March 9, 2010:
Red, White, and … Black
Corvette, BMW, Audi … which car would you drive home in?
March 8, 2010:
Another Audi
My Q5 went back to IRA Audi today for them to (finally / successfully) fix the keyless entry; this time I got an A4 to drive for the day – thankfully, only about 25 miles in it, as it was nowhere near as nice to drive as the Q5!
The A4 felt cramped, with a much lower roof; and under-powered, with the 2.0T being very sluggish – though once or twice the turbo kicked in unexpectedly to accelerate after I’d got used to not! That’s even worse, I think.
Curiously, the Q4 interior / dash is identical to the non-nav Q5 I has as a loaner last time:
(compare with this)
Anyway, I have my Q5 back, and everything seems to work properly now 
February 25, 2010:
Comcast data usage re-visited
Just a quick note, confirming how hopeless this new Comcast “feature” is:
Comparing with last weeks post, apparently my data usage recently is ZERO! Apparently it’s possible to use 139GB in a month, 48GB in two weeks, but 0GB in a single week … amazing!
February 22, 2010:
The same, but different
My Q5 is in for service currently, to get the keyless entry system working again, addressing a couple of service bulletins, and hopefully eliminating a rattle from the back of the car, and so I’m driving … a Q5!
This Q5 is not the “prestige” spec, so doesn’t have the B&O sound system, or navigation – and it shows in the interior with lower quality displays and poorer sound (though really that’s a good thing; it’s nice to know I got something for the extra money I paid!)
All the stereo / display controls are crammed together above the heating controls, leaving a lot of empty space around the shifter – compare my Q5 picture (left) with the rental:
The main display, in the center of the car, is smaller – and updates noticeably slower when for example scrolling through the Sirius radio channels; but more noticeable is the small display between the dials, with this rental Q5 having a single red color display with much bigger pixels (or less aliasing); it just looks lower quality!
Other differences include the speed-volume compensation (which is apparently randomly too loud in this rental Q5) and, strangely, much lighter steering – I definitely prefer my Q5
February 21, 2010:
MINIsOnTop 2010
This year MINIsOnTop has a new organizational crew, so expect some exciting changes – the first, announced today, is that when registration opens soon, it will be “online”; no more printing and mailing of forms!
Don’t fret – MINIsOnTop is happening again this year! We’re just moving a bit slower than our predecessors Ian, Theo and Michael did.
Registration will be online this year and will open soon. As always, it will be first-come, first-served. We recommend signing up for the MOT announcements list so you’ll be notified when it opens.
After rave reviews last year, the Attitash Grand Summit Hotel will be our base hotel again this year. The Attitash is a luxury resort, centrally located in Bartlett, NH between the Kancamagus Highway and the Mount Washington Auto Road. Please call (800) 233-7699 to book your room and be sure to ask for the MINIsOnTop special rate! Please note: the special rate is not available for booking online.
Personally, I haven’t figured what to do with MINIsOnTop this year, as GPMINI will likely remain in Florida, and showing up in an “SUV” Q5 might be un-popular 
