Congrats! I'm VERY impressed!
You're doing your oil changes per OBC alert (at 18-19K)?!
What percentage ratios would you put to highway vs city driving?

 

I hope my mini runs that long, and hope I'm around when I'm in my 80's to drive a mini!

 

1. You're doing your oil changes per OBC alert (at 18-19K)?!
Yes; - that's been the mileage at which the computer has consistently recommended oil changes since the car was new. In those 18-19K miles, the level on the stick still drops only 1/8 of an inch - and the color changes from clear to that of a darker transparent honey. Viscosity does not seem to change. We'll see if this 'new' engine performs similarly.

2. What percentage ratios would you put to highway vs city driving?
Hard to guess; - most of my 'city' driving is on the Expressways through and around town - and most of my 'country' driving is on Curvey Hilly State and County Roads where the scenery is more interesting and the driving more fun. My GPS keeps track of Average Speeds and that may be an indication:-that typically reads "40 something mph" for each tankful - not "20" or "60 something".

 

Thanks for info. In my case my records indicate I have a calculated 36.98mpg average over 26K miles. The OBC indicates a couple mpg better for mpg and an average speed of 47.1mph. I would estimate my hwy to city ration to be about 70/30. In the last several months my driving style has changed because of more long distance trips. Average mpg is decreasing while average speed is increasing. Hwy to city ratio is moving more towards hwy.

 

Your 36.98 mpg is higher than mine would be; - year round, every tankful falls somewhere between 34 and 37.
And you're right; - highway speeds of 70 - 75 mph can be harder on the gas mileage than more moderate 'city' driving.

Still amazes me that cross-winds and the turbulence around semis and buses have virtually no effect on this car; -
but heavy day-long headwinds or tailwinds do affect its fuel consumption.

 

If I 'behave', and drive a pretty constant 60-62mph on the flat, I've broken 41mpg several times. But my recent driving has moved more towards 600 mile runs at 75 on I-80/I-15. My average mpg has dropped about 2mpg and suspect it will settle out around 36mpg. I've also noticed that cross winds are a minor issue - but headwinds really do have an effect at 75mph. Always seems that I have headwind - no matter which direction I'm traveling ;-\

 

Well, sure--didn't you tell your kids "when I grew up, I walked 10 miles in knee-high snow to school everyday--uphill, both ways?"

I know I did!

 

I just got home to Milwaukee a couple days ago after driving 3300 miles to participate in "MINI Takes The States - 2010"
and "MINIs In The Mountains".

This is still a truly amazing car - if you ever have doubts, participate in one of these national get-togethers and meet the
Great People who drive them. You think I'm enthusiastic? I just keep stuff longer - as long as it keeps on performing perfectly!

After the events were officially over, I stayed in the mountains an extra day to do a 300 mile loop thru spectacular gorges, plateaus and ridges over 12,000 feet. Why? - I just love driving in the mountains and don't get there often enough.

But, when it was all over, I drove straight thru 1,111 miles in 18 hours to get home to my own little bed.
Car troubles? Nope - still not a rattle or a squeak - or a drop of oil used.
No one ever told me being retired and 84 would be so much fun!
Golf? Are you kidding? - This "Cart" is Air-Conditioned - and Goes Faster!

 

I really enjoyed reading this thread. Good luck! I will definitely check back. I have only had mine since December and do love the little "cart"

 

Sure wish you could have talked to Hubby last year--he's 67 and moans and groans all the time, even though he looks fit and younger than that. I'd love to know your secret(s)!

 

My 2002 MC just passed 400,000 miles today on its 8 Year 2 Month Birthday !

Have you guessed I've been Very Impressed by this particular car?
What a joy to fill the tank, kick the tires - and take off on a 500 mile ride
through this beautiful world any time I'm not needed or expected somewhere
else. (Drove 470 miles yesterday in heavy rain and high winds - Beautiful!)

Have I ever mentioned it still has its original muffler, and shocks, and struts?
Not sure if it uses ball joints, control arms, etc. - but, if so, they're original too.
Still rides, steers and handles as tautly and precisely as the day I got it. FUN!
Not a squeak, or a rattle - or a spot on the garage floor.
Never had a ****, or a handle, or a piece of trim come loose.
Never had a switch anywhere that had to be jiggled or shook or coaxed to work.
Even that little 'window dance' still works perfectly every time a door is opened!

Excuse the car's appearance; -
that's how it looked when it hit 400,000 about 75 miles from home - and I do kill a lot of bugs!
Attached Thumbnails

 

Congratulations! Where were you when you hit this milestone?

I hit 60,000 last week, somewhere in Louisiana, on the way to Florida!

 

hstanfield, As many before me have said, "You are an inspiration."

I just had my 78th birthday a few days ago and couldn't dream of competing with the miles that you have racked up. I bought my 2010 Cooper 2 months ago and have just crossed the 2000 mile mark. I find that this is the most fun to drive car that I've owned (and there have been quite a few).

I live about 30 minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway in Western North Carolina and have driven there 4 times already. As you have noted, the MINI is a blast to drive in the mountains!

Let's see - at my current rate it would take me a bit over 33 years to reach the 400,000 mile mark. Since it's not likely I'll live that much longer, perhaps I should spend more time with the car and less with this computer?

Let's Motor,

Roy

 

Wow....And I thought the 30K my Wife and I each put on our cars a year was impressive.

Good for you!

We bought our MINI up in Milwaukee at the end of July. Too bad we didn't run into you! If you're ever near Warren, Illinois, look us up!

 

I intended to write soon after you did to tell you, "I probably go through Warren, Illinois a 1/2 dozen times a year! That's where I turn West from Hwy 78 onto the beautiful 'Stagecoach Trail' to leads to Historic Galena, Illinois". I'd rather drive than write, but, today was so special I have to tell you about it right away.

Today was beautiful and no one needed me, so I headed toward Galena - a comfortable 400 mile round trip from Milwaukee. I thought Warren was small enough that, if there was a MINI in that town, everyone would know about it and help me find the owner. I started driving up and down one street after another, checking every driveway and open garage door - but, eventually stopped a local Squad Car and asked the Lady Officer if she had ever seen a car like mine in or around Warren. She had not, - but, said, "Follow me - I'll take you to a couple guys who know everyone - and every car - around here."

Sure enough, a couple old guys (well, really Young Men compared to me) stopped work on the car they were fixing, and told us about a Red MINI at a farm a couple miles out of Warren. The Officer said, "Follow me and I'll take you to County Road W (that's as far as I can go) and point you in the right direction from there." I struck out at the first farm, but, the owner stopped spraying his barn - and said, "You're almost there - turn left at the next corner - and it's the first farm on your right. The MINI belongs to the Son, but he's away at college - his Sister drives a Jeep." (I'm guessing from the way he said it that he'd personally prefer the Jeep!)

I did like he said, and pulled into the drive of a Very Nice Dairy Farm, rang the bell - and had a nice visit with "your Mom" who confirmed that you were away to school - and took the MINI with you. She said you talk by phone almost daily, and she'd be sure to tell you that I had stopped to say 'Hello'.

Well, - here's where my whole story 'gets all fuzzy'. When I got home, I found this thread, read your message again -- and thought, "Ooooops, - maybe I found 'the wrong MINI'"! Your Icon shows a Blue MINI - and you list a wife and a bunch of modifications - none of which seem to fit with a Red MINI driven by a Young Man studying History and Business at college.

Anyway - even if it turns out there are TWO MINIs in Warren, I had another beautiful day - and got to talk to 5 really nice people I'd never have met if I did all my motoring in a Gremlin. (No, - I never had one. I wonder if anyone ever saved one of those)

 

That is a great story.

Ours is a Dark Silver with black stripes. It is right on Hwy. 78 (Main St.) 502 W. Main St. to be exact.

If you go through Warren, it is hard to miss our house. It is on the corner of Nora and Main St. It is a giant 2-story Victorian house, green in color with a huge, white wraparound front porch. If you came through before 6pm, my Wife would have had it because it is her daily driver.

The people you talked to were the Ernst's. Their son, Anthony goes to college. I also go to college, but I am in the medical field. "My mom" that you talked to is his mother, Donna. They are very nice people and very good friends of ours.

The lady officer that you ran into was probably Hilary. She is super nice, but only a part-time officer in town and doesn't really know everybody. I wonder who you talked to about vehicles...If you could give me a few names, I could probably figure them out.

Next time, you are swinging through, let us know ahead of time and we'll try to meet up!

Mica

 

Harold, you should be down here in Arkansas this weekend, at the Merry MINIs on the Mountain! We're having a blast...and so are the hills!

 

I really have a deep respect for how the Depression-Era generation cherished and cared for their stuff. My dad (not my grandmom, BTW, LOL) is from that generation as well, and a little of it has rubbed off on me as well.

HWS, as an Engineer you must be keenly aware at all times exactly what dynamics and conditions cause more mechanical strain than others, and adjust accordingly in the interest of longevity. With your experience and background, you must be able to just FEEL things working in your car as you're driving, and have an almost-instinctive knowledge of how to minimize wear on any given part, or system of parts. For instance, I can only imagine how far in advance you must anticipate coming to a stop, and as a matter of routine, minimize the use of brakes and clutch. I could also imagine that, when the engine is still cold, you'd do something along the lines of pretending there is a raw egg between the bottom of your right foot and the gas pedal...ever so lovingly babying the engine accordingly until it fully warms up, so as to avoid excessive strain on the cold engine... Etc, etc...

Whatever it is, you're doing something right! I know you are a very safe driver; I remember reading one of your posts where you said that your passengers are never afraid or nervous in the car. BUT, if there are any mechanical tips or rules-of-thumb--or driving style, tactics, do's and don'ts, etc--that you value, subscribe to, and/or practice I'd be grateful to read them if you'd share.

PS: I find it interestingly disturbing (as opposed to disturbingly interesting) how today's kids actually take pride in how fast they can break their toys, where us older kids, and generations before, took pride in how long we can keep them!

 

Well, it took 10 years and three weeks,
but my MINI just passed 1/2 Million Miles yesterday!

I'd never put that many miles on any car before,
and never intended to put that many on this one.

But, it just kept going and going, -
so reliably and so enjoyably -
that I've never considered parting with it.
Everything still works just as it's supposed to
and nothing seems to be getting tired.
She's been so easy to live with!

It was especially pretty and shiney 5 days ago as it
drove proudly with 9 other MINIs in a Parade
through The Wisconsin State Fair. But, yesterday,
when I saw that 5 and all those zeros,
I just had to take her picture - as she was -
with dust, rain streaks and all.

So, what's ahead for this 10 year old car,
her 86 year old owner, and his Bride of 9 months?
No! - It wasn't that kind of Wedding!

We'll just keep Thankfully Trusting.
God's always been very good to us -
and He's not done yet!

 

Harold, Congratulations on this landmark!! I'm sure your name will be recorded in the MINI history books. This is also to thank you for keeping us (those many who have been waiting for the half million mile mark) posted on your accomplishments.

Also to wish you well in your new marital status. It's never too late!

Next month I am to earn the title, "octogenarian", although I cannot equal you in miles driven.

 

Harold, that is awesome! I'm only on my way to 90k miles on mine, and already have had the brakes, bushings, motor mounts, etc all replaced. (will also be replacing the exhaust soon as well) Guess our driving styles differ.

 

Congratulations, Harold. I was actually thinking of you the other day, wondering if you were still driving, and if your MINI was still your faithful companion. And now you have a new companion, too!

How 'bout coming to Eureka Springs in October--we'd sure love to meet the three of you!

 

All I can say is that is fantastic. I too would love to meet all 3 of you, But mostly the car. Keep on motoring.

 

Harold,

1/2 a million miles .

Your my hero!

Motor on!!!

 

Go MINI Go! Congrats on the MILEstone!