ALLGBMINI

I took some pictures of the rain-soaked garden this morning and posted them on M&I; I thought I’d post a couple of the wet cars, too!

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

I drove Margaret’s new Z4 yesterday for the first time, and found it surprisingly smaller than my MINI! Less leg room with the seat fully back, and less hip room due to the wide central column (because of rear wheel drive, perhaps?). Steering response and feedback is great but not quite as satisfying as my GP; but engine/exhaust noise is better and louder – not sure if it’s too loud for long trips, but Margaret never complained on our drive up from BMW Spartanburg so it must be ok.
Really have to be careful parking in to spaces, that hood reaches out a long way and low down, likely to catch kerbs …

Home again, after 1855 miles in 9 easy days, with GPMINI averaging a little less than 30mpg – happy with that!

Don’t know what the Z4 did (Margaret doesn’t track MPG), but similar and perhaps a little better which is impressive considering how much bigger the engine is, and the automatic transmission.

Another view of Z4 and GP from way above – the observatory tower at the Smithsonian Air & Space museum …

Z4 & GPMINI from above

Some more pics of the Smithsonian at MargaretAndIan.