Category: My MINI

Carrie drove her 30,000th mile this morning somewhere around Jacumba. She had new tyres fitted on the weekend, no more run-flats and the ride is definitely improved, as it was with the previous MINI.

In other news, it looks like I have finally sold the Jeep. Almost all the proceeds will go to shortening the payment schedule on Carrie but I may siphon some off for a new head unit. Apart from the poor quality of the sound of the stock unit, I quite fancy one that can do iPod and XM as well. I already have XM via the CD changer converter so hopefully whatever I find can handle that too.

I don’t like it when the low gas light is on; my wife drives me crazy by letting the needle get real close to empty when we’re in the Camry. Its never in doubt but for sure I get real antsy.

So yesterday driving to the apartment the needle is real low, light is on. OBC says 30 miles. Traffic is bad so consumption is terrible, OBC goes down to 20. I change plans and get off the freeway thinking a gas station must be near but I have to go through several miles of residential streets. 15 miles now, heart is racing, I decide that I will fill up no matter what price I find (local gas station that morning was 2.57).

I see a gas station and its 3.09!! Holy crap, I figure I’ll push it rather than buy gas there. It was so deserted that I’m not even sure it was open. Another two blocks and the next place is 2.67, good enough for me and Carrie gets filled up. I think that is the lowest I’ve ever run the tank and I did not like it.

I’m stopped at a stop light, vaguely aware of a large MPV in the lane to my left but he is stopped at least halfway down the length of my MINI. I use this light all the time from work and it is notoriously slow to change. The change to green catches me by surprise. The X5 accelerates a little past me while I get my usual slow start in first. By the time I am in second our front bumpers are level. Just as I go to shift into third (yes, I shift gears too early, hard habit to break) I can sense the X5 wants over. There’s a right turn into a small strip mall which he wants and he’s pissed that I beat him to it. He breaks hard, pulls over to turn, flashes his lights, beeps his horn etc etc.

Now, this turn can be no more than 2000 feet from the stop light. What person in any kind of right mind thinks they will get to the turn in an X5 before me with time to change lanes? The MINI has been around long enough for people to know that its not a slouch, so why did this idiot think he could get there fast enough?

I swear that every day of driving here makes me wish I lived somewhere else.

On a whim yesterday I decided to go to this year’s MINI Vacation in Vegas. I went to the very first AMVIV in 2004 so it will be interesting to see how it has evolved. I am pleased to say that the wife will be coming with me this time so that will be a big plus.

I’ve decided to get the pulley modification done while I’m there, Randy is coming out of retirement just for this event. This will be the third time I’ve had this modification scheduled, fingers crossed that it will actually happen this time. Other highlights will probably be the trip to Death Valley (somewhere I’ve always wanted to go), and the Poker Run on the Saturday morning.

Also planning to check out the new Phantom of the Opera show at the Venetian. I saw the original in London many years ago and this new, shortened, version is supposed to be a lot tighter and more enjoyable.

On the way into work today, passed through 26,000 miles giving me average of about 1700 miles a month.

Driving home last night, I went to add some warmth to the air and realised I couldn’t see the climate controls, not any of them. In between the toggles and the radio there is a black hole of nothingness. A kind person on the SCMM board went out to their MCS and checked their interior lighting for me – yep, their controls and buttons are all nicely backlit, so it looks like I have a fault. I did actually notice this last winter but at the time decided it was because I didn’t have the brightness up, so I don’t know if this was broken day one or not. I do have Ian’s auto-up circuit installed so perhaps I broke something installing it (though thats hard to imagine). I will have it looked at during my Inspection I which is probably going to be Feb time. Will probably have to remove the auto-up beforehand, just in case.

I’ve had the Euro Parcel Shelf in the MINI pretty much since day one but due to problems getting the screws and washer-thingies lined up with the shelf I never actually secured it, always planned to go back and try a few days later. Well, its a year later and its still not done. Question is, do I know where those tiny screws are after all this time?!

I’ve complained before about the beeping of the reverse sensor warning, tonight it was annoying me again. Trying to parallel park in a space plenty big enough but its dark and cars coming up the hill have their beams blinding me. And my back window is filthy. I’m sure I have more space but the beeping is loud, at one point it is continuous which I assume means I’m micro-millimetres from hitting something. So I stop and begin an awful back and forth to get closer to the kerb (I am anal about how close I like to be). Maybe the sound saved me from breaking something? Or maybe it made me look clueless? I’ll never know.

Finally back from Tokyo, car is filthy from being stuck in the airport car park for two weeks (and $160 ouch!). Ill get it hand washed tomorrow by my favourite Mexican.

The weather has cooled nicely in the Valley so Friday I decided to drive home with the top down. Nice and warm in San Diego, got to the mountains and it got cooler of course. It got down to 54F with a vicious windchill but I braved the numbness in my body parts rather than that stopping to put the top back up – if I do it again, I need more than a t-shirt and shorts on. Once I got down to the valley floor, the temps were a lovely 78F, the feeling came back into my hands and all was good again. XM even played Billy Bragg’s New England so I cranked it up and enjoyed the rest of the drive.

It seems to be rant week on my regular blog so I thought I’d have a mini-whine here.

• I love the keyless top-opening feature, makes people go ooh and aah. But the range on the key is such that even if you walk real slow it would be quicker to get in the car and use the button. A few evenings this week I’ve left the office thinking I’ll open the roof as I walk up but I can barely get the sunroof portion open by the time I get to the door.
• Every time I switch between top up and top down I have to adjust the rearview mirror just a little. In these days of memorising cars, it would be sweet if the mirror could adjust itself for me.

Like I said, minor things. I still love her, but we could all use a little constructive criticism 🙂