Following an earlier link in particular comments about 14 days "Grace" I feel that I must clarify the porsition, lest any Backroomers finf themselves lumbered with large penalty bills from the Excise people.

What Richard Turpin says is true BUT in the event of you being summoned whilst witing for your postal application you will find yourelf in a position where the burden of proof IS ON THE ACCUSED (yes I know I'm shouting) to prove that the application was actually in process. Guess who the Bench will believe unless you have full documentary evidence of your application. Read more

Having had a look at one yesterday and being impressed by the versatility and overall packaging I managed to borrow it for a 1 hr test drive. Unfortunately the only available model was the Sport with low profile tyres and alloys, and I was already mindful of other peoples comments that the ride was a little choppy.
I included sections of motorway, country lanes and urban. Some observations follow:
Ride/handling
Yes it was a little choppy on poor urban/extra urban roads where the surface has seen better days, but not to the point where I could not live with it. I guess with the steel smaller wheels and ordinary tyres the ride may be a little better, but would welcome comment from anybody who has tested both versions. It stays impresively flat when cornering enthusiastically, but the slaesman insists that the sport model has stiffer supension and anti roll characteristics although the spec says nothing about this! Anybody know the answer please? The power steering appears to be speed dependent and ideal for urban but I was not convinced by the lack of feel at faster speeds. It drove like a small car, it did not feel as sure footed as my 16v 1.2 Zetec Fiesta (even with 70k on the clock) which always fells like a bigger car.

Engine /transmission
Gearbox is a delight, precise short throw, but you need to use it. I found the 5th gear flexibility poor compared with the Fiesta. Ok it it only had 500 miles on the clock and may loosen up, but I doubt it as it was very willing to rev freely. It seemed very quiet at tickover, but noisy upto 30 mph when accelerating, it then quietened down (comparitively) upto 75mph. I was not convinced that a continental 85 mph would be comfortable for several hours at a time.

When starting off the trip fuel consumption iwas showing only 34.9mpg ( over 80 miles) and despite reading the book (as a last resort) refused to reset. At the end I had a reading of 37.1 ( after about my 30 miles) so I guess that I got something around 43 mpg. Not scientific but the best I could do.

I will now go back and read the road test that somebody posted about a week ago to see what he said. I purposely did not read it in detail until after I had committed myself to print.

I will now try and get a Yaris Verso for a comparable test, anybody got any other comments? I think that from a driving point of view both my Fiesta and Golf GTI (Mk2 8v) are better but different! Read more

I have a theory. Each county council employs a guy to travel its roads with a spray can. He circles each pothole he finds and adds some meaningless symbols. Drivers assume that at last something is being done. Result - less hassle at County Hall. Read more

<"Shrinking car!"> Read more

I took delivery of a brand new MINI ONE on March 1'.
Great car to own and drive BUT,last Tuesday I noticed several stains underneath the engine bay-I presumed an oil leak on the power steering.
Have had the car back in my local BMW dealer twice,the second timeyesterday.
The conclusion is that the oil stains are actualy oily water from the run off pipe
for the AC.
I am still not convinced. Apart from getting independent advice Im at a loss
what to do.
1.Are there any MINI owners out there with AC who have noticed similair stains
underneath their cars?.
2.Does the "oily condensation" theory ring any bells with anyone?.
Any advice would be welcome,
Cheers,
R.Aspinall Read more