First of all, thank all of you MINI brainiacs for this wonderful forum. I have learned more ever about my recently purchased 2005 MCS 6spd(Chili/black/sport/premium/ HK/navigation/leather/27Kmiles/excellent cond).
I absolutely love driving the little beast, so my other car (2002 Mercedes e320 still under CPO warrantee, and mint with 35K miles), seldom moves out of the garage. So my question for you all involves a road trip from Palm Beach, Florida to Davenport ,Iowa (1400 miles esch way) to drop off my parents sweet little cat. After folding down the rear seat of the MINI, I believe that I would have ample room for my luggage/litter box/ food and water for the cat, etc. I realize that the Benz has more room, and does get decent gas mileage on the road, but I'm so crazy about the MINI, that i'd like to take it instead. My only doubts are few..mostly that the MINI has no spare tire, and I can't seem to find any sort of a temperature guage due to the navigation feature, and also there is no MINI dealership in Davenport Iowa in case of a problem during my 2 week visit. I would consider purchasing a full sized mini wheel as a spare, but then I would sacrifice luggage space, and I'm not sure that the car even has a jack to change a flat. Are my concerns without merit? Is a 1400 mile road trip over 2 days in a MINI a little extreme? Should I just take the bigger Mercedes and leave little Ladybug in the garage? This is my first post, so sorry for the length.


Best, Mark.

 

Welcome! Many people have done long road trips in their Coopers with good success, and they'd do it again without hesitation. Getting a spare is a good idea (you should have a jack inside a pouch in the hatch, but since your car is used, well...). Getting a tire plug kit and a slime kit (take a look in the tire/wheel section further down) will help keep you going, unless you get a blowout.Personally, I'd probably opt for the cushy ride and just relax in the E320 since you'll be on boring interstates most of the time anyway, aside from some brief sections in Tennessee and Kentucky. But with a litter box and a cat, you won't want to be too enthusiastic with your driving.Also, which car would you rather not have peppered with bugs and road debris from a 2800 mile road trip? Just something to consider...Have a safe trip!

 

If you go to an auto parts store you can pick up a tire plug kit and small 12v compressor. They are very simple to use, also a pair of gloves they can get a little messy.

As far as the temp guage, do you have the on board computer option, I think you can get fluid temp with that. I have the guage but as near as I can tell it's more for show than accuracy.

But if your just not comfortable yet on long drives then take the Benz.

 

Thank you for the lightning fast replies! I never even considered road debris and bug splatter, as I live on the ocean (no bugs). And the point about spirited driving with a tranqualized cat (and possibly driver) on board, wouldn't be one of my better decisions. I've never had to deal with a flat tire in all of my years of driving..knock on wood!!, and I'm in my mid 40's!!

I shall go through the functions of the on board computer to find the engine temp function. I have actually read the owners manual twice..but seem to be a little too gin and tonic polluted to comprehend. I also can't seem to find any sort of a clock function, but I'll bet it is in the manual somewhere. As for the jack, I see a pouch clipped into the trunk area, next to the first aid kit, and the mini luggage kit that the previous owner (a friend) equipped the car with. I'll look at it again to determine whether it's a car jack, or a drink mixer.

Thank's again!!

 

As a multiple-Benz owner for the past 10 12 years, the answer is easy: if there's enough room in the MINI for what you are hauling, take the Mini.

 

We are thinking of getting a 2006 CLK 350, what do you think?

 

I love it. CLK is one of my favorite body designs.

 

Take the Benz, it will be much comfortable and smoother ride

 

I would take the Benz...

I take my BMW when I go on long trips and drive the Mini for everything else.