Deja vu but disappointed; 3-6 Aug 09

I’m not what you’d call a petrol-head. I don’t watch Top Gear but that’s mainly because it’s become too overtly an anti climate change concern program instead of one which highlights engineering excellence and promotes the thrills and pleasures of driving without the excesses. But then perhaps it’s the excesses which turn the petrol-heads on.

I’ve had a car for my entire driving life. For a time they were provide to me by my employers but I started buying my own (more later) and I guess I’m going to finish in the same way. I’ve now got a Skoda which does nothing for my ego but runs on fresh air.

Last week I rented a Mini. I was quite excited because my first car had been a Mini, 770 XTU and I’d hoped for a nostaglia experience. No way.

Minis 40 years ago were pretty basic. They retailed new at about £500 which in retrospect was a mistake; car companies didn’t do much marketing then. Inside there was little in terms of upholstery, there were enormous wells in the doors where there was a wire pull to open them and the ignition was on the floor. As you drove it you felt it; the basic mini had little power and demanded anticipation and expert use of the gears. It was great fun and mine was green but more of a pea green than the one in the photo.

Today’s Mini is by BMW of course and is not basic. It is well fitted out, comfortable and fully electronic. But when I drove it there was no sense of  ‘I’ve been here before’. No doubt it is a good car but it disappointed me. I’ve recently hired a Golf, which of course is out fo the same stable as my Skoda, and I found it much more responsive and easy to drive.

The one feature that did impress me though was the auto engine cut-out and restart. Whenever you stop, engage neutral and pull on the hand break, which I do all the time, it’s how I was taught, the engine cuts out. The when you depress the clutch again to start off the engine restarts. And being a BMW engine with, presumably ,a Bosch starter motor, it starts quickly and first time every time. This has a measureable impact on fuel consumption and on carbon emissions. Well done BMW!