...I also really enjoy my MINI on the highway. In fact, its my favorite roadtrip car. I never expected that when I bought it and it has been the biggest surprise of ownership.

Anybody else feel the same way?

Dean.

 

Yep, I traveled from Vancouver Island to Kitimat, BC (nearly Alaska.) last summer which is something like 5000 highway kilometers. It was a great long distance car, comfortable for hours at a time, lots of fun on sweeping secondary highways and blasting in a straight line as well. Since it's a Justa I had to turn off the AC and drop into 3rd to pass uphill, but it got me there!

 

I think of my MINI as a GT car. If only the seats were more comfortable. On long trips I have to get out every hour or so to avoid a sore bottom.

 

I've seen that comment a lot around here. Guess I'm lucky as that's not an issue for me.

Our family car is a Lexus RX-330 ...so that's what we use on vacations ...and I'd much rather be in the MINI. With the seat all the way back in the Lexus my right knee is jammed into the dashboard. Very uncomfortable.

My MINI is the first car I have ever owned in which I do not have to put the seat all the way back and there is more room for my legs than any other car I've ever owned. I love that!

Plus, if I want to get around something at speed its done much more swiftly in the MINI. I actually feel safer in it than I do our larger cars because the handling is so good and the response so predictable.

Dean.

 

I agree. I drove mine from san diego up to sacramento area, about 600 mile drive, and the thing handled perfectly. I had taken a prius a few times before this up there and let me tell you, the prius felt like a struggle going up those big hills. not enjoyable, and slow. this car made it through effortlessly. acceleration in 6th gear is perfect and still punches. I felt a lot more safe in this car. taking it on roadtrips is awesome

 

[QUOTE=My MINI is the first car I have ever owned in which I do not have to put the seat all the way back and there is more room for my legs than any other car I've ever owned. I love that!
Dean.[/QUOTE]

+1 I was born a car guy and have owned over 40 cars. My current MCS is my 4th MINI and favorite car ever. I had the unfortunate experience of getting hit from behind on a freeway. That '08 MCS was repaired while the Infiniti that hit me was a total loss. I feel safe in my MINI. I can put the car where I want, when I want, and the seating positions (front seats) are roomy and comfortable. My mother's big Lincoln (we call it a townhouse) is so cramped but shes almost 80 and thinks the only way to be safe is in a big, heavy car.

 

+ great fuel economy when you cruise
+ I also have an OEM roof rack, so i take it into the mountains for camping, snowboarding (with a nice set of snow tires, which everyone should invest in), mountain biking.. everything really

It's my does everything car! Funny thing is this is my practical car.. 911 is my sports car

phil.

 

 

I haven't taken mine on a trip, but it is my commuter. For a while I was putting on about 600 miles per week. Love it.

 

I live near Chicago, and it's so much easier to get to and around the city in my Mini. I used to drive a pickup and it was such a hassle to drive in dense traffic.

One thing I do miss though, is knowing that semi-truck drivers were able to see me most of the time, but the Mini's good for being able to zipping out of blind spots. So, it evens out.

 

I always stay away from all other cars and try to make sure im visible.. including semis (rule is if you can see their face in their mirrors they can see you!)

the bigger issue is that lots (most) people dont set their mirrors correctly (can see the side of their car and have blind spots) or pay attention enough when they drive... the mini isnt that small and motorcycles\bikers are even smaller (ok, they get hit more, but see point A about paying attention!!! )

phil.

 

actually, with your mirrors set correctly you should be able to see the side of your ever so slightly. The reason being is that you can use that as a reference point for gauging distance. The only true way to not have blind spots is by checking over your shoulder. I'm 99% sure this info is correct since I just went through drivers ed like 1.75 months ago

 

From what i learned through driver training and studying\testing the side of your car is not needed unless you 1) want to make sure it didnt fall off and\or 2) want to make sure what the colour is.

Theory is that the cones of visibility should not overlap which provides you max visibility across all 3 mirrors. When you see a car in your side mirror and moves to the center it will be seamless (max use of visibility) usually this take moving the side view mirrors out way further than it feels comfortable, but you will not have a blind spot.. any car in your typical blindspot will be visible to your peripheral vision right beside you.. i need to draw a picture as i cant find any good ones online. try it out.. when a car is behind and one lane over try to set them so it's a perfect split between your mirrors. if you want to check out the colour of your car then move your body over a bit to the side. For distance I find that if you can see the headlights of the car in the rear view mirror then you have more than enough space.. just takes a bit to get used to!

phil.

 

sorry.. this was bugging me.. I have no faith in what they teach you in driver ed.. i have learned WAY more at any HPDE I have attended over the years. I could write a book about all the differences.. wait.. read any book on driving cars at speed and you will see the difference.

phil.

 

We've been on a couple of long road trips of about 3000 miles each in Tristan. We've been out to Yellowstone and up to Victoria (BC), not to mention the odd run down to LA. He makes a great GT car.

 

Great article and illustration of this here:

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...id-blind-spots

 

nice find! i need to save this as i have this discussion with peeps all the time Fig 1, 3, 4 are the correct method and it does take adjusting your mirrors WAAAAY out.. it will feel weird at first, but just keep practicing. One other big rule is never to trust your mirrors 100%! always move your head\body around.

Happy mirror adjusting!

phil.

 

Really great illustration, nice find!