She has bad manners. Now, I'm not by any means a tailgater. I despise tailgaters. In my Saturn, I keep a respectful distance from those in front.

Scoop, on the other hand, seems to resent cars that block the road. I need to repeatedly tell her, "No, Scoop! We do NOT tailgate others. It will not make them go faster, nor endear you to anyone!"

She's a slow learner, but comes around with lots of reminders!




I got the rubber boot mat- it's great! I can still hook up the nets.

 

Who is the slow learner? I found an article in the Willamette Weekly that called MINI drivers something like the Jack Russell Terriers of the road. I NOW know why!!

Did you get the rubber boot mat from the dealer?

 

That was so good I had to google it

http://www.wweek.com/editorial/3340/9407/

Mini Cooper Drivers

Mini Coopers are quickly gaining on Subarus as Portland's car of choice. It's not surprising: Cute, fuel-efficient and consciously un-macho, they're like four-wheeled Vespas. But maybe because they barely look like real cars, Mini drivers barely drive like real people. Nervous, erratic and aggressive, they're like the Jack Russell terriers of the road, constantly nipping at your bumper.

 

I know! I didn't get it this summer. Now I do!!

We bought the boot mat at Crevier Mini in Santa Ana. Not helpful if you're in OR or WA. We switch between eBay, different dealerships and Amazon. There is no apparent consistency in pricing, so it pays to shop around.

I did buy the PW factory paint kit at IrvineMINI yesterday. $25.00 but I couldn't find it anywhere else!

 

[quote=Scoopmama;1769876]
We bought the boot mat at Crevier Mini in Santa Ana. Not helpful if you're in OR or WA. We switch between eBay, different dealerships and Amazon. There is no apparent consistency in pricing, so it pays to shop around.
/quote]
What did you pay? That way I'll know when I can stop looking. So far I've found $52.00.

Does anyone know what the electric motor sound is when you open the driver door? I though that it was the window going down, but it last longer than that and seem to be coming from the back of the car.

 

Good Morning all! Another wonderful Thursday - with the weekend just around the corner. I am trying to be cheerful and upbeat as I (my office)have an audit today and I am not looking forward to it. There is nothing like crawling through old payroll records to make you wish you anywhere else in the world. (Preferably on curvy roads with my MINI.)

 

[quote=Mini2na;1771583]Have no idea what the sound is. . .

Scoop just got Meguire's Quick detail spray and a fluffy duster She's feeling well cared for!

Kimberely- Good luck with the audit! Yuck! Just think of tomorrow evening in your Mini. . .

 

I found one at Amazon for $45 - a boot tray though - they had a mat for $53 I think.
http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-MINI-F.../dp/B000PDJVBQ

 

[quote=Mini2na;1771583][quote=Scoopmama;1769876

Does anyone know what the electric motor sound is when you open the driver door? I though that it was the window going down, but it last longer than that and seem to be coming from the back of the car.[/quote]

I noticed it also but thought it was the windows. If it's coming from the back, maybe it's the mechanism that unlocks the boot...?

Sorry to all I've been away for a few days. Been crazy at work and home and havn't had time to think! Been trying to drive Zorro as much as possible but haven't had a lot of time... only 220 miles on him so far I can't believe how fast they get dirty! Two baths already! I'm hoping to go out and get some pictures this weekend so I can get them posted.

So far there's only been two things I don't like... 1- The Sport button needs to come on automatically! 2- My seatbelt keeps getting stuck in the door! Anyone else experiencing that problem? Other than that, I LOVE THIS CAR!

Happy Motoring to all

 

[quote=Lil A;1774028]I've been a bit delinquent too...been travelling (by air :( ) but still managed to have some quality motoring time in with Zonker...he's got about 800 miles on him thus far and is really looking forward to having the break-in period behind him so he can stop worry about the RPM cap

So far he's been over three mountain passes....back roads driving with this guy is a totally amazing experience. I don't think i will ever take an interstate highway again if I can avoid

One thing about Zonker is that he's a real head turner -- when i go inside to a restaurant or something, it's watch people check out the car in the parking lot. I even got a note on my windshield from a neighbor who i'd never met complimenting me on the car...very fun being the center of attention

The biggest change for me is getting used to just how far you can push this car. I've found that I'm still driving it pretty conservatively (more like I used to drive my 4-door TSX)...seems like the car always wants to take corners faster than I am ready to let it.

The only complaint I have (aside from a minor software bug in the IPod/SatNav integration) is that the car really points out just how SLOW all the other people on the road are driving...scoopmama, I can totally identify with your "manners" problem

Anyway, just thought I'd stop in to give the T+1 week update. See you all on the roads!
-steve

 

800 miles already!!??? Wow. And I thought I was doing well being in the mid 700's. Good motoring!

 

I'm still in the 700s too. Keep on motoring!

I ordered and put on the stickers from Aesthetic Creation that cover the air bag warning labes on the visors. They look lots better than the yellow warning sign.

 

Vroom vroom! In the low 500s and a fun drive planned for Sunday. . . some highway, some city in downtown Pasadena. . .!

 

Had a nice day here so I decided to take the Olympic peninsula loop -- I5 south from Seattle, up the Hood Canal on 101, west to the coast, down south to Aberdeen, then back to I5 home. Basically drove the whole perimeter of this map -- nice little 475 mile day trip with some really nice scenery and some good twisties...

And now I've got 1300 miles and change on the odo, so I'm officially broken in!

 

I did that drive as a final "goodbye" to WA before moving back to CA. Late June, going over Tacoma Narrows at 10pm with the sunset. . . Wow. It was gorgeous and I still relive it 11 years later!

So glad you had FUN with MINI! 1300 miles. . .good for you! Now a nice oil change, and you'll be punching that sport button all the time!

Did you JUST get home???!

 

I left this morning around 11 and got back in around 9ish...I made a few stops here and there, but mostly the trip was just me and my lead foot

I didn't realize you had a Washington connection, Scoopmama...very cool
-steve

 

Nice drive. Done it once.

I may have heard the best news in a couple of weeks. 1300 is broken in? I thought I heard 2000. I thought I was hundreds away from half way, but maybe I'm well over half way?

My wife took Frodo to work yesterday to show him off. She loves the car. While I think everyone thinks the MINI is cute, we both have gotten the most specific comments on the color. That is...... until they get a ride. Then they don't tend to mention the color again.

 

I thought the break in was 1200miles/2000km. You should be well over break in. I am in the low 800s.

 

Morning! Today I'm going to try my new microfiber duster, quick detail spray from Meguire's and MF cloths before going to pick up my mom tomorrow for a fun drive around LA foothills. I've never used anything like that. . .just go through the drive-thru wash with the Saturn!

Mini2Na- Which warning label covers did you buy from AC? I checked them out, but there are, what. . .6-8 designs? HOW did you decide? Post a pic???

Kimberely- Thanks! 2000 km is much faster to reach than 2000 miles. You've made lots of us happy this morning! I'm just itching to use the sport button, but am saving that for the "it's broken in now" reward.

smaine- I was conceived in Yakima, my father was born in Seattle, and his father worked at Pikes down at the water. But I was born and raised in So Cal, and am happy either place, or really any place I find myself. My hubby is a die-hard So Cal baby, and is only happy down here, so we visit his brother in Lake Tapps every few years.

 

Kind of funny - Both my husband and I were born in So CA (Santa Ana and Mission Viejo) - he was raised there and I was for a few years as well. We wouldn't go back and love living up in Washington. We do visit from time to time though - his entire family lives down there and plenty of mine as well.

 

That IS funny! My son will start Mission High School next year, and my husband's students are all from Santa Ana! Small world and all that!

 

So that's where I picked up the 2000 number. This is great news. I'm waiting to use the Sport button until after break-in, though I did engage it to make sure it was operational.

I was born and went through elem school in the San Lorenzo in the bay area, then I experienced Toledo, OH for jr high and high school. Purdue then to the WA that has felt like home from the moment I arrived.

I think there were only 2 choices for the AC stickers. One is the wing and the other is block letter MINI. I also purchased a "puffy" sticker the size and design of the steering wheel emblem that I'm going to try to put on the secret compartment area. My Piano Black dash (which is the only thing I would change in my order) shows fingerprints and smudges every time it gets touched. I hope to use the sticker as the place to push to gain access to the compartment. I'll get a pic (and the tint too) today and post tomorrow.

Off to Hillsboro, OR for a wedding today. Happy motoring everyone.

 

[quote=Mini2na;1778136] My Piano Black dash (which is the only thing I would change in my order) shows fingerprints and smudges every time it gets touched. I hope to use the sticker as the place to push to gain access to the compartment. I'll get a pic (and the tint too) today and post tomorrow.

quote]

I'm keeping an old cloth diaper in the glove box. Same piano black/english oak issue. Polishing everything before I leave Scoop!

 

Well, tried the microsoft duster. Amazing what the car picks up just sitting in a garage! Duster is a worthy puchase. I noticed some cleanup needed on the black area around the wheels. Now I need to get something else as well, or try the Meg. Detailer spray. I suppose it works on the black matte trim areas as well as paint. (Hate to ask in another forum, as it will elicit lots of references to prior posts and 80 responses that will wind up costing me gobs of money!

Hubby installed a blinker for the upper rear brake light. 4-flash. It is really noticeable! Nice after reading about several rear-end accidents over the last few days.

Happy motoring all!

 

Hello to all... Well I finally got to put some miles on Zorro... drove down to Tucson today to visit my daughter who's at U of A (Go Wildcats!). I now have 560 miles...half way there! I found if I take it out of Sport mode and keep it around 3000 RPM's or less I could get almost 38 MPG. I did some driving around town with my daughter (school supplies, living supplies, dinner, shopping at the mall) and still averaged 36.6 MPG for the whole trip. Pretty good for an "S!"

Hey Scoopmama... where did your hubby find the four-flash blinker and how did he install it? I would be interested in getting one of those!

That's about it for now. Happy Motoring to all!!