Mark A. Fisher
Well-known
The BMW Wannabe, actually. I first saw the original minis in road races near my home back in the 60's and fell in love with them. When the Wannabe's started up again, I knew I'd have to try one. I'd love one of the originals, with the entire John Cooper treatment, but at 6'3', 270 pounds, I'm not sure i could fold myself up enough to fit in one!
But if one becomes available, I'll at least have to try! (I live in Missouri in the central US, so originals are a bit scarce here.)
But I agree, I think they might have gone over the top with the latest 4wd iteration.
Best,
Mark
But if one becomes available, I'll at least have to try! (I live in Missouri in the central US, so originals are a bit scarce here.)
But I agree, I think they might have gone over the top with the latest 4wd iteration.
Best,
Mark
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Mark,
I'm sure it's a great car, but I just wish they hadn't called it a Mini. For a start it's HUGE (by Mini standards) and it's also a bit too luxurious: in my book, proper Minis have sliding windows. Whenever anyone borrows styling cues, there's a severe danger of creating a parody, or at best, a too-desperate attempt to cash in in something that was great, but can never be re-created. If they'd dropped the 'Mini' name, taken more input from Cooper (is Cooper still around?) and just called it a Cooper, I think it would have been more honest.
Cheers,
R.
dave lackey
Veteran
Death traps? Ha!
I reckon I drove close to a half million miles in MG midgets and MGB's not to mention the MGTD! Still alive and kickin' thanks to ACTIVE safety measures, meaning me and the car. Same with motorcycles, ACTIVE safe measures, rather than PASSIVE safety measure.
Personally, I would not care to have an airbag on a BMW motorcycle (Gold Wings have them...) or a Triumph or a Vespa. Same with classic sports cars and Mini's.:angel: I just might like an airbag compartment to keep my camera in, though. LOL.
Now, the older I get, I see more accidents around my town than I ever saw in all my years of commuting downtown in the '62 Bug, MGB's, Triumphs, and Corvettes. Mostly rear-enders by inattentive drivers (also incompetent IMO) on cell phones, texting and god knows whatelse. Makes me re-think driving anywhere without a huge SUV bumper! My wife's ML has been hit three times in the rear in the last couple of years at traffic lights while parked,with virtually no damage. Our Jaguar was totalled while sitting at a stop sign.
Times, they are a'changing but you simply cannot beat the old classic iron (oh, and plastic in the case of the Corvettes!):angel:
I reckon I drove close to a half million miles in MG midgets and MGB's not to mention the MGTD! Still alive and kickin' thanks to ACTIVE safety measures, meaning me and the car. Same with motorcycles, ACTIVE safe measures, rather than PASSIVE safety measure.
Personally, I would not care to have an airbag on a BMW motorcycle (Gold Wings have them...
) or a Triumph or a Vespa. Same with classic sports cars and Mini's.:angel: I just might like an airbag compartment to keep my camera in, though. LOL.Now, the older I get, I see more accidents around my town than I ever saw in all my years of commuting downtown in the '62 Bug, MGB's, Triumphs, and Corvettes. Mostly rear-enders by inattentive drivers (also incompetent IMO) on cell phones, texting and god knows whatelse. Makes me re-think driving anywhere without a huge SUV bumper! My wife's ML has been hit three times in the rear in the last couple of years at traffic lights while parked,with virtually no damage.
Our Jaguar was totalled while sitting at a stop sign.Times, they are a'changing but you simply cannot beat the old classic iron (oh, and plastic in the case of the Corvettes!):angel:
filmfan
Well-known
I am relieved to see some people own Land Rover Defenders. I have been looking at these vehicles for a while but I cannot afford one.
jpb16
John
I ride a goose. Nothing like riding a motorcycle with a camera around your neck ready for "the moment".
John
1979 Moto Guzzi SP 1000
John
1979 Moto Guzzi SP 1000
RobVinc
I am a registered alien..
Ken Smith
Why yes Ma'am - it folds
93 Subaru station wagon - original owner. Perhaps the only Subie station wagon in the US that doesn't have any Democrat, NPR, nor the customary "Save the Whales" ironically paired with "Pro Choice" stickers on it. Looking to get 20 years out of it and come August I will only have 2 years to go. Nice dependable vehicle that has gotten me to more trout streams than I can remember. Has several hidden factory compartments in the back that allows gear/cameras to be comfortably stashed out of sight. I've lived in the Adirondaks, North Dakota, and Montana - areas with lots of snow - never been stuck.
tlitody
Well-known
Very basic vehicles but will take you anywhere reliably. I think the new ones have ford engines. Mine has the LR 300 TDI, the last of the good LR engines.
No creature comforts except the seats have been fantastically comfortable. Drove all the way from Saas Fee in the valais region of Switzerland to South Devon England with only fuel stops and no seating discomfort. Most cars would have given you back ache long before half way. Mind you, I couldn't hear anything for a week afterwards though.
sojournerphoto
Veteran
Roger
Have you seen the jacked up version yet. I think they inflated it with a bike pump before fitting longer springs!
I've long hankered after a Landy. Now I'm running a company car again I might just buy myself an old one - now air portable or sensible series 3? Answers on a postcard please.
As for the Guzzi owner - my favourites. I nearly bought a new 1100 sport injection once. The right price, but I bottled it I'm afraid. A wonderful great thudding beast - and at 6ft 2in I fitted it perfectly.
Mike
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Mike,
Series 3! Incredibly underrated, and with silly-cheap parts, even if you don't buy the rock-bottom-basic knockoffs made of putty in China. I mean, who is going to save 12€ on a brake master cylinder when the 'expensive' one is only 29€?
I think I may have seen the jacked up one recently: looked even sillier than the standard version.
Frances had a Goose too: a V50. But she was only 5 foot 2 then and is even shorter now, 20 years later. Bloody Italian wiring looms make Lucas look good, though.
Cheers,
r.
sykotec
Well-known
i was with you until you said something could make Lucas look good....
something else can look worse, sure, but Lucas? c'mon here!
there was an old Guzzi Ambassador in the garage a few bikes ago - traded some parts for it after someone had taken in end-over-end and let it sit for a decade or so (outside!). friend and I drew a basic wiring diagram on a sheet of paper in a few minutes - remove everything original, mount a proper fuse block, wire up what little you need for generator, headlight, brake light, and those very few switches. Doesn't take long at all, and at least you know it's right.
now if you want something fancy like turn signals, sure, that's extra work....
that said, great motor, but if you're EVER planning to let someone else ride one in this day and age, look out - people have silly assumptions as to shift patterns and which foot does what!
something else can look worse, sure, but Lucas? c'mon here!
there was an old Guzzi Ambassador in the garage a few bikes ago - traded some parts for it after someone had taken in end-over-end and let it sit for a decade or so (outside!). friend and I drew a basic wiring diagram on a sheet of paper in a few minutes - remove everything original, mount a proper fuse block, wire up what little you need for generator, headlight, brake light, and those very few switches. Doesn't take long at all, and at least you know it's right.
now if you want something fancy like turn signals, sure, that's extra work....
that said, great motor, but if you're EVER planning to let someone else ride one in this day and age, look out - people have silly assumptions as to shift patterns and which foot does what!
sojournerphoto
Veteran
Roger, thanks for the Series 3 tip.
Another thought on the 'they all break down sooner or later'. My wife has a Peugeot 807 with a 2.2 HDi engine. It#'s 5 1/2 years old and has done 73k miles. Two weeks ago it broke a cambelt. Apparently a new engine costs £7k and a Pug recon £5k fitted!
All credit to Peugeot, I colected it yesterday with the recon unit fitted at Peugeot's expense. I am very pleased that they agreed to pay and I think it's a credit to them
Mike
Another thought on the 'they all break down sooner or later'. My wife has a Peugeot 807 with a 2.2 HDi engine. It#'s 5 1/2 years old and has done 73k miles. Two weeks ago it broke a cambelt. Apparently a new engine costs £7k and a Pug recon £5k fitted!
All credit to Peugeot, I colected it yesterday with the recon unit fitted at Peugeot's expense. I am very pleased that they agreed to pay and I think it's a credit to them
Mike
Michael Markey
Veteran
tlitody
Well-known
Do those tube running board thingies down the sides actually serve any purpose of are they just for effect like most snorkels?
Michael Markey
Veteran
I guess it depends how tall you are
It helps some people get in and out but I don`t use them.
It came with them fitted plus a load of checker plate ,which I don`t care for either.
It helps some people get in and out but I don`t use them.
It came with them fitted plus a load of checker plate ,which I don`t care for either.
krötenblender
Well-known
Hmmh... I'm feeling excluded. I drive my cameras around on bikes, and all of them are its (all Canondales from a time, when the company was US-american and the bikes were handmade in the USA).
tlitody
Well-known
I guess it depends how tall you are
It helps some people get in and out but I don`t use them.
It came with them fitted plus a load of checker plate ,which I don`t care for either.
Yeah I could never see the point of those tubes. But if you park where I park, then the checker plate would have been a good thing for me. Neighbours seem not able to help themselves from banging their car doors against mine. The only consolation is that it must be doing more damage to their car door than my bottom edge.
sykotec
Well-known
my jeep has tube-ish steps on the sides, which serve 2 purposes:
1 - they let me have the thing in the first place, as without them it's quite the leap for my wife to get up into the thing
2 - they're nearly the height of midways up a 'normal' car door, and stick out pretty far - think of them as 'paint protectors'
1 - they let me have the thing in the first place, as without them it's quite the leap for my wife to get up into the thing
2 - they're nearly the height of midways up a 'normal' car door, and stick out pretty far - think of them as 'paint protectors'
tlitody
Well-known
My next door neighbour is a LR nut too. He tells me the new BF Goodrich All Terrain aren't as good as they used to be. EU regulations for speed, they have to perform to a speed you will never reach in a LR Defender. Result is they wear out quicker. Fortunately I've probably got 60,000+ miles left in mine.
Michael Markey
Veteran
I had some BF Goodrich All Terrain on the old LR and they did the job .
This one has General Grabber ,road tyres really.
This one has General Grabber ,road tyres really.