Richard E Grant channels Withnail in Twitter rant against Mini
Actor Richard E Grant has issued an extensive tirade against car brand Mini via Twitter, after he claimed his daughter suffered a steering problem with the vehicle.
The actor adopted his Withnail persona during his tirade
He channelled his most famous character portrayal, the inebriate Withnail from the 1987 classic Withnail and I, saying at one point: “I hope the fuckers will rue the day!”
In 2009 the brand suffered a well publicised steering pump problem that affected 223,000 cars manufactured between 2001 and 2007.
Grant, in a series of tweets this afternoon, narrated his daughter’s alleged experience in full to over 59,000 followers.
“Here's the Kafka:my daughter's Mini Cooper's steering locks on motorway. 1 of the 200,000+ to do so. Repair will cost over a grand,” he wrote.
“Mini Cooper refuse any culpability. Insurers refuse to pay for repair 'as car didn't crash'. Yeah right!So she is left car-less, huge repair bill, and Mini carry on as per. SHAME ON THEM ALL.
“Guess what garage said when she asked if she could get replacement car to get to work? No prize for guessing whose plate I'd like to lick clean this Friday. Frustrated doesn't begin to cover it.
"'The customer's always right?' Wrong-if you're unlucky enough to have bought a mini cooper betw 2001-7. Always the customer's fault? FUCKERS!”
He proceeded to name the dealer involved, copying @Mini into the dialogue.
“What would Thames Ditton Mini Cooper branch do if u crashed through their plate glass & said'The steering locked? 'Is that what it'd take?” he asked.
“You can bet your copper bottomed Calvin Klein's that they'd say, it's not our fault, it's BMW's.Or yours for buying the 'wrong' model, or 'leaves on the track'.
“If YOU-BMW/Mini Cooper were me, what would YOU do? Put your hand up &PAY UP? Betcha their 'computer says NOOOOOOOOO!'
“It's the nightmare of my Only Daughter driving this Timebomb/Mini-Cooper with locked steering that's done my head in. The 'What if' of it,” he continued.
“Why should you have to threaten legal action or whatever when it's a manufacturing defect? Clenched fists & bared gnashers set to Grrrrrrrrr!
“@mini -Let me count the ways in which your car has gone wrong since I trustingly gifted it to my precious daughter to 'steer' her way ahead,” he added.
“Discovered that @BBCWatchdog have already done programme on this &still @mini not recalled over 200,000 faulty cars! And still counting.
“How they can carry on fleecing customers with astro repair bills. I hope the fuckers will rue the day!”
Following the reports in 2009 of the steering issues, Mini issued the following statement:
“Mini UK strives to provide the best possible service to its customers and is concerned when they are not satisfied with their cars.
“We can appreciate that the issues these Mini owners experienced can be disturbing, but we have thoroughly investigated the cases of each customer, and worked hard to eradicate the issues described.
“As with all modern cars, power steering systems are an added support function that makes steering easier, especially at slow speeds, when parking for example.
“They are not an essential component of steering systems and cars can be driven perfectly safely without power steering assistance.
“All new Minis on sale today also feature new power steering mechanisms completely unaffected by these issues.
“However, Mini UK takes such incidents very seriously and has worked closely with the independent regulatory bodies who have liased with us on the most appropriate route to take with this issue.
“Furthermore, we would advise that if any owner of a petrol-engine Mini produced between 2001 and 2007 has concerns over this issue or has experienced a similar situation, they should contact our dedicated Mini UK Customer Service line on 0800 777129.’”
At the time of publication, Mini have not responded directly to Grant or to his Twitter tirade.