryder Sponsor/Moderator/Other Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Cleveland Local Time: 07:36 PM Posts: 3,267 Offline	Its not a stupid question, and its been asked before, but its just not realistic. 1. The US is one of the cheaper places to buy MINIs if you convert the costs into $ 2. You won't be able to drive it, just own it as chiph has shown 3. Its a ton of work for what would probably be more of a gimmick then anything actually useful. Its not like you can't get the car in the US, you'd have spent lots of time and energy on something that's at best very cool and unique. Is it worth it for you? It may be, but doesn't seem even on the radar for most people. Magic 8-ball was correct. All be in awe of Magic 8 ball.

Oct 22nd, 2003, 03:30 AM	#12 (permalink)
swamos MINI Traitor Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Brisbane, Australia Local Time: 10:36 AM Posts: 4,985 Offline	Maybe you could get a RHD Australian model with the BIG tacho in the middle

Oct 22nd, 2003, 03:16 PM	#13 (permalink)
littlebt MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2003 Local Time: 12:36 AM Posts: 4 Offline	well i guess that answers that i did some more looking and found that it will cost more and be more hassel then its worth. i got one lead on a clasic rhd mini that i might try to pick up im just not sure how i would fit in the car. that is always a concern for me im 6' 6" and 300 pounds so i have to worry about being able to fit and drive the car i buy. thanks for all the input again i will post when i get my lhd new mini and if i get the clasic rhd ill let you guys see it

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