It’s just coming to the end of May and I’m driving my wife’s SAAB 93 Convertible home from work, when at a roundabout where I’d stopped for a motorbike the Van behind ran into the back of me. The SAAB has rear OS cosmetic damage but I’m able to drive it home some 30 miles. The Van was absolutely mullered and was 2 weeks old, it literally disassembled it self as designed I suppose. Insurance case opened and our car is taken away for assessment. I bought it 2 years ago for my wife’s 50th for £3300 as she wanted another having had SAABs’ over our 33 years of marriage. It came as a shock but the car was written off and assessed as 66% cost to repair. We spoke with the insurance chap and expressed our disappointment but it is what it is. We accepted the first offer of £4340 which again we just couldn’t believe .

I am (and all the workforce on this site) are just about to be made redundant at the end of September. So doing the numbers I’ve chosen to retire after never being unemployed since 16. I love the job and the people but the commute has worn thin. So after a few weeks where my wife (still working from home) is carless and has used a taxi when needing to go out has decided she would like another car. So she is on the hunt (interpret that as a determined effort ). She has decided she would like a second generation Mini (cabrio). She finds one about 2 hours away but it needs a new clutch. Contact with the seller and trusting a complete stranger a visit is planned. So yesterday up we pop and wafting away the journey in the RRS and a slave to the satnav as I’ve got no idea where we are, the satnav take us straight there. The car as per the photos is on the driveway with a couple of scratches that I either missed or couldn’t see in the advert. As it transpires the car is owned by the chaps sister who was present and so we went through the car docs and the car. I took it for a drive and from 2500 revs and above under load it was obviously a slippy clutch. Now the car only has 2 owners and 68k (2006) and it’s in cream. It’s the first time in a Mini and I’m pleasantly surprised. The character of the car is an extension of my wife, equally as was the Beetle she had (Hippy chick). Deal done and we paid £1200.

I drove the car home as my wife said she wouldn’t have the confidence analysing the power input so as not to burn out the clutch going home. No problem obviously but I feel there has been some political manoeuvring as she gets to drive the RRS home in all its comfort. The drive home is shocking. Not because of the car but the traffic volume and incidents that may be a daily occurrence, we’re obviously very naive to perhaps these daily occurrences . Pre-emptively we’ve spoken with a local Mini specialist and given a figure for a new clutch. The car was driven straight there arriving eventually and we should get the car back next week when it’s done and they’ve gone over the car etc. So by taking a gamble on what what may have put most off we feel we’ve got a bargain.

On the drive to the garage whilst relatively bouncing about in front of the RRS as I can see my wife wafting along at 65mph (it’s all I could get before slipping) and following her initially as she had the satnav, what a good looking car the RRS is. Now ours is a vintage RRS1 and apart from the slightly tinted rear windows (for the 3 dogs) it’s as it came off the build line. I was toying with the idea of passing it on come September and it could do with a blow over on the front bumper. But having had a 2 1/2 hour opportunity to see the car from the outside, it’s going nowhere. So as per the title - it’s funny for some of us how these get under your skin.

I’m off now to revamp war and peace!.

Oh and the Insurance company was/is Admiral and they been absolutely flawless in the process. To add the Mini to the multi car policy was £113. I love being old.
Steve. 2006 2.7 TDV6 HSE in Cairns Blue.

Hi Steve,

So it is that apart from having very similar cars (age and colour) we have a lot more in common too. Long healthy marriage, dogs, and a love for the RRS.

We bought a lovely little Fiat 500C a couple of years ago (for my wife) which is a great fun car, especially here. Very economical. Believe it or not, it's too hot to have the roof open sometimes but the AC is brilliant. When we can have the roof open we take it for some fun rides. After 20 minutes of bouncing around last time out (with about an hour to go to reach our destination - me driving) my wife commented that it was like being sat in a go-kart and she missed the luxury of our 2005 RRS.

Your story made me chuckle and I'm pleased the insurance went smoothly for you.

Good luck with the next chapters of your life. And yes, it's fun being old. I say that with today being my birthday.  Barrie.
2005 RRS 2.7TDV6 from 2017 -2024. Best car I ever had.
Current: 2018 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 3.2

Many happy returns, I hope you enjoy your day.
I echo Steve's sentiments, every trip is an occasion.

Great story and can really relate to it in many ways.

I miss the shape of my old 2005 4.2SC and also just bought a convertible Mini for my wife, with slippy clutch (the Mini, not my wife!!).

I also got made redundant and have never been unemployed since 16 (in my 50's now).

I'm also with Admiral (on my SVR) and it cost £58 to add the Mini on. Good to hear they treated you well and fairly.

The first RRS is iconic and will always hold a special place in my heart too.

Good luck with everything 2016 RRS SVR Estoril Blue
2005 4.2L Supercharged Java Black - gone but was my first love.
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If we all point our RR's in the same direction and accelerate at the same time can we turn back time?

Happy birthday for yesterday Barrie. 2006 2.7 TDV6 HSE in Cairns Blue.

 Barrie.
2005 RRS 2.7TDV6 from 2017 -2024. Best car I ever had.
Current: 2018 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 3.2

Oldandconfused wrote:

Many happy returns, I hope you enjoy your day.
I echo Steve's sentiments, every trip is an occasion.

Steve - just to add my ten-penneth, some years ago my wife and I decided that as retirement loomed we'd probably move to North Wales and acquire a sports car and a 4x4. Well we are now the proud owners of my RRS and her SAAB 93 Aero (SNAP). The latter is perhaps not quite the "sports" car we had planned but it is built like a brick -house (as your van driver can attest to), has 110,000 miles on it, still purrs like a pussycat and is great to drive. We haven't quite made the move to Wales yet.

As posted elsewhere here today, I have just got back from a trip to Aberdeen in the RRS - 3 passengers, luggage and various paraphernalia for my daughter's wedding. Whilst not taking a starring role, the RRS made a cameo appearance fully dressed up in bows and ribbons for the occasion. And, as your post title reflects the RRS does get under your skin. Pretty as a picture at the wedding, totally fault free over the 1400+ miles we did over last weekend and a perfect dream to drive. And even when doing the shopping locally, it is still great to walk back to the car park and see it waiting there for me. It stands out from the crowd, and is always sticking a little further out compared to the other cars as if to say, "come on - lets get going"  Robin
2008 Range Rover Sport TDV8
Gone:
Jaguar S-Type V8 4.2 Sport
MGZTT 190 2.5

 Barrie.
2005 RRS 2.7TDV6 from 2017 -2024. Best car I ever had.
Current: 2018 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 3.2

That is so true, they do get under your skin, I wouldn't buy anything else.

When I bought the 494 the plan was for it to replace the RRS1 and keep the Jag diesel I was using to commute, trouble is the RRS1 and RRS 2 are totally different motors so, much to the wife's disgust, decided that I couldn't part with the RRS 1 so the Jag went, my excuse was that the dog preferred to ride in the boot of it and as the back seats fold flat it would be rather good for moving large objects around in so couldn't possible get rid of it.

Wife, after having several different German motors of her own over the last 30 odd years always, but always takes the RRS when she goes out and I don't need to use it and always insists that we take it when we go out together, always moans when she catches me looking for a new one but on the quiet admits she wouldn't want to be without one.

That said though, never had an issue with any of the Land Rovers I have had over the years, apart from minor one's that have not caused any real issues, except where the service blokey at the main dealer didn't reconnect the diesel feed pipe to the pump properly after a service on the 494 resulting in a full tank of fuel being dumped all over the roads in Worcester. 2023 D350 FIRST EDITION, SANTORINI WITH CLOUD/EBONY
2009 2.7 TDV6 HSE SANTORINI BLACK
2020 p400e Autobiography Santorini

GONE
2018 3.0 SDV6 AUTOBIOGRAPHY, CARPATHIAN GREY, SANTORINI PAN ROOF, IVORY INTERIOR. Now gone but will be missed, Cracking motor.
2015 3.0 SDv6 HSE DYNAMIC CORRIS
2014 3.0 SDV6 HSE FUJI WHITE CONTRAST SANTORINI PAN ROOF.
Evoque 2.2 d Pure Tech Auto
P38 4.0 HSE
Disco 2.5 d XS