Your fleet running reports

[Sundayjumper]

I have solved the mystery of the MINI breaks. And learned something.

I pulled off the os calliper and found the cover neatly, symmetrically, torn

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I initially thought the disc had somehow cut through it but that didn’t line up. Looking at the pads they have a couple of raised spots on them, that had caused the problem.

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Both pads were the same. Maybe I’d bought the wrong pads ? Nope. These two are both outboard pads. The inboard ones have the spots further apart (top):

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In my haste at the weekend I’d not noticed this and fitted both outboard pads on one side and both inboard on the other. BMW pads normally have a large 3-pronged clip on the inboard pad that makes it blindingly obvious. These MINI pads are identical apart from the spacing of these spots.

Reassembled and all is well For now. I obviously need to order a rebuild kit but driving like this for a few days is not a problem.

[240PP]

Timeless design. Still love it.

She sits so nicely. Big improvement on the 986 for me, it’s aged far better.

[MikeHunt]

In the 6 weeks since I've owned it, I've driven my 550 1000 miles with circa £650 in fuel costs, averaging 21mpg, which increases to around 33mpg on a run. This is pretty much bang on the numbers I saw from the Yaris GR for similar driving.

Im trying to blame it on the time of year, but the mx5 hasn't really got a look in and I find myself driving the 5 a lot more than the Z4.

Only other costs have been £25 for a years subscription to the Bmw speed camera map add-on. Im not a fan of the move to subscription services, but this one does contribute towards the costs of keeping the locations up to date. It probably not as good as waze, but handy to have on the hud.

[mik]

In the 6 weeks since I've owned it, I've driven my 550 1000 miles with circa £650 in fuel costs, averaging 21mpg, which increases to around 33mpg on a run. This is pretty much bang on the numbers I saw from the Yaris GR for similar driving.

Seems pretty good. Happy with it? I always thought they looked like an interesting M5 alternative.

[Broccers]

Timeless design. Still love it.

She sits so nicely. Big improvement on the 986 for me, it’s aged far better.

[MikeHunt]

In the 6 weeks since I've owned it, I've driven my 550 1000 miles with circa £650 in fuel costs, averaging 21mpg, which increases to around 33mpg on a run. This is pretty much bang on the numbers I saw from the Yaris GR for similar driving.

Seems pretty good. Happy with it? I always thought they looked like an interesting M5 alternative.

Yes, no regrets so far, it does the day to day stuff as well as my 7 did, sitting in school run traffic or motorways with the car doing most of the driving and the seats massaging wafting along in almost silence isn't a bad way to start the day.

It is a big heavy beast but manages to hide its weight as well as you can expect. It obviously doesn't compare to an mx5 on tiny b-roads but doesn't seem phased by anything Ive asked it to do so far, its limits are high enough that you aren't going to be pushing them on the roads regularly. In sport mode, with the sunroof tilted open you can hear the exhaust, but it is defiantly not in your face.

The M5 has another 100bhp or so but 500+ is more than enough, I remember dreaming of 200! It has surprised a Bentayga and a 458 on the motorway

[Broccers]

I might have to drop a job of at Leicester square on tues. It says my car is ulez compliant - does this mean I dont have to pay anything or is it a cunning trap>?

[Sundayjumper]

It means you don't have to pay the ULEZ charge. Still need to pay congestion charge. Not the same thing.

[Mito Man]

Yeah CC still applies. And avoid the bus lanes, watch out for the red light cameras, yellow box cameras, no right turn cameras, all the 20 mph cameras, the noise cameras, cycle lane cameras (in case your tyre touches the line by 1mm), blind cyclists and mopeds and you may just get in and out without too much hassle.

[nuttinnew]

That's a long way to go for a poo

[Gavster]

Watch out for variable hour restrictions too, those signs that say “No cars between 8-10.30am on Mon - Fri” make sure you’re always aware of the time and date at all times when manouvering into a side road

[Jimexpl]

Watch out for variable hour restrictions too, those signs that say “No cars between 8-10.30am on Mon - Fri” make sure you’re always aware of the time and date at all times when manouvering into a side road

I was near St Paul’s in November and temporary road works meant that I had the choice of turning around and driving the wrong way up a one-way street or through a time restricted road. I took the wrong way as the best possible chance of leaving without a ticket.

Near Leicester Sq is very difficult to park now. I’d suggest pre-booking with Just Park in China Town.

[Mito Man]

Holy shit have you driven round the Seven Dials in Covent Garden recently. It’s mainly a series of 1 way roads now but they closed off 2 of the roads for roadworks. I was stuck in an infinite 1 way loop so ended up reversing down a 1 way street to get out.

[Matty]

Driving home in the Up late on Friday, as I got upto speed I wasn't able to select 5th or 6th gear, with lots of resitance...thining "oh fuck" I slowed a bit, went into 3rd, then tried to get 4th and that felt difficult too.

Panicking, I pulled over, looked down....and it turns out as I'd thrown my laptop into the footwell in a rush, I'd got the shoulder strap caught around the gear lever stopping me moving across into the higher gears

[John]

We've had a shake up of the fleet and after two years the Panda has gone along with my wife's Focus which she has owned for just over three years. They have been replaced by a single car which is a Suzuki Vitara hybrid (2WD!). We sold both the cars to Cazoo as their prices are still way higher than every other dealer. A painless process too with zero haggling and instant payment, I'd recommend them if you're thinking of selling.

Probably of less interest to people on here is that we sold our motorhome in August and have just replaced it with a *deep breath* Adria Coral Plus 670 DC Fiat Ducato.

[Broccers]

London sounds more horrific than I imagined

Plan B is drop packages a bit nearer to here and get on a same day van so I don't have to eff about with fines

@John Adria Coral Plus 670 DC Fiat Ducato. Wow they look amazing. Going anywhere good?

[Gavster]

London has been on an anti-car trajectory for quite a long time and is continuing in that direction too. I'm sure one of the London same day carriers would be a better option.

[John]

@John Adria Coral Plus 670 DC Fiat Ducato. Wow they look amazing. Going anywhere good?

We had a night at Chatsworth over the weekend just to test everything out. Future trips will no doubt include Cornwall

[JonMad]

Our trains are out to I drove the Swift into Waterloo last week. Fairly painless but took ages. 2 1/2 hours in, 2 hrs back - normally 1 1/2 hours door to door when I take the train. Congestion Charge + all day parking across the road from work = £30, plus fuel = £47. Price of a train ticket normally - £47.60

Hyde Park Corner was interesting as it was about 6 lanes wide, the rest of it pretty straightforward, though stop/start from somewhere on the M4 almost all the way in. Did some sightseeing on the way in to relieve the boredom.

[mik]

Driving home in the Up late on Friday, as I got upto speed I wasn't able to select 5th or 6th gear, with lots of resitance...thining "oh fuck" I slowed a bit, went into 3rd, then tried to get 4th and that felt difficult too.

Panicking, I pulled over, looked down....and it turns out as I'd thrown my laptop into the footwell in a rush, I'd got the shoulder strap caught around the gear lever stopping me moving across into the higher gears

Arf.