HEY...KEITH.EDWARDS. MINI COOPER AND MINI TEAR DROP

Can you do some post and pics of your setup at this year's challenge?

I bought well. I have had the teardrop since 2011. Many road trips with this MINI, often pulling this trailer.

The car did pretty well in the autocross events, thanks in part to the wheels and tires that my team mate, Jayson West, brought.

Here's a link to photos from MINI Takes The States 2018 https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Bl-LlHnZ9-zuW8WZHs7od7oDl1PObFtM?usp=sharing

Here's the text from my description from my Challenge binder

In December 2016, I bought this 2003 MINI Cooper to "rescue" it from being traded-in at the dealer. My wife and I already had 2 early MINI Coopers, but just had to have another.

I received a lot of paperwork on the car, from the first and successive owners.

It was towed to the dealer for reported flood damage, from September 2006. Found no oil in engine, and hole in side of block, from water ingestion. Total cost $8943.

Bumper, hood, front panel, left headlight replaced October 2008,

I have had to do very little to this MINI. One of the first upgrades was a trailer hitch to tow my Little Guy Rascal teardrop trailer. I towed it from Virginia to MINIs On The Dragon at Deal's Gap in 2017 and from Florida to Deal's Gap in 2018.

I drove it on progressively longer trips, to make sure everything was reliable.

I drove it from Virginia to Florida in 2017, towing a small enclosed cargo trailer full of furniture and car parts.

In May 2018, I drove from Florida to Long Island, NY, and back, for a family vacation. This was over about 6 weeks.

In July 2018, I towed my teardrop all around Florida for the biennial MINI Takes Florida rally, followed by MINI Takes The States, from Orlando, FL to Keystone, CO and back to Florida. This was my third MINI Takes The States, driving a different early MINI Cooper for each.

I bought the teardrop in 2011. It is a 2008 model, having been towed from NC to Sturgis by the previous owner. I towed with a Del Sol, a CRX, and an Acura SLX before I bought my MINI to tow it with.

Current miles on this MINI is >216,000 miles.

This MINI is still looking for her name. She has been extremely reliable.

Options

Sport

Antiskid system, sport seats, fog lights, rear spoiler

Premium

Automatic climate control, active-carbon interior air filter, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls, power sunroof, trip computer.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/2003-MINI-Cooper-Trims-c2844

Thanks! Wow. 216,000 miles. Kind of defeats the myth that they're not reliable. Thanks for all the photographs. What an adventure. How much does the teardrop weigh? How is it out fitted?

All 3 of our early MINIs have been very reliable, for us. That's why we still have them, still. Teardrop weighs 460 lb, empty. It's really just a bed, 2 small cabinets, and a little storage in the hatch. I am not inclined to store anything heavy toward the rear, to avoid any tendency to sway.

We have taken some great trips with it. When my wife and her 2 little dogs go camping , coordination is required before rolling over.,,

In reply to keithedwards :

Great story. As for a name may I suggest the female heroine Indian princess Minnehaha from Longfellows epic The Song of Hiawatha? Minnehaha translated from the native DakoTa Sioux language means laughing water or flowing water.  Which is kind of appropriate given the car's flood history. I guess you could spell it           m i n i h a h a

Reminds me of a Matchbox toy, named Mini HaHa

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Matchbox-Superfast-14-Mini-HaHa-Dated-1975-Mini-Cooper/362425087164?hash=item546237f4bc:g:h54AAOSwXFFbiBNl:rk:3:pf:0

I have a Mini HaHa, but it has been played with a bit.

Our MINIs haven't told me their names yet, but I hear some whispers including Tow Mater. Since I tow with both a red MINI and a green MINI, they could be Red Tow Mater and Green Tow Mater.

Attached is a picture from 2 weeks ago in Orlando

Let's never hope you have to name the green one fried green tomatoes after an engine fire. LOL

I've had a hankering in the back of my mind for a mini as a knock around town kind of car. Given some physical problems I would want a automatic. Probably a non S car just to keep it simple. You got any advice? Years to look for, years to avoid?

My last five or six daily drivers have been BMWs mostly 5 Series. And I've owned a Porsche 911 4 over 20 years. So I'm kind of used to maintenance demands.

In reply to Ovid_and_Flem :

My only real hands-on experience is with 1st generation base-model MINIs. That's 2002-2006 for US models, non-convertibles, non-S. Apparently all the base-model Coopers with automatic transmissions are CVTs, which have been problematic and non-repairable (generally). The Ss used a decent automatic transmission. My cars have all been 5-speeds.

I have heard a little about which 2nd gen MINIs are more reliable, but I have no real experience with them.

BTW, a trailer hitch for a Cooper S can be much more expensive than a hitch for a base-model. That factored in my decision to buy base-models.

Driving MINIs can be a lot of fun. Plus, they come with friends.

In reply to keithedwards :

Be aware that we have called our Mini's

Minihaha since 1988 and we are also in central Fl.

We don't mind sharing but our race car and pickup and now our panel van all carry that plate.

Pat Clark

minihaha

Very cool read. Thanks.

thanks for sharing guys! i want to get a similar teardrop with AC to tow behind my Focus ST.