Most die-hard MINI fans have already seen the results of Team Fireballed's entry for the 2007 Street Tuner Challenge on the Speed Channel, unofficially dubbed the "Pursuit MINI" or, the "World's Fastest Show MINI". However, as a diehard MINI fan, I couldn't NOT blog it too, now could I?
I've had my TomTom Go300 for a little over a year now, and as I am finally starting to use it more and more, I'm discovering many things it doesn't do, that I really wish it did.
I was messing with my friend's $2000 on-board Navigation system in her shiny new 2007 Lexxus recently, and it wasn't that much better than my $300 device. Add the random 5- minutes on various, crippled in-store demo models, thus sums up my personal hands-on experience with navigation devices. If the one in the Lexxus doesn't do it, then I assume no GPS devices have these features. I'd love to get my hands on an upscale portable GPS system for comparison purposes (hint hint!).
For now, I've decided to start my "Top 10 things my GPS device doesn't do!", a work in progress, and in no special order:
1. Remember my Search! When I look up "Claim Jumper" and it shows me the wrong location, to look up another location, I should be able to go back to "Find > POIs..." type a C and it brings up recent searches. I shouldn't have to start all over. Alas, I get to fumble with spelling C-L-I-A.. delete, delete... you get the picture...
2. More U.S. POIs please! While the TomTom comes in $100 less than it's Garmin counterparts, has a cooler name and funnier commercials, the only real differences I've seen in the two brands is that Garmin is quite U.S.-centric while the UK/EU-oriented TomTom brand is a late comer to good ol' USA, and it shows. I was with a friend and he was looking for his bank, the second largest bank in the U.S. My bank is *the* largest U.S. bank. Yet, when I'm looking for an ATM, neither of them show up on the list of 40 banks I've never heard of. Isa this what I get for opting for the TomTom over the Garmin?
3. (Semi) Automatic POI updates. When I look up a POI ("point of interest")- namely an establishment with multiple locations (i.e. a chain store) like, say, "Claim Jumper"; The magic POI genie should notice I like Claim Jumper, and when I connect my device to my computer, it should check the non-existent POI database and download all the Claim Jumpers in the U.S. to my device. Asking first of course...
4. "Current Direction" option. When looking up a POI it defaults to "closest" location; You can change it, but for instance, the other day, the closest location was in the opposite direction I was headed. If the device were smart enough to notice, that'd be awesome. If it were dumb, but knew to ask "... in the direction you're going right now?" that would be nice too (of course, we never mess with our devices while the car is moving, right?)
5. Wifi/integration/access. After I gave up on finding my friend's bank on the TomTom, I pulled out my entry-level cellphone, accessed Yahoo, and found the address in about two minutes. Then I entered in the address in the GPS and was on my way. Wouldn't it be awesome to not have to use my cellphone for that? The TomTom GO300 does allow Bluetooth integration, but having read the manual a dozen times, I already know this is not a feature!
After proofreading a few times, I guess I wish the TomTom Go300 worked more like an iPhone. Then again, I didn't spend $600 on it. Then again, if I had an iPhone, would I need a GPS device? (I mean, once you hack it and install the 3rd party app).
This on-going list (and I promise I'll stop when I get to ten) brings up a few related questions I'll have to search the InterTube for answers:
- How does an establishment get their location in the POI database anyway?
- Can a user recommend POIs to the manufacturer? If so, how?
- Just how much can I hack my GPS device before it stops working?
What are your peeves of your GPS device?
Okay, so perhaps it's not an exclusive...
Photo courtesy of MyRide.com"As a woman with children, cupholders are a must…the kind that adjusts to keep spills to a minimum."
Long before I had any interest in cars, I was the biggest technology fan and gadget freak I know. That has only subsided a bit in favor of the occasional go-fast mod and a penchant for a spotless and shiny MINI!A NAM* member writes:
"...my key stopped working in that the remote lock/unlock feature is not working... Can I fix this myself, or must I take the key to the dealer?"
"The problem is that one of your keys lost it's association with the car. It is not a dead or defective battery. It has happened to me twice in the past year. You need to have all the keys with you when you get in the car. Step 1..."Sure I could copy, paste, and repost the whole breakdown here, but that would be a) rude, b) stealing (sort of), and c) not giving our buddy Steve his "props" (my staff make me say that).
(Click for closer view.)
You know you're waist deep in the "internet age" when you somehow stumble upon a Japanese website with German content about a car made in the UK.
Incidentally, "Vergleich" means "comparison". But you probably figured that out already! Of course, if I were on my Macintosh, I'd have pasted in the Japanese text as well.
Auf Wiedersehen!
Everyday we hear yet another story about another dealership or Service Dept. that screwed someone over or has the compassion of a railroad spike.
The coolest thing a car dealership has ever done for me was replace a fuel tank filter free of charge- but only because although I was 6 months out of warranty, the mileage on the vehicle was far below the warranty limit and way to soon to be having any fuel filter issues. (What I get for driving a Chevy?, perhaps?)
However, that pales in comparision to the email that landed in my InBox this morning!
(Yet) A(nother) friend of mine ordered an R56 a few weeks back and is expecting to take delivery any day now.*
The following is an excellent story and illustrates "Reason #32" of why you should try to be nice to your Dealership Staff whenever possible:
(Lightly edited for privacy concerns):
"Yesterday I stopped by (MINI dealer) and spoke to (Sales Manager). He looked at what the computer said about when my MINI would actually arrive. It looked bad because the
schedule had already slipped one day. According to the schedule, it wouldn’t arrive until Saturday. Of course I was bummed and told (Sales Manager), “I guess we won’t be having a birthday party Saturday after all.”
After disappearing from the my known world for, oh, 18 months or so, Richard Lin, a.k.a. "Octane Guy" re-posts the (link to the) inspiring "2-Bucket Wash Technique" video. Why do I care? Why do *you* care? Well let's just say, before this video, I was using Dawn and a sponge. And only one bucket? *gasp!* If you think there's nothing wrong with that, you certainly need to watch this video!
"You will never wash your car the same way again"A post on my favorite MINI-related Forum sheds more light on the MINI Cooper's utilitarian prowess:
^^^ 61" TV ^^^
^^^the TV stand that goes with it. ^^^For those who foolishly opted out of MINIUSA emails...
Here is the full text of the MINI Takes the States (MTTS) email, followed by what you will see once you log onto the Owners' Lounge (This probably violates several copyright laws, so enjoy it while it lasts!)
The Email:
The first time we pulled this thing off in 2006, MINI Owners had
so much fun that we swore we would do it again. So now we're starting to gear up for an even bigger and better MINI Takes the States in 2008.
But here's the best part: this time around we want YOU to decide where we're going. This event is all about bringing as many of our incredible MINI Owners together as possible. So we figured it would only make sense if it was MINI Owners like you who actually decided what the event was going to be. Now is your chance to weigh in and help make MINI Takes the States 2008 as Motortastic as possible.
In the Owners' Lounge:
MINI TAKES THE STATES 2008. MINI is taking the states again in 2008. But this time around we want YOU to help decide what we’re doing. So don’t be shy. Cast your vote (only once per Owner) and then let us know if you have any big ideas or little suggestions for making the event even better.
OPTION
#1: THE ROAD TRIP TO END ALL ROAD TRIPS.
If you’re an “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” kind of person then this option is for you. It would basically be a similar concept as last time. A roving herd of MINI Owners would motor along a pre-determined, nationwide route, stopping in different locations along the way. This approach lets participating MINI Owners join up for the entire journey or just a few legs.
OPTION #2: THE BIG BANG.
In June, MINI United 2007 gathered MINI Owners from around the world for one giant party weekend in the Netherlands. So maybe we try something similar for Owners here in the U.S.? We would hold one spectacular festival over a long weekend in the summer, giving MINI owners the opportunity to motor from all across the country to one central location.
OPTION #3: CLOSER TO HOME.
Even though all our MINIs would jump at the chance to stretch their cross-country legs, we’d love as many MINI Owners as possible to make it. So maybe we arrange for 4 smaller events to take place in different regions of the country? Maybe we even stagger the events so that the hardcore Motorers could make it to more than one event next summer?
COMMENTS & SUGGESTIONS: Was there an element from the first MINI Takes the States that you loved and would want to keep even if we change formats? Do you have a brilliant idea for how to get even more MINI Owners to come? Here’s the place to suggest any and all ways to make the next MINI Takes the States even better.
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now get out there and vote people!
"Lily Allen had a furious row* with one of her new neighbours last week.
The 'Smile' singer has been parking her car in a private bay which does not belong to her, over the past two weeks.
A few days ago, the bay's owner spotted Lily parking her Mini Cooper S in his space, which led to a confrontation outside her home in Hackney, East London..."
Read the rest at: digitalspy.com
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Note: I don't think Lily Allen would like what would happen if she parked her MINI in someone else's spot here in Left Coast, USA. Also, who the heck is Lily Allen? :)
*row [rou]
–noun
1. a noisy dispute or quarrel; commotion.
2. noise or clamor
–verb (used without object)
3. to quarrel noisily.
–verb (used with object)
4. Chiefly British. to upbraid severely; scold.
[Origin: 1740–50; orig. uncert.]
—Synonyms 1. spat, tiff, scrap, scrape, set-to.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
I certainly thought this was interesting:
Mini Mania Inc. Announces La Carrera Panamericana 2007 Race Entry - The First Late Model MINI to Race in Event
Mini Mania Inc. announces the entry of the first BMW MINI Cooper S entry to the La Carrera Panamericana Mexican road race driven by Colin and Eric Herrick.
Nevada City, CA (PRWEB) August 30, 2007 -- Mini Mania Inc. (www.MiniMania.com) announces the entry of a 2005 MINI Cooper S entry to the La Carrera Panamericana 2007 Mexican road race held between October 26,
2007 to November 1. Driven by the son and father team of Colin and Eric Herrick, Mini Mania expects their entry loaded with Mini Mania performance products will be the first late model MINI Cooper S to start and finish this prestigious race.
The La Carrera Panamericana is a 50 year-old vintage car race with over 100 entries for this year's event. For only the second year, the Unlimited category will allow late model cars such as the Mini Mania 2005 MINI Cooper S to participate. The course is a grueling seven day, 1935 mile route that starts from Oaxaca in the tropical Southern Mexico and travels north through altitudes rising from sea level to almost 10,000 ft. with temperatures ranging from near freezing into the 90's. The race finishes in Nuevo Laredo at the Texas Border. The changing environment is an added technical challenge to the already difficult route.
"This will be a true test of Mini Mania products on this extremely challenging and technical event," said Don Racine, president of Mini Mania Inc. "Despite the high attrition rate for the Pan Am, our goal is to finish the race in the top 10 for our category."
About Mini Mania, Inc.
Established in 1974, Mini Mania Inc., is the leading supplier of aftermarket performance and accessory products for the BMW MINI and Classic Mini. Mini Mania products are available from dealers throughout the U.S. and abroad and on the company's extensive web site. MiniMania.com is an information portal for Mini Cooper enthusiasts containing over 50,000 pages of unique content augmented with 1000's of part numbers, technical articles and community forums.
Mini Mania is headquartered in a 16,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in Nevada City which is nestled in the Northern California foothills outside of Sacramento, California.
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source: PRWeb.com
