I got this letter in the mail recently, encouraging me to sign up for continued roadside coverage now that my included four year warranty has expired …

Two slight issues, that make it a bit late …
First, I sold this car, GBMINI#3, almost three years ago – and it was sold to it’s new owner through MINI of Peabody, which you’d think would ensure that the database would be up to date;
Second, coverage for the car expired one year ago (as indicated on the letter), yet only now is coverage being offered! What about the last 12 months?
Wierd, MINI, very wierd!

I was wondering today what the Audi Q5 average MPG is – recently it’s on-board computer has been showing figures as high as 27mpg for my easy drive home from work (a bit lower to work in the morning, when the engine is cold).

So … on 2,305 miles at 111 gallons, the Q5 averages 20.8mpg. Not great, but comfortable!

And seeing I have spreadsheets for my MINIs too (except GBMINI#1), let’s compare:
GBMINI#2: 28,676 miles, 1058 gallons -> 27.1mpg
GBMINI#3: 23,803 miles, 902 gallons -> 26.4mpg (not so much of a hit, really, for an automatic!)
GBMINI#4: 28,599 miles, 1049 gallons -> 27.3mpg (I always claimed GPMINI was more economical, there’s the proof!)
GBMINI#5: 716 miles, 25.2 gallons -> 28.4mpg (Of course an average on so few miles isn’t very indicative, but 4% better than my GP isn’t close to the claimed improvements of the “Prince” engine, and no way justifies the downsides!)
GBMINI#6: 6,747 miles, 256 gallons -> 26.3mpg (not much of a hit for the convertible, either)

And, just so there’s a picture in the post here is GPMINI’s mpg chart:

I know other MINI owners get much worse mpg (and doubtless some get better) – but these figures are pretty comparable since it’s the same driver doing largely the same driving on the same routes!

Paul, Red Sox fan and current owner of GBMINI#3 (note the license plate!) sent me a link to this Museum Of Science webpage, created by his daughter and featuring both of them, with (ex)GBMINI#3 …

… My father … is a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan and I am a New York Yankee lover … every year we go to a Red Sox/Yankees game and have a great time …

GBMINI#3, that is – now to be known as “REDSX1″ and owned by Paul & Pauline, who collected the car from MINI of Peabody today:

Coincidentally, Paul & Pauline are also British ex-pats, who lived within about 10 miles of me back in the 1980s (near Bath)! Hope to see you again next weekend, at the MINI of Peabody Spring Rally!

And here’s another coincidence …
Saturday, heading back from Pasta For Pat and having recently been listening to Gabe on WhiteRoofRadio singing the praises of the BMW Z4 M coupe, what passed me on I93 north of Boston but that very car!
The Z4 M slowed as it reached me, and checked out the GP, then pulled ahead and then pulled over – so I pulled up to it’s side and returned the compliment
Thumbs up for both drivers, and then the Z4 headed off …

Today, while I was meeting Paul & Pauline, tech Kevin introduced me to Robert – who had come in to learn more about the cool looking MINI he’d seen at the weekend, while driving his Z4 M coupe!
Robert also drives a very loaded MCS, with HK, NAV, JCW 210 upgraded engine, suspension, etc, etc …

This evening Margaret picks up her new BMW, and we leave behind both her old Audi and my ’05 MCSa! I haven’t needed two MINIs since I put winter wheels on the GP but I didn’t want to deal with private selling, so this way is simpler (and with the MA sales tax saving on the trade, I’m close to a no-win if I’d tried to sell, and it’s much less hassle).

However, it’s still a bit sad even though it’s sensible …

Today, for the first time since the snow a month ago, I decided to drive GBMINI#3. Because I feel guilty leaving it parked up forever.
The brakes were very noisy for a while, after sitting so long and getting rusty, and there was a sort of knocking/bumping sound from the back for a while – not sure if it was flat-spotted tires, or just the brakes rubbing.

What surprised me most was the stereo – the $2500+ install in GBMINI is great, and has lots of nice (but not nauseous) bass … but although GPMINI with the new Alpine head unit can’t match the bass, it does win on clarity – a bit like comparing the stock MINI system with the Harman Kardon version … so maybe I need to replace the Kenwood in GBMINI with another Alpine!

Other than that, there’s of course the fact that you don’t have to change gears, and that there’s much less “audio feedback” from the engine! Less power too
I did notice that it was smoother on the bump where a bridge is on my route home, so although the GPs suspension is amazing, it still can’t quite make up for the runflats (GBMINI is on 16″ non-runflats).
One other HUGE difference is the steering wheel – after a month driving GPMINI with its JCW wheel, the stock 3-spoker in GBMINI feels cheap and not pleasant to hold! It’s amazing how important the little things are

Overall, I just don’t have the same “smile factor” in GBMINI now that I get every day in GPMINI. And with tomorrows trip to MINI of Peabody to winterize the GP (although it doesn’t seem necessary so far this year), I’m wondering if I really need two cars … anyone want to buy a nice ’05 MCS auto?

When it’s 50 degrees outside, dry and sunny, why not!

You have to do twice as much washing when you own two MINIs!

But only GPMINI got “Iced”:

And here’s a surprising admission: I think this is the first time I’ve personally washed GPMINI – up to now it’s been washed by people during MTTS, or washed at MINI of Peabody, or “spa” detailed …

Now I’m ready for tomorrows MINI meet … I wonder which car I’ll take

Colder temperatures means the possibility of frost – hence this mornings MINI roofs (click either for much bigger / clearer version):

GPMINI is at MINI of Peabody today – a few small mods (eg: rear foglight), and a full detailing ready for British Invasion, so today I’m driving GBMINI …

I really expected to get back in GBMINI and be disappointed – but that didn’t happen. Instead I noticed a pile of small differences on the way to work today, some in favour of GPMINI and some better for GBMINI!

Of course the biggest difference most people will focus on is the difference in engine power – approx 215hp compared with 168hp makes a difference. However GBMINI does have the JCW air intake, if that makes any real difference (JCW claims about 6hp, presumably at red line with the flap open).

Offsetting the loss of engine power however is the responsiveness of the automatic transmission. In GPMINI at highway speeds there’s enough power to pass someone just by pressing the pedal, with no need to change gears.
With GBMINI, it’s much the same – except the car does the gear change to get more power; the end result is much the same, power to pass, but with GPMINI I might be at 3000rpm while GBMINI has jumped to 4000+.

Also very noticeable today is noise levels.
GBMINI is near silent compared with GPMINI, as far as engine noise and especially road noise is concerned – the missing sound insulation from GPMINI, coupled with the noisier 18″ runflat tires, and no rear seats to muffle the interior, makes for a loud cabin. GBMINI has all that reversed, and has loads of dynamat, and it’s a much more quiet and “refined” experience.
Also, GBMINIs excellent aftermarket stereo really showed itself today, embarrassing the GPMINI experience! There’s real Bass in GBMINI, and clarity that’s simply non-existent in GPMINI (and I deliberately picked the same radio station I’ve been listening to in GPMINI) – but on the subject of radio stations, reception is better with the stock head unit in GPMINI than with the Kenwood in GBMINI.

There’s many other details too …

The seating position is much better in GBMINI! I don’t need the seat positioned to get a good reach to the clutch pedal so I have my seating position more “casual” = comfortable. There’s no difference in the actual seats (both are cloth/leather combo).

Steering is much heavier on GBMINI. Don’t know why; could be related to the different tires, or simply due to GBMINI being 1-1/2 years older? Steering is great and responsive in both cars, but I was very aware today of needing to put a little more pressure into turns.
Also on steering, GBMINI with its aftermarket tires has nowhere near the grip of GPMINI when cornering; yesterday I took the 128/133 off-ramp at 50-55mph, today I didn’t risk faster than 45mph …

The doors are much stiffer on GBMINI; this might well be due to age – but pulling the doors closed today with what presumably is enough effort on GPMINI left them not even touching the car frame; I had to reach out and physically pull them closed, while on GPMINI they’ll easily swing closed with a light pull.

Colors … the Chili Red of GBMINI looks extremely bold outside and on the dash now, almost garish! I’ve obviously got used to the very “mature” Thunder Blue color already. But the black/red seats still look good.

So for now, it looks like I’ll have to keep both cars! Maybe if I can get the stereo better in GPMINI, and some sound deadening, it will close the stereo / road noise gap … but there will still be the pleasurable “laziness” factor of the automatic transmission – no matter what some MINI owners will say, the MCSa is really a nice car and not missing any fun from the lack of left foot usage. But it’s a great shame the JCW won’t ever be available in USA …

UPDATE (prompted by RB!):
Seat position: I have long legs and prefer to sit back, with legs more stretched; but the clutch needs a deep press and I find I have to be closer than I’d like to be – maybe the brake & accelerator pedals are too high …

Ride quality: didn’t notice much difference either way; as I’ve said before the GP is much better than I expected – GBMINI has (too) soft aftermarket non-runflats, so I’d claim that the GP on 18″ runflats is similar to an MCS on 16″ non-runflats.

Full acceleration: The GP definitely has a lot more “surge” available, especially once it hits 3000-3500rpm. But there’s that regular need to get off the pedal, shift gears, and get on again – and I find first gear almost frantically short with the ’05+ gear ratios. There’s an uphill climb as you get onto highway 128 on my way home and I generally “hit it” – with the GP I regular hit redline much too quick and it takes me a moment to “catch up” with the car and shift to second … my shifting skills rather than a GP issue no doubt.
With GBMINI I just floor the pedal and “wait”

One big observation though – on that section as you turn onto 128 and accelerate hard, GBMINI will guarantee to wheel slip and DSC will cut in, so I have to avoid full acceleration till I straighten; with the GP with LSD, that’s not an issue.

Rear wiper issue: I’ve mentioned that on GPMINI before; in wet roads you still lose the ability to see out the back window – and I often find myself noticing the rear window is a bit dirty and reaching for the rear wash/wipe.

…

We had a busy shopping day today, at Lowes, a Briggs & Riley luggage store, Borders, Kane’s Flower World and Sears. The kitchen countertop is ordered but wasn’t brought home in GBMINI, but everything else was, including the kitchen sink

Everything removed:

You can get LOTS of stuff in a MINI

(see a previous big shopping trip here)