Waiting for a friend to get here. AMA?

"ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability" (italianjobr53)
11/01/2018 at 20:03 • Filed to: None

Changed my engine oil, now wanna change the gearbox oil but the drain pan is full. I’m too lazy to jack down the car and then up again, so I called a friend to take me to AutoZone.

DISCUSSION (11)

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
11/01/2018 at 20:16

Dont have more than one drain pan? Gear oil also should not be a whole lot of liquid, its only like a couple of quarts right? Could always dump it into a bowl or something ghetto like that.

How has reliability been on the Mini? 2010 MCS that I rented was probably one of my favorite cars I have driven. Even though it had bald runflats and leaked 1 qt of oil per 500 miles, I enjoyed the hell out of it in the canyons. Getting nearly 500 miles to a tank of gas was the wildest part to me, making it from SF to LA and only needing to stop to add oil was surprising to me. If it wasnt for my AWD requirement, I would have considered one when I was shopping for my STi.

XJDano > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
11/01/2018 at 20:27

Fill empty oil quarts with used oil. Buying 5 quart jugs makes it easy.

And a reminder I need to but 2 jugs boxer time to fill the single quarts. (Van takes 6quarts)

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
11/01/2018 at 23:08

My 2013 is actually one of the more reliable cars I’ve had.

Kinja'd!!!

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
11/01/2018 at 23:15

Is this typ ical Mini? yes.

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > MiniGTI - now with XJ6
11/01/2018 at 23:16

I dont belie ve you

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
11/02/2018 at 07:21

I just have one drain pan which I bought yesterday. I was doing a top side oil change using a fluid extractor coz the Mini didn’t come with a jack (run flats ) and I didn’t have a garage to keep a hydraulic jack till bout a month-ish ago. Yes engine and trans oil would have fit into the drain pan but I have a tendency to spill fluid everywhere so was being extra cautious .

My Mini has been extremely reliable! I got it last year with 163k miles on it and now it has 197k. I spent about $2k have a specialist shop service the SC, change the water pump, replace the radiator housing foam, low speed fan resistor, a bearing, tie rod end, LCA bushings and some more stuff that I forgot at 180k miles. I think that was fair coz at that milage such stuff does tend to go bad. Oil consumption is pretty good, about 1qt every 2500 miles. Haven’t had any issues from the engine and I do drive it hard every day to work. Ooh and is it fun! I’ve driven a modern WRX and I will take my Mini over it any day, much more flickable and the SC whine is addictive. I get about 27mpg on highway, IDK bout city, probably 15ish since I’m constantly using the boost.

I would suggest you test drive a 1st Gen S, it’s certainly more, for the lack of a better word, hardcore than a MK4,5 GTI or a Na, Nb miata.

They are cheap here in the Midwest, $4 5k for a car with 130, 150k miles on it.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > XJDano
11/02/2018 at 07:22

I didn’t have a garage till bout a month ago, so I would throw away all the 5qt containers. I'll start hoarding them now.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner
11/02/2018 at 07:22

For you it is, not so much for me.

diplodicus > XJDano
11/02/2018 at 08:10

I use a 5gal bucket. Easier to make the hole and I don’t have to go to the parts store as often.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
11/02/2018 at 10:56

Certainly worth checking out! I'm sure I'd enjoy the older one even more. That was the one car that truly made my Miata feel slow. Especially since it handled and steered very similarly. In terms of just outright speed, I'm happier with the STi but that Mini handled like a dream! Is the clutch always difficult in the minis too or was it just my particular example that was beat? I found it stalled real easily at parking lot speeds and I've never had that trouble with other cars.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
11/02/2018 at 11:40

Its certainly faster than a stock M iata (any gen ) on the street coz of all the torque. You never need to go above 5k, not that you cannot.

I wouldn’t know about the clutch, mine is sqeaky since its pretty old. Still grabs well tho. It is the most difficult clutch that I’ve had to use in all the cars that I have driven (C6Z51, C5Z06, Viper, WRX, GTI MK7.5, NA NB ND Miatas, etc ) .

Ooh and my Mini has the best shifter throw feel I have ever experienced as well. Decently short but very direct.

P.S.: There is a single-mass flywheel conversion out there which retails for $300ish which makes it more easier is what I’ve heard. I’ll change those thingies next year...