Not some epic road trip, but a trip home to rural Quebec from my home in Michigan. Just me going to a reunion of a bunch of my cousins. I was one of forty-seven grandchildren, so there was potential for a sizable crowd. I have owned R53 MINIs since 2007. I drove the first one for sixteen years before an errant Kenworth took it out. I replaced it with a 13,000 miles one (it turned over 18K east of Toronto) and I haven't taken it any further than the west side of Michigan until this week. Since I bought it, it has had a mystery electrical drain on the battery that required me to put it on a trickle charger every other night. On the 14th I decided to let it drain down just to see if the battery had become weaker, and to see if I might best take my truck on the trip. Battery still hasn't drained as of today. Somehow this little peckerheaded car has fixed itself. I still love it, but not entirely sure I trust it.
The trip was straight forward with the exception of having to drive right through Toronto. If I had to live and commute there I would just shoot myself. Car got 33.5mpg for the trip and I was cruising at a pretty steady 80mph, so I'm pleased with it.
I rented a place through Airbnb that's about 4 miles from the house I grew up in. I'll be here until Thursday visiting family and old friends. This is my first trip home since 2019, so long overdue. Picture is the car at the rental cabin. Life is good !!
Hell yeah. That is awesome.
Just curious.. I thought the R53s all had scoops on the hood
Am I blind, or was it an LCI changeover?
Edit; Nvm. Definitely blind. I forgot they're a little more forward than say, a WRX.
I never had an R53 that would get over 30 mpg, so good on you!
I bought an R55 new in 2009 and drove it for 15 years, it was a terrific car - no issues at all and the turbo motors got an honest 35 mpg.
MINIs are excellent highway cars! Mine went to the east coast a number of times, Colorado more times than I can count, Texas, California, Phoenix - all on different trips. Wonderful cars......I want another but the new ones just don't do it for me, and the last "good" Clubman were made in 2014.
My current A4 based Audi Allroad just feels huge compared to the MINI.....
Road trips back home are battery chargers for our spirit. Enjoy!
I was at a reunion of a bunch of my cousins today and a couple of us were reminiscing about our great-grandfather, John (Jack) Lyster Gauley, whom we were fortunate to have around until 1961. I mentioned the old captain's chair he always sat in, and my cousin Glen says "you want to see it". Today was a special day with family and this was just the icing on the cake......Grampa Jack's chair !
In reply to AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) :
You're exactly right !
I don't know what the rest of you do on your vacations, but I spend time in cemeteries.....in this case cleaning the markers for three of my maternal great-grandparents.......
You might be in Canada if...
