Conference terri::cars_uk

    
    I presume the Mini listed in your brochure is a Mini Metro. The Mini
    car has had a long history. It was originally called the "Austin Mini",
    later the British Leyland (BL) Mini when Austin was taken over by that
    company.  Now BL in turn has been broken up and makes cars under
    various marques, one of which is Rover.  During all this the original
    Mini car was replaced by a new hatchbach known as the Mini Metro. It
    is comparable in size to a Renault Clio/Ford Fiesta. It would be OK for
    2 adults and a small amount of luggage doing a small amount of
    travelling but I would suspect a wheelchair would be a very tight fit.
    
    The "Sapphire" is basically a saloon/booted version of the hatchback Ford
    Sierra. This should adequately hold all your luggage and would be more
    comfortable all round than the Mini.
    
    Hope this helps,
    
    Brendan

    
    Ok, thanks Brendan.  That does help!
    
    Sue

    
    re .1
    
    The Mini was not 'replaced' by the Mini-Metro.  The Metro was a new
    development that was meant to allow the mini to be phased out of
    production.   (The name 'Mini-Metro' was chosen so that people
    associated the new car with the old one.)
    
    However, the mini has continued in production, and is earmarked until
    at least '95 (with 'new' versions appearing all the time and is now
    Rover Japan's biggest seller).
    
    When Rover 'took over' the company, badge (and quality) changes have
    been made.  The Austin Mini-Metro is now the Rover Metro, and the Mini
    has presumably become the Rover Mini.
    
    So, whilst you could get 4 + luggage in a Metro (at a pinch), you
    would certainly be unwise to try the same thing in a mini.
    
    
    Nigel
    

    Sue,
    
    To clarify the past few notes:
    
    The Ford Sierra Sapphire is very similar to the U.S. Ford Taurus but
    probably with a 1600cc engine, 4 doors and good sized trunk.
    
    The Mini IS the smallest car on hire from BA and is definitely not
    capable of carrying a wheelchair and is not suitable for long distance
    driving. I know, I have two Mini's!
    
    Hope this helps,
    
    Billy 

    re -1
    
    >The Mini IS the smallest car on hire from BA and is definitely not
    >capable of carrying a wheelchair....
    
    Oh yes it is!
    
    I used to regularly put my mums chair the the boot of her HLE (mind you
    you couldn't get much else in there afterwards!).
    
    Rob
                                                    

I suppose it depends on the type of wheelchair and what size/shape it collapses
to.

An electric wheelchair with motor and batteries probably wouldn't fold up
small enough, for example...

>>    <<< Note 1429.5 by NEWOA::MACMILLAN "So many V****s, so little time" >>>

>>    I used to regularly put my mums chair the the boot of her HLE (mind you
>>    you couldn't get much else in there afterwards!).

    You are talking about the MINI of issigonis fame about 25 years old?. I
    didn't even know they had enough space on the bootlid for the letters ,
    let alone that they did one with that designation, and as for fitting a
    wheel chair in through that tiny little opening.......
    
    Richard
    

    I hire cars every weekend from Heathrow and I have never seen a Mini 
    available for hire with Avis. 

    Back a couple:
    
    Mini's were first introduced in 1959 which means they have been in
    production for 32 years!
    
    Billy