inconsistant

Thanks, I think you're right. Coincidentally someone posted this yesterday on one of the FB R52 groups, which is pretty much the colour I was thinking. I think I like them more the colour they are, so they shall stay silver.

Time for a mini Mini update. Haven't used it much, mainly due to OMGfakepetrolcrisis and only having 15miles range and no petrol locally. Took it in to a local friend of friend's garage who fitted a full exhaust system from the cat back for a very good price. Standard exhausts for the R52/R53 Cooper S seem to be about £330 so even a very good price is still really expensive. Also he couldn't get the tailpipes off the old exhaust so had to order a new pair at £40. At least they look amazing now! Also got the split driveshaft boot replaced while he had it, so that's both MOT advisories sorted. He had it for over a week as we were in no rush for it back, but I was really missing it and got quite excited when I got a call to collect it. Filled the tank (230miles range from £65 of petrol according to the dash) and had a mild hoon home. 22mpg. Oops. I've ordered a spare wheel, at the moment it will live at home rather than in the car, as there's no where to put it. I think it will fit in the boot with the parcel shelf in the higher position, but then the roof won't go down, so what's the point? Except winter is approaching so maybe it could go in the boot. OMG never had a convertible, and never had a car with no room for a spare before. So many unique owner challenges, how exciting! From reading the owners manual I found out a few exciting things: 1. You need the key to unlock the rear seats from inside before you can fold the seat backs down. I tried this on both seats and that was why only one would fold the other day. I don't understand the logic of this, as you need access to the boot to release the (fake Marina door) handles to fold them so it doesn't make sense as a security measure to stop access to the boot if you parked up with the roof down. 2. There's a 12v outlet in the boot, but it's hidden from view so you'd never find it by accident. 3. I worked out where the tool kit hooks on. Well, I checked out what RR said above. Kind of obvious really but it took me a while to realise. 4. Finally, and most excitingly, I also discovered you can fold the roof from outside the car using the buttons on the key. After unlocking the car, another press and hold opens the sunroof bit, and a further hold puts the whole roof down. Only the first sunroof bit worked when I tried it, I'm guessing (+hoping) because the battery is low on charge (showing 12.2v but still starts first time) there must be a clever sensor stopping it. So next job is to order a new battery. Halfords want £112 for a this high power Yuasa battery but this place have them for £75 delivered, which is a decent price I reckon and should avoid any non starts on cold mornings over winter. And finally, I succumbed and gave it a quick wash. It looks lovely. The black is growing on me. Unfortunately it now highlights how bad the wheels look. A bloke locally did the V70 Dark Beast wheels when we got it and they looked amazing, (and still would if it wasn't for all the kerbing since). He was very reasonable too so will get them done asap. Question is, same silver colour or a bit darker? I like how the Dark Beast looks with grey wheels but I wouldn't want people thinking we cared enough to have colour coordinated our cars. On the other hand, the V70 could be up for sale soon, so can't decide. More unique owner challenges!

Im actually tempted to go and have a look at this as its only 30 mins away. Does the intermittent ‘slight power loss’ sound fixable or is this the beginning of the end?

Someone buy this v70 D5, fix it and sell it to me please, I need that interior in my life. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234205609479?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

2-tone brown Nissan Prairie

Ftfy

Ooh thanks, I took these photos at a motor show in the 80s and beyond guessing Peugeot from the shape of the headlight had no idea what it was. Mystery solved!

Perth? I thought that was where women with lisps kept their money. (t.vine). glwtc

Im going to re create this photo from the 70s fuel crisis by queuing up to put petrol in my lawnmower.

Wishing you a smooth collection. Had any noteworthy bowel movements yet?

First week of ownership update. Took it for a 15-20 mile economy run along the M25 the other evening and was pleasantly surprised it showed a bit over 40mpgs at a steady 70. Not sure how accurate the read out is though. On the way back it showed 35mpgs on A roads sticking to speed limits of 30/40/50 as I went through villages/towns. On the odd occasions I hoofed it I couldn’t believe how quickly the av. mpg readout dropped. I’d imagine an excitable driver could get down to low 20s mpgs fairly easily. It's such a laugh when you wind it up though!After the few times I’ve driven it this week the av mpg is showing about 31-32 which is fine I reckon. I also like that it does almost 70 in 2nd gear. Having driven the 924 at the weekend this couldn’t be more different: short stubby and upright feeling with the screen miles from you, with an urgency to have some fun, and easy peasy to manoeuvre and park in tight spaces, whereas the 924 is low and long and pointy and feels smooth and relaxed on the road but needs a fair bit of effort at parking speeds. They may be the perfect combo of fun cars!I love that the Mini’s heater heats up quickly and is nice and hot, so I’m enjoying driving with heat on feet & just the the first bit of the roof open. Like this: Picked up a microwave for a friend, and it had to go on the back seat so it’s not going to be a load lugger by any means, although I am surprised how much room there is for an adult on the back seat, at least behind the passenger. From poking, prodding and pulling things at the back I’ve found out that oddly the rear seat backs fold (well one does the other one doesn’t, I think it needs convincing) and also that you can lift the bottom of the hood very slightly to make the boot hole slightly bigger. It's bizarre: either I’m missing the point or it should open much wider but doesn’t. There's also a hinged parcel shelf you can see level with half way up the seat back that doesn't seem to bring much to the party. Found the locking wheel nut and found where it lives in the tiny tool kit down the side of the battery. The little No9 shaped wire pull thing looks like it's for removing wheel nut covers so they might be missing?Jack comes in a handy bag with hooks but I can’t figure out where it hooks onto. Time to have a read of the owners manual to find out what everything does. Especially that handle on the inside of the boot. I’m sure if I pull it will release a parachute or something. TL:DR… OMG I absolutely love this car! I hope it behaves itself as I’d love it to be a keeper! ----- Edit to add, found the links so popping them here: Parts numbers & assembly drawings: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partgrp?id=RH32-EUR-09-2006-R52-Mini-Cooper_S Mini 2002-2006 service manual: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx1GXoE0BrzXRmhSVDAtQTV6dVU/view?fbclid=IwAR1_MkdCsCp2BTrSWxVPLI7xlKyJTLaUZbuiH8QjgbCQfm4zqxEBVPfvbJg&resourcekey=0-mFwY-c6Pp5GRJBcDDgsrXw

Friday is quietest. Usually queues to get in as it opens on Sat, and it gets rammed by lunchtime. So busy its hard to impossible to move around and see cars in some halls. Forget trying to take photos without people between you and the cars! 2nd half of afternoon quietens down a lot so you'll see more in the last hour that the rest of the day if your feet can stand to stay until the end. Sunday also busy. It is brilliant though, every year there are some truely amazing obscure or unusual cars that make it all worth it, and there is a lot to see. My parking tips are to either park in the nec car park and wait until the barrier people go home then drive out, or last year I parked in the station/airport car park which was cheaper than nec but quite a walk (20mins?) along walkways and corridors through to the classic show halls. premier Inns Holiday Inn type hotels around, try places 30 mins away like Tamworth? for cheaper rooms, ones near NEC get booked up/evpensive Finally, I believe people say the Porsche 924 Owners Club always have the best stand with the most interesting cars and the friendliest people.

All sidewhalls R shit.

Mmm lovely!