Hey, Otter,

Where did yours get off the ship, and, if you don't mind, where's your dealer? I'm having a MINI-OCD fit to think our babies have been off the ship for at least a week and no transport? My dealer told me mine was going to the VDC (in Greer, SC) from Port of Charleston via truck. I'm thinking now it's going by rickshaw (sp?) ...

Welcome to our thread, though! Good group of folks here ...

 

I'm pretty sure mine was taken off in Charleston. It was originally scheduled to go to Century MINI in Greenville, but was relocated to my dealership in Atlanta.

When I spoke to my MA today she said that the sales manager stated that it was waiting to be loaded on the train to go to the VDC. However, given the information on the site, I'm a little suspect of their info.

It seems to me they will know when it gets to the dealership and that's it.

I wanted it for the weekend!!!

 

Me, too! I had thought I'd take today and Monday off to bond with my new MINI. Mine will be going to the dealership in Charlotte. What's really strange is that Vinnie's got off in Charleston, too, has already gone through the VDC and has reached his dealer ... in Kansas! At least one of us is getting ours this weekend. Go, Vinnie, go!

Truck or train, hmmmm ? If you find out our MINIs are going by train, let me know. As I stated in an earlier post, I'll stake out the railyard and main line coming through Columbia and hijack our cars as they pass by.

 

Yeah, it seems crazy that ours are held up. Forget the truck or train, I'll drive it to the VDC/dealer. I want it now!

Congrats Vinnie, enjoy it this weekend.

 

Instead of "Ocean's 11," it will be "Otter's 2." The heist? A couple of MINIs. And, our getaway will look like a scene from "The Italian Job."

 

What I don't understand is how the Owner's Lounge still shows me En Route? The ship was halfway across the Atlantic days ago.

The tracking at this point must be way off. I keep hoping that my MA will just call me and say my MINI is waiting for me to come pick it up.

 

The OL seems always to be woefully behind. It shows mine as at the VDC, but it was delivered to my dealer halfway across the country yesterday morning.

Good luck with the hunt!

 

Otter and Vinnie,

Checking in ... My home "compooter" is defunct right now. I can't get logged in at home. I'm at Starbucks now, so likely I will not be back online until Monday when I'm at work.

My MA confirmed my MINI is still at port, too! Way too long. They are trying to expedite for me. Otter, I suggest you call your dealer/MA and push them to get yours moving. I told them another shipmate (VInnie) in Kansas got his, so why is mine still just sitting there? Looks like next weekend now ... maybe. I understand the MINI manager at the port is named "Denise." You might invoke her name in your phone call.

Hang in there and let me know what you find out. Oh, I think the "En Route" is the status they use until your MINI actually makes it to the VDC in Greer.

Vinnie, tell us all about your baby and send us some pics, please! Of course, if we don't hear from you, we'll know your motoring away! ENJOY

 

dang that really sucks.

hope you get it soon. I'm hoisting a few cold ones in your honor, maybe that will help out

 

Carolina, thanks for the heads up.

I know I'll be talking to my MA on Monday. My wife and I are taking a trip next friday, for the weekend. We were definitely hoping to have the car by then.

We'll see what happens.

 

Thanks! I hoisted a couple myself over the weekend ...

 

Well, my MA just emailed me this morning and said that my MINI was still at the processing center. She said that she would keep checking and let me know.

I replied asking her if the processing center is the same as the VDC, but have yet to get a response.

Anybody got a clue if the "processing center" is another name for the port?

Apparently my MINI has been "staged" for a week.

 

The processing center may be at or near the port. My MA differentiated between the VPC (in Charleston) and the VDC (in Greer). Wherever. Whatever. To me it's all the same; it's not HERE, in my possession.

I'm reminded of the film, Jerry McGuire ... "Show me the MINI!"

 

Carolina so sad to see that your MINI has not shown him/her self yet!! I can tell you that it is Sooooooo worth the wait!! Molly sends Good Wishes!!

 

Well, I just heard from my MA. She said that my MINI is "in the pipeline" to be delivered to the dealership on 4-28-08, "but could get here sooner".

That's more than 2 weeks since it hit the shore, and most of that time it's been sitting at the port!

 

Good news, Otter! Keep calling to see if that pipeline will open up and not bottleneck!

My MA e-mailed me today to let me know my baby is on its way to the dealership and should get there today or tom. Don't know how it got from the port on Friday afternoon, up to the VDC, through the VDC and out by truck today, but I'll welcome the good news! I guess my new guesstimate for a pickup is Friday ...

One good thing about this delay for me is that my loan rate dropped a half a point during the wait! I'll take 3.95% on a 5-year loan any day!

 

Finally some good news for the remaining shipmates! Congratulations all!

No pics of my MINI to offer yet -- no time, what with work and family and, well, driving -- but let me add my voice to the chorus of all those who have said on this forum that the wait is worth it. These are really fun machines to have in your garage.

Once the wait is over, your new obsession will become getting through the break-in period....

 

Congrats Carolina! That's great!

Unless mine miraculously shows up before friday morning, I will have to wait until Monday. But I've already got Monday off, so I'm looking forward to it.

 

that's good news !

PS I'm up to 500 miles, only 1K to go on break-in.

PPS Astro Black is a ***** to keep clean -- rain then pollen =

 

I bet. I don't have a garage, which makes matters worse for a black--or white--car. But, I'm probably lazier than many in keeping a car clean. I chose not to get the white wheels for that reason. Maybe I'll turn over a new leaf with my MINI.

 

Clean or Dirty...MINIs are FANASTIC Little Cars!!!

 

Otter, I picked up my baby this Friday, and you will be so happy when you get yours! It is better than I anticipated, and I've been trying to be careful not to rev it up too much for the break-in period. It is so comfortable and gear shifting is very clean and smooth.

Do you get your baby tomorrow? You have had to wait a while now, so enjoy your day off (take a couple more days; you will want to!) and your new ride!

Cleaned mine over the weekend. Had to do it in segments due to the weather, as you well know. The afternoon thunderstorms are a pain ... P.S. I'm getting a lot of break dust on the front wheels. Hope that will settle down soon.

No pics, yet. Borrowed a friend's camera, but I'm missing part of what I need to download to my laptop. Will post as soon as I can

 

We picked it up last night. I got a chance to run around a little bit in it, before turning it over to my wife for her daily driver. Now I have to make an appointment to drive it! Oh well, it's still an awesome ride!

 

looks great

 

Great, Otter! On time, too. Hard to let go of the keys, wasn't it? She looks great!

Hey, all, finally got pics uploaded. Check out my gallery ...