Perfect MINI!

[lightbody]

I'm hyper-critical of my cars - they need to be perfect - and my last MINI was far, far from perfect..

So imagine my surprise and delight, 8 months after purchasing "Dennis", that he is still ENTIRELY fault-free and hasn't been back to the dealer since the day he rolled out of the showroom!

Coming up in 10 days or so is a trip to Spain, heavily loaded with stuff, aircon on etc... so we'll see how he does then!

[GAJ]

I hope you have touched wood!;)

[Scottie]

:eek:famous last words;)

[Heather]

I have every faith that Denis will not let Rob down. It cant!!! He is the support car!;)

[lightbody]

I'm back!

Dennis ran absolutely perfectly and is about to be treated to some post-trip TLC as a reward. The only fault was that one of the buttons for a map reading light has fallen off!

About 1850 miles completed in temperatures of up to 35 degrees (and rarely below 28). Average of 39.2mpg which isn't bad considering it had a very heavy load the whole time and the aircon was on almost constantly.

Driving through desert landscapes with cactuses and not a lot of green in a convoy of minis (3 classics and me) was slightly surreal - as was the blast of heat when you opened the window for even a split-second!

The difference in performance between Scottish and Spanish temperatures was dramatically noticeable - even with the aircon off.

Spanish drivers are crazy and seem to speed up for roundabouts and cruise constantly at over 100 about 2 inches off the car in front...

Driving in Bilbao was simply terrifying - especially when the trams started coming at us from different directions and we wandered into one of the more ... err... "interesting" areas by mistake!

I'll post some pics once i've found the best of the 430 that i took...

[Craig]

glad to here you made it back safe and sound.:D I will no doubt speak to you soon and get all the gossip.;)

Craig

[KenL]

Sounds like a great trip Rob.

[lightbody]

http://www.roblightbody.com/bits/Spain05%20328E.jpg

http://www.roblightbody.com/bits/Spain05%20278E.jpg

http://www.roblightbody.com/bits/Spain05%20270E.jpg

http://www.roblightbody.com/bits/Spain05%20366E.jpg

[Moonshine]

love the sombreros!!!
gerry

[N12 JLK]

pictures look cool:cool::cool::cool: need my shades to looking at them, wish i was there, did you go to the thisle run to dunoon i was number 118 in the chillie red 05 cooper if you were

[Heather]

quote:Originally posted by lesley12

did you go to the thisle run to dunoon i was number 118 in the chillie red 05 cooper if you were

Rob was one of the organisers so you would have seen him at the reception desk in a kilt, at the top of a hill directing cars in a kilt and wandering about the car park, in a kilt! Not to be confused with craig who read out the briefing and gave away the prizes, also in a kilt! The photos are great Rob, and I am pleased it all went without incident. Incidently, the Spanish are NOT the only people who speed up for roundabouts;)

[Duncan Stewart]

Super photos Rob :D

[Crombers]

Looks like a fab trip & the photo's are ace :approve:

[The Dogfather]

Great photos Rob.......

How much fuel did you use though? Is it any cheaper on the continent?

[lightbody]

I used a tank to get to Portsmouth (440 miles), and another one to get down to Salou (350 with some left over). The same again coming back. I think its about 1/4 cheaper over there, maybe slightly more than that.
I was cruising at about 70 a lot of the time because that suited the others - he was claiming to be doing about 54mpg at that time (in 34 degree heat with the aircon on).