StarFlyr
Jul 22nd, 2012, 07:33 PM
I've had my '05 Mini convertible for a couple of months now and have some questions.
A few days ago while on a trip with the front doors unlocked, I opened up the trunk to put a few things into it. While doing so, I accidentally put my keys on the trunk floor. When I closed the trunk door, it locked with my keys inside.
Luckily, the doors were open although the back seats were in the up position and I should add that it was dark. I got my manual out to see how to lower the back seats from inside the car, but could not find ANY reference to that. I did find the reference to the emergency trunk release cable and reaching over the seats, I was able to grasp the D ring and pull the release cable which did open the trunk and allow me to recover my keys.
Is there truly no way to lower the rear seats from within the car? I can see that if not, it provides a little security from thieves to items in the trunk area with the seats raised. Still, for me, a PITA. And I'm wondering IF the car doors were locked, would the trunk have locked with my keys inside the trunk when I shut the door?
Speedometer observations. My speedometer reads around 8.5% high (which seems to be linear from zero to at least 65mph based both on radar and GPS speed readings). I assumed that my trip odometer would have the same error, but on my last trip of over 300 miles, the trip odometer agreed with my Garmin GPS odometer to within a mile or so. Based on the speedometer error, I expected the trip odometer to read around 25 miles more than the GPS odometer.
FWIW, I got 35 MPG, doing 60-65 MPH (mostly closer to 60). The car is rated at 35 MPG. No hotrod though. I passed a car (shifting down to 4th) and barely made it back to my side of the road before being SMASHED by an on coming car. Won't be trying that AGAIN! Wondering if I should have shifted down to 3rd to pass?
This was my first road trip with the Mini and was surprised to note the higher RPMs at 60 MPH (3100). I don't remember any vehicle that I've owned in over 50 years of driving that the engine ran that fast at 60 MPH. About 10 years ago I had a Mustang that going 100 MPH, the tach read 2500 RPM. Yes, I understand about the 5L engine verses my Mini 1600cc burner.
In my Mini, if I get up into the mid 70s, the RPM is around 4000. Since I do see Minis for sale with over 100K, I guess the engines are built for higher sustained RPMs, but I'm still a little uncomfortable with my engine roaring along at 4000 RPM. I was in a Mini dealership a couple of weeks ago and asked if the turbo charged S models run at the same RPMs and was told they do. I thought they might have higher gearing since they do have more power.
Is the final gearing the same in the automatic verses the stick? I see where the new Minis have a 6 gear stick verses my 5 speed stick. Is the 6th gear about the same overall as my 5th gear?
A few days ago while on a trip with the front doors unlocked, I opened up the trunk to put a few things into it. While doing so, I accidentally put my keys on the trunk floor. When I closed the trunk door, it locked with my keys inside.
Luckily, the doors were open although the back seats were in the up position and I should add that it was dark. I got my manual out to see how to lower the back seats from inside the car, but could not find ANY reference to that. I did find the reference to the emergency trunk release cable and reaching over the seats, I was able to grasp the D ring and pull the release cable which did open the trunk and allow me to recover my keys.
Is there truly no way to lower the rear seats from within the car? I can see that if not, it provides a little security from thieves to items in the trunk area with the seats raised. Still, for me, a PITA. And I'm wondering IF the car doors were locked, would the trunk have locked with my keys inside the trunk when I shut the door?
Speedometer observations. My speedometer reads around 8.5% high (which seems to be linear from zero to at least 65mph based both on radar and GPS speed readings). I assumed that my trip odometer would have the same error, but on my last trip of over 300 miles, the trip odometer agreed with my Garmin GPS odometer to within a mile or so. Based on the speedometer error, I expected the trip odometer to read around 25 miles more than the GPS odometer.
FWIW, I got 35 MPG, doing 60-65 MPH (mostly closer to 60). The car is rated at 35 MPG. No hotrod though. I passed a car (shifting down to 4th) and barely made it back to my side of the road before being SMASHED by an on coming car. Won't be trying that AGAIN! Wondering if I should have shifted down to 3rd to pass?
This was my first road trip with the Mini and was surprised to note the higher RPMs at 60 MPH (3100). I don't remember any vehicle that I've owned in over 50 years of driving that the engine ran that fast at 60 MPH. About 10 years ago I had a Mustang that going 100 MPH, the tach read 2500 RPM. Yes, I understand about the 5L engine verses my Mini 1600cc burner.
In my Mini, if I get up into the mid 70s, the RPM is around 4000. Since I do see Minis for sale with over 100K, I guess the engines are built for higher sustained RPMs, but I'm still a little uncomfortable with my engine roaring along at 4000 RPM. I was in a Mini dealership a couple of weeks ago and asked if the turbo charged S models run at the same RPMs and was told they do. I thought they might have higher gearing since they do have more power.
Is the final gearing the same in the automatic verses the stick? I see where the new Minis have a 6 gear stick verses my 5 speed stick. Is the 6th gear about the same overall as my 5th gear?