OT: "Who Owns Who?"

Simply because I keep coming back to this site, but always have to look it up each time...

Who Owns Who?
"The automotive world is a complicated place now and with consolidation hitting everyone it's no surprise that car companies are gobbling up each other faster than ever before...

...But in soap opera fashion sometimes these companies sell their divisions so quickly that the new parent doesn't even have time to make their own changes..."

from the automotive blog,"Cars Cars Cars. A Car Blog. Only Angrier." carscarscars.blogs.com

Blog Plug: MURMINI.COM

There can never be too many MINI-related web logs in my opinion...

Doing their part to serve the MINI community. murmini.com throws down some southern fried MINI culture, complete with a side order of product reviews and trivia (I loves me some independent reviews and trivia!)

Pass the hot sauce, y'all!




Got a MINI/Mini related blog or website? Click here!

Big Crash At Nurburgring 2006

More fun from our friends at YouTube...




trying to get more details about this particular race...

Sand MINI!

Neeto!

(awaiting photo credit info)....

A Guy Can Only Take So Much!

As MINI owners (or, as a warning to prospective MINI owners), we expect that people will wave at us and want to ask about the car. It's not just an urban legend...it really happens!!

Now, I don't mind talking to people i don't know and answering the same questions over and over. Actually, i do mind, but it goes with the territory. But the fascination over a MINI only goes so far. Keep in mind- the MINI = kid magnet:

When i went to my mom's house the other day and the 9 y/o kid stuck his greasy nose up to the drivers' side window, i laughed...

When the 2nd kid rode his bike around it three times- checking out my car, not watching where he was riding, and **way too close** i cringed...

But when the 3rd kid walked up and stuck his hand in my "mail slot"?!?!? By then i was wishing it had an auto-sensing guillotine in there! (not really. wait- really!)

I so need a garage.

:bmp:

Blog Plug: "Classic Mini Madness"

I'd like to announce and welcome "Keef" to the list of "Mini Links and what-not"...

Check out his blog and personal view into the world of classic and new Minis!

Classic Mini Madness
h8bmwmini.blogspot.com


Got a MINI/Mini related blog or website? Click here!


:bmp:

Video: 2006 MINI Challenge (UK)

drool....

Lookie What I Got! Rogue MINI Eyes!*

Why lookie here... what ever could it be?

Ooh- scottsdale, eh? I couldn't wait to open it!


Niiiice! I couldn't wait to "install" them (yes, my MINI Eyes are upside down in this photo. That's just how excited I was!)




15 minutes later...




So hypnotizing!





*NOTE: These photos (and every other photo I've seen online) do not do the Rogue MINI Eyes justice! They got scales, yo! A detailed description of the MINI Eyes is now posted on their website- I can personally attest that their description is highly accurate!


At $25US and 15-20 minute install, a mod well-worth it!
I can't wait to see what they come up with next!


Rogue MINI Eyes
rogueminis.com (US) essentialmini.co.uk (UK)

Yeah yeah, i know... I got the (mod) bug... What can ya do?!

Another Stolen MINI*

I had another dream my MINI was stolen*... but this time it was entirely my fault...

I had decided to take it to the car wash in the university parking lot in between classes... you know- the kind where you give them your keys, and it's run through on a conveyor belt...

The attendant took my keys, and as it went into the wash, I remembered i was late for class! So off I run to class! Going up the 4 flights of stairs i keep running into people i know... some of them i even liked... "idle chatter okay gotta go bye"...

During class (whose content was oddly was passed over in the dream) all i could think of was, "dammit- i gotta go get my car!..." End of class finally! I jump up and prepare to head down the stairs, out the building, and across the parking lot to retrieve my wet and soapy MINI!!

Dammit! More people I know! And they all want to talk to me! People i like and want to talk to, as well as people i don't like and don't want to talk to. I rush through hellos and remember me's and how you beens and hey i gotta go get my car laters about 10 times!

Finally i get to the other end of the university parking lot and to the car wash. i run over to where they come out the other end- and there it is- a Chili Red Ford Pickup? (w/ a white roof and bonnet stripes and chrome grill no less!) WTF!?

I try to find someone to talk to but they're all busy changing tires and such on the lifts (yeah- in the university parking lot). I can't find anyone that knows anything about where my MINI is... I wake up... PISSED OFF!!

*Man, I think about that car waaay too much!

How Did You Ever Get So? - MINI Advert

This is the commercial that sucked me in. I've only seen it once on actual television...

Need some time off for MINI takes the States?

Try the MINI Quarantine Sound Board!

(those MINI guys are *@#$!@$ funny sometimes!)

:bmp:

MINI Mileage and Gas Chart (real vs estimate)*

As we all know, the MPG stated on car adverts and informational publications are "estimates"- quite liberal ones at that, and rarely reflect typical driving conditions. And while the folks over at whiteroofradio.com are having a contest for "Best MPG"-- I knew I wasn't even going to try to win this one!

But since I've been tracking my MPG since three cars ago (it's what I do), I thought I'd play along in a round-about way with this brief reality check:

The "estimated MPG" for the 2006 MINI Cooper S:

(source: minusa.com)
The MINI "official estimates- are about as accurate as the MSRP!

Now, compare this to the following spreadsheet of fill ups since I picked up "Mr. Bigglesworth" approx. one month ago...

(Odometer / gallons of previous fill-up = MPG)

As expected, the highest MPG (Row 6) represents a mostly-highway trip of about 300 miles. Other numbers shown are a result of either "4-minute commutes" or stop-and-go freeway traffic oh so typical to SoCal... And of course, I was within the break-in period until August 7 (Row 4)- and who knows what effect that may have had...

Rows 2-5 also reflect the addition a K&N Cold-Air-Intake- A mod which has never been confused with better gas mileage, but does not seem to have a significant bearing on fuel efficiency)...

Since I have the data, the second set of numbers (Row 11-15) are included for comparision- This is from my 2003 Cooper (non-S)...

(While I don't log it- simple math will show that we're paying ~$3.40-3.50 a gallon out here now! Ouchie!)


So while Wingnut, DB, and the WRR gang get their smack-talk on, I'll just enjoy my "rocket-car"... and see you at the pump!

*As they say, "your mileage may vary"

Lookie What I Got! MINI Outdoor Car Cover

I got this with my new MINI... Finally took it out of the box...






MINI Outdoor Car Cover w/ Spoiler
Item#: 82 11 0 300 266

Worth every penny!

Hometown Snobbery?!?!*

Only two blocks from my house, I was excited to see another new Pure Silver (no Black) MINI Cooper S in my own stomping ground:

At opposite sides of the intersection, I "wink" (flash high-beams)- nothing... I wave profusely- nothing... I get the green, pass by slowly, roll down the window. Two feet away, I give the thumbs up... She looks over, eye-contact. NOTHING! What the?!?!

I LOVE THIS TOWN!! (not!)


*For those just joining us,... Yes- you are supposed to wave at other MINI drivers!

Lookie What I Got! Grill Badges!

Today I opened my mailbox, and *this* fell out!


At first I thought, "hey- these don't fit"--- Then I quickly liked how they allow for about 1/8" inch border all the way around...







Perfect for every occasion!...





That is, until the yoots' snag one in the 99cent store parking lot. (then i'll be pi***d!!)





Badges available at: www.MotoringBadges.com
Magnetic Grill Badge Holder available at your dealer and assorted MINI shops (official MINI part #: 51 13 0 406 752.)

Why let your refrigerator have all the fun? (r)

Lookie What I Got! German Key-fob

I got this in the mail the other day- apparently for signing up to "MINI International Magazine!"







Kinda weird... but still cool!

Black Box

I received an odd package in the post today. No worries- it wasn't ticking...








Currently un-opened, I'm considering selling it to the highest bidder. Any takers?