When the Mini was returned things were looking up: the steering wheel pointed straight, a new roof gutter trim had cured the wind noise, a faulty seat-belt tensioner had been replaced, extinguishing the airbag light, but the fuel gauge was deemed to be fine. I don't understand this one because every other Mini we've had at Evo Towers manages to point to 'Full' after a fill-up. Wollaston reckons ours will too, if I'm prepared to spend several minutes at the pump. Trouble is, I'm not. I reckon this is going to run and run.

Incidentally, you'll get plenty of practice filling up if you buy a new Mini Cooper S. This month's cover car averaged just 19.8mpg over the 700 miles we travelled in it, at least according to its on-board computer. Good job we were enjoying ourselves too much to care.