Rain (not) on GPMINI

Posted on by Ian C.

It’s been pouring all day today – but GPMINI is safe in her garage in Florida! But last month, before our trip South, we had another big rain storm, and I noticed how easily the rain washed off GPMINI’s car cover … it occurred to me that cars should be made from the same material, they’d be much easier to keep clean!
Anyway, it entertained me enough to video so who knows, maybe it’ll entertain you too 🙂

Ira Audi (non) service

Posted on by Ian C.

Before Florida, the Q5 was due it’s first (5,000 mile) service / oil change. It Also exhibited a MINI like poor warm start issue which I expected to be solved by Ira Audi with a quick engine re-program, like MINIs …
Well as it turned out, the dealership kept the car a week, doing who knows what testing; hopefully fixed too but I don’t know yet.
[UPDATE: Cold Start issues remain – after arriving home last night then going out 1/2hr later, the engine wouldn’t start smoothly]

When we got back last night, we visited Ira to get the Q5 back. No-one interested in giving a final report, but St least we had the car … Oh, except for two things; the car has it still needs it’s oil change!

Maybe they did the oil change – but then they should clear the report too; it shouldn’t be me, the customer, having to do that

Oh, and if testing involves repeated extended drives to warm the engine, maybe a courtesy would be NOT to leave the car empty of gas when I pick it up!

I realize some MINI dealerships might treat customers like this, but I expect better (especially given the price of the Q5!) I filled in a very negative survey tonight … though apparently even Audi doesn’t know what a Q5 is yet:


“We hope that you continue to enjoy your , which is equipped with a number of innovative and unique features” – including the feature of having no name, and the feature of needing an oil change constantly!