One new discovery for me was the fact that the passenger side has a mesh bag by their feet Never read anything about it and had no clue it was there until after two days of ownership. God knows what you would put in there, but its' cool to have nevertheless.

 

Another "discovery": I found the foldup box beneath the spare tire area yesterday. The net is pretty useless, but I think that the box will come in handy. Also read the directions about how to make the back seats more erect by rotating the catch lever for times when you don't want to lay them flat, but need a tad more room in the cargo area. That was a nice touch.

To make you West Coast folks feel better, I've barely driven Bernard The lovebugs are still out in swarms, but now the roadside debris from the hurricane is so bad everywhere that I'm constantly dodging piles that everyone has out for pickup partially in the roads. I'm getting scrapes and scratches all over our old beater Chevy worktruck that I'm driving in the meantime.... course it already has so many dents and scratches that you can't tell! Also Baton Rouge only has about 2/3 of the traffic signals operational.... it can be a real nightmare watching for intersections and wondering whether anyone will stop!! In another week it will all be better and Bernard can come out of hibernation!

 

The AUX + USB cable only comes with cars that have the USB/iPod adapter selected in their build configurations (or the package that includes it -- Convenience, I think?). Those who don't have it are stuck with just the AUX jack, I think. Not being an audiophile, I had no problem with using the AUX jack in my last car, but being able to control my iPod from my MINI's stereo is just so damn cool.

@Calmante: my fingers are crossed for you! It always makes me a little sad to think about new MINI owners having problems with their cars right away (knock on wood). Let us know if your ride is fixed now!

-Will

 

RaceTripper - Congratulations!! Glad you finally got your JCW. My wife has been driving her S to work all week and she loves it. I got to drive it last weekend, but not since then. I told her that I might have to get my own Mini so I can get more seat time...

Enjoy those Mini's everyone. Hope you West Coast Week 32er's get yours soon!

 

Ah, our Mini came with a cable that has a split on one end with a USB and AUX jack. The other end has one plug (not sure what to call it exactly) that goes into the bottom of the iPod - not the headphone jack. I was having the audio overkill issue still with this setup, but the adjustment to "Bass Reducer" made a world of difference.

So to add - yes, we have the convenience package which is probably different than what some others seem to have.

 

Racetripper did you consider the new M3 before getting the JCW mini. The previous M3 was such a beast and the E92 is supposed to be even better. What made you switch to a Mini? 333 HP was good but 415 is !!!!

 

The JCW is $34K. The E92 M3 with options I want is $66K. I'd love the have the new M3 (my E46 M3 was $58K).

The whole reason I got the JCW is to reduce my cost of ownership. My M3 is leased & that ends Nov. 1. I could have kept it for about the same monthly payment as the JCW. However, gas and insurance are higher, and the car would go out of maintenance in Spring and out of warranty by the end of next year. I wanted my expenses to be more predicatble for the foreseeable future.

With that said, we plan to see how things pan out about 4 years from now, and may then sell the JCW and get the new M3.

 

Well Ike is coming to visit!!! Trying to get as much secured as I can, depending on the electricity I may not be able to post after Friday. Good luck to everyone in Ike's way and stay safe!

 

Good luck, sikamini - be safe! (And keep Hilla safe, too, if you can!)

-Will

 

Thanks, Hilla's all filled up and ready to go if we have to leave. I still need to tape up and board up what I can. If we need to leave it would be Friday, right now the coastal people nead to leave Galveston. Cell phone service is spotty, been trying to get a hold of my wife to tell her we need to get our stuff in order and tell her I'm coming to pick her up. Need to get our five cats and all our paper work together. Thank you for the support.

 

Didn't know about the fold up box! That's a nice surprise. Also the back seat adjustment is news to me. I'm living vicariously through all you folks with your rides. Keep the aha's comin'!

 

Best wishes, and our prayers are with you and all those who are potentially in harm's way. Keep your family safe (that includes the pets). And take Hilla out of danger, too. We hope you don't lose power, but if you do, we'll be anxiously awaiting your first contact post-Ike. To put a new twist on an old phrase... I (don't) like Ike!

 

Keep safe Sikamini! We were of course hoping that Ike didn't hit LA, but we all feel guilty knowing that our Texan neighbors are about to get hit.

My hurricane advice that sometimes isn't thought of is to charge every camera, phone, laptop, etc; do all of your laundry.... it may be a while before you can wash more and freeze water in old milk jugs or juice containers and fill your freezer to the max with them and you'll have a better shot at not losing everything.

 

stay safe, sikamini! I hope Ike settles down like Gustav did...

By the way, I finally got the call from my MA this afternoon! Car just arrived at the dealership and will be ready for me to pick up tomorrow afternoon. I will slog through an early afternoon meeting at work, then will make the trek to the dealership (a 40 mile drive to the East Bay). Will report back on my first impressions tomorrow night! So excited, can't wait....

 

Congrats!! You're going to love it. I can't stop driving mine. It's ridiculous.

-Will

 

Just took delivery my '08 CR/B MCs from Irvine Mini. Ordered on 8/1, Born on 8/13, loaded on Maersk Wind 8/14, released to VDC 9/9, Home 9/11.

 

I almost ordered from Irvine...I guess I would have mine by now if I did, since I ordered on 7/12. Glad to hear So Cal. week 32r's are taking deliveries...I'm starting to think my day will never come....

 

[QUOTE=kechman8;2465281]stay safe, sikamini! I hope Ike settles down like Gustav did...

Ahheeem.... Gustav didn't settle down, its just that since it didn't hit New Orleans, the national news isn't covering it.

We had 95 mph winds in our area which is 100 miles inland. The coastal areas were decimated. Approx 40,000 people just in our BR area are still without power 11 days post storm. Baton Rouge's curfew was just lifted tonight, many other areas are still in effect. Some public schools in our parish will reopen tomorrow, but approx 30 of the 80 BR parish public schools will still be closed due to no power or damage. My husbands business which is in midtown BR just got power back two days ago and still doesn't have internet, making it almost impossible to do business. We haven't had garbage pickup at our home in 2 weeks because the trucks still can't get in our neighborhood due to power lines which fell and have been propped up just high enough for our cars to go under.... no fire trucks could get in if necessary either. The list goes on..... but we weren't/aren't national news! Not to mention the demolished homes all around us......

Sorry, but had to vent....

 

Picked up my Justa PW tonight... sorry to hear about the aftermath of Gustav - our thoughts go out to everyone down south. I hope the Texans are prepared for Ike !

 

[quote=gbsim;2465347]Didn't mean to be insensitive - but I think I was. So sorry! You are right, I am out here in CA where I fear things I cannot see on satellite (namely earthquakes), but you folks have to deal with hurricanes EVERY YEAR. I wish everyone in the affected areas well. Stay safe and I hope you all a fast return to normalcy.

 

It's raining a lot here. That can mean only one thing.

Yes, I got my JCW all striped, clear bra's and tinted. Now I just have to learn the wipers.

 

Congrats kechman8, I know how excited you are as I was as well!!

BR55 - congrats to you too!!!

Sikamini and everyone else in the path of Ike, thoughts and prayers are with you!! Stay smart and safe.

gbsim, I hear ya! Living in FL we often are effected even by 'small storms' and lose power, work, etc... Hang in there!

I haven't been online the last few days - as I have had computer issues!! Think I may finally be okay.. today will tell.

Last night I started to detail Lucy - the 'Big One', She is all washed and ready for 2 coats of wax this morning. I am annoyed about the clear bra and the yellow stain one bug left on it! It concerns me... that a bug hit it at 11:00 PM on my way home, and sat just overnight ( I removed it less than 12 hours) and stained the clear bra!

 

Oh my! You wouldn't think that would happen. Was it the dealership invisishield? Bernard is rescheduled due to the storm for invisishield on Monday. I decided to go through the dealership so that if I had any hoodscoop or stripe problems later, it might be covered under warranty.


[QUOTE=kechman8;2465412]Thanks! My gripe about US news is that it spends WAY too much time on celebrites, gossip and sensational crimes and too little time on real local, national and international news. But being from CA, I know you have celebrity overload for sure!

Kechman, BR55 and Satang: congrats on those fun new cars! But don't forget the pictures!!

 

very quiet today!!

I am still detailing Lucy! Yesterday early evening, I washed, spot used a clay bar, dried, and taped all around the fenders and black trim so I don't get wax on them. Today I applied Prima Epic... should have applied the first coat last night as I didn't realize I should wait 24 hours between.... I feel stuck in the house because I don't want to get her dirty before I apply the 2nd coat!! Wonder... do you really NEED to wait that long between coats!??

 

It's not dealer installed, it is Xpel, which is suppose to be a 'top of the line' product. Anyway, I know that NOBODY except me will ever notice it, and I don't notice it right away (unless the light hits it a certain way) I have to look for it. But - I am a little OCD regarding this MINI!!