I was thinking, maybe when I rebuild my motor I could install a pulley with a slightly larger diameter so that it's not supercharging that much. I really don't seem to need all the horsepower it has right now and maybe the car would last little little longer until the next rebuild.

 

Have you thought about trading your R53 for an R50 (naturally aspirated) MINI instead?

 

I have also driven naturally aspirated MINI's , But I really like this car. and granted in the last 20 days of driving around, my average speed was 17 miles an hour(sigh). it's been all kinds of weather out here and HORRIBLE traffic.

The last time I remember going faster than 50 in the past month was a brief three-mile stretch on 217(a Oregon Hwy.)

It really makes me want to take off to Bend(300 miles away) Even in the rain I'd rather be driving in the rain than just sitting here in front of the screen flipping bits.