Today I had to drive from Culpeper, VA to the MINI dealership in Richmond and back (about 80 miles each way)....I was travelling alone so I was able to open the sunroof fully and the windows, even though temps were in the mid-90's...(if my wife was with me I would have had to use AC)....The road between both places is 522 which can be a bear if there's any traffic on it but today it was essentially empty so I hit the SPORT button and let it rip.....great drive down...and then coming back just before I turned onto 522 I spied a FIAT 500 in the distance so I caught up with it and passed because I wanted a good look at the car in motion....I gave the driver a thumbs up...it's a great looking car and I would get one in a heartbeat (if I didn't already own 6 cars! That's another story) We came back the whole way one behind the other and just ripped those twisties. The 500 can certainly keep up with the MINI....she left me in Culpeper with a honk and a wave...which is more than I got from most of the other MINI's I saw today!

 

Sounds like you had a good drive, with a fellow car enthusiast

I like the 500 personally, but I'm waiting on the Abarth to arrive before I decide on adding one to the stable. The one we drove was alright, but not enough horsepower for me
-Jim

 

522 is a great drive--I'm in RIC area and did the run in reverse on the "past bike," so will do it real soon in George I (1st MINI, and respects to K George). Motor On! And I do wave.