Monday 18 April 2016

A Mini Memorandum Monday


It won't be my first mini, or even my second, but my third.  The first one I kept for nearly 12 years, then I traded it in for the one I have now and recently I received a letter to say that the three years since I bought it are nearly up and it's time to trade it in for another.  I know that I love my Mini and have no hesitation for getting another one, so that's not what I learnt this week.  No, the thing that I learnt is ...

that ...

new cars don't have CD players any more.  Speaking as someone who doesn't download music onto her phone/ipad and enjoys playing her 'old' music CDs and singing along in the privacy of the car - this is a big thing! But I guess it's not that long ago that I was bemoaning the fact that I wouldn't be able to play my cassettes so I'm sure I'll cope. 

You don't even have to put a key anywhere near an ignition any more, just so long as it is in the car somewhere.  What is the world coming too?  I remember learning to drive and having to use the 'choke' control when you first turned on the engine (am I showing my age now?).

The salesman told us an amusing story about an ex-employee who had been driving up North to a sales convention.  In a company car (which doesn't require the key to be attached into any part of the dashboard) he stopped en route for a hamburger from a well known burger chain.  Here starts the story of his misdemeanour. For we all know that you are not supposed to eat while driving are you?  Anyway, he finishes his burger, opens his window and throws the rubbish out of the window.  Again, something that is not allowed at all, and something that really annoys me if I see it happening.  However, what he didn't realise was that he had inadvertently picked up the key in amongst the rubbish and that went out the window too.  The car, sensing that the key was no longer in situ, slowed down and stopped.  The rubbish (and the key) is by now, a far distance back, somewhere in a motorway hedgerow.  Explain that one to the police and breakdown company!  

So as I browse through paint charts and interior options, I shall be giving a big wave to Sian and the rest of the Mondayers whilst reminiscing about my first car: a little Triumph Herald, PUC 762F - I even remember the number plate.  £450 she cost me - yes of course she was a 'she', she even had a name, Bessie.  Oh the memories! 

6 comments:

Sian said...

Love this! We discovered the same thing with the new fiat here. No CD player, which came as a shock. If you lived round the corner I'd be coming round begging for a test drive, or at least a test sit, because I fancy a mini and wonder how easy it is to see out of. Always an issue, obviously. I love telling my kids about learning to use the choke..it's like picking at a spot, I know it makes me feel old but I can't stop.

Re socks. Yes, I do coloured heels and toes with rib for work socks for J. I need to add the coloured toes because he has big feet and one 50g ball isn't enough for one foot! I do 2x2 rib

Patio Postcards said...

I did not know this about new cars - I will have to make sure Mr Man is aware when he gets his new company car this June. Happy week ahead.

alexa said...

No CD players? Arrgh! But since our cars are always hand-me-downs, it'll be a long while before this affects us :). Like your story, though cars are too clever by half these days. Oh, the joy of the choke! And then the fear (or reality) of flooding the carburettor if the choke was out too far for too long ... I much enjoyed your entertaining post :).

Maggie said...

You know I am going to have to look in my daughter's car and see if she has a CD player. I am sure she doesn't use it as all her music is on her phone. I had to smile at your key story. I have heard of similar not so naughty tales. My brother in law dropped his wife out by Tescos and popped into the petrol station. It was only when he went to restart the car that he found the keys were travelling around the supermarket in his wife's pocket. The petrol station staff were very flummoxed by this as to how he had managed to drive in!

peppylady (Dora) said...

I came over from Notes on Paper and both of our vehicles are form the decade of the 90's.
Having a new vehicle isn't high on my list. I don't want to make payments.
If you fine the time stop on by for a cup of coffee.

Susanne said...

My hubby's car has the keyless thing which we love, but I don't like the lack of CD player either. So we end up listening to satellite radio instead - do you think they are in cahoots with the car makers?