Re: New Car
 

I would have gotten one (a Mini, that is) but then realized exactly how close to the rear gate the backseat passengers are. If you ever have passengers in the backseat, I would recommend against. Getting rearended at high speed by some jackass is something that happens, nothing you can do will ever avoid it, and the people in the back seat of a Mini are toast. (NHTSA doesn't test rear impacts because only 5% of crash deaths happen this way. IIHS does test, and gives the Mini good ratings, but their methodology is to crash a sled of the same weight as the test car going 20 mph at impact. At 2,500 lb, that's about one-sixth less than a lot of other coupes (barring go karts like a Lotus or Tesla), and don't get me started about what an SUV weighs. Add some mph (which gets squared in the force calculation) and it might not pass.) Anyway, I wanted one badly but couldn't get past this. I'd feel sick taking the kids to school, and that saps a lot of fun out of driving.

Re: New Car
 

A friend has one and LOVES it, but it does spend a lot of time in the shop. She has replaced the brakes and the clutch in the 3 years she has had it.

Re: New Car
 

Well, SF is pretty easy on the clutch and brakes.

I think TM is looking to unload his Clubman-check with him.

Re: This Is Why You Are Fat
 

Pork rinds have no carbs? Huh. Go figure.

The trading floor no-carb-snack-food of choice was Beef Jerky. FYI.

Re: Tuesday is Friday
 

Cletus...

You are ON FIRE, man.

Re: New Car
 

My sister (the one that lives here) has a '05 Mini S. I recommend against the drive flat tires but otherwise it's been a good car for her. Of course, right now it's not running due to a battery, but I am assuming driver error than any fault of the car.

That said, a friend of mine hates the Mini people with the fire of a thousand blazing suns. I believe that's due to customer service issues at the local dealership more than the car, but it's had difficulties running.

Re: New Car
 

That sounds like a driver issue, not a reliability issue.

Re: This Is Why You Are Fat
 

Beef jerky time!

http://www.movieactors.com/freezefra...ngPlaces59.jpg

Re: This Is Why You Are Fat
 

if you'd answered semen you'd be able to retire already.

Re: This Is Why You Are Fat
 

flower's culinary training is limited to the 7 year sushi-making training. I'm not sure if he did it online or if he moved to Kyoto for the time.

Anyhoo, the japanese are really limited in using dairy and corn so he probably is swimming when you throw bugles at him. otoh, pork rinds or shrimp chips or rice cakes he'll arrange like the itamae he is.

Re: This Is Why You Are Fat
 

This was going so well until "nebwers." Buzz. Kill.

Re: This Is Why You Are Fat
 

Sometimes, I find Hank's "I know more about Japan than the Japanese" schtick to be a bit tiresome. But mostly, I am just happy to have someone else here who can appreciate Melt Banana, in at least some small way.

Re: New Car
 

A friend in SF used to have one and liked it, but traded it in after watching backseat passengers struggle to get in/out of it.

Honda Insight? Nowhere as peppy as the Mini, but smaller than a Prius, with the Honda reliability.

Re: New Car
 

You had a Honda and could only kill it after 20 years.

Anything BMW-relaated will flat line much more easily and quickly than that. My suggestion: Civic all the way.

Re: Tuesday is Friday
 

Just trying to help a man in need. I feel the pain of work one doesn't want to do.