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View Full Version : Last straw with MINICHI!


MidnightDave
December 5th, 2009, 10:36 AM
MINICHI left me stranded in rush hour traffic last night, so once it's back from Hendrick, she's for sale.:thumbdown:

Clutch issues. 1-2 shift, loud twang, nothing doing! Can saw the gear box fine. Clutch pedal has no effect. Couldn't synch into 2nd with rev matching b/c it's like the clutch is disengaged for good.

Fortunately, self declared casual Fri, so right clothes to push a light car. Not fun. MINI USA had a flat bed there quick. Towed it to Hendrick.

When my SAAB Viggen did this to me, I drove it directly from picking it up to the Toyota dealer and traded straight up for my Taco. We'll see what happens this time--nothing I really want on the market right now...
BlimeyCabrio
December 5th, 2009, 10:54 AM
Poor little abused car.

I hope it finds a good home.
:yu:
N2MINI
December 5th, 2009, 11:00 AM
Hate to hear that Dave. guess you decided against the 370Z car??
They have them on discount up my way..
onefastmini
December 5th, 2009, 12:43 PM
Sorry to hear that, Dave. Let me know if I can help
wildcrazy442000
December 5th, 2009, 02:03 PM
Hey Dave, Sorry to hear about MINICHI. Good luck on your car search.
minimark
December 5th, 2009, 02:23 PM
:sad:
BThayer23
December 5th, 2009, 03:38 PM
Check the clutch slave cylinder. Symptoms include those you mentioned, plus dripping brake fluid near the front of the car.

Sucks that MINICHI let you down. =(

http://www.motoringalliance.com/library/1st-generation-mini-cooper-how-to-3/how-to-replace-a-clutch-slave-cylinder-and-bleed-the-clutch-56/
MidnightDave
December 6th, 2009, 02:22 PM
@Ben, it's not mine to check, we're still under warranty, so this is Hendrick's problem...
@Paul, the wifey said the same thing! She also told me to stay away from her car! ;-)
@Mark, for some reason, I really chilled on the 370Z, I was so close and then backed off when I decided to get a motocross bike, and then got busier then <insert metaphor--or cuss words> at work and just now coming up for air, and this happens. Am going to get the bike, maybe I'll play with that till spring and see what bug bites me?
@All, I will really miss the drives and events and I'm so glad to have expanded my circle of friends to include you great MINI peeps--regardless of what we drive as time goes by...
1QukMINI
December 6th, 2009, 03:07 PM
Dave, sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, some have problems like this with all cars. I myself, have had very few problems with mine, besides getting the power steering pump replaced, and a few little small things, I've had no real serious issues at 130k miles, almost 70k I have put on it myself. I hate it for you, though. You're a great part of the MINI community, and it would suck to not have you a part.
(On a side note, it was GREAT to see you at my event/barista bash/latte art throwdown last month. It really was, I wish I could have talked more, and am glad you had a good time.)
BThayer23
December 6th, 2009, 05:35 PM
@Dave: Come play with us again sometime, MINI or no MINI.
Nascar Mini
December 7th, 2009, 06:51 AM
Dave, good luck in the search. Sorry to hear you leaving us,as because of our Mini's, i made a great friend,please stay in touch and let me know what mode of transport you choose.
Bill
MidnightDave
December 7th, 2009, 09:43 PM
Drive shaft came out! WTHeck? I think my car was built on a Monday after a long weekend or something...
wildcrazy442000
December 8th, 2009, 05:26 PM
Drive shaft came out! WTHeck? I think my car was built on a Monday after a long weekend or something...

:big_boss:Or driven really, really hard!:bye:
BThayer23
December 8th, 2009, 11:39 PM
Wow. That's fairly impressive.
Max Headroom
December 9th, 2009, 10:00 AM
Yikes Dave! No halfway measures for you and Minichi! Sorry to hear about the troubles. One alternative is that you could sell Minichi to Kiwigould and me for $500 so we could enter it in the Chump Car series! Just a suggestion ......:big_boss:
BlimeyCabrio
December 9th, 2009, 10:23 AM
Sounds like a good 24 Hours of LeMons car at that price.
MidnightDave
December 10th, 2009, 12:38 AM
My buddy in ATL SO wants us to enter a car in 24/LeMons, and where did we settle on $500 for MINICHI? The new left drive shaft is worth more than that! ;-)
Max Headroom
December 10th, 2009, 10:26 AM
Oh yea, understood! But the rules for the Chump Car series (aren't they the ones that run the 24 Hour of Le Mons?) is that the purchase price of your car must be $500 or less. I'm still trying to come up with a scheme in which you could get the car fixed, sell it to me and Kiwigould for $450 or $500 taking a HUGE loss, and then use the sale as a massive tax write off! That way you won't lose your shirt (OK, maybe just the buttons) and you can see MINICHI go on to racing glory (or beat all to hell by a bunch of jealous, barely running Miatas). YES!!! It'll be 1960's Monte Carlo all over again!!

No really, it will be. :blink:

Gary
jcauseyfd
December 10th, 2009, 11:30 AM
beat all to hell by a bunch of jealous, barely running Miatas

That is the likely outcome if they saw that shiny MINICHI come out to the track. Unless some good fabricators and painters could slap some really good camouflage on it.
Max Headroom
December 10th, 2009, 01:49 PM
If we can't get MINICHI, then perhaps this might be another alternative:

http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/246055/crashed_pagani_zonda.html

A little front end work and mount some sort of bogus non-carbon fiber "boy racer" type nose on it and we're in like Flynt! So Mr. "Embarrassed in Hong Kong", take the insurance money and sell it to us for $500 US. :yes4: