Hi Claus, and all fellow D'ers,
At the risk of sounding boring, my D has recently covered 2000 miles, and I can report that the running of the car is faultless. Inside I have had to have the gear knob replaced, as the first one lost contact with the gearstick - very disconcerting, and the drivers seat sometimes locks in the down position - but what a great excuse to have the car to yourself, eh?
I too have just returned from Tuscany, and I have to admire your bravery. My D was locked away in the garage for more than two weeks. Some of the roads out there defy belief - one phrase immediately springs to mind - Third World!
And all the time I was there I was thinking 'this would be great in the Mini'. Except that I would have had to use the gearstick all the time, such is the design of the torque delivery.
In Italy, my steering wheel was worked far harder than the 'stick. You see, we took our Toyota Corolla 2.0 litre diesel, and driving in the mountains, I could keep the car in 3rd or 4th for most of the day, far more relaxed than the Mini would have been.
But who wants to be relaxed.......? |