I bid my MINI farewell today. No, I didn't sell it. I've been motoring in Germany for the last year, and it is time to ship it back to the states to motor there when I get back.

I took the last road trip to Antwerp to drop my MINI off at the freight forwarder this morning. It will be going to Baltimore and be there waiting for me when I get off the plane.

This is going to be the longest month.

 

Kdog...

After a year of Autobahn motoring, consider this a much-needed cruise vacation for your MINI. He will arrive in Baltimore all refreshed and ready to lay rubber and your separation will make you appreciate him all the more.

It will be tough... but that's why we're here!

 

Welcome home to America's lousy drivers!! Left lane loungers.

 

kdog – I feel your grief. I just dropped my MCS off at the body shop for the repairs of my boating accident I had two weeks ago. Though I will be MINI less for only two weeks I’ve been home less than a half hour and am going through meltdown. I look out the window at this Grand Prix thing the rental company gave me – stating “You’ll love this – you’ve never driven anything that handles so well”. What do they know about handling - other that paperwork?

Hope you and your Mcs get reacquainted soon. It can’t be soon enough for me.

 

Kdog,

I sent my MGC from Antwerp to Baltimore back in 1999. It was shipped in a 20' box and arrived in great shape. Hope you have the same good experience that I did.

p.s. Get yourself a Valentine One radar detector, ASAP. When you start driving in the US again 55 - 65 will seem so slow after Europe that you will exceed the speed limit almost unconsciously.

 

WELCOME TO MARYLAND!

of course, baltimore def not the nicest spot

Danny

 

What, the airline won't you check the Mini with the rest of your luggage? So what will you drive for the next month, anything interesting?

God speed.

 

Thanks all for the support. For the next month, I have to drive my Isuzu Rodeo. It's always an adventure after driving the MINI. The twisties here aren't nearly as fun.

 

MGC I totally hear you- I found myself going 80-85MPH routinely, wasn't a good deal- thats for sure!

Biggest differences I noticed was passing on the right (errrrr), few rear-fog lights and BIG vehicles (weirded me out as first). but gas, all of sudden, looked really, really attractive to buy :smile:

have a safe journey over the pond (Goes for you AND the MCS :smile:

cheers,

-Matt

 

Oh wow, you'll be driving an Izuzu Rodeo until the Mini comes back ashore. I feel your inevitable pain. I have a Rodeo, took it out with the dog yesterday after tooling around in the Mini, and it was not fun by comparison: sloppy steering, slushy everything, and seeing people in Minis while barely resisting the impulse to shout out "I'm really not one of these people; I am one of you!"

I agree, though, that absence makes the heart grow fonder. You will have a great reunion.

 

I know how you feel. Picked my MCS up in June 02 in Germany and only got to drive it for a month before sending it to the port for the shipment to Baltimore. But, got to enjoy autobahn driving (and Italian Alps and Slovenian coast and French vineyards) in that short month with the MCS in Europe. Except for the theft of the first aid kit and a broker side light (one with the S on it), I had no damage. Both were readily fixable.

Just be thankful for your one year with the MINI in Europe. It is a lot more fun driving over there!