I have a couple of issues before heading over the pond however. One of them is communication. Verizon, while selling me this fine Blackberry World phone (even has a SIM card), wants to charge me an exorbitant amount of money to use that feature of my phone. I could go the Pre-paid SIM route, but getting the unlock codes for my phone is a serious pain in the ass (so I have read) and isn’t always successful.

Looking around a bit last night, and playing with teh lad’s iPod Touch, I had a lightbulb moment. No, a lightbulb didn’t actually appear, but you know what I mean. Look at the photo above and think on that for a minute.

Yes, it’s a microphone for the iPod Touch. Yes, it works with Skype on the iPod Touch. In fact, there is a whole bunch of them over at Touchmic.com. They work with current and previous generation iPTs.

Ok, it’s not an ATP, but it would work for me as long as I had WiFi, which I am pretty sure I will.

Has anyone used one of these mics, or any microphone, on the iPod Touch?

All of the video (so far) is up at WhiteRoof.tv. Here is a sample.

You can check out the photos here. Be sure to do a search at Flickr for AMVIV as there are a TON of great photos from some of the best MINI photographers in the country!

Still more audio, a W(t)F video hour and a post or two to follow.

If you would like to keep up, follow along at White Roof Radio. Everything will be getting posted there and at Motoringfile.

Something new this year will be the introduction of a live show (Saturday, around noon PST. Check your local listings) and a real video component. I will be taking the The Flip and the Canon. Flip video stuff you should be seeing over the weekend. Canon Video stuff will be showing up at Whiteroof.tv next week.

Have a good weekend y’all!

200K Miles in a MINI Cooper

It’s official as you can see from the photo. My MINI eclipsed the 200,000 mile mark recently and thought it would be a good time to give you my thoughts about this car since it has more than 10 years worth of normal driving miles on it.

I got my MINI on March 9th, 2003 and hit my first 100K miles on October 7th, 2005. Lots of miles for work, lots for SCMM events and just general motoring.

This 100,000 miles did take a little bit longer, mostly due to the extreme increases in the price of gas. When I bought my MINI, I was paying $1.899 for a gallon of premium in SoCal. We all know the rest of that story. I also drove less for work, which is another reason why it took a bit more than 3 years to hit this 100K versus 2.5 for the last.

I’ve said this here many times before, but the MINI is the best car I have ever owned. Except the alternator going out and getting 1 flat tire, this car has never left me stranded and never not started. I’ve driven this car in pouring rain, searing heat and even snow without a hitch. Never thought I would lose control and have always felt safe, even driving next to 18-wheelers with 60MPH gusts!

The following is a recap of the life of my MINI. Follow the jump!

Where I have been

Thanks to this amazing little car, I have been able to do some pretty cool things, meet almost all of you plus other great people and go to places I’m sure I would have not gone to otherwise.

I have…

• Helped to start one of the largest MINI Cooper Clubs in the world, Southern California MINI Maniacs (SCMM)
• Started a little podcast called White Roof Radio with Todd and Gabe. Thanks to you, it is one of the most popular automotive podcasts in the world!
• Been an editor at Motoringfile.com for more than 2 years
• Been the “Official” something at AMVIV, MTTS (covered it twice) and MINI United 2007.
• Driven to the Grand Canyon
• Driven on the track over 40 hours!
• Driven on the Las Vegas Strip with over 200 other MINIs, more roads than I can count with 30 or more

Pretty amazing stuff, all because of the MINI!

Repairs

Since my MINI was built in the first year (11/15/02 to be exact), the first 50k miles were slightly problematic, but covered under warranty. Steering wheel, seats, latches, numerous software updates and a new transmission are on the list of things that were replaced or repaired. In total, my MINI spent over 1 month at the dealer for the first 50K miles. Did I mind? Not even a little bit.

From 50K to 100K everything was exactly perfect except for the A/C pump going out during the hottest summer we have seen in 20 years. It was replaced and now my MINI has a part on it that can turn sub-12 second quarter mile times, should I ever need to do that.

Once I was passed 100K, wear and tear started setting in. First thing to be done was a tune-up, which is fairly minor. I was amazed it didn’t need it until 120K miles. After that was the battery at about 145K. Should you need this, I highly recommend going to the dealer. I’ve recently tried a battery that was non OEM and the bracket to hold it in it’s little box wouldn’t fit correctly.

Next up was the power steering pump. And it wasn’t cheap. If you are getting up in miles and think yours might be failing, be sure to have an extra $US1,000 handy for the job.

Following that, I had a control arm break. Scary, but cheap and easy to fix.

Finally, at exactly 200K miles, the alternator decided to give up the ghost. While I was driving in the middle of the California desert. At night. It made for a fun experience.

Wish List

I’ve really not had to do to much to my MINI to make sure everytime I put in the key and turn it, it starts. There are still some things that I really need to get done, hopefully sooner than later.

• Complete suspension rebuild, including new upper control arms for the rear, shocks and springs. And all the parts that make the MINI front-drive.
• Radiator. It doesn’t really leak, more like a slow steam. Not a concern now, but I want to replace it before it becomes one
• Belts and hoses. After installing the alternator, replacing the main belt on my car might be doable, if not terribly time consuming. Hoses shouldn’t be too bad either.
• Wiring harness. This is a concern for many reasons. I’m hopeful that getting it replaced will also turn the airbag light off. Pretty sure this one will have to happen at the dealer
• Brakes. New rotors and pads this time around. Power slot rotors have lasted me 170K miles, so I’m pretty sure I will use them again.

Overall impressions

There isn’t anything that I don’t like about this car. I can keep up with you in your MCS on the track and get 35MPG on the drive home. I can cruise at 70MPH all day long in comfort. I can suffer in bad traffic or dodge the cell phone using idiots on SoCal freeways with ease.

Besides the cost of dealer service being extraordinarily high in my opinion, this car hasn’t even cost me too much. Sure the repairs I need to do will be a bit spendy, but my car is, essentially, 10 years old (depending on who’s math you use). Most cars that are as old as mine always require something.

Like I mentioned above, Roxy has always started when I turn the key. Always moved when in gear and has done so with more style, flair and fun than any other car I have ever driven. This is a car I hope to keep in my driveway for as long as possible!

Where is my commission

There are things that I do have some knowledge about. Computers, MINI Coopers, kitchen gear and other miscellaneous electronics. You could say that my opinion on these items is even, to a certain extent, trusted.

Some of you have this ability too. In fact, I would bet most of the w(t)f readers have, at one point, ’sold’ something. A computer, a car, a camera or other device like that.

But sometimes it feels like I do it. Alot. For example, anyone want to take a guess at how many MINIs I’ve sold? Over the last 5 years, probably close to 20. Countless cameras. A Dell laptop or two. And now, my first verified Mac.

So, who do I talk to about my commission?

While I know there isn’t a commission system, there really should be. Like, when I buy a device, I should be given some kind of code that I can share with others if they buy that device from the same company, and then I should get some kind of kickback. Maybe a discount on a future purchase? Maybe cash? I really don’t know, just something.

it’s not like I’m going to stop ’selling’, because if someone asks, I’m going to give them an answer. It’s what I do. But a little something for the effort would be nice.

Maybe I’ll just rev up the Amazon affliate code again.