UKPylot’s MINI Blog

Heard on CNN this morning that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety had released a new report on the safety of mini cars and they specifically mentioned the MINI Cooper has being highlighted for poor rear safety.

You can find a summary of the report or go here for a bunch of links about the study. Bottom line is that the MINI (up to and including the ‘06 models) scored Good for front protection, Acceptable for side, and Marginal for the rear. Contrast this with the Nissan Versa that was top with Good protection all around, and the Hyundai Accent/Kia Rio which finished last with Acceptable front, Poor side and rear.

Update: GBMini posted a good debunking of the report; Motoringfile posted a link and, of course, the MINI fanboys got their knickers in a twist that someone dare say something negative about our precious tin cans.

By now everyone and their dog has configured a 2007 MINI or two on the new configurator, of course I am no different. Two things I found interesting in the options list: the folding mirrors are finally available, and you will be able to get a lifetime Sirius radio subscription, no notice of cost for that one.

Off to England on Thursday so this blog and my others will be even more dull than usual until I return at the beginning of December.

[Update:] Decided to bite the bullet and go for the pulley install while the Webb-meister is still around. Sunday, May 7th 11.00 am, Carrie will be getting a little bit faster.

Was reading today that the infamous Pulley Parties by Randy Webb are coming to an end, only three left (LA, SFO and CIN) before he hangs up his pulley removal tool. Not sure of the reason (I suspect his real business is keeping him from touring the country to do the parties) but its a bummer as I want to get the 15% pulley at some point, but had figured I’d wait a year or so. I either have to get it done May 7th when he is in LA or find someone else who can do it when the time comes.

Whilst looking at the Google Analytics report for my little site today that almost 50% of my traffic comes from the excellent MINI ‘news’ portal GoMotoring.com. They’ve recently added a new site to their family: MotoringCards.com which lets you send a motoring-themed e-card. There are some excellent pictures to choose from so send a loved one a card today.

Google released their new google blog search today. My first search was for MINI Cooper blogs and whose blog was at the very top - Ian’s GBMini weblog!! Well done, Ian!

Sadly, this humble offering was not on the first page and neither was the rockin’ dbmini either!

However, if you search for ‘private pilot’ then my flying diary is the top related blog - whoo hoo!

AMVIV3 will be March 24-26, 2006 at the Palace Station. I think we’ll try to make it this time.

After boring me beyond tears with their woofcast devoted to tyres, the good folk at whiteroofradio.com have redeemed themselves with a great discussion with Randy Webb. I don’t know a throttle body from a hole in the ground but the technical info was cool to listen to.