Quiet Week

I haven’t died, just started a new job and could not remember how to login to the posting system here. Not that there is much to tell… the MINI is on a good running streak with no problems to report. The fuel guage was acting odd again last Sunday, started with a full tank but after 70 miles it showed well below the first mark; usually I get about 100 miles before the first mark. Went to the restrooms on the I-8 and when I got back in the car the guage was showing what I would expect, nowhere near the first mark. Second time something like this happened.

Saw a few MINIs in San Diego, one went by my hotel every morning when I was coming out, a red one with bonnet stripes, and I also met a member of the West Coast MINI group in Pacific Beach whilst stopped at a traffic light. I haven’t done anything with SCMM in a long time, maybe I shall and see what these guys are up to; they are supposed to be a lot more informal.

So What Does it Run?

When I was waiting to pick up my MINI a year ago, a fellow MINI-owner in the lounge told me that I would get tired of people asking me “so what does it run?”. And he was right, not a week passes without at least one person coming up to me and saying ‘so, what does that car run’. The obvious answer to the question is premim unleaded but, no, the question that is being asked is really how much does the car cost. Maybe its a Brit/US thing cos no way do I get that from the actual words that are used. So my answer: it runs pretty damned fine.

I’ve recently given up on the automatic air conditioning. The temps out here now are firmly in the low 100s and rising so I want to get cold air on me when I want it, not when the MINI thinks its a good time. I do like the auto a/c but right now its better to be able to control it myself.

Happy Anniversary!

Today marks the end of my first year of adoption and its been a very enjoyable year’s motoring. During that time I’ve done 21418 miles, mostly between Brawley and San Diego but there was also the one trip to Las Vegas. The car is great to drive though it hasn’t been without its faults: replaced the coolant reservoir, replaced the DSC unit, replaced the ABS unit, repaired a headlamp unit , and replaced the windscreen. So she’s not the most perfect specimen of her kind but I still love her like only a parent can. With my new job having me driving to San Diego and back a couple of times a week, I predict many more happy miles to come.

New Blog Format

Well, unless you are here infrequently (I know you all check this everyday!) you can’t have helped to notice that the site looks different. I’m still playing with the format and may go to something very simple later but for now this is how it is. Most importantly I am now using WordPress as Blogger was annoying me; props to DB for inspiring me.

Back from the inspection

I’m pleased to say that Brecht’s didn’t bat an eyelid when I asked if they would replace the windshield although it did mean coming home with the loaner and going back again today to pick the car up. Whilst I was there I also had them fix the driver door that would always slam shut on you when you tried to open it. 15,500 miles to the next service – driving to San Diego 1-2x a week should see us there pretty quickly. Only a few days before the anniversary of my adoption!

A Crack!

In the almost year that I’ve owned Sarah I’ve experienced many of the common faults but I’ve always been glad that I was spared the dreaded windshield crack that so many MINIs have suffered. Well, that was until today when I saw a 4 inch or so crack coming down from the top centre of the glass and then curling away toward the passenger side. The car is off to Brecht’s on Weds for the inspection, maybe I can persuade them to do it under warranty…. it doesn’t look like a stone chip, although the car is two years old now, I would have expected that to have happened by now.

Underpowered

I’ve long thought that my Cooper S is not really an S at all. I need to drive someone else’s to compare my car’s acceleration, maybe have someone drive mine and tell me what they think. Maybe I am expecting too much from a stock S but most every day I am left standing at the light by a pick-up truck or Geo Neon, and that just doesn’t seem right. Yesterday a Ford pickup out-accelerated me to 70mph, wtf?

Sarah is in for her 28K inspection on Wednesday, maybe I will ask them about it then.

In other news I have a new job, will start in San Diego August 9th.. maybe there will be some performance mods in Sarah’s future… but not until I’ve finished my Commercial pilot’s licence.